Siobhan McHugh
siobhanmchugh.bsky.social
Siobhan McHugh
@siobhanmchugh.bsky.social

Passionate about podcasts & audio storytelling as creative, critic, academic, consultant, speaker. Winner, 7 gold NYF. Author, The Power of Podcasting: telling stories through sound (CUP). Consulting Producer, The Greatest Menace https://siobhanmchugh.org/ .. more

Siobhán McHugh is an Irish-Australian author, podcast producer, radio presenter, oral historian, audio documentary-maker and journalism academic. In 2013 she founded RadioDoc Review, the first journal of critical analysis of crafted audio storytelling podcasts and features, for which she received an academic research award. She is Associate Professor of Journalism (honorary) at the University of Wollongong (UOW). and Associate Professor of Media and Communications (honorary) at the University of Sydney. Her latest book, The Power of Podcasting: telling stories through sound, was published by NewSouth Books in February 2022, with a US edition through Columbia University Press in October 2022. .. more

Communication & Media Studies 48%
History 14%
Pinned
At last! My new article, "Intimacy, Trust, and Justice on The Greatest Menace, a Podcast Exposing a “Gay Prison”", published in Media and Communication (@cogitatiomac.bsky.social )!

17 awards: the insider story on how we made it.

Download FREE cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm... #OpenAccess
Intimacy, Trust, and Justice on The Greatest Menace, a Podcast Exposing a “Gay Prison” | Article | Media and Communication
Siobhán McHugh
cogitatiopress.com

Reposted by Siobhàn McHugh

“Dark themes nestle alongside tender family moments in this beautifully judged podcast…”

@siobhanmchugh.bsky.social lists Half-Life in her Best Podcasts of 2025 for @theconversation.com theconversation.com/festering-fa...
Festering families, difficult truths and transcendent grace: best podcasts of 2025
From Australia and around the world, here are the podcast gems of 2025.
theconversation.com

@bsky.app My Best Podcasts 2025 out tomorrow (Tuesday) on @aunz.theconversation.com

I'll be playing clips LIVE on 97.3 ABCIllawarra 9.30-10.00am TUES and chatting with the excellent Jake Cupitt. Listen at link below...
www.abc.net.au/illawarra
ABC Illawarra
For the latest features, programs, news, audio, podcasts, sport, recipes, events, photos and videos, the latest weather for Albion Park, Bowral, Braidwood, Goulburn, Nerriga, Nowra, Taralga, Ulladulla...
www.abc.net.au

Perceptive analysis on the huge and vexed role played by Podcast Influencers such as Lex Fridman. Glad to be interviewed for it by @columjournreview.bsky.social

url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/L2BJC0YKRR...
The ‘Idiot’: Lex Fridman's expansive, compelling, anti-journalistic podcast style.
Lex Fridman’s expansive, compelling, anti-journalistic podcast style.
url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com

Reposted by Siobhàn McHugh

Scott Carrier, radio legend, takes us inside a remote town in Utah. It’s a quiet story about landscape and longing. About the people who make up this complicated and beautiful place. Listen to “Old La Sal”, the inaugural story for our new project and callout, “The Listeners.” bit.ly/44NfSwU
Old La Sal
Old La Sal - Transom
bit.ly

Lots of other fab writers at the True Story Festival in Coledale all weekend, 15-16 Nov - check out the full program southcoastwriters.org/true-story-p...
True Story Program — South Coast Writers Centre
southcoastwriters.org

As Fascism resurges, we need writers with insight. Michael Samaras' Anti-Fascists tells the inspiring story of Jim McNeill, an Australian ironworker who fought in the Spanish Civil War. Dennis Glover's Repeat: A Warning From History traces links between the 1930s and now. Do come to our chat!

Collecting stories galore here in Ireland - where I’m back to do a Masterclass in Narrative Podcasts - The Invisible Art of Audio Storytelling in Dublin @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social

BOOK NOW for SAT 13th SEPT 10am-1pm This is a one-off - see you there!

irishwriterscentre.ie/courses/narr...

Back in Dublin, pint in hand and live music session- christened! Looking fwd to meeting all kinds of storytellers at my Narratjve Podcasts masterclass @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social next Saturday 13th - book now!

irishwriterscentre.ie/courses/narr...

As lists go, this one by podcast industry folk and scholars isn't bad! Joe Rogan scrapes in at #100, while narrative podcasts made with artistry and skill are well represented. Yes it’s heavily US-focused, but global voters (inc me!) offer balance. Dive in!
www.leftofdialmedia.com/essential-li...
Essential Listening Poll - The 100 Greatest Podcasts of All Time — Left of Dial Media
The 100 Greatest Podcasts of All Time
www.leftofdialmedia.com

So here's a quick summary of my Masterclass on Narrative Podcasts, happening @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social 13 Sept. Book your place now - look forward to hearing and shaping your audio stories! www.instagram.com/reel/DM_A5bd...

Irish friends:delighted to host a masterclass in how to create a compelling narrative podcast @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social Dublin on 13 Sept! I've shared my insider tips from Hanoi to Malmo: now at last, Dublin

Can't wait to connect and hear your stories👇

irishwriterscentre.ie/courses/narr...

Our article below (written for the 40th anniversary) traces SBS Radio’s history - written with the late and deeply lamented Jillian Hocking, a gifted and passionate journalist who was Training Manager at SBS Melbourne for over a decade.

theconversation.com/sbs-radio-sh...

Happy Birthday SBS! 🎂The world’s most multicultural public broadcaster - still vibrant - turns 50 today. 👏 👏 I’m so proud to have taught audio storytelling to SBS broadcasters of over 55 languages for a decade. I learned so much in this mini-United Nations of Oz & have such fond memories 💚

Lovers of audio: read the thrillingly diverse latest RadioDoc Review @rdreditor.bsky.social

From Chekov's tips on improving your podcast to a penetrating analysis of Desert Island Discs, Dear Rachelle & a confronting Russian podcast on families rent by war... 👇

uowoajournals.org/rdr/issue/15...
RadioDoc Review | Issue: Issue: 1(10) (2025)
uowoajournals.org

Thanks team 💚 - it sure is!

Absolute honour to have 'The Power of Podcasting: telling stories through sound' in @niemanstoryboard.org books on inspiring storytelling craft. In awesome company, from Aristotle to Stephen King 😊

Nieman Storyboard is part of Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. @columbiaup.bsky.social

Yay - Australia votes progressive! And Donald Trump no doubt helped the Opposition Leader lose his seat! 🎊🎊

Stark pix of women & tanks, given to me years ago. A North Vietnamese woman atop the tank that crashed thro the Presidential Palace 50 years ago today, ending the war. An Australian nurse off duty at Vung Tau. A singer's soldier fans. Their stories in my book, Minefields & Miniskirts
#VietnamWar

Loved Division Street Revisited!
Great concept, to reframe Studs’ original audio gold via contemporary/family voices, while Mary brings a keen observational lens that sounds fresh and warm. Audio-savvy local Bill Healy @chicagoan.bsky.social helps craft storytelling that’s both gentle and punchy 👏👌

Nooooooooo…!

Thrilled to be part of this inspiring selection 👇

Reposted by Siobhàn McHugh

At @niemanstoryboard.org, we asked our community of journalists, authors, filmmakers, and podcasters to tell us their favorite books on storytelling. And they came through with *40* recommendations.

Here they are. By @mallarytenore.bsky.social:

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/04/17/n...

#booksky
The Nieman Storyboard guide to books on storytelling - Nieman Storyboard
Journalists, authors, producers, filmmakers, and Nieman Storyboard readers share 40 books that inspire their work.
niemanstoryboard.org

Great to be part of this highly topical journal issue 👇
Do podcasts create real trust or just fake intimacy?

Our new open access issue explores how podcasts balance personal connection and journalistic standards, looking at opportunities and risks across different countries.
Balancing Intimacy and Trust: Opportunities and Risks in Audio Journalism
Thematic Issue, Vol 13 (2025)
shortt.link

Excellent set of #openaccess articles on this vitally topical issue - pleased to be part of it. 👇👇
Do podcasts create real trust or just fake intimacy?

Our new open access issue explores how podcasts balance personal connection and journalistic standards, looking at opportunities and risks across different countries.
Balancing Intimacy and Trust: Opportunities and Risks in Audio Journalism
Thematic Issue, Vol 13 (2025)
shortt.link
Do podcasts create real trust or just fake intimacy?

Our new open access issue explores how podcasts balance personal connection and journalistic standards, looking at opportunities and risks across different countries.
Balancing Intimacy and Trust: Opportunities and Risks in Audio Journalism
Thematic Issue, Vol 13 (2025)
shortt.link

Pity @meidastouch.com podcast didn't take off BEFORE the election! This lefty/anti-Trump show is now getting almost DOUBLE Joe Rogan's hits, by some metrics.

podnews.net/update/youtu...

@australianlabor.bsky.social to get young women on board, send a YOUNG WOMAN e.g. Tu Le Or ANY woman who can play loose and real e.g. @tanyaplibersekmp.bsky.social Go where the demographic is e.g. Shameless 2million pod DL & average listener 30y.o
Hint: don't send @albomp.bsky.social

#IWD2025

Australia is misfiring on how to harness #podcasts for election benefit, a topic belatedly noted in US in 2024. But @sydmorningherald.bsky.social misses a salient point: in the US, just mobilising folk to vote was an issue. Voting is compulsory here, so getting people ON SIDE is what matters. 1/2

Reposted by Siobhàn McHugh

Audio recipe:
• Laughter
• Scene tape (stereo encouraged)
• Choose one of 4 photo ingredients: Road closed, Amelia Earhart luggage, Office workers, or Smalls nightclub
• Edit & mix until 3 minutes long
• Submit to www.audioflux.org/circuit-05 by 4/1 @audioflux.bsky.social @jatomic.bsky.social
Circuit 05 — AUDIO FLUX
www.audioflux.org