Podcast Corner: 2FM exodus has presenters focusing on their own broadcasts
Doireann Garrihy has more than one podcast on the go. Picture: Andres Poveda
In the past few weeks, 2FM has lost not one but four DJs from its daily schedule: Jennifer Zamparelli, the 2 Johnnies, and Doireann Garrihy. The 2 Johnnies have a global tour planned for summer, hitting America and Australia. Considering the podcast started well before the radio gig, it always felt like 2FM needed the 2 Johnnies more than the 2 Johnnies needed 2FM.
Meanwhile, Garrihy was the first to reveal she was leaving her breakfast show. Last week, the first episode of season two of her ‘other’ podcast (the main one is Laughs of Your Life) dropped. Whether it was just coincidental or simply good timing, Doireann and Friends offers chats, now from Doireann’s spare room, with a random assortment of guests, most of whom are familiar; she tells Pamela Joyce (who left Today FM last year) that they only ever seem to meet in front of a microphone or over a glass of wine.
Why is Doireann in her spare room, which gives Big Brother vibes? She says, opening season two: “It’s hard to be fully yourself when you’re in a studio with other people in the room and it’s really important to me that this time round I improve on that.” Again, maybe she’s just talking about the podcast - maybe the radio show was on her mind too, though.
But Garrihy is backing herself by leaving the national broadcaster, and she will be missed. Her impression of Blindboy talking about Goretex is hilarious, her chat with Joyce like, well, old friends catching up over a glass of wine. It’s just a pity that there’s not much more exciting material than Joyce talking about her travels to South-East Asia and Doireann giving an ‘exclusive’ by revealing her engagement story.
One former 2FM DJ who has really found her voice and MO in podcasting is Louise McSharry. Catch Up has been running for just over two years and in recent months has rejigged things so instead of one long weekly catchup, there’s three distinct episodes focused on news, entertainment, and a general interview. There are also bonus episodes for fans who sign up to her Patreon (should we expect Garrihy and co to start up such fan sites soon? It seems like a no-brainer).
McSharry is so empathetic and never talks down to her audience - there’s no presumptions made. And while there’s a familiarity with her guests, you always leave feeling like you’ve learnt something, like Ali Dunworth talking about her new book about Irish pubs - even if all you know is some of their favourite snugs around the Galway. You’ll want to make a note. 2FM should be as well.
