A showreel of my work over the past few years. Content is from my show on The University of Sheffield's Forge Radio and from course content during my Journalism degree
Content:
0:00 - 0:22 - A clip from the first Valentines Special of my show, introducing one of my pre-edited couple stories (Full ep:https://www.mixcloud.com/ForgeRadio/zain-likes-to-talk-valentines-special-160224/)
0:22 - 0:42 - Another clip from the same Valentines Special, transitioning between songs and speaking to the listeners.
0:42 - 1:28 - The intro to my 'Billy Joel night' (Full ep: https://www.mixcloud.com/ForgeRadio/zain-likes-to-talk-billy-joel-night-extra-long-special-190424/)
1:28 - 1:57 - A clip from an episode of my show titled 'Songs you feel the most connected to', where listeners sent in songs that they felt the most connected to (and why). (Full ep:https://www.mixcloud.com/ForgeRadio/zain-likes-to-talk-songs-you-feel-the-most-connected-to-030524/)
1:57 - 2:44 - A clip from my radio package on Tribute Bands in the UK. Features an interview with lead singer of The Smyths, Graham Sampson. (Full package: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UV8wJ2Bdu4&t=1s)
2:44 - 3:29 - A clip from my 'A Night in London' special, which featured audio techniques and songs to make it feel like I was broadcasting from across the city of London. (Full ep: https://www.mixcloud.com/ForgeRadio/zain/)
3:29 - 4:32 - A clip from 'Problem Solvers 2' - a special which saw listeners send in problems for us to solve. This clip has my guest and I discussing problems in our own lives. (Full ep: https://www.mixcloud.com/ForgeRadio/zain-likes-to-talk-problem-solvers-2-221124/)
4:32 - 5:11 - A clip from the end of 'Cowboy Night', which features a cowboy-style duel between my guest and I. (Full ep: https://www.mixcloud.com/ForgeRadio/zain-likes-to-talk-cowboy-night-061224/)
‘Zain Likes to Talk’ began in 2023 and was born out of seeing barely any fun talk shows being presented on the station. I decided to change that; creating a show that originally featured a new guest every week speaking about a topic they really cared about and that would be interesting to hear. This came to fruition on the 24th October, with my first episode ‘Annie-Marie talks Friendships and Love’ - which reached just over 50 listeners - one of the highest of that week!
Every guest that came on was asked three questions - What’s the last thing you did that you were proud of?, What is one song you feel the most connected to?, and What’s one word to describe your whole life? These questions worked to get the guests thinking a bit deeper about their answers and themselves and helped set the tone for the light-hearted, but semi-serious conversation we were about to have.
As episodes went on, I decided to start branching out and trying new things, all whilst still trying to maintain that focus on people and interviewing. Inspired by the community and driven by people, I began to implement audio submissions from viewers into my show. This began with the episode ‘Problem Solvers’, which had viewers send in issues they were facing in their lives that needed to be solved. We had ten submissions and the episode helped me understand the logistics of sourcing submissions and playing them on air.
I later used audio submissions again in my interview episode with Sheff1 as one of the members of the Uni of Sheffield student-led F1 podcast couldn’t make it. I had the missing member send in audio which was used as part of a ‘most likely to’ game at the end of the interview. The episode was a mashup of the old interview style and the new audio submissions, and it all went together seamlessly.
My experimentation with the submissions was all leading up to the Valentines Special, which broadcasted on February 16th 2024. It involved four couples sharing their stories and was all put together live on air. The production of the Valentines Special involved inviting couples to the radio studio a week before the show, interviewing them and asking them questions about their relationship, and then using Adobe Audition to cut it down and make it seamless. It was a lot of work, but I was extremely proud of the end product.
At the end of the show's first year, I managed to air 21 episodes, all with a different focus; From a Billy Joel night, to discussions about what it was like to be an international student, and even letting viewers submit their own songs that they felt the most connected to - Zain Likes to Talk has not only given me first hand experience with using things like Adobe Audition and knowing how to act on air, but has also managed to attract many listeners and given many people the chance to talk about something they love on air.
The second year of the show has seen the return of the classic interview episodes, a sequel to the Problem Solvers episode (which has been praised for the unmatched chemistry between myself and the guest), and something new; an episode titled 'A Night in London.'
The premise of the episode is that I'm exploring London, taking in the sights and reminiscing on music that reminds me of the capital. It was a pre-recorded episode that involved a week of planning, scripting, recording, and editing on Adobe Audition to properly make it sound like I was in London. The final result was great and something I am truly proud of.
The show officially ended on June 13th, after a total of 40 episodes, 43 guests - and only one sick day!
Zain Likes to Talk Year One Compilation:
Carousel of drawings used to promote episodes of Zain Likes to Talk:
Playlist of all Zain Likes to Talk episodes (some missing)
Elected to the position in April 2024, I was not officially 'Deputy Station Manager' until the start of the next academic year.
Once it was all official, I immediately got to work - understanding all the tech that was involved in running Forge Radio.
From understanding the X32 and Dante softwares, to properly figuring out the Myriad system - it was important to me to figure out how the systems worked in order to combat last year's problem with poor responses to common problems and poor documentation of studio technology.
I also developed the station's first ever handbook, helping new presenters feel more comfortable with using studio equipment by giving them detailed instructions on how everything works.
I was, effectively, the station's Head of Tech until we got official ones through our EGM. I trained them effectively and got them up to date with our studio's tech, but thanks to their own unique expertise with MIDI's and specialised PC's, they have been very effective in keeping the station afloat.
In April 2025, after months of research and planning, we finally installed a new studio PC. Whilst the physical installation was supported by the Heads of Tech, I was personally responsible for the software setup - Setting up the X32, and routing audio through our Dante systems, and reconnecting Myriad to our, at the time, missing database.
It was a long endeavour, but after a week - the new studio was set up with little problems, indicated by a clear decline in the amount of tech issues and presenter complaints we received.
To ensure a better and more aware station going forward, I have been working on a proper tech guide for next year’s committee. This will include the knowledge i’ve managed to gain after a whole year of self-teaching myself the ins and outs of Forge’s outdated radio systems, and hopefully allow for next year to upgrade the system even more.
My efforts helped Forge Radio achieve the 'Most Flourishing Society' award at the Activities Awards, highlighting the station's committement to letting anyone try their hand at broadcast radio.
I featured on BBC Radio Sheffield on Arzu Dutta's Chai and Chat show, answering questions about my heritage and my culture and my own experience being South Asian.
Extremely grateful to share my story because, as a third culture kid, it's not something you hear/get to talk about often.
Developed a radio package on tribute bands, inspired by an upcoming performance of The Smiths tribute band, 'The Smyths', at Sheffield's Leadmill.
Managed to get in contact with and interview lead singer of the tribute act, Graham Sampson, as well as Radio 6 presenter Jericho Keys, to provide more detailed analysis of why acts like these are so popular. Edited the whole piece together on Adobe Audition, including sound effects and music to make it feel more immersive.
Audition timeline for pacakge