PodcastOne Australia has announced Brains Trust, produced and hosted by Chris Walker, co-creator and executive producer of ABC’s The Weekly with Charlie Pickering and Hard Quiz.
Brains Trust’s first season, 2020 – The Year We Can’t Forget, is a long form interview series which will see Walker speaking with some of Australia’s well-known personalities. Featuring the likes of Hamish Blake, Dr Chris Brown, Waleed Aly, Ronny Chieng, Adam Briggs, Annabel Crabb and Kitty Flanagan, his guests reflect on their experience throughout the unusual year of 2020. The series will be narrated by Gold Logie winner, The Project’s co-host and Hit Network co-host, Carrie Bickmore.
Walker has more than 14 years’ media experience across print, radio and television including time producing The Project. Working in almost all genres from sports broadcasting, documentaries, news and comedy, Walker reflects on his own experience from this year and said this project is not just an attempt to understand what events occurred, but how they motivated us.
“I can’t wait for people to hear this podcast. The Brains Trust’s first guests – Annabel, Kitty, Waleed, Dr Chris, Ronny, Briggs and Hamish – were so generous and candid,” Walker said.
“Putting this together really reframed my attitude toward 2020 and was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever made. It made it feel like none of 2020 was a waste. I really hope people enjoy it.”
SCA head of entertainment and news content – digital audio, Sam Cavanagh, said: “Chris is one of the most naturally curious people I know. He simply asks more questions than anyone I’ve met! So, when he came to us with this idea, I knew it would be a winner.
“Chris manages to get these very well-known Australians to share themselves in a way we haven’t heard before. The result is a unique look at 2020 that is both insightful and hilarious.”
The series is produced and edited by Chris Marsh, the audio wizard behind many of SCA’s top shows including Hamish & Andy and Matt & Alex All Day Breakfast.