Exploring Global Problems Video Podcast Production
Carnival Content partnered with Swansea University to produce a 50-episode podcast series. The award winning Exploring Global Problems podcast demonstrated Swansea’s groundbreaking research into global challenges.
Carnival pitched the concept of a video podcast focused on telling Swansea’s research story. Carnival produced, recorded, edited and published the series.
S1E1 – Climate Change: Reading The Past In Tree Ring Data (YouTube Podcasts)
The Challenge – Showcasing Swansea University Research To Global Audiences
Swansea University wanted to showcase its world‑leading research in a way that was engaging, accessible and shareable globally. Positioning the institution as a thought leader on pressing global challenges.
From climate change to healthcare innovation, AI to politics. The professional quality podcast aimed to showcase the world-leading research from Swansea across multiple platforms (YouTube, social, Spotify and Apple Podcasts).
S1E14 – Using Electronic Tags To Protect Endangered Species (YouTube Podcasts)
The Strategy – Showcasing Research And The Researchers
We developed a story-led video podcast that combined expert insight that covered all academic areas of the University.
Key elements of the strategy included:
- Highlighting real researchers tackling global problems
- Designing episodes that could be consumed as long-form podcasts or short, social media clips
- Publishing content on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and social media to reach multiple audiences
- Maintaining a consistent, professional tone while keeping the content interesting and entertaining for students, staff, and the public
This approach enabled the University to showcase its research impact globally while creating a library of assets for ongoing use.
Producing long-form video content, such as podcasts, and then editing it into multiple short-form social media clips is one of the most cost effective content strategies. We’re big fans of this approach and it’s championed by digital marketing expert Gary Vee.
S3E1 – Creative Solutions For Plastic Pollution (Spotify Podcasts)
Execution
Carnival Content worked in partnership with Swansea on every stage of production:
- Concept & planning: Working with the brilliant host Sam Blaxland and the University team to plan each episode
- Recording: On-campus (then remotely through COVID) interviews with researchers, capturing authentic dialogue
- Editing & post-production: Full audio and video edits, with landscape, square, and vertical highlight clips for social
- Subtitles & accessibility: English and Welsh captions for all social content, full transcriptions generated on platform
- Distribution: Episodes published to YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and repurposed across social channels
The series combined high production values with an authentic, intimate feel, giving listeners the impression they were in the room with the experts.
S1E2 – Will Maggots Save The Human Race? (YouTube Podcasts)
Outcomes
The Exploring Global Problems podcast became a central part of Swansea University’s thought leadership strategy:
- Engaged a global audience of students, academics, and policy-makers
- Strengthened the university’s reputation for cutting-edge research
- Provided multi-format content that can be used across digital campaigns, social media, and newsletters
- HEIST Award winner: recognised externally, winning Best Brand / Reputation Campaign at the HEIST Awards
The 50 episode series demonstrated how strategic podcast production can turn complex research into compelling content that resonates across multiple audiences. Each episode had at least two social media edits, generating over 100 additional pieces of content.
Explore more of our university video & podcast production work →
See how we approach international video campaigns for universities →
S1E12 – Cancer Treatment And Eradicating Malaria: What Role Can Microbes Play? (Apple Podcasts)
Podcast Planning
The Exploring Global Problems podcast became a central part of Swansea University’s thought leadership strategy:
- Engaged a global audience of students, academics, and policy-makers
- Strengthened the university’s reputation for cutting-edge research
- Provided multi-format content that can be used across digital campaigns, social media, and newsletters
- HEIST Award winner: recognised externally, winning Best Brand / Reputation Campaign at the HEIST Awards
The 50 episode series demonstrated how strategic podcast production can turn complex research into compelling content that resonates across multiple audiences. Each episode had at least two social media edits, generating over 100 additional pieces of content.
Explore more of our university video & podcast production work →
See how we approach international video campaigns for universities →
Planning a podcast or research campaign?
Talk to us about your next podcast project
Or email us: hello@carnivalcontent.com