Michele! Welcome back! I must admit I didn't see "Off menu" coming - I'm a big fan, and the way Ed and James "yes and" their guests into surprising and deep revelations has been a great joy. I will check out the Radio Diaries on your recommendation.
I also really used to enjoy David Hepworth and Mark Ellen on their podcasts for the Word magazine (RIP) - a quick search reveals they are still doing this under the banner "A word in your ear" which for some reason had dropped off my podcast feed. I also enjoy the way Elizabeth Day extracts insight on her How to Fail podcast - with that journalists' ear for a story, inviting her guests to open up in a respectful, empathetic way.
Thanks for the recommendations! I just downloaded the A Word in Your Ear episode on Britpop, and a How to Fail one with an actor from Modern Family. Will give them a listen on my walks over the next few days :)
I got into Off Menu this summer, and I'm genuinely blown away at their interviewing skills. They're able to pull so much out of their guests. I'm also enjoying Louis Theroux's podcast lately, and considered whether I should include it, but he doesn't quite neatly typify particular skills in a clear way like Off Menu and Studs Terkel do. He did an episode with Amelia Dimoldenberg that has an interesting dynamic as *both* of them are professional interviewers, and she ended up turning the table on him quite a bit.
Aha! Sometimes the Hepworth/Ellen conversations are just two blokes reminiscing (they Saw It All in UK pop in the 70s, 80s and 90s), when they have a guest it's really good fun.
I know what you mean about Louis Theroux. I think he, and Adam Buxton (who I love!) do well because they have give their guests space and aren't too focused on finding the next great question or next funny line. Jon Ronson also does this stuff, more journalistically, and offers up more analysis when he's spoken to a number of people around a theme.
I just listened to Adam Buxton for the first time a few weeks ago! I'm a big David Sedaris fan and a friend recommended two episodes Buxton did with Sedaris. I really enjoyed his style. He comes across as thoughtful and emotionally-attuned.
My favorite interviewer, whom I mentioned in the book, is Terry Gross. She really knows how to get guests to feel comfortable and open up.
Michele! Welcome back! I must admit I didn't see "Off menu" coming - I'm a big fan, and the way Ed and James "yes and" their guests into surprising and deep revelations has been a great joy. I will check out the Radio Diaries on your recommendation.
I also really used to enjoy David Hepworth and Mark Ellen on their podcasts for the Word magazine (RIP) - a quick search reveals they are still doing this under the banner "A word in your ear" which for some reason had dropped off my podcast feed. I also enjoy the way Elizabeth Day extracts insight on her How to Fail podcast - with that journalists' ear for a story, inviting her guests to open up in a respectful, empathetic way.
Thanks for the recommendations! I just downloaded the A Word in Your Ear episode on Britpop, and a How to Fail one with an actor from Modern Family. Will give them a listen on my walks over the next few days :)
I got into Off Menu this summer, and I'm genuinely blown away at their interviewing skills. They're able to pull so much out of their guests. I'm also enjoying Louis Theroux's podcast lately, and considered whether I should include it, but he doesn't quite neatly typify particular skills in a clear way like Off Menu and Studs Terkel do. He did an episode with Amelia Dimoldenberg that has an interesting dynamic as *both* of them are professional interviewers, and she ended up turning the table on him quite a bit.
Aha! Sometimes the Hepworth/Ellen conversations are just two blokes reminiscing (they Saw It All in UK pop in the 70s, 80s and 90s), when they have a guest it's really good fun.
I know what you mean about Louis Theroux. I think he, and Adam Buxton (who I love!) do well because they have give their guests space and aren't too focused on finding the next great question or next funny line. Jon Ronson also does this stuff, more journalistically, and offers up more analysis when he's spoken to a number of people around a theme.
I just listened to Adam Buxton for the first time a few weeks ago! I'm a big David Sedaris fan and a friend recommended two episodes Buxton did with Sedaris. I really enjoyed his style. He comes across as thoughtful and emotionally-attuned.
My favorite interviewer, whom I mentioned in the book, is Terry Gross. She really knows how to get guests to feel comfortable and open up.