Private Passions
BBC Radio 3Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical passions and talk about the influence music has had on their lives.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 507 | Founded | 13 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | MusicPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
In the world of dance, Carlos Acosta is a superstar. He grew up in a poor part of Havana, where he was the 11th child in his family, and began his training at the National Ballet School of Cuba.
At the age of just 18, he became the youngest principa... more
Leslie Cavendish left school at the age of 15 years, without any artistic qualifications, and decided to become a hairdresser. Within three years, his clients included Terence Stamp, Keith Moon, the Bee Gees, Jane Asher – and the Beatles.
He began ... more
Thirty-five years ago, during the Gulf War, the face of the RAF navigator John Nichol appeared on news bulletins around the world. His Tornado jet had been shot down over Iraq, and he was captured, tortured and paraded on Iraqi television.
Together ... more
Ruth Ozeki won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2022 with her novel The Book of Form and Emptiness. The judges called it a ’complete joy to read.’ She’s also a film-maker and a Zen Buddhist priest, and her books draw on her Japanese-American heritage... more
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Reviews
- 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 Podcasts5Not everyone has a nickname!
United States6 months 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 Podcasts5Kinley WebbUnited States10 months ago - One of my favorite podcasts!
Has helped me get through a rough patch
Apple Podcasts5BjornLousersonUnited Statesa year 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 Podcasts5ElleJay’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 Podcasts5DrSalC
Australia2 years ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #54 | United Kingdom/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #182 |  Italy/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #240 | Australia/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #95 |  Ireland/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #210 |  Finland/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #216 |  United Arab Emirates/Music |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Private Passions
What is Private Passions about and what kind of topics does it cover?
The show centers on intimate conversations with a wide range of guests who share how music intersects with their lives, work, and creative practice. Across episodes, listeners hear personal memories linked to classical and contemporary works, reflections on culture and history, and stories about mentorship, resilience, and identity—often anchored by specific musical choices that illuminate the guest's worldview. Notable strengths include warm, empathetic interviewing, thoughtful curation of musical selections, and a knack for drawing connections between art, memory, and everyday life. This makes the program particularly appealing to listeners who enjoy reflective, music-forward storytelling with biographical depth and cultural context.
Where can I find podcast stats for Private Passions?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Private Passions. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Private Passions and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Private Passions get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Private Passions, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for Private Passions?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Private Passions, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
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. Last Word
3. Great Lives
4. Desert Island Discs
5. Front Row
How many episodes of Private Passions are there?
Private Passions launched 13 years ago and published 507 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.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Private Passions?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Private Passions. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on Private Passions?
Recent guests on Private Passions include:
1. Leslie Cavendish
2. John Nichol
3. Ruth Ozeki
4. Jeremy Vine
5. Sofka Zinovieff
6. Simon Barnes
7. Margaret Busby
8. Michael Wood
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.