Regional Rides : the Podcast Series is a podcast series documenting a 2,500 mile motorcycle tour of the United Kingdom undertaken in the autumn of 2017.
Each of the twelve episodes treats the three days spent in one of its twelve regions (London is regarded as a region). An introduction to each episode describes the itinerary and provides some background information. The main body of the programme comprises a chronological sequence of voice memos and other sounds intercut with sections of long form interviews with experts, political actors, and laypersons. The episode is concluded with acknowledgements.
The project was conceived in the summer of 2017, with as much of the itinerary as possible planned in advance. Technical equipment included a mobile phone, Digital HandyRecorder, and Windows laptop (Audacity was used in post-production). A minimal wardrobe, and personal effects had to be transported in a tank bag and pillion bag on the motorcycle, a fifteen year old Honda VFR750 bought earlier in the year. Except where arranged in advance, accommodation had to be booked on the road each day. I used a tent on just one occasion at a campsite in North East England. I began post-production in the spring of 2018, after taking up residence at a Bath address following a period of homelessness.
The first episodes were released lin 2018, with the entire series being available on SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts by 2019. Neither the British Podcast Awards nor the Orwell Prize shortlisted the work. Audience sizes have been modest to date.
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