4 minute read
The Gospel According To... Pod Save The UK
“WE'RE GREAT BELIEVERS IN THE POWER OF HUMOUR TO CUT THROUGH THE NONSENSE”
THEY MAY BE THE NEWBIES ON THE POLITICAL PODCAST BLOCK BUT NISH KUMAR AND COCO KHAN ARE COMING IN HOT (AND FIRING STRAIGHT TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS) WITH NEW SHOW POD SAVE THE UK. WE SAT DOWN WITH OUR NEW SAVIOURS TO DISCUSS FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF POD SAVE AMERICA, MAKING SENSE OF THE CONSTANT CHAOS AND THE PODCASTS THAT HELP THEM SWITCH OFF...
PB: TELL US ABOUT OFF AIR WITH JANE AND FI ! WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PODCAST ELEVATOR PITCH?
Coco: A progressive politics podcast from an outsider's perspective, where the listener isn't talked down to and instead lifted up and encouraged to engage in politics - all through the prism of hope and humour.
CAN A PODCAST ACTUALLY SAVE THE UK?
Nish: Probably not, but we’ll give it a damn good go. I’m hoping that by asking experts questions about the things that really matter to a lot of us, we can start trying to find solutions to some of the problems facing the country. But look, at the end of the day it’s probably not going to be a podcast that saves us, but the studios are booked so we should realistically press on with it.
HOW SIMILAR TO POD SAVE AMERICA WILL THE NEW SHOW BE?
Nish: Definitely different by virtue that John, John and Tommy actually have worked in politics and can explain how the sausage is made. Coco and I are more firmly on the side of the sausage consumers (this metaphor has got away from me), so unlike the founders of the company we aren’t experts and won’t be pretending to be.
Coco: We'd love to emulate the rapport between the hosts and the no-bullshit approach you can only really get between actual friends, rather than professionals shoved together for the sake of a podcast.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF MAKING THE SHOW SO FAR?
Nish: Working with Coco has been an absolute dream. We’ve been friends for a long time and I am delighted to have contractually obligated her to hang out with me every week. I look forward to a day when I can force all my friends to spend time with me by paying them money.
WHAT KIND OF DYNAMIC CAN LISTENERS EXPECT FROM YOU AS CO-HOSTS?
Coco: We're great believers in the power of humour to cut through the nonsense, and being relentless optimists we genuinely believe change is possible. We're outside the Westminster bubble ourselves and want to represent that position - we want to represent the listener. If you ever find yourself watching politics on TV and feel frustrated that everyone seems like they are on another planet, this is the podcast for you. Plus, there's a lot of jokes.
COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE GUESTS YOU ARE LIKELY TO HAVE ON THE PODCAST?
Coco: We want to pass the mic to people out there doing good work to make Britain a more equitable place. This is people from inside and outside Westminster -from activists to political scientists, authors and artists.
WHO’S YOUR DREAM GUEST FOR POD SAVE THE UK?
Nish: Marcus Rashford, both for his good work and also so I could meet Marcus Rashford.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL PODCAST?
Nish: Obviously the Crooked Media output, but I also really loved being a small part of About Race – a series Reni Eddo Lodge did a few years ago. It was really excellent and is available to download still. Slow Burn is also always great, whether it’s political or about Biggie and Tupac.
WHICH PODCASTS AWAY FROM THE WORLD OF POLITICS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
Coco: I listen to every Guardian Long Read - I love the depth and breadth of it - and I am partial to a true crime series. Naturally, Serial excel at the narrative series but I also love a self-contained case explored in a single episode, like with Casefile with its almost deadpan, factual approach. And for warm, genuine rapport, the pop culture series, How Did It Get Made cannot be beat.
Nish: I think people would be surprised by the number of football pods I listen to, including Stadio and Guardian Football Weekly.
FINALLY, IN THREE WORDS, WHY SHOULD PEOPLE SUBSCRIBE?
Nish: I am nice.
