Gobsmacked! Behind the Scenes

While recording podcasts in the studio, I’m usually jotting down notes about the recording so it will be easy to edit later. Sometimes, I’m absolutely enthralled by the story—and this is always the case when recording Catherine Williamson, the host of the radio show and podcast Gobsmacked!.

Catherine records her guests all over the UK, but mostly in Leamington Spa or in Cumbria. She also has a second podcast called Assa Marra, which is aimed at the Cumbrian population.

Recording Catherine’s podcast is fascinating. She is a highly skilled interviewer, knowing when to speak and when to stop speaking—letting her guest fill the spaces. I never know the guest’s background story until they walk through the door, but I know they will be interesting people. Once they’re settled in the studio, I run a quick sound check, give Catherine the thumbs up, and we’re off. I also video the entire interview so that clips can be used later on social media.

Each of Catherine’s guests has been an absolute joy to listen to—fascinating, inspiring, and often surprising. Once the interview wraps up and goodbyes are exchanged, that’s when my real work begins.

The full recording is used for the Gobsmacked! radio show, which airs on Big Ear Radio. After checking levels and smoothing out any peaks, I export the session into two separate tracks—one for each speaker. The final version also includes a song of the guest’s choice and is sent off to the station in broadcast-ready format.

Then, I shift gears and edit the original audio for the Gobsmacked! podcast. This version is usually around 40 minutes and goes out to a global audience via Acast, making its way to platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Next, I sync the mastered audio with the video footage and cut it into bite-sized clips ideal for social media. The sound quality from the studio mics is miles ahead of what the video camera picks up, so this part really makes a difference.

Catherine is a truly gifted interviewer, and her guests never fail to impress. If you haven’t already, check out her podcast—you’ll find some incredible stories there:
Listen to Gobsmacked! on Acast.