Raven Smith and Joel Golby Launch New BBC Podcast
The duo brings their conversational style to the booming British podcast market.
1New BBC Audio Venture
Raven Smith and Joel Golby launched their debut podcast, Please Don’t, in September 2024. Distributed via BBC Sounds and YouTube, the show features the pair discussing diverse cultural topics ranging from Japanese chicken nuggets to NASA’s social media presence. The studio is intentionally styled to replicate Smith’s own personal living room environment.
2Strategic Talent Scouting
The project originated from Lily Ames, a development executive at Reduced Listening. After observing Smith’s improvisational skills on a previous BBC commission, she identified him as a prime candidate for a dedicated show. Smith subsequently invited Golby to join as a co-host, formalizing a partnership they had discussed five years earlier.
3Market Growth Dynamics
The launch coincides with a significant surge in the British podcast industry. Since 2019, listenership has more than doubled, with 43 percent of UK adults now consuming podcasts monthly. Comedy remains a primary driver of this expansion, capturing 41 percent of weekly listeners, trailing only current affairs and general entertainment programming.
4Balancing Creative Demands
Both hosts maintain busy professional schedules outside the studio. Smith writes for Vogue and has authored two books, while Golby contributes to The Observer and recently published a memoir. Their collaborative process involves balancing highbrow cultural analysis with lowbrow observations, often debating competing takes on various trending topics during each episode.
5BBC Editorial Standards
Unlike independent podcasts that prioritize raw, unfiltered opinion, the BBC production requires rigorous fact-checking. While the hosts admire the casual nature of US podcasts like How Long Gone, they must adhere to institutional standards. This structural requirement adds a layer of complexity to their otherwise spontaneous and conversational recording sessions.
6Navigating Digital Criticism
Transitioning to a platform with 1.1 million BBC Sounds followers has required significant adjustment for the hosts. Golby, familiar with online backlash from his time on Twitter, notes that the current short-form video era intensifies public scrutiny. They now face a larger, more vocal audience that actively critiques their opinions and appearances.
7Production and Editing
The show relies on a team of production professionals to refine the hosts' stream-of-consciousness dialogue. This editorial oversight ensures that the content remains suitable for the BBC’s broad audience. While the hosts are encouraged to be mischievous, certain segments, such as specific literary recommendations, are frequently edited out of the final cut.
8Future Cultural Impact
The podcast serves as a case study in how traditional broadcasters adapt to the digital-first, algorithm-driven media landscape. By leveraging the established reach of BBC Sounds, Smith and Golby aim to capture the growing comedy demographic. Their success will likely depend on maintaining their authentic rapport while navigating the constraints of institutional broadcasting.
Original article: The Independent – Culture — Raven Smith and Joel Golby Launch New BBC Podcast