The Sliding Doors podcast journey to episode 100 with a special guest
As the Sliding Doors podcast reaches its 100th episode, creator and host Jennie Becker talks PodcastingToday through her three-year journey.
The podcast is based on Jennie’s love of the 90s classic film, with each episode exploring the sliding doors moments and decisions of guests which changed the course of their life. It also touches on how things may have been different if they had never happened.
“From about the age of 11, I would go to the video shop on a Saturday night, and I was probably a little bit young, but I would always rent Sliding Doors,” says Jennie. “I was really fascinated with that moment of how one small thing can change everything.
“When the film split into two where Gwyneth Paltrow caught the train and didn’t catch the train, it has always fascinated me how one small thing that can happen in your life can change everything for you.
“I’ve been a big believer in everything happens for a reason and when I wanted to start a podcast, that’s what I was going to call it – Everything Happens for a Reason but there were so many called that, I thought ‘I can’t do this’, and the film Sliding Doors popped into my head.”
Jennie did some research and found there were a few podcasts with the same name, but they hadn’t really done anything with it.
“It all just felt like it was right at the moment,” she says. “I was sat in my living room with my sister, decided to start the podcast and it just went from there. For me, it feels like it’s the only podcast I could have done because I’m so curious to know about peoples’ sliding doors moments and what might have happened if that hadn’t happened.”
To get started, Jennie decided to get the name on Instagram, designed a logo herself and got some advice from a friend who also had a podcast, learning as she went along. For guests, she asked five people she knew or had worked with previously and says if she listened back to the first episodes, would be able to hear how far the show has come.
“It’s not an easy thing to do but, I think what’s amazing about today is that you can do this on your own and be independent and three and a half years on, I still am,” she says.
Although organic growth has been the mainstay of the podcast, Jennie did feel some frustration at times, wanting things to move faster than they did, but has managed to stay authentic to herself, which is why she thinks people still listen.
“I stick to the reason why I’m doing it, because of my love of finding out stories and moments to inspire people,” she reveals. “I think when all the other podcasts that keep coming out make you feel down sometimes, it’s important to remember why you do it, why it’s so important if you start a podcast, to really have a premise that is authentic to you and means something, because that’s what is going to make you carry on and give you your USP.”
When asked about the difficulties of being a small independent podcaster competing with big brands, Jennie refers to a recent talk she gave about not needing a big PR machine or masses of funding behind you to start a podcast and do well.
“For me, it’s consistency,” she says. “I watch, sometimes, lots of celebrities come and do podcasts, which is great, but they often do it for only one series or to promote something they’re doing at the time.
“If you’re independent, I think what is really key, is to keep at it to push past that boundary. Yes, I do find it frustrating sometimes but after hitting the three years mark, I really learnt that my podcast is mine, I have something special, not to compare to other people and to keep going from my own perspective.”
From humble beginnings with five friends as first guests, Sliding Doors has come a long way in three years with an array of big names guests including the likes of Bradley Walsh, Dame Arlene Phillips, Martin Kemp, Dame Prue Leith, Rachel Stevens, Candice Brathwaite, Dr Hilary, Roxie Nafousi, Dan Walker, Ranvir Singh, Dr Alex George, Babatunde Aleshe, Simon Rimmer, Kelvin & Liz Fletcher, Patrick Grant and Ade Adepitan.
There has also been sell out live shows with Anna Mathur and the successful Sliding Doors 25 Docuseries celebrating the films 25th anniversary featuring John Hannah, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Peter Howitt, Steven Bartlett and Laura Whitmore.
An impressive list of names but pulling it all together is no mean feat as Jennie knows only too well.
“You dream big with all the guests, but you have to hustle hard, that’s what I’ve learnt along the way, she explains. “Don’t be scared of asking people, you’ve just got to ask and keep at it. For me, it snowballed – you get that one guest and then someone else looks at it and says ok.
“I get a lot of rejections which can be frustrating, but I always think rejection is redirection in the sense of I’ll get another guest on, and the timing will be right. It is hard and takes a lot of time and commitment, but you’ve just got to have confidence in yourself and your show – the worst that someone can do is say no and just hope that they’ll say yes!”
As the milestone episode releases, Jennie says that it’s easy to compare ourselves to the things we’re not achieving, but it’s really important to celebrate the things we have achieved and that’s why she wanted a guest who would reflect that for the 100th edition.
“I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the last 100 episodes that I’ve recorded and to record someone very special, and that is the broadcasting legend Tony Blackburn.
“My family and I have listened to him for so many years that he’s a part of our radio life and podcasting is an evolution of broadcasting and for me it’s lovely to have him on.
“It’s his 60th anniversary in broadcasting this year and it was great to hear about his life. He doesn’t do that many in-depth interviews and it was great to hear about how his journey has evolved with all the different things he’s done.
“He’s in a great era of his life – he’s has had a lot of ups and downs but is still smashing it on the radio, touring the country and is a great inspiration for people. I wanted to make something special of the 100th episode and I think Tony is the perfect person for that.”
Other than Tony, the latest series of Sliding Doors also includes a stellar line-up of guests such as Dame Zandra Rhodes, Shirley Ballas, Paul Sculfor and Jimmy Tarbuck.
Jennie intends to further develop her podcast including putting on more live shows and has plans to evolve the Sliding Doors family by growing the community of people who listen to the show.
She says: “It’s so brilliant to be able to connect the dots of your life through the Sliding Doors moments – the decisions you’ve made and really embrace the things that have happened to you. I want to keep spreading that and inspiring people. Whether I inspire one person or 500, that’s what I want to do!”
The 100th episode of Sliding Doors with special guest Tony Blackburn is released today, 10 October on all podcast platforms.