This week, we get to know the delightful Ali Aitkin. Ali is Paramount’s Podcast Content + Partnership Manager who looks after our incredible slate of podcasts including Short Black with Sandra Sully, Shockwaves: The Bali Bombings, The Reality Bite: Cocktails + Roses, Where’s William Tyrrell? The Professor + The Hack and Australian Survivor Talking Tribal. Ali sat down with The Water Cooler over a short black (which she drinks exclusively in this role) and some imported Italian biscotti as she gave us insights into her role.
What is your role and what does it entail?
I’m the Podcast Content + Partnership Manager, which basically means I look after the network’s podcast slate and ensure everything runs smoothly. I work closely with the publicity, marketing and social teams and, of course, our wonderful talent, as well as our external partners. I also oversee the development of new and original content, for example the documentary podcast series Shockwaves: The Bali Bombings we released last year.
What do you love about your role?
The variety. Each day is different. One day I can be in meetings with external partners, the next I can be researching and booking guests for one podcast and exploring new content for another. Then on another day I’ll put my producer hat on and be scripting, recording and editing episodes. And each podcast is different too, ranging from interview-style podcasts like Short Black with Sandra Sully to current affairs to show companions like The Bachelor and Australian Survivor.
How is it that you came to be in this role, given podcasts have not been around for long, what was it that piqued your interest in wanting to work in this space?
I was actually doing a degree course in radio at the Australian Film Television and Radio School here in Sydney. At that time podcasts were just starting to take off and a big part of the course was digital media. I just fell in love with that side of the industry, and I was lucky enough to start here as a podcast producer not long after graduating. I love telling stories, so it really was a natural fit for me. That was four years ago when the network was just starting to build up its podcast slate, and it was a really exciting time to be here and be creating shows, including Short Black which is now on its fifth season!
Your podcasts have been shortlisted for and won a number of awards at the Australian Podcast Awards, International Women’s Podcast Awards and the New York Radio Festivals Awards. How does it feel to have your work recognised like that?
It’s amazing! And also quite humbling. It really is the ultimate honour to have something you’ve worked on and, in some cases created yourself from concept to release, recognised by your industry both in Australia and overseas.
Outside of your own, what are your Top 3 podcasts you love to listen to?
That’s a tough one, my top picks change regularly! Right now I’m listening to The Girlfriends (I’m a bit of a true crime nut), also Off Menu and Shameless.
