Welsh singer-songwriter and pop culture ICON Charlotte Church turns her hand to podcasting this week, with the launch of a brand-new BBC Sounds offering, entitled Kicking Back with the Cardiffians.
Filled with a plethora of funny and frank conversations on belonging, working class identity and the unbreakable bonds of family, guests on the series include the ‘Crazy Chick’ singers parents, aunt, bampy (grandad), best friends, dance teacher, and even the local pub landlord!
In a press release BBC Studios say of the pod: “Together, Charlotte and her guests discuss the life lessons they’ve learned, as well as the moments they are still trying to process.”
“Topics span from the secrets to sustaining a long, loving marriage, to how to rebuild yourself in the face of adversity. So expect mindful moments, laughter, and a few tales of teens sneaking into clubs, as Church captures the root and branch stories of her family and her chosen family.”
“Their candid, and often profound stories paint a vivid portrait of Cardiff, the city where Charlotte has lived all her life.”
The ambient tones of the podcast’s original music, composed by Charlotte and her singer, songwriter and producer husband, Jonathan Powell, evoke the podcast’s “temporal setting of Cardiff”.
With fifteen total episodes of the series – episodes one and two are available to listen to now – with subsequent episodes dropping weekly.
A really personal project for Charlotte, she says of the podcast: “I grew up in a working-class household in Cardiff, and I feel fortunate to feel grounded in this city. There’s so much wisdom and beauty in my family’s stories, and I really wanted to explore where we feel like we most belong. It’s been a joy to begin capturing the stories of my favourite humans and I can’t wait to share the bits that are fit for broadcast.”
With Rhian Roberts, BBC Commissioner Podcasts, Formats and Digital, adding: “Listening to Charlotte and her family chat is a proper insight into the way life is lived and stories are told – with grace and plenty of hwyl, that’s Welsh for a sort of heartfelt energy. It’s a seat at a particularly special table and one which has been in the works for a while now so it’s fantastic to bring it to listeners on BBC Sounds.”