Podcats Library
Who are Podcats?
Podcats was launched in July 2005 by radio presenter and producer Jane Markham to make Podcasts and Internet audio to national broadcast production values . Whether those podcasts are for as wide an audience as possible - as in our work with the RSPB - or aimed at just a few hundred people in a Business to Business environment our podcasts look to be entertaining, informative and thought provoking. And we understand the importance pitching the tone of our output to the listeners you want to reach.
What people say about us:
The most recent accolade - a Blog review of Nature's Voice - posted by Born Again Birdwatcher, John Riutta (thanks John and I promise I've never met him before! Jane) on August 20th 2007
'Being one of the most enthusiastic non-British members of the RSPB as well as an unrepentant podcast junkie, I'm not sure how I missed the release to the virtual airwaves of the new Nature's Voice podcast. So when I learned of it yesterday from the most recent edition of the E-Newsletter of that fine organization, I immediately loaded all three editions into the trusty iPod and gave it a good listen.
To everyone at the RSPB: brilliant work all, brilliant work indeed.
The monthly episodes, each just under 20 minutes in length, contain three or four stories each. So as not to be unrelentingly serious, longer opening pieces (for instance, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales speaking on the subject of albratros conservation) are well balanced by shorter, more lighthearted pieces (such as the eminent writer Dominic Couzzens explaining what type of bird he would most like to be). In this way there is something to hold the interest of all listeners regardless of their level of interest in bird conservation topics.
The choice of Jane Markham to act as hostess is precisely the right one. This is not to take anything away from the sparkling and energetic voice of Kate Humble, hostess of the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch podcasts of earlier this year. (Congratulations are of couse due, by the way, to Ms. Humble as well as Chris Packham on their recent respective elevations to vice presidencies of the RSPB.) Ms. Humble's voice conveyed the needed energy and enthusiasm for what was a time-sensitive activity (the Big Garden Birdwatch itself). Ms. Markham's eminently British diction combines with her soft, throaty (dare I even go so far as "sultry?") voice to produce just the right tone for these new podcasts, more relaxed yet wholly inviting. The fact that this level of presentation talent seems to be fully supported by a superb audio recording studio (as opposed to other podcasts out there which can sound as if they are being recorded inside a small tin can) makes the Nature's Voice podcast very easy to listen to indeed.
My only regret is that as the most recent edition was uploaded to the web on August 18, it will be another month before the next episode is released. In the meantime, downloading the existing episodes in order to "get up to speeed" would be an excellent idea. Of course, don't forget to enter a subscription to it as well so you'll be sure to get the new eposide just as soon as it is released.
Peace and good bird watching'.
Podcats makes a Business to Business podcast for Amdocs for Penknife Design
'Podcats are a truly fantastic resource and one that we at Penknife Design would recommend without hesitation.
Jane and her team assisted in every aspect of the development of our campaign podcast, from recommending equipment for a remote recording in the USA, to to the recording, editing and jingle creation of the European version. They even assisted with many technical issues which would be considered outside their remit, as well as script editing, liaison with 3rd party suppliers and client entertainment.
Podcats responded quickly, professionally and with a superb attitude to whatever we threw at them - which was sometimes little short of unreasonable!
We will most definitely be working together again.
Robert Webb
Director
Penknife Design Limited
and Bruce Chandley at Podcast Bunker sent us this, in response to our material for the RSPB:
'Excellent quality audio and great content. It is so nice to hear excellent productions such as this. Your listing will be up on the Podcast Bunker today. Thanks and produce them more often than quarterly!'
The Team
Jane Markham's career started as a newsreader for BBC Radio One's Newsbeat programme and continued with stints at FOX FM in Oxfordshire where she won a Sony Radio Award as producer and presenter of their evening news magazine programme, she presented music and news programmes for Classic FM, has produced a documentary series for the BBC World Service and after three years presenting the Morning Show for Saga 105.7fm in the West Midlands she can now be heard on Sounds Across Midnight for them. She is also a voiceover artist and reads audio books. More details at www.janemarkham.co.uk
Bob Jones can be heard as a newsreader and reporter for Classic FM and with BFBS Forces Radio and has worked as a presenter and producer for the World Service and BBC Wales amongst other radio stations. He is a voiceover artist, a talented portrait photographer and web designer and has recently trained as a Career Development Coach. For more details you can access his website at www.bobjonesonline.co.uk
Bill Broomfield joins us as we expand into Vidcasting. He has twenty plus years experience as a film and video cameraman having trained at the BBC in the 1980s. He went freelance in the mid 1990s and has both drama and documentary credits including a Bafta for his drama photography and an Emmy nomination for his work on the documentary series The Human Face with John Cleese. He also directed the BBC television drama series First Degree. For more details and to see some of his work go to www.billbroomfield.com
Kevin Jackson's career in antiques started at the age of 14 when he took a Saturday job at Biddle and Webb the auctioneers in Birmingham. He worked his way up at the firm to become head of their fine arts department. He has a particular interest in toys which is where his interest in the collectables scene started. He has appeared on both the BBC's Bargain Hunt and Flog It as a regular antiques expert and is adept with dealing with questions about antiques of all kinds on radio phone ins for BBC Radio 2 and Saga 105.7fm in the West Midlands. He is now a partner in www.delphisantiques.com trading via their ebay store which is where you can see (and bid for) many of the antiques he talks about on his weekly podcast.
We also have a broad network of journalists, presenters, producers and technicians to call upon as and when they are needed.