How to Grow a Pod
How to tell stories in sound
How to Grow a Pod is the retreat for people who want to find a voice for their passion project, their product, their book.
So, how do you know if you could be a podcaster?
Maybe you like your day job but you want somewhere fun to play with your toys. Maybe you want someone else to play with your toys with you. Perhaps you want to play with your toys while a whole load of people who also like your toys listen to you. Throw in a little envy from your listeners and you may well have your pearl. Welcome, you’re a podcaster.
Maybe you’re not really driven by making money but you quite fancy the idea of taking Fridays off. Life-work balance is your goal, and you want to build a community, have some fun and learn something new. Sounds to me like you’re self-employed, running your own business or working freelance, choosing your own terms over the payroll, lower stress levels over company ambitions. You’re used to making it up as you go along. You’re like me, an adventurer, an entrepreneur, a lateral thinker, a ducker, a diver, a podcaster.
Maybe you’re on the payroll but you’re bursting with ideas that your boss just doesn’t understand. You’re a communicator, a storyteller, a networker and you’ve got an idea that will use the best of your talents to get the company message out into the world. You love listening to podcasts. You’ve got a voice and something to say. You’re a podcaster in search of a podcast. Come on in.
Or maybe you just want to change the world.
After ten years of podcasting, including the award-winning Cooking the Books and The Food Foundation podcasts, and the pioneering delicious.podcast for delicious. magazine which was nominated for a Fortnum and Mason award at just six months old, I'm here to open the door to a whole new world. I've literally written the book.
Over two days, I'll teach you how I make podcasts. Using my skills as a journalist, former TV and radio producer and entrepreneur to create compelling storytelling, formatted magazine programmes and chat shows, we'll drill into what you want to say, to whom, and why.
I'll show you how to save your pennies by using less gear to make more story. I'll teach you how to save time in the edit by creating clearer briefs. I'll show you how to get your podcast into the world.
The next How to Grow a Pod retreat is December 13-14 2025. For just £400, you'll get a gorgeous room overlooking our wild flower meadows just outside Lewes in East Sussex, delicious food and plenty of excellent company. You need no equipment - just plenty of ideas and passion for your project.
Email gilly@gillysmith.com to book.
