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Artwork for Private Passions

Private Passions

BBC Radio 3
Music
Beethoven
Classical Music
Bach
Forensic Science
Christmas
Scottish Heritage
Death and Dying
Poetry
Dvorak
Schubert
Writing
Opera
Glasgow
Fungi
Colum Mccann
Benjamin Britten
Lemony Snicket
Mozart
Chopin

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes507Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsMusicSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Private Passions

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

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

Leslie Cavendish
Beatles hairdresser and stylist
Private Passions guest
Episode: Leslie Cavendish, former Beatles hairdresser
John Nichol
RAF Flight Lieutenant, writer and military historian
Former RAF; author
Episode: John Nichol, writer, former RAF Navigator
Ruth Ozeki
Novelist, filmmaker, and Zen Buddhist priest
Author, filmmaker
Episode: Ruth Ozeki, writer
Jeremy Vine
Broadcaster and writer
BBC
Episode: Jeremy Vine, broadcaster
Sofka Zinovieff
Writer and historian of her family history
Author; Historian
Episode: Sofka Zinovieff, writer
Simon Barnes
Journalist and author
The Times (former)
Episode: Simon Barnes, journalist
Margaret Busby
Publisher and editor who co-founded Allison and Busby; editor of Daughters of Africa and New Daughters of Africa
Allison and Busby; Daughters of Africa
Episode: Margaret Busby, publisher and editor
Michael Wood
Historian and documentary filmmaker
Independent historian and presenter
Episode: Michael Wood, historian
Ijeoma Uchegbu
Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience and founder of NanoMerix
University College London; Wolfson College Cambridge; NanoMerix
Episode: Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, chemist

Host

Gillian Moore
Host of the program on BBC platforms

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 347 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 States5 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 Podcasts
    5
    Kinley Webb
    United States9 months ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts!

    Has helped me get through a rough patch

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BjornLouserson
    United 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 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.

Listeners praise the host's warm, attentive interview style and deep musical knowledge.
Fans highlight intimate conversations and wide musical range as strengths.
Feedback notes occasional download issues but overall high appreciation for content and guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#28
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#170
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#203
Italy/Music
Apple Podcasts
#24
Ireland/Music
Apple Podcasts
#127
New Zealand/Music
Apple Podcasts
#135
Sweden/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ruth Ozeki, writer
Q: What role does listening play in your writing process?
Listening becomes an essential practice for writers: paying attention to breath, body, and surroundings; learning to hear the voices of objects and people, and using that attentiveness to shape scenes, characters, and the metaphysical questions that drive my work.
Ruth Ozeki, writer
Q: How did your upbringing influence your work and the themes you explore in your writing?
Growing up in two cultures, with parents who spoke many languages and a life split between Yale and Kyoto, instilled an acute awareness of language, ethnography, and identity that informs both the structure and ethics of my storytelling, including environmental and social concerns.
Ruth Ozeki, writer
Q: What is it about the music, you think, that works its magic?
The music carries narrative voice; instruments seem to have their own voices and can tell a story, which influences how I listen and ultimately how I write, blending emotion with memory in a way that shapes character and scene.
Sofka Zinovieff, writer
Q: Tell me about your final piece, Sofka.
She discusses her daughter Anna's musical talents and the significance of Greek songs performed by the family, highlighting how music brings generations together.
Sofka Zinovieff, writer
Q: What are we going to hear next?
Sofka previews the upcoming musical selection, explaining its connection to her life and memory, and the way it ties into the episode's themes of family and storytelling.

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?

A thoughtful, music-centric interview series where guests from diverse fields discuss their lifelong musical passions and how those sounds shaped their work and worldview. Episodes weave personal memories with cultural and intellectual explorations, spanning classical, jazz, world music, cinema scores, and historical context. Noteworthy moments often center on how music anchors identity, fuels creativity, and even informs leadership and science. The show stands out for its intimate, emotionally intelligent conversations and a welcoming, exploratory atmosphere that helps listeners discover new music through meaningful storytelling.

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?

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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. Last Word
3. Great Lives
4. Front Row
5. Desert Island Discs

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.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Private Passions?

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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.

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