Class of 2026

Abby Thayananthan

“I hope to help create greater access to legal expertise and resources for independent podcasters and production companies, supporting them as they navigate business and legal challenges.”

Previously: Studied English Literature at Columbia University in New York and then worked as an analyst at a corporate law firm.

Listening to: Wild Geese 

Favourite part about MA: my cohort, major industry players as guest speakers in classes, and my work placement at Reduced Listening! 

Find me: Linkedin; @thegrownupsaretalkingpod on Instagram and TikTok

Edward Fremont-Barnes

“Really enjoy history, comedy and current affairs”

Previously: Worked in an office; cannot recommend. 

Ambition: Freelance on the production side of podcasts and make my own shows. 

Listening to: Fin vs History & Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast. 

Favourite part about MA: The Audience Strategy module. Its great to learn the methods that get your podcast seen and profitable. 

Stay tuned: Find my stuff on YouTube (soon)! I’m making a comedy show and a military history series

Lucinda Acland

“I have a background in the legal sector working both in private practice and legal training and I produce the Kids Law podcast with my 15 yr old co-host”

Previously: Created training videos to help lawyers return to work in a flexible way at Obelisk Support.

Listening to: Shedunnit

Favourite part about MA: Hearing from the industry insiders and getting inspired.

Find Me: LinkedIn and intern at Agents of Tech podcast.

Erza Bajskolli

“Diving deeper into my love for audio storytelling and long-form narrative journalism.”

Previously: An Undergrad degree in Journalism and moved straight into a Masters in Podcasting – no break lol.

Listening to: The Secret History Flight 149 – I am really enjoying history and news type of podcasts

Favourite part about MA: Storytelling – being able to tell your own stories in such a unique way really inspired me to think about how podcasters tell their stories or even how they are presenting.

Find Me: You can find me on LinkedIn @erzabajskolli

Jake Preston

“I have a background in social research, and love podcasts of all genres”

Previously: A senior social researcher interviewing people all across the country about an array of topics.

Listening to: Slow Cast

Favourite part of MA: The people 

Find Me: LinkedIn

Anastasia Rolland

“I’m excited to continue my career in media and set design”

Previously: Producing for Audio Always and hosting on radio and podcasts across the UK and France.

Listening to: BBC Global News Cast, Help I Sexted my Boss, and The Girls Bathroom.

Favourite part about MA: The industry-level teaching and the amazing people I’ve met along the way.

Find Me: You can find me on LinkedIn

Holly Chacksfield

“Hi, I’m a former journalism graduate and interested in a wide array of topics at any given time!”

Previously: Before this, I have been working as a volunteer studio engineer at the charity radio station, Resonance FM.

Listening to: Either The Daily (The New York Times) or Strong Message Here.

Favourite part about MA: Speaking to those in the industry – we’ve have had many great guests come in and talk to us about the podcast landscape.

Find Me: You can find me on LinkedIn and I’m currently working on a freelance podcast project for a friend of Resonance FM.

Michael Ellis

“Beatboxer/MC – Anthropology graduate – Homelessness worker – podcast producer!”

Previously: I worked in homelessness

Listening to: The Athletic’s Tottenham podcast, ‘The View From The Lane’ (unfortunately for me) 

Favourite part of MA: Working with and learning from my fellow podcast enthusiasts!

Find Me: LinkedIn; English Journeys Podcast (all major streaming platforms)

Julie Béguin

“I’m curious about many things, including sound art, theatre, philosophy, sociology, and wine. When I’m not caught up in ideas or sound, I windsurf, take long walks, and spend plenty of time at the theatre (three-hour shows seem to be the norm!)“

Previously: I spent a decade negotiating third-party contracts whilst also supporting independent wine merchants, so I can confidently say I’ve learned how to negotiate a deal and recommend the wine to celebrate it. It was time to transfer these skills somewhere more creative.

Listening to: Right now, I’m obsessed with Saint-Exupéry, so I’m listening to anything about him. 

Favourite part of MA: The storytelling classes and the creative energy of the cohort. 

Find me: You can find me on LinkedIn and Sound Cloud. I am currently working at PEI Group as a podcast producer and editor across editorial and branded podcasts. Besides that, I’m working with Jackie Imas on a series about the future of journalism and creating multimedia portraits of theatre figures. 

Pascale Hardy-Stewart

“I’m an English Lit grad and I’m quite nerdy about books.”

Previously: Researcher for an investigative BBC podcast. Proof-listener. Waitress extraordinaire. 

Listening to: I listen to The Romesh Ranganathan Show when I’m anxious. He soothes me.

Favourite part of MA: Meeting and working with really great, creative people. 

Find me: Find me on my slightly scarce LinkedIn page

Lizzy Leach

Find Me: LinkedIn

Alfie King

“Highly sociable, avid sportsman and have a love for fantasy television. But above all I’m London’s biggest Manchester United fan.”

Previously: Student at University of Bath & Video Editor

Listening to: Stick to Football

Favourite part of MA: Pitch to Product with Brett! 

Find Me: Freelance editor for The Analyst Inside Cricket with Simon Hughes, LEBOM App, This is FKN 40, and I work on the Conflicted Podcast at Message Heard

Nasreen Arain

“Oh, you know, bit of this, bit of that! No more or less interesting than the next person.”

Previously: Scholarly Publishing 

Listening to: Behind The Bastards and, for contrast, the second season of Ill-advised by Bill Nighy. Also Bold Politics by Zack Pokanski because, frankly, we need an alternative.

Favourite part of MA: Being made to think like a journalist – I have a whole new depth of appreciation for the craft, skill and necessity of good journalism. Also discovering that I love to sit quietly and take my time over a good audio edit. 

Find Me: LinkedIn; Learning the ropes on Political Currency from Persephonica; Researching a podcast about pilgrimage.

Jackie Imas

“Among other things, I have a mild obsession with rivers.“

Previously: Journalism and corporate communications

Listening to: Rare Earth, Radical and anything with Media in its title

Favourite part of MA: Learning new skills, questioning old assumptions and absorbing new ideas

Find Me: Connect with me on LinkedIn. Also, I’m setting up a hyper-local community news operation.