Bespoken Media - podcast production and training

12/02/2025

Exciting news: our BBC series 'Amazing Sport Stories: Chasing Mountains' has been shortlisted for a global podcast award.

The 4-parter, which we made for the World Service, tells the story of 5 incredible women competing to be the first in the world to climb all 14 of the world's highest peaks.

It's been shortlisted - alongside five other brilliant series from around the world - in the ‘Podcasts in a Foreign Language’ category of the global Ondas awards; organised jointly by PRISA Audio, Cadena SER and El Pais.

Well done and congrats to everyone involved - co-hosts Joanna Jolly and Kathy Karlo, production team Leeanne Coyle, Carys Wall, and So Jeong Lee, sound designer Joel Cox, and the BBC's Jon Manel and Jonathan Hill.

Of course - it wouldn't be possible to tell this story without the incredible efforts and achievements of the five women at its heart: Edurne Pasaban, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Nives Meroi, Oh Eun-sun, and Go Mi-young.

There's a link to listen to the series in the comments.

06/02/2025

MEET THE TEAM!

We thought it would be nice to formally re-introduce the friendly and expert crew working in-house here at Bespoken Media Scotland.

We make premium podcasts and audio - for brands, businesses, charities and the BBC.

Give us a shout any time you want to talk podcasts. Especially if you:

- Want to work with a production partner to plan and make a new series.

- Want initial training and development support, so you’ve got the skills and knowledge to set up and run your own podcast.

- Have an existing podcast, and want help to make it better.

We’re based in Scotland, but work with people across the UK and around the world.

Feel free to message, to find out more.

20/01/2025

Bespoken is 5! Happy birthday to us!!

We’re very grateful to all our clients and partners for the opportunity to tell your stories through sound. Thank you for trusting us with the projects over the last half decade!

Podcasting is a long-term journey, and many of you have been here since day one. This is a commitment we do not underestimate, and for that, we are so grateful.

Onwards and upwards, here’s to another brilliant 5 years to come!

16/10/2024

Don’t forget to give “Hey World, What’s the Craic? Patrick Kielty on Ireland’s 1994” on BBC Radio 4 a listen.

Comedian and host of Irelands legendary RTE Late, Late Show, and producer and co-host Ruth Sanderson recall their own personal experiences of 1994. A year that change the whole of Ireland forever.

30/09/2024

What a project this has been!

This screenshot is from (what will probably be) the last record for our wonderful 'Keeping Edinburgh' podcast.

Bespoken make this series for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership. It has been spearheaded by dynamic duo Dr Linda Irvine Fitzpatrick and Cleo Comerford, and hosted by incredible community musician and songwriter Gus Harrower.

Each episode shines a spotlight on free-to-access groups, community projects and services in Scotland’s capital, that support people's wellbeing and mental health, and are here to help us all to have 'more good days'.

There are some fantastic people whose stories we tell in this series; people who have chosen to spend their time supporting those around them, and making our communities better.

We couldn't be more grateful to those people - both for taking part in the series, and for all that they do day in day out.

If you live in Edinburgh (or you have relatives or loved ones that do) this series is worth dipping into; you'll learn about all sorts of pathways and avenues for support, community inclusion, and even volunteering opportunities.

Huge thanks to Linda and Cleo for trusting us with this series. We're proud to have been involved. Thanks also to partners at EVOC and NHS Scotland - who were there right at the beginning to breathe life into the series.

30/09/2024

30/09/2024

It’s the 10th annual International Podcast Day! How are you celebrating?! 
 
It’s a cracking day to stop and think how quickly podcasts have moved from being ‘a bit niche’ to increasingly being a mainstream way for people to get their entertainment and their news, to learn new things, share expertise and insights, and to build a community.
 
In the five years since Bespoken launched, we’ve made podcasts showcasing renewable energy, big ideas in health and care, showcasing Scotland’s rural economy, supporting mental illness, and so much more.
 
Take a look at some of our BTS - and come find us any time you’re keen to talk podcasts for your brand or business.

23/09/2024

Have a crack at this - and support a brilliant Edinburgh charity

Dads Rock is registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator OSCR number SC043877.The ticket draw will take place at 3pm on October 28th.Children thrive  when dads thrive. By donating to enter our Prize Draw you will make a real difference in helping dads and families feel confident, supported a...

17/09/2024

Well this is very exciting...

"Written drama has existed in Scotland since the sixteenth century. This is its story..."

Coming soon, from the Scottish Society of Playwrights, Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre, and our podcast production specialists at Bespoken - host Fergus Morgan presents new podcast series 'A History of Scottish Drama in Six Plays'.

Join us for the live launch event, being held at The Trav - free tickets at the link in the comment.

This is another brilliant project supported financially by Creative Scotland 🙌

20/08/2024

Another Words of the Wild now live

20/08/2024

What is the single best marketing tool for a you love?

**Here's a hint: it’s about your height, has your hair and eye colour, and is looking at a screen.

It’s honestly this simple:

If you enjoy a podcast, and want it to continue to exist in the world, tell people about it.

TELL👋PEOPLE👋ABOUT👋IT!

Hence the response when our friend Ally sent us this screenshot, from one of his pals telling him how much he enjoyed an episode of the podcast we make together.

It’s lovely for us, as makers of the Lantern Scottish Poetry podcast, to hear from people who are enjoying it.

But we’d far rather you told *other people*, please.

Recommend your favourite podcast to others.

Evangelise about it.

Share it.

Convert others to your way of thinking.

Sure *we* bang on about the podcasts we make, and how great they are.

But *we* would, wouldn’t we? We’ve got a vested interest in pushing them.

But if you, a listener with no skin in the game, recommend a podcast that you love, people are far more likely to pay attention and act on the recommendation.

Particularly if it’s a smaller, independent creator who isn’t working with a mega marketing budget.

You can really help that creator out.

It might even be the difference between them continuing to make new episodes, and throwing in the towel.

It gives you a warm fuzzy feeling, and it costs you nothing at all.

It’s a win-win 🙂 Thank you!

** You. It’s you.

PS, the same is also true of FB posts. Give this one a share please 😉

PPS. The episode of Lantern Scottish Poetry that Ally's friend was so in love with?

It's celebrated Edinburgh poet Robert Crawford sharing his love of even more celebrated Edinburgh poet , and there's a link to it in the Linktree in our bio.

It's really good. We'd even say it's joyous.

But we would say that, wouldn't we.

17/08/2024

15/08/2024

Pleased and proud to get these glowing words from clients the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

We’ve delivered 2 projects for the Trust now. We made 2 ‘Nextdoor Nature’ audio case studies, showcasing communities in Edinburgh and on the Isle of Eigg who are supporting nature. More recently, we’ve assisted them in the editing and delivering of their wonderful ‘Words of the Wild’ series - marking the Trust’s 60th anniversary.

If you are looking for help with storytelling or audio podcasting - we can do a full production service, or we can pitch in where needed, to give you a properly professional-sounding product.

Just message on here, or find us at www.bespoken.media

03/08/2024

02/08/2024

“I just wanna touch your base… I wanna circle back and touch your base.”

I roar with laughter every time I hear it.

Give this episode of one of our clients’ podcasts a go.

Or run it up your flagpole, or something.

Link in first comment.

It’s an episode of Phil Lewis’s podcast The Consultancy Business, interviewing two very funny men from Down Under who are here in Edinburgh for the Fringe - the guys behind Wankernomics, which is on at The Pleasance, get your tickets.

30/07/2024

It's a 🎉NEW CLIENT LAUNCH🎉

Always an exciting day for our team here at Bespoken.

Beyond Boundaries is a brand new series for the University of Aberdeen.

It's live this morning with the first 4 episodes.

The series is hosted by current students, and connects school-leavers with the university's inspiring and insightful teaching staff.

The brief was to create a podcast that folds seamlessly into Aberdeen’s exciting wider ‘beyond boundaries’ brand.

When you listen, check out the awesome music, composed by our team.

(Bespoke music is a service we're increasingly able to offer these days, thanks to our brilliant composer and sound designers).

The Aberdeen team have been a dream to work with.

Our Carys Wall produced and edited these episodes, with sound design by Jonathan Webb. Original music composed by Alex Fraser

If you know someone looking at university choices just now, send them the podcast link in the comment below.

And if you know someone wanting a premium podcast to support their brand or project, send them to us :)

30/06/2024

The Koryoin: their ancestors fled war in Korea. Generations later, they return to seek safety from war in Ukraine.

We made a totally fascinating half hour documentary for the BBC World Service which aired this week - about the 100s of ethnically-Korean Ukrainians who have fled war, and found safety in South Korea.

Their ancestors - great grandparents and further back- had themselves previously fled to Russia, to escape a prior war in their homeland, and became known as the Koryoin.

It is well worth 30 minutes of anyone’s time on a Sunday morning.

Find it here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct6r86

Huge congrats and thanks to Bespoken producer Amanda Hargreaves, presenter in South Korea So Jeong Lee, and sound designer Joel Cox.

The new World Service commissioning round - the window for indies like us to bid for and win money to make programmes - is opening soon.

What amazing or insightful stories could we be telling, like this, from around the world?

How ethnic-Korean Ukrainian refugees returning to Korea are receiving a mixed welcome

24/06/2024

Exciting times here at Bespoken!

We are so chuffed to say Katie Revell joined us today as an assistant producer.

Katie is an award-winning podcast producer and presenter, and has made work for BBC Radio 4's highly acclaimed Short Cuts, and Radio Scotland's Out of Doors.

She grew up in the south-east coast of Scotland, speaks fluent German, and has made beautiful and important audio work in the past on sustainable food and farming.

We did a recruitment process a few weeks ago, and were totally blown away by the quality of applicants.

While we were lucky enough to meet some fantastic and passionate people, Katie shone out as the best of the bunch.

We are excited to see what we can all do together next!