Niche ID with Laura Markwardt

Professor Leigh Wilson: Spiracle audiobooks, the indie small press, experimental novels

In conversation with Professor Leigh Wilson, in the School of Humanities (English Literature) at University of Westminster. Leigh is co-editor of Contemporary Women’s Writing and works on modernism, the role of publishing in literary culture, and the experimental novel through the 20th century. She also co-runs a project on the Contemporary Small Press [http://www.contemporarysmallpress.com] at Westminster. This work brought Leigh together with audio producer, Kate Bland, to found Spiracle [https://www.spiracleaudiobooks.com/] in 2022, an independent literary hub specialising in audiobooks, articles and podcasts. In this episode, Leigh shares her take on communal literary culture, the magic of being "mesmerised by a voice" and why she engages her students to engage with audio for a “deeper, immersive experience.” Does listening count as reading? Leigh says yes, it does. So now you know. Enjoying Niche ID? Thank you for comments, reviews, following the show and sharing with friends <3 Niche ID newsletter: https://lauramarkwardt.substack.com/

Alison Williams: War Hall: Theatre of the Mind, Gibson Banner guitars, synchronicity, The Art Spirit

In conversation with Alison Williams, the creative polymath behind the Guardian-recommended podcast, War Hall: Theatre of the Mind [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/war-hall/id1861527488], starring 96-year-old cinema legend Angela Allen. The first series of War Hall is grounded in the rich social audio history of Walthamstow’s assembly Hall and the words from a 1930/40s brochure of that time via Alison, sum it up: "The bombs were falling all around but the music was divine" Alison has also held roles at Film London, working from Pinewood Studios. She master-minded Moomins: The Woman Who Fell In Love With An Island exhibition at Walthamstow Wetlands that ran from 2021 to 2022, and she’s currently at PRS Foundation [https://prsfoundation.com/], which is the UK's leading charitable funder of new music and talent development. This conversation goes everywhere. It’s packed with art (Robert Henri, Delia Derbyshire, Disney, Lynch), creativity against all odds and (of course!) some magical thinking. It's really worth checking out the the accompanying Niche ID newsletter [https://lauramarkwardt.substack.com/] on this one for more links, visuals and rabbit holes. Don’t miss Alison's The War Hall bonus episode [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/war-hall/id1861527488] being released on 8th May 2026 for VE Day. Enjoying Niche ID? Thank you for following the show and sharing with your friends <3 War Hall: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/war-hall/id1861527488 Niche ID newsletter: https://lauramarkwardt.substack.com/

Jessie Hyman of Pruzan: Fandoms, non-measurables, the Marathon

Most runners move to a new city, and join their local track club to find their people. Pruzan [https://pruzanrunning.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqk1F-Cfo-ayDkpa2L_DdEk7oAbsr4zCDBFhhlCKK4ApV3xV8Ex]’s Jessie Hyman [https://www.instagram.com/tenniswithhemingway/] co-founded a whole new brand. Settling in London from NYC, Jessie links Pruzan’s 2022 origin story not just to the search for the perfect pair of marathon shorts [https://pruzanrunning.com/products/marathon-shorts-tm], but to her search for a sense of self, and ultimately, a performance running community that moves through the world like she does. Discovering the women’s running collective, Hot Boys Athletics [https://www.instagram.com/hotboysathletics/], was the unlock Jessie was looking for, and she hit her stride. Today, Jessie combines real feedback from her friends in training with her background leading user insights at Spotify to iterate on products that, “don’t look like anyone else.” We talk about that point of difference, alongside fashion, fandoms and non-measurables that sit behind definitions of success. Jessie tells me “As runners, we’re all just chasing that race experience that feels like you’re floating. It’s once in a blue moon,” she says, “but may we all have it a few times.” Enjoy. @pruzan [https://www.instagram.com/pruzanrunning/] Support charity: water [https://www.charitywater.org/uk/jessie-orla/jessie-orla-london-marathon-2026] with Jessie this 2026 London Marathon. Enjoying Niche ID? Please follow the show and share with your friends. Subscribe to the ⁠Niche ID newsletter⁠ [https://lauramarkwardt.substack.com/] for episode updates.

Ben Rayner: 90s music scene, taste, tribes, cross-country

Photographer and director, Ben Rayner [https://benrayner.com/] started his music zine as a teenager in the halcyon days of 90s Essex/London. He tells me that whole point of the thing wasn’t to make a profit. It was to open up a world that would eventually lead to his “obsession” with taking photos constantly. It was an era that built life-long friendships, and a rich archive of ‘becoming’ that Ben would eventually take Stateside, where he's now based in New York. The days when you could make friends over a band T-shirt were something special, and Ben’s work continues to put that real, kindred energy on permanent record. Get Ben's latest publications: I’m a million different people from one day to the next [https://benrayner.bigcartel.com/products?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnLA4MMnaBzpcSnDhcge_o3pK_2dCr75hjIoon8_3WR75Mz-gISs7YGrViIrI_aem_U32np4Tjqf8pVD5ZvPl4Cg] and Mud, Sweat & Tears [https://benrayner.bigcartel.com/products?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnLA4MMnaBzpcSnDhcge_o3pK_2dCr75hjIoon8_3WR75Mz-gISs7YGrViIrI_aem_U32np4Tjqf8pVD5ZvPl4Cg]. @Benrayner [https://www.instagram.com/p/DVtQsuXES2g/?hl=en&img_index=1] and Benrayner.com [l.instagram.com/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.benrayner.com%2F%3Futm_source%3Dig%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_content%3Dlink_in_bio%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGngClXyRcNS2a1RQEQM8TJH2KuhqRjpnjvLp-7MlV5tiZvPFUXOLJMFeaCZlg_aem_KUsJLLTWyyNdVYpe2vmmxQ&e=AT6XjkcVUGb5vBCGtxUP6r6jI1ne7yd022sCc_ZMC80DVQTAi68_cSWClCyA-8NMQllWBnTnnbHj5rxtEovX0CLRp7ucGCMjGNiD07MtMw] Enjoying Niche ID? Please follow the show and share with your friends. Subscribe to the Niche ID newsletter [https://lauramarkwardt.substack.com/] for episode updates.

Megan Wray Schertler of In Real Life Media: How to build a successful magazine

While passion might get a print issue started, operational rigour is what keeps the lights on. My latest guest, Megan Wray Schertler [https://www.instagram.com/m.schertler/?hl=en-gb] has mastered the art of that tension. Splitting her time between Berlin, New York and Reykjavik, Megan spent her early career at cult titles like Fantastic Man, The Gentlewoman and Interview Magazine before co-founding her own magazine business consultancy, In Real Life Media [https://www.inreallife.media/]. Megan defines modern magazines as both a signal of discernment to build audience trust, and a valuable cultural archive. Our conversation explores how titles can thrive not just through smart distribution, but through building unique worlds that both founders and fandoms themselves are excited to be part of. And it all starts with “knowing your why.” * Megan hosts the all-woman panel at IRL Media’s Print-First Futures [https://www.headhi.net/event-details/print-first-futures-symposium], an event celebrating innovation in the print magazine industry, on March 20 at Head Hi in Brooklyn, NY. * Read Megan’s piece for Huck Magazine about physical magazines making a comeback [https://www.huckmag.com/article/tech-connection-print-magazines-industry-in-real-life-media?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGneDPUaAfF-UotP7pNsgmGVOfb3I88-6zr2BzBjEnZBR4MDYwEUF3ALvdplOs_aem_yyczKtlp0kDpNoUxr9ntiw]. * Follow ⁠inreallife.media on Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/inreallife.media/?hl=en]. Enjoying Niche ID? Please follow the show and share with your friends. Subscribe to the ⁠Niche ID newsletter⁠ [https://lauramarkwardt.substack.com/] for episode updates.