Carousel is a lively and always interesting arts organisation in Brighton that supports learning disabled artists to flourish across all forms of creative expression.
The latest venture from Carousel is a monthly podcast project called Following Rules Apply. The show is in development stage and will go live this summer.
The young, neurodiverse production and presenting team consists of Jason, an up-and-coming podcast host, and Joel and Paggy, two budding comedians (who prefer to be known by first names). All three have a track record of performing publicly.
Daft and tricky
The premise is that the host sets “daft and tricky made-up challenges”, which Joel and Paggy as well as invited guests then try to answer. But here’s the twist – they can only answer the questions according to the “fiendish rules” that have been set for it.
Here is an example, which emerged during podcast development: you are the manager of a band, and you have to assign one instrument only to each member of the band: what choices will you make? And the rule is: each band member is a different species of bird.
Joel and Paggy sailed through this one. Obviously, the lead guitarist is a bald eagle, the singer is a lyrebird, a penguin is on drums and the bass player (the one who no one pays any attention to) is a pigeon.
Unless it’s a funk band, Joel tells me, where apparently the bass player takes centre stage, in which case they should be a flamingo.
In an interview, Joel reveals that the idea for the podcast came from Jason, who has a long history of asking people silly questions. (I should reveal at this stage that Joel is a relative of mine but was asked to do the interview on merit rather than through nepotism or an urge for family self-promotion.)
Here’s another challenge: you have to send a message to everyone in the UK. The rule? It must be five words or less, and can be displayed only on a banner behind a bi-plane.
For me the best suggestion the team came up with was “be prepared”. I can’t imagine anything more likely to send the nation’s conspiracy theorists into a frenzy.
Part of the project has involved seeking advice from podcast professionals, and the three team members are developing radio skills such as audio editing, production and location recording.
Who is the target audience for the forthcoming podcast?
Joel says: “It’s anyone who likes comedy who thinks a bit differently.”
And what is it that makes these podcasts work? He has a simple answer for that: “We’re just really good at our jobs.”
Carousel says that its radio shows and podcasts reach listeners in more than 50 countries and are produced entirely by learning disabled or neurodiverse people. The organisation has won prizes at the Audio Production Awards and the Lovie Awards, which celebrate European internet excellence.
Speaking of his work with Carousel over recent years, Joel, who describes himself as autistic, says: “It feels like I was ignored before. Carousel first let me speak – and now they want me to speak.”
You’ll see why Carousel is so keen for Joel, Jason and Paggy to speak if you listen in to the Following Rules Apply podcasts later this year. They’re very funny and they’re very different – who’d want to miss them?
Listen: Carousel Radio and podcasts
