Bella Roberts is a social media star and editorial trainee known for her TikToks and Instagram reels on @belladoesediting. In this episode, Jan Maciejewski speaks with Bella to discuss her reasons for becoming an editor; the rewards and challenges of social media; and the realities of working in a competitive industry. Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The society hosts interviews with world-cla...
Jun 12, 2025•37 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Chris Broad is a Youtuber and filmaker who started his YouTube channel, Abroad in Japan, in 2012. Chris has built a loyal global following with his signature blend of dry humor, cinematic visuals, and deep dives into Japanese culture, society, and travel. What started as a side project during his time on the JET Programme has since evolved into a full-time career spanning hundreds of videos, several travel series and most recently, a bestselling book detailing his decade-long journey living and ...
May 05, 2025•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 5
Benjamin Moser is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, biographer, and literary critic. Benjamin is perhaps best known for his biographies of Clarice Lispector and Susan Sontag which go beyond just chronicling their lives to offer profound insights into the cultural and intellectual landscapes of their time. In this episode, Guy McEwing speaks with Benjamin to discuss his approach to biography, the challenges of capturing a life on the page, and the responsibility of a writer in shaping literary his...
Apr 23, 2025•54 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Sean Tucker is a photographer, filmmaker, writer, and one of the most thoughtful voices in the creative space. As a popular YouTuber, he explores both the technical aspects of photography and the deeper philosophy behind the creative process. His fascinating career path has taken him from growing up in Africa to working as a pastor, as an industrial photographer for furniture companies, and more. Through it all, Sean has developed a unique perspective on art, storytelling, and the meaning of cre...
Mar 03, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Baylen Leonard is a radio broadcaster specialising in country music. He is best known for his work with Absolute Radio Country, which he presents six days a week, and for his podcast Country Music Talk where he has interviewed country music stars such as Kelsea Ballerini, Keith Urban, and Bailey Zimmerman. He has twice been recognised as International Broadcaster of the Year by the Country Music Association, and has won two British Country Music Awards (CMAs) for his work as a radio presenter. I...
Feb 25, 2025•39 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Shazia Mirza is an award-winning Birmingham-born actress, writer, and stand-up comedian. Born as the eldest daughter to Punjabi-Pakistani parents, Shazia first read Biochemistry at the University of Manchester before completing a PGCE in London. Whilst a science teacher, Shazia began to study acting part-time before eventually moving away from teaching all together. As a comedian and actress, Shazia is a staple on TVs and radios in households across the country and even hosted her own podcast, P...
Feb 07, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Negar Esfandiary is a British-Iranian journalist and researcher, with over two decades of international experience. Having worked for Channel 4 News, BBC Radio 4, and COLORS Magazine, Negar has a unique perspective on international journalism and the role of ethics in storytelling. Her work with the Women’s Learning Partnership’s Oral History Project has documented the lives and contributions of extraordinary women leaders from the Global South. In this episode, Antonia speaks with Negar about h...
Dec 06, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In this episode of Spotlight, in collaboration with the Oxford Review of Books, Caspian and Andy sit down with Susanna Clarke, the renowned author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, a Hugo Award-winning alternative history, and Piranesi, which won the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction. An alumna of St Hilda's, Susanna explores her journey from childhood inspirations to crafting deeply immersive, fantastical worlds. Susanna discusses the challenges of writing, the influence of Oxford and medieval...
Dec 02, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 7
In this episode of the Oxford Media Society Spotlight podcast, Caspian speaks with acclaimed screenwriter and director Stuart Hazeldine, best known for directing Exam (2009) and The Shack (2017). Stuart shares his journey from being a creatively inclined child in Surrey, captivated by sci-fi worlds, to his rise in the film industry, penning scripts for major studios and directing critically acclaimed films. He discusses the joys and challenges of writing and directing, the intricacies of adaptin...
Nov 22, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Harriet Worsley is a fashion journalist, stylist, author, and lecturer. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Harriet has contributed to leading publications such as Vogue , Timeout, and The Sunday Telegraph . She was formerly Senior Internet Designer at Condé Nast and a Fashion editor at Draper’s. Harriet has authored four books, including Decades of Fashion and 100 Ideas That Changed Fashion. She currently lectures in fashion communication and journalism at Central Saint Martins. In this episod...
Nov 15, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In this episode of Spotlight, Caspian interviews renowned voice artist Andrew Wincott, celebrated for his 22 years on BBC's The Archers and for award-winning performances in video games like Baldur's Gate 3, which earned him a BAFTA. Andrew shares his journey from Oxford to classical theatre and becoming a versatile voice in radio, audiobooks, and video games. He discusses his early years training in acting, his first role in BBC Radio Drama, and the unique challenges of voice work across genres...
Nov 10, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Saira Khan, broadcaster and entrepreneur, rose to prominence as the runner-up on the first season of The Apprentice in 2005. Since then, she’s become a familiar face on UK television, from hard-hitting documentaries to her roles as a panellist on Loose Women and The Martin Lewis Money Show. In this episode, Alice Hazell speaks with Saira about her journey from corporate sales to television, the impact of her immigrant background, and her commitment to diversity and authenticity in media. Saira d...
Nov 01, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 3
William Lee Adams is a London-based journalist, broadcaster, and author, currently with the BBC World Service. Originally from Georgia in the United States, he studied psychology at Harvard before moving to London to pursue a master’s in Southeast Asian Studies. In addition to his work in journalism, William is the founder of Wiwibloggs, a leading platform dedicated to the Eurovision Song Contest, and recently produced a documentary for the BBC chronicling a personal journey through the country ...
Oct 26, 2024•34 min•Season 4Ep. 2
This episode was recorded in June 2024 as part of a live, audience-attended event. Lauren Layfield is a broadcaster, journalist, and author. Known for her versatility, Lauren has worked across various media platforms, from presenting on CBBC and Capital Radio to her current roles on BBC Radio 1’s Life Hacks and The Official Chart: First Look. She’s also a DJ, mental health advocate, and author of the children's novel Indi Raye is Totally Faking It . In this episode, Alice Hazell speaks to Lauren...
Oct 18, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Jane Thynne is a novelist, journalist and broadcaster. An alumna of St. Anne's, Jane has worked as a journalist for the BBC, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent. Passionate about historical fiction, she has published 12 novels. Her most recent, Queen High, was picked as a 2022 Book of the Year by the Daily Telegraph, Financial Times and Guardian. In this episode, Archie Pearman speaks to Jane about her career from her beginnings in broadcasting to her career on Fleet Street...
Jun 15, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this episode, Sofia Johanson interviews Rachel Cunliffe. Rachel is the associate political editor of The New Statesman. Having previously served as Comment and Features Editor at City AM, she now covers Westminster and national politics, interviewing MPs such as John Hayes and Chris Skidmore and the head of the Vote Leave campaign, Matthew Elliot. Rachel is a regular contributor to the New Statesmen Podcast, and she also writes about her own life, from "The Disaster House" to personal essays ...
Jun 07, 2024•28 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In this episode of Spotlight, Antonia Rogers speaks to the Director of Comedy at the BBC, Jon Petrie. In his extensive career in comedy, he has overseen beloved TV shows such as Friday Night Dinner, the Windsors and People Just Do Nothing. He is responsible for the commissioning of all scripted comedy programmes to the BBC, and his most recent commissions include the third series of The Cleaner, featuring Greg Davies, Cunk's Quest for Meaning, and And Did Those Feet... with Alan Partridge. Jon s...
May 24, 2024•23 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode, Archie Pearman speaks to David Rintoul. David is an actor with a wealth of appearances on the stage, screen and in audio. He has worked extensively with the Royal National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, and his TV credits include Doctor Finlay, Pride and Prejudice (1980), and Game of Thrones. His film work includes the title role in Legend of the Werewolf (1975), Is Anybody There? (2008), and The Ghost Writer with Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor. Archie and David discus...
May 17, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In this episode of Spotlight, Sofia speaks to Ossian Shine, the Global Sports Editor for Reuters News. Having previously focussed on tennis and the Olympics during his two decades with the agency, he has covered Football and Rugby World Cups, various Olympic games, and Wimbledon amongst countless other international sporting events, including the most recent Super Bowl. Ossian shares how he entered the field of sports journalism and his insights into how the industry has changed during his caree...
May 10, 2024•29 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this episode of Spotlight, Flora Symington speaks to BBC Radio 4 Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction, Alison Hindell. An alumna of Somerville, Alison started her career at the Royal Shakespeare Company before moving into radio. Having been head of Audio Drama at the BBC since 2005, she has directed more than 270 radio dramas, including the iconic Archers. Her recent commissions include Daphne du Maurier's Beside Myself, featuring Helena Bonham Carter and Bill Nighy, and the Limelights ...
May 03, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this episode of Spotlight, Flora Symington speaks to BBC broadcaster and journalist Adam Fleming. An Oxford alumnus himself, he was formerly the BBC's Chief Political correspondent, Brussels correspondent, and has worked for Daily Politics and Newsround. He co-presented the podcast and television programme Brexitcast , and is now the lead presenter of its successor, Newscast , and AntiSocial. Flora and Adam discuss how reporting on news is changing, the importance of taking the anger out of t...
Apr 26, 2024•26 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this episode, Flora Symington, Podcast Team Member, speaks to Gwilym Mumford. Gwilym is Culture editor of the Guardian Saturday magazine. He also writes The Guide, a weekly pop-culture newsletter, which dissects the week’s new releases in music, TV, film, books, and podcasts. As well as covering the latest in entertainment news, he gives weekly recommendations in each genre to cut through the wealth of content available to us every day. He also appears on The Guardian’s podcast, Today in Focu...
Mar 04, 2024•24 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode, Alice Hazell (HT24 Podcast Director) speaks to Rhian Roberts. Rhian is the Commissioner for Podcasts, Formats & Digital for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Before joining Radio 4, Rhian was a Senior News Editor at Radio 5Live. Herrecent commissions include Uncanny, You're Dead To Me, Lady Killers, and Just One Thing, among many others. In the show, Rhian discusses her incredible career in the broadcasting industry, from starting as a radio editor to becoming a digital strategist...
Feb 26, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this episode, Archie Pearman, HT24 Podcast Team Member, speaks to Pádraig Ó Tuama. Padraig is a writer, theologian, conflict transformation practitioner, and host of Poetry Unbound. Archie talks to Pádraig about the relationship between media and the arts, the complexities of the podcast form and the terrifying magic of language. From midnight radio listening, the unconscious imagination, homework and humility, Pádraig’s answers are full of delights. Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum...
Feb 19, 2024•25 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode, Haochen Wang (HT24 President-Elect) speaks to Michael Bristow. Michael is the current Asia/Pacific editor for the BBC World Service in London and previously was a BBC correspondent in Beijing, where he covered everything from earthquakes to the 2008 Summer Olympics. He has also written a book, China in Drag: Travels with a Cross-dresser, a story of his language teacher that serves as a metaphor for China’s development. In this interview, Micheal discusses his path to becoming a ...
Feb 12, 2024•30 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this episode, Alice Hazell, HT24 Podcast Director, speaks to Jeff Wilson. Jeff is a wildlife film director, producer, and documentary photographer. He directed the films Polar Bear (2022) and Bear Witness (2022) for Disney+, as well as episodes of Our Planet (2019), and was the Series Producer of The Mating Game (2021). Jeff speaks about how he got into this industry, his advice for future wildlife filmmakers, and discusses how the industry is changing with the times. Oxford Media Society is ...
Feb 05, 2024•23 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Before Series 2 of Spotlight kicks off, it’s time to announce the term card! In this episode, Alice, Flora, Archie, and Antonia introduce you to the wide range of guests that are coming on this series and discuss why they are so excited for the term ahead. So plug in your headphones and tune in for the exclusive announcement. Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about the media industry in the 21st century. The Society hosts interviews with wo...
Jan 26, 2024•19 min
In this episode of Spotlight, Haochen Wang (HT24 President-Elect), speaks to Senior China Correspondent for The Guardian, Amy Hawkins. Having previously worked as a foreign affairs writer for The Economist as well as a researcher at Columbia Global Reports, Amy offers a unique insight into the challenges and complexities associated with reporting on China. From using sources in an increasingly restrictive society to interpreting state-controlled media and grappling with China's global influence,...
Dec 06, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode of Spotlight, MT23 President, Mia Wu, speaks to Theodore Kim, Director of Newsroom Careers at the New York Times, to speak about getting into journalism and the importance of diversity in the newsroom. Having previously worked as a News Editor for The New York Times, Ted shares his experience of starting out as a news reporter and his insight into the ever-changing world of the newsroom. Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion abo...
Nov 29, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode of Spotlight, Paul speaks to Ukrainian freelance journalist, Olga Tokariuk, about the spread of Russian disinformation about Ukraine through the media. As the lead author of Mythos Labs’ reports on Russian disinformation and propaganda, Olga shares her expansive knowledge on the topic and shares the findings of recent research into disinformation, both in Russia and across the globe. Oxford Media Society is the foremost forum within the University of Oxford for discussion about t...
Nov 22, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 2
