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Private Passions

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Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical passions and talk about the influence music has had on their lives.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes492Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Private Passions

Latest Episodes

The American writer George Saunders won the 2017 Booker Prize with his first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. It’s a moving exploration of the grief of President Lincoln as he mourns his 11-year-old son Willie – and it’s voiced by the weird and wonderful... more

The writer and film-maker Penny Woolcock can’t be pigeonholed: she’s worked as a director at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and made a film about warring drug gangs on the streets of Birmingham.

A passion for storytelling has driven her career, ... more

Peter Hamlyn is the founder and president of the Brain and Spine Foundation, after working as a neurosurgeon for 40 years.

He is perhaps best-known for saving the life of the boxer Michael Watson, who suffered a severe brain injury during a title f... more

Asif Khan is a world-renowned architect and designer whose work inspired a recent headline – ‘is there anything Asif Khan can’t transform?’.

His current projects include the re-invention of the former Smithfield meat market into the new London Muse... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

George Saunders
Writer
Episode: George Saunders, writer
Penny Woolcock
Filmmaker and opera director
Independent
Episode: Penny Woolcock, film director
Sir Keir Starmer
The Right Honourable Seventh Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, flautist, and music enthusiast.
UK Government
Episode: The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer
Monica Feria-Tinta
Barrister known for innovative environmental law.
Episode: Monica Feria-Tinta
Daniel Levitin
Neuroscientist, psychologist, and musician
McGill University
Episode: Daniel Levitin
Raymond Blanc
One of the finest chefs in the world, known for his self-taught culinary skills and his acclaimed restaurants.
Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
Episode: Raymond Blanc
Lola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey
Crossbench peer and advocate for modern slavery and fast fashion awareness, author of "Eight Weeks"
House of Lords
Episode: Lola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey
Merlin Sheldrake
Biologist and writer known for his work on fungi
Episode: Merlin Sheldrake

Host

Michael Berkeley
Host of the podcast who engages guests through thoughtful questioning and personal reflection on the impact of music in their lives.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 339 ratings
  • Deborah J. Orr

    This program sparks a joy for both the music and hearing the biographical experiences of well known people. The chosen musical selections hold great meaning as they are linked to moments in time. It is as though we too become inheritors of the musical memory through the significance of the connection. The presenter, Michael Berkeley, is marvelously knowledgeable in many different kinds of music making this one of my favorite podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Not everyone has a nickname!
    United Statesa month ago
  • Private Passions

    I chanced upon this show & was so pleased to hear cultured people speak about the musical works associated with their various inspirations. I so appreciate that I am listening to the great classical works, I can note them to replay for myself. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kinley Webb
    United States5 months ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts!

    Has helped me get through a rough patch

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BjornLouserson
    United States9 months ago
  • Engaging, warm, interesting

    A wonderful podcast. I’ve been introduced to music that was new to me, which I’ve loved. Please keep the episodes coming!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ElleJay’80
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Can’t download less recent podcasts☹️

    I really enjoyed my first podcast listen in this series, which was an interview with Sue Black. So I tried to listen to earlier ones and no luck. It says it’s a temporary problem but is it? Very frustrating!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DrSalC
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

There are occasional frustrations mentioned regarding download issues, but the overall sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive toward the content and guests.
Many highlight the emotional comfort derived from listening, indicating that the podcast often serves as a refuge from daily stresses.
The content is praised for its warmth, relatability, and the unique ability of the host to draw out meaningful stories from guests.
Listeners consistently appreciate the engaging conversations and deep insights into the guests' lives through their musical passions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#14
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#139
Italy/Music
Apple Podcasts
#153
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#14
Ireland/Music
Apple Podcasts
#45
New Zealand/Music
Apple Podcasts
#93
Singapore/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

George Saunders, writer
Q: Why did you choose difficult, unlovable characters like the oil tycoon in Vigil?
He views such characters as a way to explore redemption, power, and whether someone can change later in life, using them to test moral and narrative boundaries.
George Saunders, writer
Q: What role does music play in your writing process?
Music serves as inspiration and a way to access emotional depth; he sees music as a force that can spark new ideas, challenge his writing habits, and help him convey presence and honesty in his prose.
George Saunders, writer
Q: How did your early writing life influence your later novels and short stories?
He describes balancing a demanding engineering career with writing, using work-time as a crucible to craft funny, compact stories that explored capitalistic pressures, which later evolved into a broader, more serious literary voice.
Peter Hamlyn, neurosurgeon
Q: What do you think causes sudden cardiac death in athletes?
It is commonly due to arrhythmias, but the exact cause is still uncertain, and it poses significant challenges for resuscitation.
Peter Hamlyn, neurosurgeon
Q: On a more serious note, how do you think it could help diagnose problems in your field?
AI could make neurological specialists out of non-specialists, and it could make neurologists better by offering more diagnostic possibilities.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Private Passions

What is Private Passions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast features guests from diverse backgrounds as they share their musical passions and the profound influence that music has had on their lives. Each episode invites notable personalities, including writers, actors, and public figures, to reflect on their unique relationships with music, recounting personal anecdotes and discussing significant musical milestones that have shaped their journeys. The conversations blend elements of storytelling with cultural insights, highlighting a wide range of musical genres and experiences, making it a rich exploration of the intersection between music and personal narrative. Listeners are likely to find the heartfelt discussions both engaging and relatable, drawing connections to their own musica... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Private Passions?

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How many listeners does Private Passions get?

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What are the audience demographics for Private Passions?

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How many subscribers and views does Private Passions have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Private Passions has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Private Passions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Private Passions:

1. This Cultural Life
2. Great Lives
3. Desert Island Discs
4. Soul Music
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of Private Passions are there?

Private Passions launched 13 years ago and published 492 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Private Passions?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Private Passions?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Private Passions from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Private Passions?

Recent guests on Private Passions include:

1. George Saunders
2. Penny Woolcock
3. Sir Keir Starmer
4. Monica Feria-Tinta
5. Daniel Levitin
6. Raymond Blanc
7. Lola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey
8. Merlin Sheldrake

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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