The Dublin Podcast Festival is running across Dublin from September 19th to 30th with a number of creative and exciting event including a foodie debate from the With Relish Podcast.
With Relish is a bi-weekly food podcast that explores Ireland's culinary industry and identity. The team consists of hosts Aoife Allen and Harry Colley and their producer Ian Doyle.
As part of the Dublin Podcast Festival, the team will host a special debate between professional chefs JP McMahon and Mairtín Mac Con Iomaire on Irish Food Culture. We got chatting to Ian and Aoife to find out more.
Tell us about the podcast
Ian (Producer): With Relish is a fortnightly food podcast looking at all things good in the Irish culinary scene.
We felt that a lot of Irish food media of late seemed to be quite stagnant and repetitive so we wanted to highlight some of the lesser-known characters who are doing great things for the industry.
We also felt that any conversations happening around food were either Online, In the paper or On the telly, so there was definitely a niche in creating a podcast.
Our following has grown steadily since we began, but we've noticed a lot more feedback and support particularly in the last three episodes. It mean's a lot especially coming from others working or involved in the food industry as well.
Aoife: We hope we're reaching a range of people - not only people who cook and eat out loads but people who want to know more about food.
How do you do what you do so well? What do you think are the secrets of your success?
Aoife: We're still completely new to this so loads to learn but it helps a lot that Harry and I are pretty obsessed with food, including food history and culture, and that we got on really well. I think that comes through in the show - that we're genuinely having fun talking about something we love.
Which podcasts are you inspired by?
Aoife: My favourite podcast is called Philosophize This - a random guy in the states read a tonne of philosophy texts while working a warehouse job and then started a podcast on his own to share what he'd learned.
He's really funny and smart, and makes complex ideas relevant and accessible. I think that's amazing and a great example of what a podcast can and should be.
This American Life do some brilliant stuff of course and the BBC, the Financial Times and Irish Times all have really good podcasts that I follow. But really it's the amateur trying to enlighten folks from his living room that does it for me.
Ian: The majority of my favourite Podcasts are very conversational: Second Captains, Kermode and Mayo, The Bon Appétit Foodcast etc. We try to take this approach with our own content as well.
It's really great to see how popular some of the Irish ones are getting as well.
I've already mentioned the Second Captains lads, but people like Allison Spittle, Jarlath Regan, PJ Gallagher and loads of others are doing great things for the Podcast scene here in Ireland.
What will you be teaching at the Dublin Podcast Festival?
Aoife: Our event at the Fumbally on Tuesday 26th September is about food culture in Ireland. I want people to hear and take part in a really honest discussion about our past and present relationship with food, what we've done well, what's held us back and where we're headed. In some ways, we've a dismal record when it comes to food and it's worth trying to understand why that is.
The three things that a podcast cannot succeed without?
Ian: Interesting guests, a well-defined subject matter, Harry Colley's laugh.
What are your next goals?
Aoife: Just to keep on finding interesting people to chat about food with.
The With Relish debate will be hosted by Harry Colley and Aoife Allen from the podcast and will be recorded live. You can attend for free on the 26th of September from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at Fumbally.
Tickets to the With Relish podcast event are free but you will need to register here.
