We started Exploring Pod because we kept meeting interesting people who had something worth saying but no idea how to get it into listeners' earbuds. Here is who we are, why we do this, and how we think about the work.
In late 2021, our founder Ciarán Daly was freelancing as an audio engineer for a theatre company in Dublin. A friend asked him to help launch a history podcast. That first project, a six-episode series about the canals of Ireland, reached 4,200 downloads in its opening month. Word spread quickly.
Within six months, Ciarán had more podcast clients than theatre gigs. He rented a small room on Will Shore, treated the walls with acoustic panels from a closing cinema, and bought a second pair of headphones. That room is still our main studio today, though we have since added proper furniture and a coffee machine.
By mid-2022 the workload needed more hands. Aoife joined to manage editing and client communication. Rory came on board in 2023 to handle distribution and show-note writing. We are still a small team, three people, and that is deliberate. Every client works directly with the person editing their audio. There is no account manager between you and the person at the mixing desk.
We have a few principles that shape how we run projects. They are not slogans on a wall; they are practical rules we follow when making decisions about your audio.
A listener should be able to follow your conversation on a bus in Dublin traffic. We prioritise intelligibility: removing background noise, taming sibilance, and keeping dialogue levels consistent. We would rather have a clear, honest-sounding episode than one layered with unnecessary effects.
Some production houses impose a house style. We do not. If you want a raw, conversational feel with minimal editing, that is what you get. If you want tightly scripted narration with music beds and sound design, we can do that too. The show should sound like you, because it is yours.
Podcasting runs on a schedule. If your episode goes live every Tuesday, the edited file needs to be in your hands by Friday at the latest. We have missed one deadline in three years, and we still feel bad about it. We build buffer days into our production calendar so that illness or equipment problems do not affect your release date.
We quote a per-episode fee before any work begins. That fee covers editing, mixing, show notes, and two revision rounds. If the scope changes mid-project, we discuss the cost adjustment before proceeding. No surprise invoices.
Three people, each with a specific role. You will hear from at least one of us within a day of reaching out.
Founder and lead audio engineer
Ciarán trained in sound engineering at Pulse College and spent four years mixing live theatre before moving into podcasting. He handles all final mixes and masters, and he is the one you will speak to on your discovery call. Outside work he runs a lot and listens to too many true-crime podcasts.
Editor and client manager
Aoife edits the first draft of every episode: removing filler words, adjusting pacing, and flagging sections that might need a re-record. She also manages the project timeline, sends you revision links, and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks. She previously worked in radio production at Newstalk.
Distribution and content
Rory writes your show notes, formats transcripts, and handles all platform submissions. He keeps up with the constantly shifting requirements of Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you do not have to. Before joining Exploring Pod he was a freelance copywriter specialising in tech startups.
Want to work with us? Reach out and we will set up a discovery call.
[email protected] · +353 1 729 3369
707 Will Shore, D02 X285 Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
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