Due to its accessibility and ability to reach a broad audience, podcasting has become a popular communication tool to disseminate academic content, and to share research findings. They are increasingly used for a range of scholarly discussions, including by professional services or 'research adjacent' colleagues whose role is to help increase academic impact or to explore research culture.

At this first open lunch event of the new academic year we are very pleased to host a panel discussion about the benefits, impacts and challenges of this type of podcast.

The event will be chaired by Andy Tattersall, Information Specialist in the School of Medicine and Population Health at the University of Sheffield. An experienced research communication professional, Andy hosts the SCHARR Communicable Research Podcast and offers training on how to create a successful podcast.

The panel will feature representatives from four different podcasts:

• Research Adjacent is hosted by Sarah McLusky, an independent consultant who interviews research-adjacent professionals about what they do and how they contribute to making research successful and impactful.
• The Leeds University Business School (LUBS) Research and innovation podcast is produced by Hannah Preston, Research Communications Manager from Leeds University Business School, and features the latest thinking on a wide range of business issues, with expert commentary from academics and postgraduate researchers.
• The Business of Policy Making is another LUBS podcast that Hannah has developed with host by Dr Jana Javornik, Associate Professor of Work and Employment Relations in the Business School, to help demystify the world of policymaking, debunk some myths about the evidence-based policymaking process, and shine a light on the impact academic research can have on policy.
• Research Culture Uncovered explores what is a positive Research Culture, why it matters and how to make it happen. It covers a diverse range of topics and is co-hosted by Emma Spary, Taryn Bell, Katie Jones, Tony Bromley, Ged Hall, Ruth Winden and Nick Sheppard from the University of Leeds.