AN AYRSHIRE College podcast created by Music, Performance and Sound Production lecturer John McBlain has this week published its 100th episode on Spotify.

Rockpool Podcasts is named after the college’s state-of-the-art recording and rehearsal facilities at its Ayr Campus – Rockpool Studios.

The podcast was an idea born out of lockdown to give Music and Sound Production students a creative outlet in which to showcase their talents during their time at college.

Since the first episode in November 2020, the podcast has exploded into something much bigger than just that initial remit.

While most of the podcast episodes are music-related, the podcast has also recorded special episodes dealing with important subjects such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), LGBT+, mental health, and racism.

John McBlain, Ayrshire College’s Equality and Inclusion Advisor Sara Turkington, and HNC Music student Joe Smith are the main hosts of Rockpool Podcasts. However, students from each course within the Music and Sound Production curriculum, from NPA Sound Production – made up of secondary schools across Ayrshire studying on a School-College partnership programme – through to HND Music, have all had a go at writing, recording, editing, and publishing an episode.

Guests have included Ayrshire College Principal Carol Turnbull and Vice Principal Anne Campbell as well as Scottish Green Party’s Patrick Harvie MSP, Michelin Star chefs Tom Kerridge and Stephen McLaughlin, CEO of the charity EmilyTest, Fiona Drouet MBE, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Divina De Campo.

Podcast host John was recently named FE College Enterprise Educator of the Year at the 2021 Bridge 2 Business Awards, largely because of his work with Rockpool Podcasts.

John said: “We would like to extend a huge thank you to every single person who has spent time with us on the podcast, to every student who has recorded and produced an episode, to the people who have collaborated with us and to everyone who has listened, shared, championed and supported Rockpool Podcasts.”