Callam Davidson, Sam Datta-Paulin, and Jim Haake run the Pint of Science Podcast. The show stems from the annual Pint of Science Festival, which brings scientists from all over the world out of their labs and into bars to share their research with the public. Because let’s face it, nobody wants to spend an evening stuck in a dark lecture theatre!
Since launching in 2013, the festival has grown rapidly. Last year it attracted more than 130,000 attendees across 25 countries and hundreds of cities. Each event provides a space for researchers and the public to come together, be curious, and chat about science in a relaxed setting. It’s a simple concept. And it clearly works.
Last year also saw the launch of the Pint of Science Podcast, which now extends the reach of the festival beyond the live events. Callam, Sam, and Jim recorded a series of interviews with scientists in pubs, discussing everything from how fruit flies love to why humans love, via jumping into volcanoes, winning Olympic medals, and more!
In this interview, James Deeney speaks with Callam and Sam about how they used podcasting to capture the essence of the festival and share it with a wider audience. They discuss:
- 01:30 - Callam’s career background
- 02:33 - Sam’s career background
- 04:45 - Origins of the Pint of Science Festival
- 07:45 - The expanding international reach of the festival
- 08:30 - Motivations for starting the Pint of Science Podcast
- 09:50 - How Callam, Sam, and Jim produced the first season
- 12:30 - Choosing and booking the right guests
- 14:30 - Strategies for promoting the launch of the podcast
- 17:50 - Callam and Sam’s personal highlights from the first season
- 24:10 - Key lessons learned that will shape the production of season two
- 28:30 - Producing bonus episodes
- 30:00 - Why organic content discovery makes podcasting unique
- 31:15 - The benefits of uploading your podcast to YouTube
- 32:30 - How to find the right sponsor for your podcast
- 36:02 - Why podcasts are perfect for sharing science with the public
- 39:31 - Callam and Sam’s top science podcast recommendations
Selected Links From the Episode
Pint of Science: Podcast | Website | Twitter | Facebook
Pint of Science, BBC The One Show
Professor Dame Sue Black, Pint of Science Podcast
Professor Chris Jackson, Pint of Science Podcast
Randall Munroe, Pint of Science Podcast
