Podcasts Archives • MIC media

Category: <span>Podcasts</span>

From Podcast Idea to Impactful Audio

March 19, 2024March 20, 2024
by Vic

At MIC, we don’t just produce podcasts, we turn your ambitions into impactful audio experiences. We’re passionate about empowering social impact organisations and businesses to Grab The MIC and share their stories with the audiences that matter most.

So, we’re delighted to showcase how we’ve recently helped two fantastic clients the Acts charity and SENDIASS Manchester to launch podcasts that are making a real difference:

SEND Talk – Empowering parents of children with special education needs

SEND Talk
Listen to SEND Talk on Spotify. Simple, easy-to-understand, jargon-free advice for parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability or for young people navigating the world with SEND. Featuring those that live and breathe SEND support including experts from SENDIASS Manchester and parents who’ve been through the same hurdles you may be facing.

Following on from a successful first series, we work with SENDIASS Manchester once again to create Series 2 of SEND Talk.

SENDIASS Manchester is a support service for young people with special educational needs and the parents of SEND children.

SEND Talk answers the most commonly asked questions the service receives every day, such as ‘Can the school send my child home?’ or ‘Is my child eligible for home-to-school transport’. Designed as an audible FAQ, the series acts as an accessible resource for parents and young people.

MIC built on their successful first series by providing a full-podcast production solution once again. This included:

Idea refinement: We helped SENDIASS Manchester to get clear about its vision and ensure the podcast addressed the most pressing concerns of parents and young people
Seamless production: From recording and editing to scripting and distribution, we handled everything, freeing up SENDIASS’ valuable time and resources
Expert guidance: We provided ongoing support with scripting and ensured the series landed on all major podcast platforms

The artwork was also designed by a young person too.

Margarette Lee Chapman the manager at SENDIASS Manchester adds,

“Working with MIC has been superb, they’ve given us the confidence to us as non-podcasters. We’ve never done it before and they’ve been very patient and flexible during difficult moments. The saving of valuable staff time, as a result of our podcast, has been phenomenal.“

Curious Chats and Kind Acts – Spreading Kindness One Conversation at a Time

Curious Chats & Kind Acts
Listen to Curious Chats & Kind Acts on Spotify. The first step to kindness is understanding and this is what we’re here to do! Honest, authentic and truly fascinating conversations with people who are all a bit different. It’s for curious humans, especially if you don’t have the opportunity to meet people who are a bit different in real life.

Acts, a Cheshire-based charity promoting kindness as the cornerstone of a stronger society, approached MIC with a two-fold challenge:

Expanding their reach beyond geographical boundaries
Revamping their existing podcast with professional expertise

Our Blended Service was the perfect fit. We combined in-depth podcast training with high-quality production, empowering Acts to create their content long after our collaboration.

By focusing on the power of storytelling, we helped Acts craft an impactful audio series filled with “open and authentic conversations” featuring individuals and organisations promoting kindness in unique ways. From inspiring stories of those who’ve transitioned genders or religions to the journeys of cancer survivors, the eye-opening podcast series champions understanding and encourages kindness through shared experiences.

Sonia Holdsworth, the founder of Acts goes on to explain how working with MIC resulted in a podcast series that exemplifies what the charity stands for,

“We fumbled through a DIY podcast series at first, but we knew we needed a pro to refine our concept, teach us the podcasting ropes, and guide us on capturing engaging interviews. MIC stepped in and did exactly that. In just 6 months, they patiently transformed us into a podcasting team. They helped us hone our message, rework our early episodes, guide us to re-design our branding and record captivating conversations.

We’re so thrilled with Curious Chats & Kind Acts – we’ve got listeners as far-flung as Vietnam! MIC helped us expand our reach and share our message of kindness on a global scale, something we never thought possible.“

We’ll be following the progress of these podcasts very closely! We can’t wait to hear what ripple effects happen as a result!

Ready to Make Your Voice Heard and create impactful audio?

Let MIC help you turn your podcast idea into a reality. We offer a range of podcast services to suit your needs, empowering you to share your expertise and create impactful audio that resonates with your target audience.

Contact us today hey@micmedia.co.uk and get ready to Grab the MIC!

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AHRC Creative Communities podcast collaboration kicks off

February 15, 2024February 15, 2024
by Vic

MIC starts an ambitious, year-long podcast collaboration with the AHRC Creative Communities Programme, and their five Community Innovation Practitioners from across all four nations of the UK.

We’re over the moon to announce our new podcast collaboration project with the AHRC Creative Communities Programme. MIC will work with the programme’s five Community Innovation Practitioners (CIPs) to co-produce a new AHRC Creative Communities podcast series that captures the voices and experiences of their communities and partners who are involved in their cross-sector research across all four nations of the UK.

About AHRC Creative Communities

AHRC Creative Communities is a major research programme funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and hosted by Northumbria University, exploring how culture can address regional inequality and help level up the UK.

Since funding was awarded in September 2023, five CIPs have been working in universities based in all four nations of the UK, embedded in collaborative cross-sector research until September 2024.

The CIPs are collaborating with cross-sector partners and local communities to capture knowledge about co-creation and partnerships in community-based research.

The team comprises Áine Brady (Queens University, Belfast), Alex Langlands (Swansea University), Gaston Welisch (University of Glasgow), Georgina Aasgaard (University of Liverpool) and Jim Donaghey (Ulster University).

Together they will form the CIP Network – a Community of Practice dedicated to sharing learning on collaborative research.

MIC’s involvement

As part of this, they’ll work with MIC media to produce a 5-part AHRC Creative Communities podcast series to tell the story of the communities that they’re working in, their practice, learnings and of course the challenges. The series will serve as a helpful resource for other partners looking to engage their communities in this way.

This includes a programme of podcast training with MIC media and production support.

The CIPs in action (AHRC Creative Communities / Lauren Baker 2023)

Prof. Katy Shaw, director of AHRC Creative Communities says of the programme,

“The AHRC Creative Communities programme is a major investment that is designed to explore how and why engaging cross-sector partners in research, and communities as research partners, can enhance the quality, resilience, and sustainability of our research eco-system in the UK today. Our Community Innovation Practitioners are part of a ground-breaking pilot that catalyzes community cultural research collaborations with cross-sector stakeholders in devolved context across the four nations of the UK. Together with MIC media the podcast training and series will share vital learning from the pilot and the practitioners and vocalise the multiplicity of actors involved in cultural R&D today.”

Lauren Baker Mitchell, senior research fellow for AHRC Creative Communities describes why they chose podcasts as part of the programme:

“We chose to create a podcast series to platform the collaborative research of the CIPs and AHRC Creative Communities in a way that is accessible. Crucially, developing the podcasts enables the CIPs to amplify the voices of the communities and partners they are working with, and tell authentic stories that represent the diversity and complexity of these creative communities. More than anything, we hope these podcasts share valuable knowledge on the successes and challenges of partnership and co-creation research, so others wanting to work in this way know where to start. The partnership with MIC media is truly ideal, as working together for social impact is genuinely at the heart of all they do.”

Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, founder of MIC media adds,

“MIC media is really excited to be collaborating with Northumbria University on the ground-breaking AHRC Creative Communities Programme. Here at MIC, we’re all about helping everyone to Grab The MIC, so that they can tell the often underheard stories of place and community. This collaboration is just the perfect fit and we’re so looking forward to hearing what Áine, Jim, Gaston, Alex and Georgina produce.”

The AHRC Creative Communities podcast series will be available in Autumn 2024.

For more information about the AHRC Creative Communities Programme click here.

Are you looking for a way to creatively showcase and share your outcomes and impact through podcasts and audio? Let’s have a chat.

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Oxfam and Save The Children podcast launches!

September 2, 2023September 2, 2023
by Vic

MIC works with the Global Protection Cluster’s Advocacy Working Group, which is co-led by Save The Children and Oxfam, to produce the ‘Advocating For Protection’ podcast, featuring voices from Ukraine and Yemen. The series spotlights the experiences and stories of people from across the world who are advocating for the protection of civilians in conflict and crisis.

At the start of 2023, a staggering 160 million people in conflict and crisis were believed to need protection. There has never been a greater need for effective advocacy for the protection of civilians in conflict and crisis. But how do we do this protection advocacy? What skills and techniques can we use? How can we identify decision-makers? What tactics work? How can we manage risk?

It’s these questions that the Global Protection Cluster’s Advocacy Working Group explores in their new podcast ‘Advocating for Protection’, produced by MIC media.

MIC delivers its Blended Service, a combination of podcasting production and training to support members of the group to launch their new series. To create the podcast we worked with members across the world, including here in the UK, Geneva and as far-flung as Mongolia!

Listen to the Advocating for Protection podcast ⬇️

Advocating for Protection
Listen to Advocating for Protection on Spotify. Welcome to the Advocating for Protection podcast, where we bring you the real experiences of advocates in conflict and crisis. In each episode join us to speak to those who are lobbying in the corridors of the UN building in New York.

The Podcast

In each conversational episode, you hear from those who are lobbying in the corridors of the UN building in New York, those who are face-to-face with armed actors at the frontlines of conflict zones, and everything in between.

The series features voices from Ukraine and Yemen who are interviewed about their important work in their respective countries. They tell you about their personal experiences, their successes but also the challenges and how they overcame them.

The first episode is a fascinating conversation between Vittorio Infante, Advocacy Advisor at Oxfam, and Gemma Davies, Research Fellow at ODI’s Humanitarian Policy Group, who shares her analysis and recommendations for effective influencing to protect civilians in conflict.

Global Protection Cluster’s Advocacy Working Group

The network co-led by Save The Children and Oxfam, is a network of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), international organisations and United Nations (UN) agencies engaged in protection work in humanitarian crises, including armed conflict and disasters.

Rachel Hastie, Protection Team Officer at Oxfam explains why a podcast was the way forward for the Advocacy Working Group,

There are thousands of people across the world advocating for the protection of civilians in conflict and crisis. Rarely do we hear the real-life stories of their experiences. There’s real value to others working in these areas to hear these stories and learn from them. This is what the Advocating For Protection podcast is all about, offering a mouthpiece to these individuals so that everyone working together in this sector can benefit.
It’s been a great experience working with MIC media to produce this series. We started knowing nothing about creating podcasts, but now we’re confident that we can continue to produce more useful, fascinating and authentic episodes.

Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, CEO and founder of MIC media adds,

It’s been a real joy for MIC media to work internationally with Oxfam, Save The Children and other global partners in the Advocacy Working Group to produce this important series. It once again demonstrates the power of podcasts and our commitment at MIC to amplify often underheard stories and voices to inspire, inform and influence others on a global scale.

The Advocating for Protection podcast is out now. Listen here.

Looking for support to produce your podcast? Contact MIC here, and let’s have a chat about your podcast ideas.

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Right To The Streets Podcast launches!

May 22, 2023May 22, 2023
by Vic

We’re exploring what makes the places and streets we live, work or play safe, joyful and welcoming spaces to be, with a brand-new series of The GM Moving podcast.

We’re so pleased to be partnering once more with GreaterSport and GM Moving to produce this series to accompany their pioneering Right to the Streets project.

What do welcoming, safe, and joyful streets look like to you? And, what can we all do to create streets, parks, and public spaces where all women and girls feel that they belong and are invited to be active?

It’s these questions and more that we’re delving into with GreaterSport and GM Moving’s new eight-part GM Moving podcast series to accompany their Right To The Streets project.

Right To The Streets explores how we make streets and spaces safer, more welcoming, and joyful for women and girls so that they invite active travel and active lives. The project, led by GreaterSport, is delivered in partnership with Open Data Manchester, Publica, Trafford Council, Diva Creative, and local community partners and is funded by the Home Office Safer Streets Fund.

Listen to the Right To The Streets Podcast

The Right To The Streets Podcast is available to listen to for free, wherever you usually listen to podcasts, simply search ‘GM Moving Podcast – or click here or listen below. ⬇️

The GM Moving Podcast
Listen to The GM Moving Podcast on Spotify. Sharing reflections, tips and stories from people leading, learning, connecting and moving in Greater Manchester as we aim to enable active lives for all. Get in touch: info@gmmoving.co.uk Follow us on Twitter: @GMMoving

About the Podcast

The MIC media produced podcast explores how people and communities are working together to make our streets and public spaces more welcoming and safe for women and girls, by highlighting the work already being done in North Trafford (Old Trafford, Gorsehill and Stretford area), spotlighting experiences and gathering ideas and solutions for improvement from partners.

The Right To The Streets episodes make up the third series of the existing GM Moving podcast and aims to inspire partners and projects across Greater Manchester and wider to take the steps to create a whole system approach to addressing violence against women and girls in their local area.

people sat at table with microphones in front of them

3 women and one speaks on microphone - right o the streets podcast

I’m so excited to share the new series of The GM Moving Podcast series with everyone, it’s been so interesting and fun to get out on the streets of Trafford and speak to so many amazing guests.
I’ve loved exploring how we work together to create streets, parks and public spaces where all women and girls feel free, safe and invited to be active.
“It’s been an inspirational journey putting this series together covering everything from crime and active travel to sport, culture, urban design, and the media.
Eve Holt, Podcast host and GreaterSport Strategic Director

Episodes and guests

The series, presented by Eve Holt, Strategic Leader at GreaterSport features over 70 voices recorded in locations across Greater Manchester and Trafford, including key decision makers like Kate Green, Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor and lead for policing and crime, strategic leaders including Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester’s Nighttime Economy Adviser and most importantly lots of local voices like Ruth Hannan from the community garden project Gorgeous Gorse Hill and students from Stretford High School.

The Right To The Streets podcast takes a deep dive into the key areas that impact or influence this important agenda, including crime and community, streets and public space design, the sports world, public health and active travel. Including on-location visits to local running clubs, community centres and to the ‘theatre of dreams’ for a Manchester United home game!

We’re also pleased to welcome to the MIC production team a talented bunch of audio creators, Editor Charles Commins, Producers Danielle Porter and Sarah Leech, and Production Assistant Kate Mardon to support the making of this MIC media podcast.

Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, MIC media CEO, is delighted to be working with GreaterSport again, she adds:

MIC media is so proud to be helping to kick-start the conversation with GreaterSport and GM Moving about what makes our streets, parks and public spaces joyful, welcoming places for people to be and to be active.
Safer streets for women and girls is a campaign very close to our hearts. It’s been a real joy to gather stories, experiences and ideas from people across Greater Manchester and North Trafford who are creating the conditions in place for everyday moving and more active lives for all.
We’re really looking forward to hearing where this Right To The Streets conversation leads to!

Episodes are released every Thursday over eight weeks.

Looking for support to produce your podcast? Contact MIC here, and let’s have a chat about your podcast ideas.

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Loads of love for our women’s football podcast!

August 2, 2022August 2, 2022
by Vic

Thanks to their incredible Euros 22 Championship win, the Lionesses have changed women’s football in the UK forever. Hands-up who cried with joy when they lifted the trophy? 🙋 In April, we launched our women’s football podcast ‘Quite Unsuitable for Females’ for the National Football Museum to coincide with the championship.

Since then it’s received some cracking attention and love including apple podcasts, BBC Radio2, The Times and The Guardian!

Quite Unsuitable For Females
Listen to Quite Unsuitable For Females on Spotify.

Listen to the full series here ☝️☝️

The women’s football podcast series was created with the dream team of Meg, Rosy, Uma and Debs, the Football Museum’s Community Producers. The brilliant team received podcast training from us and went on to make the 5-episode series about women in football, it’s colourful, yet fraught and frustrating history, the team’s own experiences, and what they think the future holds for the beautiful game.

Here’s a selection of that awesome coverage for the Quite Unsuitable for Females podcast…

BBC Radio 4Xtra – Podcast Radio Hour

Meg and Rosy took a trip to the BBC studios in Salford to talk to the BC R4 Extra’s podcast showcase programme ‘Podcast Radio Hour’. They’re interviewed as part of a special show about women’s football podcasts.

Listen here 👇

Podcast Radio Hour – Women’s Football Podcasts – BBC Sounds
Catch up on your favourite BBC radio show from your favourite DJ right here, whenever you like. Listen without limits with BBC Sounds.

Apple Podcasts

The podcast makes it on the hallowed ‘new and noteworthy’ list on apple podcasts. Not only that, but it was placed at number 1 on that list! Now, any podcaster will tell you that apple’s ‘new and noteworthy’ list is a pretty sweet place to be, because it’s not driven by charts or algorithms, it’s specially curated by the lovely dudes at apple!

The Guardian and The Times

Two big UK newspapers also get in on the action and recommend the podcast to their readers.

Podbible

These guys are top eggs when it comes to showcasing podcasts and stuff going on in the podcasting community, so we’re delighted to be their ‘new pod of the week – get in!

Great British Podcasts

This weekly newsletter shouts about the best podcast episodes and guests gracing upcoming British Podcasts. Now, these chaps don’t showcase just any old podcast, so we’re pleased as punch to be included. Sign up here to receive your weekly dose of top podcasts.

Podcasting Today & Podcast Delivery

A big thanks to Podcasting Today, who are bloody lovely when it comes to shouting about MIC media stuff and ace newsletter Podcast Delivery for tooting our football podcast horn!

A massive thanks to everyone who has profiles and continues to share our women’s football podcast ‘Quite Unsuitable for Females’ – we 💖 you!

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MIC gets GM Moving with our latest clients!

June 26, 2022June 27, 2022
by Vic

Now we have no excuse to get our steps in as we announce our latest client GreaterSport. They’re a charity with a clear purpose to ‘change lives together through movement, physical activity and sport.’ We’re super excited to be producing the second series of their GM Moving podcast, which they produce on behalf GM Moving partners.

GM Moving is Greater Manchester’s (GM) movement for movement. As people, communities, and organisations, from every sector and place across the city region, pulling in the same direction, united by a shared passion and commitment to enable Active Lives for All.

MIC Media is delighted to be working with GreaterSport to produce the second series of their ‘GM Moving’ podcast. The podcast welcomes back its host Eve Holt a Strategic Director at GreaterSport, providing strategic leadership for GM Moving.

2 women sit in front of microphones recording the gm moving podcast — Eve and Tracey, the local lead for Bolton’s Local Pilot chat for the podcast

GM Moving podcast series 2

This series of the podcast is all about sharing best practices, especially around place-based, approaches to widen access and participation in moving, physical activity, and sport.

It’s come about because Greater Manchester is one of 12 places chosen by Sport England to work with to test and develop a whole-system approach to create the conditions for healthier more active communities. Over the last few years, each of the 10 boroughs have tried and tested lots of ways to encourage movement in their localities. They’ve gathered lots of valuable learnings that can be shared across the country and this is where the podcast comes in!

How MIC’s involved

We’re working with GreaterSport and other GM Moving partners to share stories about what this place-based approach to enable people to get moving looks like in action across GM. We’re supporting the whole production, from recording interviews to editing and expertly crafting each episode.

Eve Holt, Strategic Director, GreaterSport and host of the GM Moving podcast commented;

As we strive to enable Active Lives for All, it is so important to us to share the learnings with each other in GM and wider. We are continually looking for new and more accessible ways to do this. We have seen the power of people telling their stories. This is how we decided on a conversational podcast which allows each locality to share their story of what’s happening in their area, what’s worked or not, and why. And means people can listen, reflect and learn, whilst on the move!
It has been wonderful to work with Vic at MIC to do this, she helped us purchase the correct equipment, walked me through the first couple of recordings and now has the tricky job of editing our rich conversations down!

Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, founder of MIC Media is looking forward to contributing to this important movement,

We’re delighted to be working with GreaterSport for the second series of the GM Moving podcast. Everyone has a role to play to get people moving more and GM has some fabulous insight. Podcasts are a fantastic and accessible way to share authentic stories and bring to life personal experiences. We hope by hearing these episodes people and organisations from across the UK are inspired to take a similar approach for happier, healthier communities.

Series 2 of the GM Moving podcast comes out of the starting blocks later this summer. We’ll be sharing the love here on our blog and across our socials, so keep those peepers peeled!

For more information about GM Moving head over to their website right here.

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We’re Inspired to give Oldham women a global voice!

April 13, 2022April 13, 2022
by Vic

We work with Inspire Oldham to amplify the voice of their beneficiaries through a new, 4-part female-fronted podcast series called ‘That Inspire Feeling’.

Earlier this year we revealed a new project we started with our latest client Inspire Oldham. The brilliant CIC are all about supporting and listening to women. They provide services and a network where women gain new friends, confidence, self-esteem and skills. And it’s not just because we’ve been working with them since October 2021 – but we think they’re pretty brilliant.

Over 5 months, we delivered our Blended Service which combines podcast training and production, to a group of women from Inspire. On International Women’s Day 2022, the group launched the 4-part ‘That Inspire Feeling’ podcast.

Rediscovering Yourself
Listen to this episode from That Inspire Feeling on Spotify. “I feel like I matter now, my life matters.” Did you know that it’s not too late for your life to change for the better? Join Montserrat, Barbara and Claire for a chit chat to discover how they’ve taken the lead to turn their lives around.

👆👆 Listen to That Inspire Feeling podcast here 👆👆

The resulting podcast ‘That Inspire Feeling’, is designed to help other women to overcome life’s challenges. The podcast team share what’s worked for them, such as crafting and holistics and gives the listener simple advice to start giving things a go themselves. The series is a product of the team’s vibrant ideas, passions, life experiences and let’s not forget their northern humor – that’s why we get on so well with them!

a screen grab of a zoom call with 11 women waving — Vic and some of the Inspire team working their podcasting magic!

Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, MIC Media CEO reckons it’s projects like these that really exemplify why MIC exists, she adds,

“It’s been a real joy to work with Inspire. As Barbara on the podcast says ‘women deserve a voice, we deserve to be heard’. And what better way to do this than to give women the skills to podcast. Their thoughts, opinions and experiences can inspire more women.
There’s a few things that make this project extra special, 1) Most of the ladies had never listened to podcast before or didn’t know how to listen to one 2) It was all delivered and produced online – we’ve never met any of them in the flesh (we can’t wait when we do!).
We’re very proud of ‘That Inspire Feeling’ and I hope it inspires other organisations working with women to follow suit and get podcasting!

It’s not just the outcome of the podcast that Inspire Women have gained. The project has also seen the team flex their interviewing and research skills, boost their confidence and communication and see them give audio editing a whirl too.

Sally Bonnie, the founder of Inspire Women is pleased they decided to give podcasting a go, she adds ,

From the early beginnings of Inspire I had always hoped we could find a way of bringing the voices of the women into other spaces and this is such a wonderful way to do this! At the start of the project the women involved had no experience of producing podcasts; there was a lot of creative energy that I am certain Vic from MIC channeled in a beautiful, empowering way.

Sally goes onto explain that the podcasting project had a huge impact on the women involved,

As the project progressed, we saw a huge change in the confidence of the women as they shared what they were doing. As we approached our launch date there was definitely excitement in the air! One of the wonderful things was how Bernie, one of the participants, spoke about how proud she was when she told people about the podcast. She’s been showing people at her allotment and at the hospital where she’s receiving dialysis.This is a huge deal because when I first met Bernie, she was so shy and had very little confidence around others.
There are so many similar stories like this for the women involved. Vic has given such a fabulous base from where the women can grow “That Inspire feeling”; I know for sure we will continue with the journey with our StrongHer Together group and their next journey story.

One of the ladies involved in making the podcast said,

I enjoyed the podcast course very much. Prior to doing it I didn’t know what a podcast really was, Now I understand what it is, what it means and how to put one together! I enjoy looking for podcasts to listen to for my own learning and relaxation. Thank-you very much.

Now, our Blended Service ensures that this podcast does not stop after we’ve stopped working with the girls. We’ve left the team with the skills, knowledge and podcast blueprint to continue to make podcasts for and by women. We can’t wait to hear what they get up to!.

This was part of a wider community researchers and reporter project – where Inspire also worked with our social enterprise buddies Yellow Jigsaw. It’s funded by Oxfam and the National Lottery’s Awards for All Funding.

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MIC helps share inspiring Stories of Strength

April 4, 2022April 13, 2022
by Vic

MIC works with Action Together to train and guide their Women’s network to produce a podcast series of inspiring stories of strength told by women from across Rochdale in Greater Manchester.

Stories of Strength Podcast by Action Together
A collection of inspiring stories, told by Rochdale women from across all walks of life.

👆 Listen to Stories of Strength podcast series 👆

We’re once again chuffed to bits to announce the launch of a podcast that’s been made in collaboration with a bunch of brilliant not-for-profit organisations. The podcast, ‘Stories of Strength’ does what we do best, amplifies underrepresented voices – whilst upskilling the team behind it.

How it started

It all started in late 2021 when we started the Stories of Strength podcast project with Action Together, they’re a Community Interest Organisation that looks after the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in Oldham, Rochdale, and Tameside (in Greater Manchester).

How we worked

Delivering our Blended Service, we worked with their Women’s Service Network in Rochdale. The network is made up of partners including Cartwheel Arts, Soul Sisters Empowering People, Ukeff, Rochdale Mind, Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association, Rochdale Connection Trust and Rochdale Health Alliance.

We combined training and production to get them to the stage where they are ready to launch their podcast. This includes interviewing women in their network and editing the audio. They were supported also by the series’ awesome community audio producer Danielle Porter and Nichelle Cutler the Neighbourhood Facilitator for Rochdale at Action Together.

MIC Media founder and CEO Vic Turnbull adds:

The podcast is a fantastic example of how the VCSE sector can come together to give the often unheard, a voice. At the same time, showcase the incredible work that they’re doing in their localities. Both, with the potential of national and international reach. This really does demonstrate the power of podcasts – especially for the third sector. It’s been a really rewarding project for MIC media.

a group of women working around a table. The photo is taken from behind. — The Podcast Team during one of the training sessions with MIC

This multi-partner approach has resulted in a podcast that is a collection of inspiring stories from women who come from all walks of life. They include real-life stories about friends and family, migration, motherhood, relationships and health and wellbeing.

Kerry Bertram, Strategic Locality Lead, Action Together explains how the podcast came about and why it’s important,

During the community response to the pandemic, we heard so many powerful, raw and impactful stories and when we started to work with groups as the Women’s Services Network, we knew that storytelling, sharing experiences and inspiring others through women’s experiences would be a vital part of the collaborative work.
Working with Vic at MIC Media, gave not only a platform to share these stories but skills, knowledge and training on how to get those stories heard in the world. This podcast has truly been a delight to watch emerge, skillfully guided by Vic, Danielle and Nichelle, produced by an amazing group of local women and enriched with the words, stories and emotions of everyone involved.

The Stories of Strength podcast releases new episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts or simply click here.

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We jump on board with Armchair Adventures Series 2!

October 21, 2021October 20, 2021
by MIC Media

Our top banana clients Made By Mortals have launched the latest series of their hit, kids podcast Armchair Adventures. And MIC’s onboard to help them to get Connie and the gang heard by lots of Adventurers!

1: A Unity Adventure
Listen to this episode from Armchair Adventures on Spotify. “We have to sing together in one voice before real change can happen.” You’re on a quest to find the true meaning of equality in the first Adventure of Series 2!

☝ Listen to the 1st episode of series 2 here ☝

Armchair Adventures is a fun-packed, adventure-filled, imagination-fuelled podcast series for kids. Each episode is a brand-new adventure that you move and sing along to!

It’s made by Made By Mortals who are an immersive performance company based in Ashton, just outside of Manchester. The podcast’s got a wonderful story behind it, because it started life as a lockdown project. The first series launched in November 2020 and was a huge success. It received thousands of listens from across the world, received praise from HRH Prince William and Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, hit the Top 20 ‘stories for kids’ category in apple podcasts charts and was recommended by BBC Radio 2, Kids Radio and Podcast Radio. They also engaged thousands of school kids through online Armchair Adventure workshops.

Plus, if that’s not enough, Made By Mortals get over 30 local older people and 25 local musicians, scriptwriters, producers, designers, filmmakers, and actors involved to make each episode!

Image of primary school students in a classroom with their hands in the air

We’ve been working with the team to help them promote the podcast, so more kids around the world can enjoy these fun and unique adventures. Here’s more about how we work on Armchair Adventures here.

What’s it about

Armchair Adventures follows Connie, a teenager from Manchester. She has to find a way to save her parents’ travel agency business, so she reaches out to their customers for help.

Together they hatch a plan and invent a different way to take a holiday – by using your imagination!

In each episode you join Connie and her plucky gang of explorers on an exciting Armchair Adventure visiting magical places and meeting extraordinary people, from partying with the Queen to visiting a superhero’s secret lair!

Armchair Adventures is really warm, it’s funny, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s not cynical. It’s just a really really worthwhile project.
BBC Radio 4’s Podcast Radio Hour

In the Season 2 opener you’ll go on a time-traveling adventure through history with Connie and the gang. Coming up in series two of Armchair Adventures are climate-saving underwater adventures and green-fingered adventures in compost!

Listen to Armchair Aventures here

Armchair Adventures is for kids to listen on their own or together as a family or group of friends. It can be played at the weekend, as an after-school treat or at bedtime. It can be popped on during grandparent visits, or over video calls with friends – there are endless possibilities for your next adventure!

We’re so excited to see what the future holds for Armchair Adventures! Where will you go on your next adventure?

Are you looking for some pointers about how to market your podcast and build your community of listeners? Get in touch with us to see how we can help promote your podcast. Simple email our Vic, vic@MICmedia.co.uk

Events

November’s in-person, 3rd Birthday Podcast Club!

October 11, 2021October 24, 2021
by MIC Media

The FIRST in person meetup in over 18 months! Podcasters meet other folk that make podcasts – in the flesh!

Our in-person meetup is on Wednesday the 10th November 6 – 9PM

Image of women and men at an in person MIC's Podcast Club — ☝😲**Throwback to some of our podcast club members enjoying a rare in-person meetup**☝😲

Whether you are a new or OG member of the MIC’s Podcast Club, we welcome you with open arms! So come and chat about all things podcasting and meet the people behind the screen!

Join us in also celebrating MIC’s Podcast Club’s third birthday! 🎂 It was late 2018 when we started MIC’s Podcast Club and 600 members later we want to celebrate with you in person!

New MICers are welcome, if you’re a podcaster that can get to Manchester in November – join us!

😎 Who’s it for? 😎

Our community is for podcast makers and includes professional podcast producers, hobbyists and DIY creators, BBC journalists, PR specialists and radio professionals – it really is for anyone who’s crazy about podcasting.

⏲ What’s going down ⏲

This is a social, so no strict timetable, speakers etc, just a much-needed get-together for good egg podcasters.

🏢 The Venue 🏢

We’re taking over the back room of the Pen & Pencil in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. It’s just 5minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly.

Here’s the google maps link if you want to search other nearby transport links, car parks etc https://g.page/thepenandpencil?share

They have a ramp to make the entrance accessible – so message Vic if you require this for access and we can make sure they have it out. The rest of the venue is on one level.

👜What you need 👜

All you need to bring to the party is you and some money for a drink (or few!) We know that everything isn’t completely back to normal yet so there will be no judgement around the wearing of face masks or other Covid-safe precautions you may wish to take.

🙋‍♀️Attendees who regularly come to at least 3 MIC meetups receive an invite to join our exclusive invite-only Facebook group too – bonus!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Category: <span>Podcasts</span>

At MIC, we don’t just produce podcasts, we turn your ambitions into impactful audio experiences. We’re passionate about empowering social impact organisations and businesses to Grab The MIC and share their stories with the audiences that matter most.

SEND Talk – Empowering parents of children with special education needs

Curious Chats and Kind Acts – Spreading Kindness One Conversation at a Time

Ready to Make Your Voice Heard and create impactful audio?

MIC starts an ambitious, year-long podcast collaboration with the AHRC Creative Communities Programme, and their five Community Innovation Practitioners from across all four nations of the UK.

About AHRC Creative Communities

MIC’s involvement

Are you looking for a way to creatively showcase and share your outcomes and impact through podcasts and audio? Let’s have a chat.

Listen to the Advocating for Protection podcast ⬇️

The Podcast

Global Protection Cluster’s Advocacy Working Group

We’re exploring what makes the places and streets we live, work or play safe, joyful and welcoming spaces to be, with a brand-new series of The GM Moving podcast.

We’re so pleased to be partnering once more with GreaterSport and GM Moving to produce this series to accompany their pioneering Right to the Streets project.

Listen to the Right To The Streets Podcast

About the Podcast

Episodes and guests

Since then it’s received some cracking attention and love including apple podcasts, BBC Radio2, The Times and The Guardian!

BBC Radio 4Xtra – Podcast Radio Hour

Apple Podcasts

The Guardian and The Times

Podbible

Great British Podcasts

Podcasting Today & Podcast Delivery

GM Moving podcast series 2

How MIC’s involved

We work with Inspire Oldham to amplify the voice of their beneficiaries through a new, 4-part female-fronted podcast series called ‘That Inspire Feeling’.

Are you looking for guidance, support, and a bit of hand-holding to launc

MIC works with Action Together to train and guide their Women’s network to produce a podcast series of inspiring stories of strength told by women from across Rochdale in Greater Manchester.

How it started

How we worked

Are you looking for guidance, support, and a bit of hand-holding to launc

Our top banana clients Made By Mortals have launched the latest series of their hit, kids podcast Armchair Adventures. And MIC’s onboard to help them to get Connie and the gang heard by lots of Adventurers!

What’s it about

Are you looking for some pointers about how to market your podcast and build your community of listeners? Get in touch with us to see how we can help promote your podcast. Simple email our Vic, vic@MICmedia.co.uk

The FIRST in person meetup in over 18 months! Podcasters meet other folk that make podcasts – in the flesh!

😎 Who’s it for? 😎

⏲ What’s going down ⏲

🏢 The Venue 🏢

👜What you need 👜

RSVP to November’s MIC’s podcast club here (it’s free to attend)

👉👉👉 https://www.meetup.com/Micpod/events/280901877/