How I Found My Voice and Texting Keith Olbermann

05/02/19 • 59 min

Amanda Litherland speaks to Samira Ahmed and producer Farah Jassat about How I Found My Voice, and to Ros Atkins and Eli Sessions about Texting Keith Olbermann.

How I Found My Voice is the podcast that explores how some of the world's greatest artists and thinkers became such compelling - and unique - communicators. This Intelligence Squared podcast goes behind the celebrity to understand the journeys and inspirations that led to this moment - from writing a childhood diary to that life-changing concert or finding the courage to speak up. Hosted by Samira Ahmed, guests include Rose McGowan, Adam Buxton, Philip Pullman, Katherine Ryan and Benjamin Zephaniah. Produced by Farah Jassat.

Texting Keith Olbermann: One night in 2016, BBC News anchor Ros Atkins was retweeted by the legendary American broadcaster Keith Olbermann. The comment? “Thank God you’re back."

Two years on, despite having never met, Keith and Ros were texting each other almost every day. Keith would send pictures of his dogs, the view from his Manhattan penthouse or the oysters that he was eating. He'd also send details of his latest ratings and thoughts on Ros's show. He even sponsored the match ball at the tiny football club at the end of Ros's road in London.

In Texting Keith Olbermann, Ros Atkins asks Keith what everyone was asking him: why is he doing it? And as Ros's wife realises he's texting Keith more than anyone apart from her, she has the same question for him. Two parallel conversations play out, as we hear funny, fascinating and sometimes awkward explorations of fame, money, death threats, being a TV anchor, and the backstories to some of the most notorious moments of Keith's career. We also find out what happens to this unconventional friendship when they meet in person.

Amanda Litherland speaks to Samira Ahmed and producer Farah Jassat about How I Found My Voice, and to Ros Atkins and Eli Sessions about Texting Keith Olbermann.

Texting Keith Olbermann: One night in 2016, BBC News anchor Ros Atkins was retweeted by the legendary American broadcaster Keith Olbermann. The comment? “Thank God you’re back."

Previous Episode

Caroline Crampton: The Lonely Palette and Flash Forward

Amanda Litherland is joined by Caroline Crampton to recommend great podcasts.

This week, they recommend two independent podcasts and speak to their creators.

The Lonely Palette is an art history podcast by Tamar Avishai. In each episode Tamar focuses on one work of art and looks into the movement, the social context, the anecdotes, and anything and everything else that will make it as exciting to you as it is to her.

Flash Forward is a podcast about the future by Rose Eveleth. Each episode takes on a possible (or not so possible) future scenario — everything from the existence of artificial wombs, to what would happen if space pirates dragged a second moon to Earth.

Next Episode

Audio Fiction with Ella Watts

Ella Watts joins Amanda Litherland to dive into the rich world of audio fiction. Featuring US podcast The Bright Sessions, UK series The Magnus Archives and BBC Sounds' Forest 404. Also featuring conversations with creators Lauren Shippen, Becky Ripley and Rusty Quill CEO Alexander J Newall.

The Bright Sessions is a science fiction podcast that follows a group of therapy patients. But these are not your typical patients - each has a unique supernatural ability. The show documents their struggles and discoveries as well as the motivations of their mysterious therapist, Dr. Bright. The show is written and directed by Lauren Shippen.

Set in the 24th Century in a world where forests have been erased from history, Forest 404 is an immersive sci-fi thriller starring Pearl Mackie, Tanya Moodie and Pippa Haywood – with original music by Bonobo. The series is accompanied by a series of talks and soundscapes which further explore questions and themes of technology, nature and climate change.

The Magnus Archives is a podcast by Rusty Quill. It is an ongoing long-form anthology details the supernatural cases under investigation by the Magnus Institute and its archivists and boasts a dedicated cult following in addition to multiple award nominations. The series has more than 125 episodes in its catalogue and releases a new episode every week. The show is written and performed by Jonathan Sims (along with guest actors) and directed by Alexander J Newall.