'LOVE IN LOCKDOWN' EPISODE 19: 'THE WORLD OF PODCASTS' WITH KITTY WILLIAMS

                                             

“LISTENING TO EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN, AND INCREASE CONVERSATION.”

A podcast is an episodic series of spoken word digital audio files that a user can download to a personal device for easy listening, they’re available via the podcast app or can be accessed on websites, Spotify or Apple Music. Their popularity has increased greatly during the last decade. Over the course of the pandemic, there’s been a rise in both Podcast listeners and creators, perhaps due to an increased availability of time on ones hands.

They can provide entertainment when faced with boredom, or when wanting to keep occupied or engaged with something they can be useful in keeping the brain ticking. Whether you’re walking, on a long train journey or getting ready to go out, listening to a podcast whilst doing so can be comforting. Alongside the benefit of entertainment, they can also effectively increase awareness and knowledge, they can be extremely educational. Many are taking the opportunity to create podcasts to increase conversation and awareness, initiate change, share opinions, discuss taboo subjects and educate a wide audience on multiple topics across the world. They can be very personal and easy to consume. It’s a chance to use our voices to communicate and that can be extremely powerful.

There are many podcasts that bring on a different guest each episode to share their experience on the topic or subject matter that their podcast focuses on. Fearne Cotton hosts “Happy Place”, talking to an array of guests about life, love, loss and everything in between as she reveals what happiness means to them. Josh Widdicombe and Rob Beckett delve into lockdown parenting in “Lockdown Parenting Hell”. Elizabeth Day’s “How To Fail” discusses just that with her guests, celebrating the things that haven’t gone right and what failures can teach you in life. “Teach Me A Lesson” with Radio 1’s Greg James and partner Bella Mackie teaches a new fascinating and fun lesson in each weekly episode. Megan Lawton chats to industry experts working behind the scenes for stars in “Who You Don’t See”, exploring what they get up to and what it’s like to work with some of the biggest names in pop culture. Annie Mac runs “Changes”, chatting to guests about the biggest changes they’ve overcome. “Unlocking Us”, “The Doctor’s Kitchen”, “Power Hour”, “Open Mind”, “Food For Thought”, and “Feel Better, Live More”, are just a few that cover physical and mental health. Whether it is life lessons, current affairs, taboo subjects, advice, specific topic coverage, or simple, easy going entertainment and gossip you’re looking for, there are podcasts available for it all.

I spoke to host Kitty Williams about her new podcast “Feminist Smoking Area”. A podcast that’s effectively increasing awareness, initiating change and ultimately challenging our system, systematic beliefs and the patriarchy. I’m an avid listener and feel it’s very important to tackle these weekly taboo subjects in order to better our society, break down unnecessary ingrained views and behaviours, and keep working towards equality and a fair system.

IN CONVERSATION WITH KITTY WILLIAMS:

Tell us a bit about who you are?

KITTY: "I’m Kitty, a 22 year old cis-gender female. I am from south east London and have recently graduated from Drama school studying Musical Theatre."

Tell us a little bit about what you have created?

KITTY: "I have created a podcast called ‘Feminist Smoking Area’ where I discuss my view-point on all things feminist. I have a different friend on each week, where we discuss certain taboo topics over some drinks. Topics usually gravitate towards sex, dating and relationships however I am open to discussing anything to do with the patriarchy."

Did you do this prior to COVID-19 or as a result of it? 

KITTY: "I have always felt strongly about feminist issues, however have never known where to put my energy into helping the cause. I also was at drama school every day with long hours so didn’t have much time to concentrate on much else. Graduating into the pandemic, left me with a lot of free time so I was able to put some of my energy elsewhere. I decided a podcast would be a fun and light-hearted way to get my message across."

What made you want to start it? Why that focus? Why specifically now?

KITTY: "I have always had a lot of strong opinions on sexism, and always especially hated how taboo sex was in society. I have always had many views on sexual harassment and how normalised it is, however have always kept these views just to my peers. When the Sarah Everard case appeared, I was heartbroken and angry. I felt angry not just for Sarah but for every single girl and I wanted to say something. By starting a podcast of me speaking openly about feminist issues, I wanted to just highlight how much change still has to be done."

How did the idea come into fruition? Have you been thinking about it for a long time? 

KITTY: "I discuss this in my body count EP1. I was in the smoking area with my friend and this guy came up to me and asked for my number. He said to me I was ‘wifey material’. I asked him what he meant by that and said ‘would I still be wifey material if I had slept with over 20 people?’ He said ‘I know you haven’t so it’s alright!’ I had a go at him telling him his views were stupid and outdated, including the concept of ‘wifey material’. As I was debating with him for a good half an hour, I thought wow I could make a podcast on this. I would love for more men’s views to be checked."

Why do you think it’s important to discuss? What is the purpose?

KITTY: "The amount of boys that have said to me post listening to my podcast, ‘wow I didn’t know that was an issue’ makes me feel like I’m doing an alright job. Some of the stuff that I discuss might sound so obvious to some people, which is GREAT but there are other people (boy, girl, non binary) that have things to learn from listening to a young woman’s views. I have grown up in London all my life and have studied musical theatre, so have lived in a bubble of acceptance and joy. However, some people have not had the same experience. I want to make girls think about their own internalised misogyny, (are you subconsciously trying to be wifey material?) as well as making men think too."

What’s your aim with the Podcast? What sort of topics can we expect?

KITTY: "I just want people to listen and have a laugh really. I am an open book and will say some controversial things, so I hope people enjoy listening. I don’t think of myself as a feminist goddess of information - I am just trying to educate, whilst still learning myself and having fun. I already have three topics out - Body Count, Shooting Your Shot Online Ft. Dick Pics and Toxic Ex’s / First Love Complex. My next one will be discussing How To Have Feminist Sex."

What podcasts do you personally listen to? Who inspires you?

KITTY: "I have only recently joined the podcast wave, it’s taken me a while to get into podcasts. However, I love a fun podcast and my favourite has to be ‘IT GALZ’. They have a laugh and I love that."

How can others listen? What platforms? When do they come out?

KITTY: "It is on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts and Spreaker. They come out on a Wednesday, sometimes weekly and sometimes bi-weekly depends how busy I am that week."

Any last words regarding helping others during this challenging time?

KITTY: "We have gotten through a year of this so well done! Bars and restaurants are open now, go out and have some fun! If you don’t want to go out and want a chilled one in, then do it! You only get one life make the most of every moment."