THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO... Lou Sanders

“WITH PODCASTS YOU TALK MORE CANDIDLY AND DON’T HAVE TO BRUSH YOUR HAIR.”

A PODCAST ABOUT CUDDLING? SIGN US UP! BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT. WE CAUGHT UP WITH LOU SANDERS TO DISCUSS CUDDLE CLUB, A POD THAT GOES WAY DEEPER THAN YOU FIRST EXPECT AND WILL HAVE YOU LAUGHING SO MUCH YOU'LL NEED A CUDDLE TO CALM DOWN.

PB: TELL US ABOUT TOUR SHOW! WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PODCAST ELEVATOR PITCH?

LS: Woman asks nosy questions to comedians and strangers. No, it’s really a way into relationships. I’m fascinated by what makes people who they are. Was your mum an asshole? Do you have commitment issues? And what gives you a drive? It’s that kind of thing, but funnier.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE PODCAST MEDIUM THAT INITIALLY APPEALED TO YOU?

You don’t have to wait get it commissioned. Low effort – me, the mic, a guest and THE TRUTH. But actually I like all the mediums, it’s nice to do different things on each one. With podcasts you talk more candidly and don’t have to brush your hair.

WERE YOU INSPIRED OR INFLUENCED BY ANY EXISTING PODCASTS OR PODCASTERS AT THE TIME?

God no. Podcasters are scum bags. No, I love the podcasts that are nothing like mine. I think Esther Perel’s Where Should We Begin is incredible and should be on the school curriculum.

AFTER OVER 130 EPISODES, WHAT TOP TIP WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN ASPIRING PODCAST HOST?

Just do it. And know that you will get better the more you do. Try and find a niche if you can but not as niche and tongue-in-cheek as cuddling. That was a mistake. But you don’t know if you will like something unless you do it. And podcasts are quite cheap to get started on. I would say you need to learn a bit about marketing. And then let me know what you’ve found.

AND WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT CUDDLING IN THAT TIME?

Not as much as you think but I’ve learnt a lot about people; we’re all basically the same, running around with wounds, all trying to be happy. And you cannot make your cats cuddle you, but that’s not podcast based. That’s pure life experience I’m passing on there.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE FORMAT OF YOUR SHOW? DO YOU FIND IT HELPS OPEN UP ROUTES TO EXPLORING DEEPER TOPICS?

I don’t think it’s important at all, sometimes I think you have to be open to go somewhere else. It’s nice to have a jump off point but a lot of the time you don’t need it. Having said that it does suit some people and some audiences like the familiarity of a structure week-in week-out. I guess you gotta hang your hat somewhere – is that a phrase? I don’t think that’s a relevant phrase.

WITH THAT IN MIND, WHICH OF YOUR GUESTS HAVE SURPRISED YOU MOST?

Sindhu Vee, with an answer to one question, after which, we didn’t need anything else. It was phenomenal, I think she surprised herself by detailing her childhood and recounting things she’d not really unpicked before. It was like a film; so many twists and turns. I was weeping, of course.

FINALLY, WHICH PODCASTS ARE YOU ENJOYING AT THE MOMENT?

My Therapist Ghosted Me and Secret Artists with Annie McGrath!