Podcast Pitch: A Name and Two Dates

“Sit down whenever you can”. Those are the words of the great Leslie Nielsen, carved into a bench at the sight of his grave.

introduction

When it comes to memorialisation, a bench is often deemed the perfect object, one that naturally encourages contemplation and remembrance. And yet, the names and two dates etched or carved into the places we sit are almost unanimously overlooked; the little information they give only an indication to a life whole and unique; a story waiting to be told.

the podcast

Through professionally presented investigative research and recorded interviews with local historians and the subject’s friends and family, I’ll look to identify those memorialised—find out who they were and learn more about the context in which they lived. In each episode, I will present a different story—a different life—taken from a bench somewhere in the UK. My aim? To give a voice to those otherwise voiceless protagonists and answer the questions of why: why a bench for this person? Why here?

Within each neatly presented investigation will be a subtle focus on the practice and positive effects of mindfulness. The simple act of sitting outside and giving yourself the time to appreciate your surroundings is something that has been proven to improve mental health. Each story will start and end with a bench, and within that I will aim to show the power of what the bench represents: an offering from the dead to us, the living; an opportunity to pause and take the weight off.

possible episode structure:

1. Podcast theme with brief description of idea. Teasers of whats coming up.

2. Bench description from the bench itself—the view and the surroundings. Use a soundscape of the local area. Where are we? What can we here? What can we see?

3. Initial description of research. What am I doing to find out more about this person?

4. First developments. Contacts made.

5. Interviews with friends and family and local historians finding out more about the deceased subject and the context in which they lived. Other explanations of what I’ve been doing. This is the bulk of the episode and could take me anywhere!

6. General summary of research. Who was this person? Why did they choose a bench? Why here? Make the connections.

7. Final reflections of the episode from the bench. The same view as at the start but a whole new perspective. More soundscape and reflection.

8. Ending theme and teaser for next episode.

tone & style inspiration

• Things Fell Apart by Jon Ronson is a perfect example of the neatly presented journalistic story telling I will look to achieve, with multiple interviews and leads followed.

• Heavyweight by Jonathan Goldstein possesses my desired tone in its spontaneity, humour and frequently moving moments. The host is very much a character in the ongoing story which is also a characteristic I believe would work well.