Welcome to the feature where we sit down with hosts of podcasts and find out more about them!Today we speak to Michael Spelman who presents the OIL – Omelette Improv London Podcast . Today we find out all about the improv podcast.

Hello, nice to meet you! How did the idea of your podcast come around?

Hello! I discovered improv through podcasts, so I’ve always seen their value as a performance space. When I was starting out in the London improv scene, I noticed that my peers were just as funny as the improvisers I listened to on iTunes. So I created OIL mainly to show off all this untapped talent.

Tell us about the team behind the show!
 

Just me on my own. It’s very much a labour of love. Plus, I’m a bit of a control freak, so having to compromise creatively would make this project far less fun. But it also means tackling the workload alone; planning, editing, promoting.

There are so many improv podcasts out there, how do you stand out from the rest?

I want to shine a spotlight on how good London amateur improv is. More specifically from my generation. There are some good improv podcasts out there for established performers, but I’m more interested in the new kids on the block. I’d like people to see OIL as a celebration of the London scene from the bottom up.

Who have been some of your favourite guests you have interviewed?

So hard to choose, I love all my children equally… But some of the most exciting episodes have been the group recordings. For example, the Halloween and Christmas specials with Duck Duck Goose and Judge Moody. In those episodes you can hear the how much fun all the people round the microphone are having.

How do you get improv suggestions for your show?

Well the format changes from episode to episode, but as a general rule the improvisers come on with an idea for a character. Sometimes the character is fully formed in their head, sometimes the character is as simple as “lobster”. Some improvisers like to sit back and watch for a moment and then react to what everyone else is doing.

Do you use any specialised equipment to record your show?

It’s all recorded on a single microphone (a Blue Yeti, the Ford Fiesta of podcast microphones). I prefer to record in person, it helps with the chemistry. Editing is all done on Audacity, which is free.

What are the challenges of running a podcast?

The joy of being in the audience for live improv is the moment of creation, discovering at the same time as the performers what is going to happen. When you’re listening to recorded improv that element is lost, it’s no longer alive. That’s why I spend so long editing the episodes, hopefully all those hours of polishing bring the listener closer to how we feel in the recording room.

What are the highlights?

I’m a big fan of the weirder episodes where we get to play with the format, or try a new one. I love having the freedom to do dumb stuff like the April Fools or 6 Month specials.

What other shows are you a fan of and why?

There are a couple of other London based improv podcasts I enjoy. The (aptly named) London Improv Podcast has a huge archive of interesting interviews. I think Great Job! are doing a great job (ha ha) and getting some big international names on too. I also like the often bonkers Free Yorkshire Radio.

To mention improv podcasts that inspire me, Comedy Bang! Bang! and The Dead Authors Podcast are both podcasts that were very influential on OIL. The Aunty Donna Podcast change the format of their improv every week, which gave me the courage to cycle through OIL’s formats so frequently.

Three words why people should check out your show! 

Three?! I’d choose…

If you have a podcast and want to promote it then drop us an email at phoenixremixcomedy@gmail.com