“What if hell was real and you could tune into it by switching on your radio listening to radio sodomo” this is the idea behind the podcast Radio Sodom which is, as we are informed by Elina Ylä-Mononen, the most popular podcast in hell.
It’s the most popular podcast in Finland, so what did they do right and how did they manage it? This is an audio drama. Antti Holme, the host of the show comes on to introduces himself - he hates a lot.
“Radio Sodomo is a pretty brutal podcast…about society, culture and politics”, it’s not for everyone. Included in this session is a segment from this podcast with English translation if you want to get the feel for how fantastic it really is.
In the Finnish market the audiences loved it, the listener numbers were a revelation, the speed of take up shows how this has really gripped the population in Finland.
What did the team do right and without offending anyone, even though this is a radical concept for a podcast? Comedy and absurdity seem to be the keys plus knowing the law was also important and to date no one has sued the podcast. There was also a code of ethics, which drove the show even if there is humor in what was being said they were careful not to step over some boundaries - attacking certain people and groups. The reaction from people parodied in the show has so far been positive.
Elina also said being within the Public broadcaster sphere, was a liberty as not having sponsors meant the podcast could go where it they wanted it. This influenced how the podcast was made and produced. The whole process of creating the podcast was ‘fun’ which the public broadcaster can give and allow.
Antti said “The best part (of podcasts) is that the responsibility is much more at the listeners end, this stuff doesn’t attack you from the radio when you are driving or on the TV in the evening you really have to choose this yourself. I’ve gotten away with so much stuff just by saying no one has to listen to this filth I produce…”
Antti said with podcasts he feels he can talk about things which he could not normally talk about on other media, however he still has a clear view on what is ‘fair game’ or not in terms of content.
In the final goodbye Elina wishes all a “courageous and filthy day” a perfect end to this session.