The ParaPod

The ParaPod is a comedy podcast hosted by comedians Ian Boldsworth and Barry Dodds.[1][2] Its subject matter is the paranormal, with skepticism represented by Boldsworth and belief represented by Dodds.

The ParaPod
Presentation
GenreComedy
Publication
Original release4 September 2015 – 9 August 2018
Websitewww.theparapod.com

The podcast ran for three series (ghosts, mysteries, conspiracies) and three specials between 2015 and 2018. In March 2018 a teaser was released for an upcoming Parapod Movie, a month later a full trailer was released and consistent updates on the films status have been provided since.[3][4][5][6]

The three series consists of 30 episodes and, as of April 2018, it has been downloaded over 2 million times.[7]

Episodes usually follow the structure of "intro" (paranormal- and podcast-related news), "featured haunting" (the main subject matter of the episode); "The BD Files" (listener correspondence); and "rituals" (ways to allegedly summon a ghost). Some episodes have also featured pre-recorded or live telephone interviews and a 2016 special took the form of an outside broadcast at a purportedly haunted house in Pontefract, Yorkshire.

Each episode begins with a warning in the style of a legal disclaimer not to enact any of the rituals or instructions described in the show.

Awards and recognition

The ParaPod was nominated for Chortle Awards in 2016[8] and 2017,[9] and an Ockham Award for Skeptical Excellence in 2017.[10] It won Best Online Comedy at the Midlands Comedy Awards in 2016[11] and was selected as a cultural highlight of 2016 by Sofie Hagen in The Guardian[12]

Episodes

In addition to these main episodes and specials, there are ten short "Parapod Extras" that ran largely through the first season between main episodes. In these extras, Barry demonstrates to Ian a piece of his ghost seeking equipment.

The ParaPod Movie

The Parapod movie had its world premiere on 7 January 2020 at Prince Charles Cinema in London’s Soho. The film was financed through crowdfunding and funding from film maker Bil Bungay, producer of the supernatural horror film When the Lights Went Out. The film is directed by Boldsworth with music by Thomas Van Der Ree and follows the basic premise of the podcast. The film was scheduled to tour independent cinemas in the spring of 2020 with question and answers with cast and crew after each showing but was postponed after only a handful of performances due to Covid pandemic restrictions.[13] The movie is the first to be transferred from podcast to full length feature film and is accompanied by a new series of the podcast to accompany the movie without spoilers.[14] The movie was completed in 2019, runs for 108 minutes and is rated 15.[15]

  • Ian Boldsworth introducing the ParaPod at QEDcon 2017
  • Ian Boldsworth (L) with co-host Barry Dodds (R) at QEDcon 2017

References
  1. Lauren Ballinger. "20 questions: what's it like to be a stand up comedian?". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  2. "Spooky Podcast Recommendations for Halloween". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. "The podcast that became a film". Chortle. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. Ian Boldsworth and Barry Dodds. "The ParaPod - Ian Boldsworth & Barry Dodds". theparapod.com. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. Higgypop. "The Parapod Movie Is Coming". Higgypop. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZO8r8mMXvg
  7. "The podcast that became a film". Chortle. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  8. "Vote in the 2016 Chortle Awards : News 2016 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  9. "Stewart Lee and Fleabag lead Chortle Awards : News 2017 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  10. "2017's Ockham Awards for Excellence in Skeptical Activism". The Skeptic. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  11. British Comedy Guide. "Midlands Comedy Awards 2016 winners - News - British Comedy Guide". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  12. "On my radar: Sofie Hagen's cultural highlights | Culture". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  13. Bennett, Steve. "The Parapod Movie". Chortle. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  14. "First Look At The ParaPod Movie As Film Gets Its First London Screening". HiggyPop. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  15. "The ParaPod Movie". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
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