ESC101 - A Eurovision History Podcast

Which episode should someone start with?

If you are new to ESC101, I would recommend starting with a Eurovision Travel Guide episode. These episodes look at a country at the Eurovision Song Contest and it provides the best context in understanding the context and the political and cultural influences that occur in the background of the contest. It also explains some of the iconic entries in the contest and gives a perspective on understanding the contest as a whole.

Which have been your favourite episodes so far?

It's a toss-up between my collaboration with the Mates in Space Podcast discussing outer space references in the contest and the feasibility of hosting Eurovision on the moon and the episode on the AVRO Studios, where I got to explore photo archives of the venue of the 1958 contest, learning about the facility through photographs and giving the listeners essentially an audio-guided tour of the place which is no longer a television studio.

Which episode are you most proud of?

Can I be proud of all of them? Each one has been such a joy to put together because I'm constantly learning new things each time I put an episode together. If I have to pick one, I would go with Episode 21 - 2100: Eurovision...in Space! (Feat. Mates in Space). It was an honour to have others to bounce ideas off of and to have a semi-serious and scientifically rooted discussion about the logistics of space and what potential we have with Eurovision and the Moon!

What is your vision for your show?

I want my show to be a library of Eurovision history, collecting the stories of artists, hosts, creators, and countries to serve as a testament to the longevity of the contest and to show how much of an impact the contest has had on the wider world, from the most famous acts like ABBA and Celine Dion to the obscure artists who never gained success to those whose names never get celebrated or remembered. I want ESC101 to be a place to celebrate and remember everyone, not just the famous & iconic.

What is your favourite other podcast that isn't yours?

The Douze Points Podcast holds a special place in my heart, they are the ones that helped to inspire me to do my own show. I also love shows hosted on the P. Zinner Network, shows like Mates in Space, Best Left Forgotten, and Please Attend Carefully. I also have my fair share of Eurovision related podcasts I listen to like the Eirevision Podcast and I have non-Eurovision related shows I enjoy such as Gabbin in the Woods and the Power Gamer Podcast!

How did you come up with the name for your podcast?

Thankfully the name has simple origins. I took the abbreviation of Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and added 101 to it, symbolizing that the podcast is educational, like a classroom without the tests and expectations of memorization, as well as 101 being a basic introduction to the history of the contest, going right to the origins of the various artists and hosts of the contest, as well as elements of the contest itself, the music, the production, the interval acts, conductors, etc.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I have a background in history and religious studies, earning 2 bachelors and 1 masters degrees. I have been a Eurovision fan since 2017 when I discovered the contest in a University seminar discussing European integration, and I've followed the contest every year since. I enjoy travelling, visiting 23 countries, and my dream is to live in Europe and casually cross international borders just to have lunch! I also enjoy culinary experimentation and I love discovering new flavours to work with!