Five Fun Years: We tell our story

In the special Anniversary episode of "Fun With Bells," roles were reversed. Cathy Booth – usually the host – found herself on the other side of the microphone. Emily Roderick took over as the interviewer. She asked Cathy about the podcast's history, process, and behind-the-scenes stories. They also reflected on earlier episodes.

Cathy introduced the episode with a poem which shows the range of topics explored by the podcast.

Behind the Scenes of Fun with Bells

Cathy offers a revealing peek into the world of podcasting. She recounts the moment of inspiration for creating the podcast and how she learnt to do it. Cathy has also used background in IT and her professional experience of interviewing.

Emily quizzed Cathy on the making of each episode. Every episode involves contributions from Cathy, Emily, Roger, John, Anne, and Emily Watts,. This includes guest coordination, technical checks, recording, editing, and final publication. After the episode is ready, it needs to be publicised.

It's worth noting that each episode is now accessible as a video on YouTube.

Our Audience

Cathy explained that the podcast is aimed at bell-ringing beginners. But anyone interested in bell ringing might enjoy it. Emily concurs, noting that she has learnt about things she hadn't thought of before.

 A Juggle of Topics

Between discussions, the episode provides extracts from earlier episodes on the following topics:

• amusing stories about ringers' attire

• tips for better ringing

• how to record your bells;

• intriguing historical facts about bell ringing; and

• new learners' discussions on their first year of ringing.

Looking into the Future

Looking ahead, Cathy has lots of ideas for upcoming episodes. These include one to be recorded at the upcoming ART conference on the future of ringing.

She invites listeners to suggest ideas for future episodes and to join the podcast team.

Conclusion

Here’s to another five years (and counting) of exploring the world of bell ringing with the Fun With Bells podcast. Enjoy listening (or watching) and remember to share the joy of bell ringing!