"Wait, You're a Scout" Episode 10 Alex Gill From Scout Radio interviews Anna at Gilwell Reunion

Hi everyone and welcome to this week's episode of "Wait Your A Scout". I'm changing things up a bit and thought after Gilwara Union I would share the interview that the lovely Alex from Scout Radio did with me on the main stage. So yeah, here is the interview with me being the interviewer, which is definitely not something I'm used to. And Alex has definitely agreed as well that I get a turn to interview him. So here is his interview with me and then hopefully you'll get my interview with him. So yeah, hope you enjoy. Hi, I'm Anna and I have the podcast "Wait Your A Scout", which is on every podcast thing possible I think. Every podcast in platform. Yeah, that's the one. So podcasting is one of those things that lots of people do. And I always think the best ones are ones where you are talking about a niche subject. And actually you can't get more niche, well you can get more niche, but you know, scouting is a very niche topic, isn't it? So actually I bet it works quite well because you're going to get a lot of people interested. Yeah, definitely. And it's not just about scouting itself. It's more about the people within it because I mean, lots of people are probably been faced with this. You're at work and you say like, "Oh, I'm a scout" and they look at you funny going, "Wait, what? You don't fit that stereotype." And it's almost like you lead a double life. Like you have this work bubble and your friends bubble and then the scouts bubble. It's almost like you know it's about unless you're in it. So it's kind of going actually, "Yes, you're a scout." And this is all the awesome stuff you're doing scouts. But what about that, you know, 50% of your other bit of life that you do. Muggles will never understand. So I think that's quite cool that you're sort of myth-busting I guess a little bit about what scouting is actually like as opposed to the stereotypical image that some people have of it. Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think the fact that I'm a girl in 25 and everyone goes, "Sorry, what? You're an explorer leader. What does that mean? Sorry, people let their teenagers look after them. I'm like, "Yeah, no, people actually let me look after their children." So what made you decide to want to start a podcast? Because it's quite a lot of work. Yeah, I mean, it's not a small hobby. But I was sitting I think the best ideas normally come out from the pub. So I was sitting in the pub with my aunt who is a big podcast fan and works in media. And we were talking about scouting and I said, "Oh, I'd love to like one day have a podcast." I don't know what I talk about. I was just like, "Anna scouts, that's your thing." And there were so many people that were interesting to talk about. Like I was telling her about Kiwi that you had on earlier and he's been on my podcast and he's just got a fascinating story. And there were so many other people that have really like niche things that they do within scouting as well as it being a niche thing itself. So yeah, it's kind of going like there are pockets of people that do awesome stuff and stuff that I didn't even know about. So there is a, to know there's an online gaming community within scouting. No, that's awesome. So episode coming up here is with a scout who started this. Her name's Latte and she is a scout that created this sort of online gaming thing. There's like a whole Minecraft thing and they called Game Together and I 30 them up at the Wild Scout Jamboree. Don't ever reveal too much. There's a guy to listen to the next episode. Oh, nice tease. Yeah. But yeah, and he's like, that's so cool and I never knew that was even a thing. So I didn't know that was a thing. I like online gaming. I may have to join. I'll find out a bit more about this. I will listen to the next episode of your podcast to find out. Yeah, there'll be a link of how to join it as well. Oh, very good. So is it all strictly audio or do you do video as well? Mostly audio at the moment just because it's easier and I'm not the most comfortable front of a camera. This is a little bit scary right now. And also just, yeah, I think at the moment audio is kind of easier to deal with. But maybe video in the future, something I can go into. So do you know about Scoutadelic? Have you seen this YouTube channel? Yes, we've been trying to meet up about four times this weekend to try and do some collaboration together. So, yeah, absolutely. So we do a lot of stuff in Microsoft's world. We've been on Scoutadelic before. So my scout was actually, he did a campfire thing recently and I got my scout to sing on it. It's so great that people are creating media content around what Scouting does because it really helps get the message out there. And there's this myth-busting thing, getting to the heart of what Scouting does today in 2019 as opposed to what people think it is about because they probably have this idea that it was about something that it used to be. And we still have all these values, but it is involved so much. Yes, yes, yes. So I think that's really great. Yeah. And I think it's just one of those even of Scouts, we don't always know what each other does and what works on the places and some of the people like Ash, who was on the last episode, I was having a chat to him and he talked about how Scouting led him into his career path. Now lots of people don't even realise that as a leader, that's what you can be doing as well as actually, this is like, that's what it gives to you as well as what you're giving to your young people. So it's definitely, yeah, something that's quite nice to talk about. So how do you do it? Do you do you record in your hope? Do you do telephone interviews? Do you go to people? How does it work? A bit of a mix. Skype interviews are my new favourite, but as you can do a download and then the other person can listen to it and be like, "Actually, Anna, could you take this bit out?" Because they can quite like my answer and I'm like, "No, that's fine." So Skype works really well. I actually do all of my audio, I feel really bad saying this on your amazing set up, but all of the mic on my laptop. That's one of the things that you've got there. It's about using what you've got there, isn't it? Yeah. It's kind of working within your parameters, I guess. Yeah, so a lot of it is take my laptop somewhere, sometimes it's coffee shops, meet-up at camps, anywhere that I can sort of be in the same places person or, you know, all else fails. That's Skype. Yeah. That's really cool. It kind of works. And I guess a lot of time is spent sourcing guests then, because that's going to be like, what, 50% of the drawer of the resource? Yeah, sometimes it's sourcing and then the hardest bit is, okay, what lines up with our diaries? Because we also have work, scouts, everything else, and this interview to fit in. But I think my favourite thing is actually getting people to suggest other people or themselves. That's how I find people, because otherwise, okay, you know, crowd sourcing interviews. Yeah, definitely. Twitter's definitely the best place. I get little messages. They're like, oh, this person's really good. You should interview them. I'm like, okay, I'll drop them a message. Yeah. That's really cool. Yeah. So we'll chat more about your progress in the moment. We're going to play a song. And then I want to talk a little bit about, like some of the episodes that you've had in the past and some of the areas you've covered. So we'll play a song and then we'll talk to Anna a bit more in a moment. Great. So not a song is dead an advert for me. Back in March, I had to take some time off from the podcast, just a sort of regroup and look after my explore unit and just myself as well. You may have seen other news, but my explore unit comes Benoit, so I've got a really tragic loss with the loss of Dody Chesney. In her memory, we as district assessor project called for Dody. Our aim is to create the opportunity for first free first aid training for 14 year olds up as well as putting lead control kits in our local community across Rompford and Papua Dagnum. We have an event on the physical October, which I know is very, very soon. We are trying to raise £10,000 to really kickstart this project and keep Dody's legacy of her being such an amazing explorer alive. You can find out more details about the fundraising, how suddenly, how to get involved on Facebook. So if you look for for Dody, you'll find the go fund me page, you'll find lots of information about it. We're also working alongside the Dody Chesney Foundation set up by Peter and family. That's Dody's dad and the rest of their family to create opportunities to educate and just get to those young people and their families that may either fall into life crime or to be vulnerable towards it or just to make sure that this doesn't happen to another family or another scape group anywhere in the country. So big plans for both if you google either so for Dody or the Dody Chesney Foundation, you can find both of their Dody's and pages whether you put Dody £5 or if you can't donate, just please share because you may have friends that can. So yeah, please share both of those. And now back to the episode. Black RPs, I got a feeling on Scout Radio. That was picked by Anna. Good tune. Why did you pick that? So I can't remember how long it was ago now, but a few years ago I was at a Ken International Jamboree with lots of friends and it's just one of those songs that like when we all get together because I'm still friends with some of those people and we just play it. We're like, "Oh, it's like Ken International Jamboree!" And played it on my friends wedding because I'm at that age where my friends are now getting married. And she was like, "Oh, I remember this from Can." Worrying isn't it? Yeah, it's fine. Also doing that. It's all me worrying. I'm like, "Oh, that means I'm an adult." I don't like that. Yeah, but wedding is a good fun. Yeah, yeah. The wedding part was fun. I'm just, yeah. So you're the second guest who's spoken to us about weddings and scouts weddings as well. Was there anything scouting about them? Did they do anything like whenneckers or badges or? No, it wasn't a scouting wedding as such. We were sort of there. It's like, "Oh, we're the scouting friends in the corner on the naughty table." Yeah, yeah. So I grew up with my friends from scouting. I got married a few years ago and they gave everyone a badge. Who was a scouts? All the scouts got a badge for the wedding. I can't blank it. I thought it was quite cool. And there's not campfire at the end as well. So that was quite fun. Oh, nice. And you could clearly see the muggles versus the scouts because we were all there singing songs and being jolly and all the non scouts weren't. That was quite fun. So for anyone who's just joining us and everyone's a podcast called. Wait, you're a scout? I love that you do a face with that. It's like you've got a little thing figured out. I think this is the way I say it. So much on the podcast. I'm like, "That's how it happens." And it's called that because you're kind of breaking down some myths and stereotypes about scouting, which I think is fantastic. So you mentioned that you were talking, what was the latest episode that you were? - With Ash, the-- - And with Ash, that's it. Yeah, so tell us about some of the things that you try and cover on your, what the most recent episode's been about? - So my first episode, but mostly because I live with him, I interviewed my boyfriend and was like, oh, so what about your scout stuff? Turn out, I found loads of things about him. I didn't know, I was like, what? You never told me this. But then it sort of starts with a few friends, I've been in scouts and what it's done for them. And then it's just sort of spiraled from there. So I've had some suggestions of people, I've had, so like I said earlier, you've got Kiwi's been on there, I've had some other friends like county-wise, I've just got involved, I'm just sort of seeing where it goes. - And how often do you release an episode? - Trying to do it every two weeks, just so it gives you a little bit of breathing space, but as every scout leader knows, sometimes camps get in the way. I'm like, oh, I'm planning a camp. Oh no, I have to get an episode out. - Yeah, yeah. - So yeah, normally every two weeks, but I'm proactive on social media with the podcast, so I'm normally like tweeting frantically. But you're like, there's an episode coming out. - Yeah. - Yeah. - Are you gonna include any stuff from Reunion? - Yeah, hopefully I've got a few people lined up into you over the weekend. And Alex, while we're on here, would you like to be on the podcast at some point? - Yeah, absolutely. I'd like to. - Great. - Cool. - Yeah, we could just give you this interview to put it. - I mean, that would be great, but you know, if you could to ask you some questions too. - Yeah. - So what's it like to be the interview, E? - Different. Yeah, normally I'm very prepped. I'm like, I know what I'm gonna do. I've got all these topics set down. And I'm like, oh, I've got to think. - Yeah, it's quite hard to be on the other end of this. - Yeah, definitely. - But do you like interviewing people and learning about stuff? Because I guess you wouldn't have started a podcast unless you wanted to get to know people. - Yeah, definitely. It's kind of fascinating just talking to people and being like, wait, that's what you've done. So a friend of mine, Alex, is the site, well, the activities manager for Thriftwood Camp site. So I talk to him and he tells me that he's been a British scout overseas when he was young and he's done this and the other one. I'm like, I didn't do that. - Yeah. - So yeah, it's just finding out that different aspects of scouting journeys because everyone's is so different. Even if you know, go up in the same group, your view of what happened is very different to everyone else's and what it does for you. So yeah, it's really fascinating for to find that out. - And all the skills that are kind of required to make an audio podcast, you know, editing and recording and stuff. Did you have those before you started or was it something you've been learning along the way? - Definitely learning along the way. Everything I'm doing is a little bit sort of raw and a little bit basic, I'm using tech that probably shouldn't be used for audio editing, like telling into a video first by a Photoshop and then pulling it all apart, but it kind of works at the moment. So I'm kind of learning as a go, but yeah. - But that's great. And you're kind of upskilling yourself and learning a new skill and that's good. - Yeah, exactly. - A skill to life. Which is good fun though. Have you enjoyed, do you like, I would like watch YouTube video and tutorials and stuff like learn things or do? - Yeah, yeah, it's a bit of that. And kind of friends that have done podcast staff or been in the industry, I'm just like, "Hey, how do you do this?" Is there a faster way? That sort of stuff. So yeah, and talking to guys like you as well, like it's helpful learning, like, "Oh, you could use this app or this works as well." So, yeah, that's good. - Yeah. - I really like podcasting. And actually, probably in SCAR Radio, it's not something we do enough of. So maybe you could help us do some podcasting as well. - That would be amazing. - I think we'd like to do more of it, really. But we don't sense, seems to find the time, it's so time consuming, I think it really is. It's a labor intensive medium. - Yeah, there have been a few Sundays where I've sat there and had back to back interviews over Skype, where I'm like, "Okay, I'm going to interview you this one." Then I've got an hour break and this person, then an hour, just in case it runs over. - How long are your episodes? - Normally about half an hour, because-- - That's quite a good length, it's quite-- - Yeah. - Because it's a sumble length, I think. - Yeah, in my head, I kind of imagine that you've got the leader or the parent who's on their way to dropping their kids off. And I'm sort of like, "Oh, well, you could do the first half of the episode dropping your kid to Scouts." And then the other half on your way home. That's where my head's turned off. Half an hour fits that quite nicely, I think. - So you're on social media, you said. Let's try and find you. I think I found you when I was looking for you to organise this interview. - Yeah, so if you search for "Wait Your A Scout" on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, I'm all over those. - I already like you. - Ah, great. (laughing) - Mikey from Skype Adelicas here. Hey dude, we were talking about you earlier. I don't know if you knew. - Yeah, so we were talking about how it's so great that so many people are creating different types of content around scouting and actually you guys are gonna kind of link up and do some stuff. So for anyone who didn't hear that, Mike runs the Scouts Adelicas. Is it a vlog? I don't know, what do you call it? Yeah, it's a scouting based video, YouTube channel that does things about scouting. I don't really know. - Great summary, yep. - And he's live at 12 tomorrow here on the stage of Scouts Radio. - Yay. - But we're not talking about you now, Mike, go away. - Yeah, I'm not podcasting. (laughing) - Which hopefully Mike will be on very soon. - Which might be on very soon. Yeah, wait, you're a scout. I found it. - Yeah, great. - Fantastic. And so do you put like photos up of people you speak to or like? - Yeah, yep, trying to. It's mostly I've done the interview and they go, oh guys, can you send me some pictures? So I need that for Instagram. So yeah, try and post those. Generally try and do a bit of live stuff to be like, oh, I'm a posting videos out or thanks to everyone that's listened, that's sort of jazz. So yeah, please do like it. And if you listen to the podcast, please like, rate and subscribe as we say on every podcast. (laughing) Because it does, that helps share it with the general population. - Absolutely. - And we think a thousand listeners now, would you really? - I've just seen it. On the seventh of all, we've said you hit a thousand listeners. - Yeah. - A listen's, yeah, that's amazing. That's really good. What did you start actually? Has it been going for a long time? - No, it's actually only been going since about January. There was a bit of time where I had to take a break because sometimes I have to look after the actual explorer unit. (laughing) - Yeah. - Yes, but I'm sort of back onto it and every two weeks, so two episodes a month roughly. - Wow. - Yeah. - I genuinely, I'd love to do something like that. I genuinely don't think I'd have time. It is. - Yeah, I definitely learn how to edit on the train to work. That's a good one. - How long was your commute? - About an hour. - I can sit in there a bit. - You don't get a seat. - Yeah, yeah, as long as you get a seat. - Exactly. - I'm always standing trying to edit a podcast. It's quite difficult. I've tried. - Yes. - I wouldn't recommend it. - Absolutely. - You've got your gang ideas here from a union about what you can include in a few episodes coming up. - Yeah, definitely. And actually just meeting a few people that are like, "Oh, you've got an interesting story. "Today doesn't quite work, but let's meet up. "Let's change, like, exchange details." - Yeah, so. - It's the best place to get guests. - Definitely, definitely. Anyone who does want to be on the podcast, please don't be shy. Send me a tweet. I'd love to talk to you. - Oh, Twitter as well. Let's try and find your one Twitter. - Yeah. - It's, wait, you're a scout again. So. - At. - Yeah. - Yeah. - I'll follow you from our scout radio account. - Oh, far back. - Oh, wait, you're a scout. So, what am I for it? We tried to do a podcast once, me and my mates. And it just, it didn't really work. It sort of fell apart because I think we didn't plan it very well. So, how much planning do you put in that episode, would you say? - I think it kind of depends. If I know the person quite well, sometimes it's actually quite nice to keep it quite free flowing and just sort of have, "Okay, give me like your top three best memories "from Scouts and we'll just take it from there." Sometimes I do a bit of research. I'm not actually, this is what this person's done. Let's base it on those questions and see what happens. And sometimes I get a whole list of questions ready, start talking to them and go, "Hold on, that is a brilliant thing. "We're gonna talk about that and forget the question." So, yeah, it kind of depends. I mean, there's a few episodes of what coming up that because of the topics they're based around, I'm doing sort of pre-meets and having a few chats because they are not sensitive, but they're just a bit deeper. But some of them are just quite, you know, actually let's just have a chat and see what happens. I mean, that's kind of what we've done here. I think it's just a weird podcast. So, your podcast is doing really well. You're an explorer leader alongside it. So, you've got a whole actual genuine scouting role around doing this. Yeah. Being an explorer leader, so you're 25. And actually not a huge gap in the age range, really. Do you find being an explorer leader difficult because you're quite young? Because that's why I'm a scout leader, not an explorer leader. I always felt like I'd end up being their mate a bit more than a leader. I think it's been different. So, I've done it for nearly five years now. And I think it's taken me that time to get that rapport. I had another explorer leader who was actually a scout leader and learned a lot from him because he sort of had that lead role. And I sort of learn actually this is the best way to get the response. And I think one of the things that explorers is, they like banter. So, if they give it to you, give it back to the person and you've got a good footing. Yeah. They will eat you alive. But I think, yeah, sometimes there is a bit of, actually, as they get older, it does get a little bit more difficult. Because you're like, oh, you're actually like 17, 18 and you're sort of like outside of this. We could have been friends. But I think that's what quite, it's quite nice about networks. It's actually, then we can, you know, that's when you can almost have that, actually, and I don't know. It's a bit different. But I think it's learning that they're on that sort of growing up journey as well. When they're younger, you do have to be a bit more leader. But as they get older, you can start giving them a bit more responsibility in almost making them, hate his word, a young leader in it. But it's that sort of mentor to the younger ones and that's sort of how it's developed. Yeah. I think the hardest bit was when I was doing my goal, D.A.V. and going from leader to participant with some of my explorers and remembering that, you have to have that separation still, even though, are we spending four days in a canoe together? [LAUGHTER] Yeah. You're right. Absolutely. That was the hardest bit. But yeah, other than that, it has taken a while to learn. But I think it's for any section. You go into a beaver section. You're like, oh, small people. What do I do? Yeah. That's why I'm not a beaver leader. Absolutely pleasure to talk to you. Thank you so much for talking to us. Thanks for having me. No problem. Remind everyone what's more how they can listen to your podcast. So you can find us on Spotify, anchor, Google Play, essentially whatever you like to listen to your podcast. on. Search for "White You're a Scout" and I'll probably be building this. Brilliant, we're gonna play a song and then we'll have more from the same. So I hope that gave you a little bit of an insight into what it's like to have a podcast, do a podcast and also be an explorer scout leader and some of the fun from "Gillware reunion" it was an awesome weekend and yeah I'm definitely glad I got the chance to speak to the guys from Scout Radio. Hopefully we'll do a bit more collaboration together in the future. Yeah so keep listening guys as always please rate to review and subscribe and yeah that's it from this episode oh and don't forget to share any suggestions of people that I should talk to on social media and just anywhere in general okay thanks guys!