My Sunday Times
During my radio and now audio/podcasting career, there have always been stories that needed explaining, and as sports editor, Olympic correspondent and sports correspondent for LBC, it was often my job to break it down and make it relatable in 20 seconds or as part of a 2/3 minute conversation (a 2-way as we call it in the business!).
It was my wife’s father, Mike, who introduced me to The Sunday Times - he was a weekly subscriber and had a Sunday morning ritual of enjoying the Sports Section at breakfast! So, if I wanted more detail or background on something I'd often make it my ‘go to' - great sports writers like David Walsh, Rick Broadbent, Jonathan Northcroft and Stephen Jones are just superb on cycling, athletics, football and rugby as well as much more! Their insight and detail would help me understand it, and if I did, then I could explain it to the listener. The Business and Culture sections were also must reads for me in my other news and management roles.
So this week, when the Culture section, with its “What's on” TV, radio and more recently podcasts, highlighted 'Anything but Footy' and our countdown to the Commonwealth Games podcast, I was particularly thrilled. Thrilled because the business that Michael and I started as a bit of fun on a Sunday afternoon, was beginning to be recognised as something we knew it was - a voice for different sports that don't often get heard, outside of an Olympic and Paralympic Games period.
It can be hard to convey the breadth and depth of our work but this was something people can see in black and white in a Sunday newspaper. I was beyond proud and I was also incredibly sad as Mike had passed away suddenly last November and so he never got to see my podcast mentioned in his newspaper. He would've loved it! So it may be just 15 words, but it means everything to me. This is for you Mike. Look, we're doing ok, and we'll keep on working hard.
Watch out for more updates as the Commonwealth Games takes place later this month and listen and follow for our weekly 'Brums the word' podcasts.
by John Cushing, July 2022
