Podcast spotlight: The Booktopia Podcast
Established in 2015, The Booktopia Podcast publishes weekly episodes involving author interviews, book reviews, recommendations and bookish banter, with a focus on Australian-authored books. Hosted by a rotating cast of Booktopia staff, the podcast has featured Tracy Sorensen, Ceridwen Dovey, Jamila Rizvi, Pip Smith, Sarah Schmidt and Melina Marchetta, among many others. ‘We love to discover the big names of the future; we love to get into the nitty gritty of the writing life,’ says John Purcell, Booktopia’s director of books, when asked what motivates the content for each episode. ‘We love to hear the personal stories and we love interviewing fascinating people’. Purcell spoke to Books+Publishing for our ‘podcast spotlight’ series.
For new or uninitiated listeners, describe your podcast in under 50 words.
Every week, The Booktopia Podcast publishes new 20-minute interviews with some of the world’s most exciting authors, whether they be novelists, cooks or chefs, biographers, historians, kids book authors and/or illustrators, sport stars, celebrities or journalists. And on Wednesday morning we publish Booktopia On…, our weekly book chat podcast.
What makes your podcast unique?
The Booktopia Podcast attracts all of the biggest names in publishing—Liane Moriarty, Tim Winton, Hannah Kent, Matthew Reilly, Jodi Picoult, Michael Connelly, Di Morrissey, Neil Gaiman, Jimmy Barnes—while also making room at the mic for lesser-known and debut authors with great stories to tell.
When and how did you get started in podcasting?
We had all of these wonderful authors dropping by Booktopia to sign their books and some bright spark said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to interview them while they’re here’.
Where and how is your podcast recorded?
Our podcasts are recorded in our makeshift studio here at Booktopia. We use a single mic in a booth. Our team can be one interviewer and a mic or it can be a group of us. We don’t lack book-loving Booktopians. We can gather together quite a crowd if the topic requires them.
What kind of listeners does your podcast reach?
Because there is great variety in our content, we reach a variety of audiences. Also, our content is often shared by the subject of the interview to their audiences, which can bring in new listeners. Our regular listeners are usually big readers, people in the industry and those interested in writing.
What have been your most popular guests or most memorable episodes?
Neil Gaiman, Dr Michael Mosley and Sarah Wilson are our most popular guests. Our interview with Aaron Blabey is something special, as is our interview with Hanya Yanagihara. But choosing a favourite is impossible.
Listen to Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes on the Booktopia Podcast chatting about his memoir Working Class Man (HarperCollins)—the sequel to his #1 bestseller Working Class Boy (HarperCollins).
What recent trends have you noticed in podcasting?
It is very interesting to see that the podcasts people are drawn to are very much like the programs on radio before the advent of TV. If the podcast continues on in this way, we could see all the variety of that long-past golden era of radio return. Everything old will be new again.
Why do you think people are drawn to this format?
Smartphones. The smartphone is everything to us now. We have it with us at all times. If we’re on public transport we can pop in some headphones and listen to some music while we scroll through websites. Those websites recommend a podcast. Click. And now we’re being entertained, informed, thrilled, educated, horrified or made to laugh. It’s hard to go back to boring old music.
How do you fund your podcast?
Our podcast is funded by signed copy sales.
What plans do you have for your podcast going forward?
More interviews, a writing masterclass podcast, more fun podcasts on different topical bookish subjects, a podcast book club, a series podcast …
What other bookish podcasts should we be listening to, Australian or otherwise?
Book Riot, ABC’s Books and Arts, Chat 10 Looks 3, Conversations with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski.
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Tags: podcast spotlight
Category: Features
