Welcome to The Listening Post, where each week we get an insight into the radio listening habits of a guest contributor. Once each person has made their picks, we ask them to nominate someone for the following week's Listening Post...
Our previous Listening Post was provided by Hattie Pearson, who is a presenter on Radio X, hosting in the small hours of 1-4 AM, Monday to Friday. You can view her recommendations here.
Hattie has nominated Kate Cocker to provide the next Listening Post. Kate has produced radio for 16 years at networks including BBC Radio 6 Music and she most recently use to run Key 103 in Manchester. Kate is now The Presenter Coach, working with presenters on a one to one basis to get them to be the best they can be!
Check out her recommendations below...
Read moreDance around your kitchen
1. Williamsburg Brunch Playlist
"Do you get that thing where you find something and want everyone you know to listen to it?? I can't even remember what got me to find this playlist but I recommend it to everyone. It's a mix of cool quirky indie (Cold War Kids, The Decemberists, Foster The People) and quality cooler end pop (fun., Rizzle Kicks and Justin Timberlake). It's regularly updated and always a pleasure to listen to on shuffle. Slightly edgy, slightly chilled, slightly mainstream with enough of a dollop of hipster irony that it is quite loveable. Dance round your kitchen why don't you. Thanks FILTR (you crazy cats for missing a vowel)."
>> Listen here
Patti Smith and her actual inflections
2. Patti Smith 'Just Kids'
"Last year I turned 'running' in to 'reading' when I started to take my Audible subscription seriously. Having once found it hard to get in to books, tending to fall asleep any time I sat down to read, Audible saved me from descending down a teenage fiction only rabbit hole. My favourite experience was listening to Patti Smith read her book Just Kids, the story of her time in New York with Robert Mapplethorpe. The best bit is that you get to hear actual Patti Smith and her actual inflections. The word 'pillow' will never ever sound as cool as it does when Patti says it."
>> Listen here
Manchester's Vibrant Music Scene
3. Storytime With Boon
"This is what podcasts were made for. Inspiral Carpets keyboard player and Radio X broadcaster Clint Boon tells stories from his years in Manchester's vibrant music scene. They aren't what you think. Yeah Noel Gallagher was the Inspirals (Inspiral Carpets) Roadie and once he stole a giant fan off the back of a lorry for the drummer Craig. But did you know that Clint has had a hand in supporting most of the North's successes? Elbow AND Alfie Boe! In addition, the stories are then corroborated with a phone call from said super star! The podcast ends with a song from an unsigned Manchester band - Clint continues to play his part in the Manchester music scene. It's class."
>> Listen here
Great music, perfect tone
4. Chris Hawkins on BBC Radio 6 Music
"To say that Chris' show is a new discovery is a lie - I've had the privilege of producing the show in the past - but it feels like a discovery. Playing at being a mother and an entrepreneur means I'm often up at 5.30am: I am now a real life listener to Chris' programme and I love it. Great music, perfect tone for that time of day, and it sets me up with the info that I need. A recent highlight is the '5 before 6' tracks. One of the ever wonderful 6 Music listeners recommends 5 tracks for the week, each played before 6am. Consistently brilliant."
>> Listen here
What goes on in a presenter's head
5. Game Changers: radio with Craig Bruce
"I heart presenters. So does Australian Programming Guru Craig Bruce. He and I both coach them, and are fascinated by the type of people they are. So Craig started to interview them and he made a podcast out of it. It's wonderful to hear the likes of Hamish Blake talk about how he forms ideas for his radio show, or Marty Sheargold discussing losing his on air partner and working out how to re-invent his relationship with his listeners after a full year off air. Season 1 & 2 are interviews with Australian presenters. Season 3 will be interviews with presenters in the UK including Nick Ferarri, Christian O Connell and Mike Toolan (Starts October 3rd). It really is worth checking out if you want to hear what goes on in a presenter's head, as asked by a programmer who has always wanted to know."
>> Listen here
The next Listening Post
"I'd like to nominate Tim Cocker for the next Listening Post. Tim Cocker is the evening show presenter on Virgin Radio UK playing great tunes till you go to sleep! His passion is rugby and he hosts the weekly Eggchasers Rugby Podcast. You can see him pop up in a killer pair of shoes as a pitchside reporter on BT Sport from time to time. He is also my husband (full disclosure) and we talk about radio, podcasts and music ALL the time, so thought he would be a great nomination."
Keep an eye on our Twitter for Tim's post next week...
