“So Neil. What’s your secret sauce?” is a question I’m often asked. However, as you know by now, I run an audio production company, not a kebab van, so I always assume that the question means “How do you make wonderful, engaging and effective podcasts?”.

Well, good news, because the answers are here:

• My favourite branded podcast blogger, Steve Pratt of Pacific Content in Vancouver, has written a superb piece on this very subject. The answer seems to be “Bloody hard work”, which I also covered in a previous piece of my own.
• We’re revealing our secret sauce in a brand new podcast about making podcasts. Audio is what we do, audio is what we’re good at, so audio is the best way for us to tell you how to make your own.

It’s called Fresh Ears, and we’re sharing this with you, our beloved reader, ahead of everyone else. Every episode we sit down to dissect one of our projects with the brand client and the producer. What was striking was how much our brands really wanted to take part, they loved the process as much as we did, and saw the impact it had on their business. So take a listen to the trailer and subscribe on your normal podcast app. Episode 1 comes out next week!

And whilst you’re waiting for Episode 1, here’s a few of our Friday recommends as normal. Enjoy:

Murder in the Graveyard

Recommended by Paul Russell, our comedy impresario:

I'm a sucker, as so many people are, for a good true crime podcast. This one isn't the best true crime podcast out there - but it's a must listen due to the story that's told. It centres on the horrific murder, back in September 1972, of Wendy Sewell in the Peak district town of Bakewell. A 17 year old groundskeeper with learning difficulties was charged and imprisoned for the murder. The podcast tells the story of the murder and the heroic work of a local newspaper journalist Don Hale, who was asked by the family to help and then spent the next 21 years trying to find out exactly what happen and get justice for the man concerned - Stephen Dowling.

Presenter and producer Lucy Dichmont tells the story of what became the longest miscarriage of justice in British legal history. Listening to the truly shocking details behind what happened, I felt so angry that we have a legal system that allows someone who knows they are innocent to languish in jail for decades.The repercussions of this case are rippling through the legal world even now.

The Habitat

I love it when strong storytelling and science combine. Made from the audio diaries of six people living in a small bubble for a year, this short series explores what living on Mars could look like… Warts, blocked toilets, and all. From trekking to the “Mars” bubble on a Hawaiian mountain, to the frustration of hearing someone play a didgeridoo in a confined space, this is a perfect example of how audio transports listeners and made me feel like another participant in the experiment. Plus, the additional clips from NASA’s archive highlight the shocking realities of being an astronaut.

Broken Record

And from Melvin Rickarby, a great music recommend:

I love the Broken Record podcast, described as 'liner notes for the digital age'. Which sounds quite nerdy, but actually, what you get is one of the best music podcasts around. Great interviews with (in the last few episodes) - the Beastie Boys and Spike Jonze, Lucinda Williams, RZA. And in the latest edition - Huey Lewis! It's not just 80s nostalgia, though there is a bit of that. The hosts are really good at drawing out stories, and you hear about Huey's crazy life growing up, Huey and Alan Ginsberg, Huey's health scares - loads of really personal stories.

Broken Record is especially good when author and New Yorker journalist Malcolm Gladwell hosts - he always brings an extra layer of craft and insight to the interview. But the whole archive is worth checking out.

What we’ve been listening to:

The sound of my own tooth being pulled out. Yes, an emergency molar extraction, ladies and gentlemen. 5 minutes of a man pulling with some pliers and then a cracking sound effect that will live me forever.

Apart from that, we’ve been listening through and putting the finishing touches to a podcast we’re launching next week with the wonderful Nihal. It’s emotional, beautiful, eye-opening and brilliant.

What have we been doing this week?

Well there was the tooth thing.

But so much more besides, delivering the following:

A new episode of “The Energy Podcast by Shell” looking at the future of artificial intelligence

The Reality Tea had Erika Owens of 90 day finance as their special guest.

The third episode of our series for UCL - 50 years of life in Britain - we’re up to the best decade ever - the 90s.

Chelcee Grimes’s guest was Nathalie Emmanuel from a little show called Game of Thrones.

Shirley Ballas (who’s broken her ankle, poor thing) explores attitudes to spending in retirement in our show for Legal & General and our partners at 4DC - Rewirement.