To mark International Podcast Day, Leeds Trinity University is spotlighting Darren Harper, Senior Lecturer in Radio and Journalism and former British Podcast Award nominee, who is sharing his passion, expertise and his latest venture School of Pod to help inspire the next generation of budding media professionals.

Having started his journey in the media industry at the age of 30, when he took a job at Perth 990AM in Australia, Darren has built up over 20 years of experience in audio content production. He has worked as a reporter, presenter and producer for radio stations across England.

Amid a global rise in podcast popularity, Darren’s work in the medium began in 2016, when he joined streaming platform Proper Sport to create and host the Leeds United-focused LS11 Podcast alongside Ryan Wilson, guitarist from the indie rock band The Pigeon Detectives. Before ending in summer 2024, the weekly podcast had over two million downloads and was nominated for the Best Sports Podcast at the British Podcast Awards in 2019.

“The freedom that podcasting allows is what I enjoy most,” Darren said. “In radio, presenters are always working against the clock to make sure they’re getting to each part of a show at a particular point, but there are no strict time constraints in podcasting. In my experience, that creates a more relaxed atmosphere and puts those involved at ease, often leading to more considered and lengthier conversations that cover a wide range of points. Most podcasts feature hosts and guests who are passionate or experienced in the topics they are talking about too, and when it’s obvious that those involved genuinely care about what they’re discussing, it’s a better experience for all involved, but especially the listeners.”

Darren joined Leeds Trinity University in 2018, where he is the lead for the Centre for Journalism’s radio modules. He has been using his knowledge and experience of the industry to teach students how to create engaging audio content in a variety of formats such as news bulletins and packages, podcasts, and key skills such as editing and audio manipulation.

Leeds Trinity alumni, who have been taught by Darren, now working in the radio industry include Georgia Levy-Collins and Jessica Bayley, both at BBC Radio Leeds, Erin Carney, employed by Times Radio, and Alice Young, a presenter for Heart Radio.

Darren also used his connections with Proper Sport to help students gain experience in the industry by working on another of Proper Sport’s titles, The Fully Eighty Minutes podcast, which was recorded at Leeds Trinity’s Main Campus in Horsforth. Sports Journalism students from the University would produce the rugby league centric show ensuring the radio studio was set up to record and live stream the podcast.

Darren has since offered similar opportunities to students at Bradford City Football Club, where he works as the in-stadium announcer, providing many students with their first taste of live, in-person reporting at the club’s stadium Valley Parade, with some even securing positions with the club’s media team.

Darren’s work in providing students with high-quality education and work experience opportunities has contributed to the University’s Centre for Journalism being ranked number one in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025, which ranks institutions by subject, looking at student satisfaction, staff numbers, spending, and career prospects.

Kathryn Penny, Deputy Head of School of Digital and Screen Media at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Darren is a big and welcoming personality in the Centre for Journalism who consistently gets the best out of students, which is reflected in the positive feedback he receives. I’m constantly amazed by how he manages to keep up his professional practice in broadcasting alongside his role as a Senior Lecturer. This ongoing experience is vital to the currency of our programmes and maintaining the contacts to bring great guests to the classroom and our Journalism and Media Week.”

Darren is also inspiring young children by delivering his School of Pod initiative in primary schools across Yorkshire. Inspired by his career and  his 12-year-old daughter Izzy, who won the BBC Sounds Rising Star award in July 2023 after learning radio skills during lockdown, School of Pod is an extra-curricular enrichment activity that offers four to 11-year-olds the opportunity to learn basic digital media and broadcasting skills.

Supported by audio technology company Røde, who have donated almost £5,000 worth of specialist podcast equipment towards the project, students are taught technical skills including interviewing, microphone techniques and recording video while creating podcasts on topics of their choosing. In doing so, they develop transferrable and confidence boosting skills such as presenting, working collaboratively and embracing creativity.

Darren said: “I wanted to help children develop confidence in their own abilities, and I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed doing this more than anything else I’ve done over the last 20 years. To see children learning skills that not just give them technical ability but improve their confidence in day-to-day life is incredible, I absolutely love it.

“Our mantra is ‘skills for life’, and that’s what School of Pod provides. Almost everyone is in front of some media daily these days, and companies want people with tech skills, so it’s important for youngsters to become familiar and comfortable with them.”

More information about School of Pod is available online.

To find out more about the courses available at Leeds Trinity’s Centre for Journalism, visit the University website.