Talking Shrimpers Podcast: the story so far

Life presents numerous challenges, and each of us possesses our unique narratives of happiness and sorrow at various moments. The Talking Shrimpers Podcast is a non-profit, fan-driven initiative, composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds. We unite over one common passion: our affection for Southend United FC. This is our story.

Where the idea began

It all kicked off towards the end of the 24/25 season when I first entertained the thought of launching a Southend United fan-led podcast.

Under the guidance of Kev Maher, Southend was wrapping up the season in a solid position, even if it seemed we were likely to miss out on the play-offs. Still, the passion for the club remained strong, and there was a wave of optimism for the upcoming season.

At that time, I was deep into my training for a 4th Dan Ju-jitsu black belt, but having already stepped back from competition, I sensed my martial arts journey was nearing its conclusion. Maybe it was time to seek out a new challenge.

By then, I had ventured into a variety of endeavors. I had competed at the highest levels in Ju-Jitsu, launched a community youth project, founded and managed a successful football club, and even became the youngest Supervisor at Wembley Stadium, where I got to rub shoulders with legends and so much more. So, what new adventure could I dive into next?

As I mentioned, I’ve always had a knack for spearheading successful projects and building connections with people. I’ve been working since I was 15 and have continually pushed myself to learn and grow. However, one area that had always been a bit of a mystery to me was the realm of bloggers, vloggers, content creators, and TikTok stars.

Throughout my post-school life, I have dedicated myself to studying and working diligently to attain my current role in professional health care. In my naivety, I often regarded social media influencers as indolent individuals who earned an effortless living without genuine effort. How mistaken I was!

My envy of these young individuals prompted me to consider, “Why not give it a try?” I identified a gap in the market, and podcasting appeared to be a suitable avenue, so I decided to pursue it. The only challenge was my lack of experience, particularly regarding the technical aspects of producing, editing, and delivering a podcast!

After committing to this new endeavor, the Shrimpers unexpectedly qualified for the Play-Offs with a draw against Gateshead on the final day of the season, following a series of favorable results and Gateshead’s unfortunate slip from their 7th position. The Play-Off journey continued successfully, culminating in a remarkable comeback victory against Rochdale, where we turned a 3-1 deficit into a win, and triumphed over Forest Green Rovers in a penalty shootout. We had made it to Wembley!!

The loss at Wembley did not alter our plans. The strategy remained intact, and after discussions with both Justin Rees and Ian Redbourn, who morally supported the initiative, it was time to forge ahead with the groundwork and plans.

All the gear and no idea

I conducted extensive research, listened to numerous podcasts, and watched countless instructional videos on how to establish a podcast. I explored various platform providers and determined the necessary equipment.

I invested a significant amount of my personal funds into the project, acquiring equipment and paying for a platform provider. It was indeed a situation of having ‘all the gear and no idea!’

Getting the podcast started

As I began to learn, my next objective was to assemble a co-hosting team. I meticulously observed a large number of other Southend United fans who had appeared in Southend-related videos, deliberately selecting individuals whom I believed possessed the right character and personality. The team was established, and although some members transitioned to other pursuits during the season, Charlie, my top choice, proved to be an exceptional addition to the project.

By the conclusion of May 2025, activities were significantly intensifying. We conducted multiple team meetings, established targets, and began publicising our launch date. Additionally, I had been in discussions with Surgical Holdings, a local company in Southend, which generously provided essential funding for our setup and operational costs through sponsorship. We are profoundly grateful for their support.

The challenges nobody expected

After dedicating everything to the project, I was suddenly confronted with the first of several unforeseen challenges.

One morning, I awoke unexpectedly, completely deaf in one ear and experiencing diminished hearing in the other. Alarmed, I promptly scheduled an urgent appointment with my general practitioner, who subsequently referred me to an ENT specialist. Unbeknownst to me, I had experienced Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). I had never encountered this condition before, but I quickly learned of its severity and the necessity for immediate medical intervention to avoid the risk of permanent and total hearing loss.

Naturally concerned, I reflected on the numerous difficult and traumatic experiences I had encountered throughout my life, none of which had ever deterred me from reaching my objectives. Thus, I entertained the somewhat unconventional notion that, should the hearing loss become permanent, I could potentially become the first deaf podcaster, utilizing platforms that convert speech into subtitles. Yes, it sounds bonkers, I know!!

Fortunately, after receiving treatment, my hearing returned to normal within a week, allowing the podcast to proceed as planned. However, I was unaware that further challenges awaited.

A first season of highs and lows

Following a successful bonus episode interview with Rylee Doe at Roots Hall, the pilot episode was launched in July 2025. It performed admirably, exceeding our expectations, although numerous enhancements were necessary. Throughout the season, these improvements became increasingly evident as we navigated the learning process in real time.

One ambition I had, which no other fan-led podcast for Southend United had previously attempted, was to record our podcasts live. Once again, an entirely unconventional idea emerged, particularly given the lack of prior experience. Nevertheless, it presented another challenge for the team, which they embraced with enthusiasm.

As the season commenced, we consistently produced successful podcasts week after week, until the next obstacle presented itself. After returning from a visit to my in-laws in Poland, I experienced an unexpected mild stroke.

The timing could not have been more unfortunate, if there is ever an appropriate moment for such an event! I was merely three months away from completing my 4th Dan black belt examination, a goal I had dedicated six years to achieve, and the podcast was thriving. This setback resulted in a week-long hospital stay before I was discharged to recuperate, necessitating a pause in the podcast.

However, life continued, and we resumed within two weeks. Admittedly, I was not at my peak, as my memory frequently failed me. Charlie adapted remarkably quickly and performed excellently as a substitute host.

The inaugural season was successful, with Charlie, Finn, and Katie forming a cohesive team, producing regular content, with both Charlie and I, making several media appearances on BBC Essex Sport and other podcasts. We also conducted numerous successful interviews with former legends such as Darryl Flahavan, Ricky Otto, Adam Barrett, and Steve Tilson, among many others.

The strong conclusion to the season coincided with the passing of my father after years of health struggles, while Southend triumphed at Wembley, winning the FA Trophy. It was undoubtedly a bittersweet conclusion to the season, filled with the profound and conflicting emotions of both great joy and sorrow.

Building a worldwide audience

As we approached the first 2025/26 season, I established ambitious new goals for subscriber numbers:

YouTube channel – 100 TikTok – 250 Instagram – 200 Twitter (X) – 100 Facebook – 50

By the end of the season, we had exceeded all of these targets, and we continued to grow our audience consistently:

YouTube channel – 149 TikTok – 404 Instagram – 328 Twitter (X) – 245 Facebook – 96

While a considerable percentage of our streaming views and downloads came from within the UK, we also unexpectedly established connections with supporters and listeners globally.

Countries such as Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Switzerland, Romania, Ireland, Poland, Spain, Greece, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates have all become part of our expanding international audience. This growth continues to progress.

As we entered the pre-season of 2026, we set new targets, most of which were achieved within the first month:

YouTube channel – 383 TikTok – 907 Instagram – 328 Twitter (X) – 245 Facebook – 111

Our next targets, which we aim to reach by the end of January 2027, are:

YouTube channel – 500 TikTok – 1,200 Instagram – 450 Twitter (X) – 300 Facebook – 125 Weekly website visitors – 400

New faces and the next chapter

As the new season drew near, we regrettably lost Finn as a co-host, as he successfully secured a permanent position within the club’s media department. Finn, who infused the team with remarkable youthful energy, was undoubtedly a significant loss for us.

Nevertheless, I can only view Finn’s departure to assume such a vital role with the club as a positive development, ultimately serving as a compliment to what we have built. We wish him every success in his new position.

As one chapter closes, another begins. To our astonishment, we also received our first podcast award: a Silver in the Non League Bible Awards for Best Non-League Podcast. This accolade is a true testament to the dedication of the entire team, especially Charlie, who has excelled in his social media efforts on TikTok and Instagram.

The search for Finn’s replacement concluded sooner than anticipated, yielding an unexpected bonus!

From the outset, I envisioned a long-term strategy to develop a podcast website to broaden our audience. However, during our early stages, this was always regarded as a future project. Then Chris approached me, which rapidly propelled the entire concept forward.

I first encountered Chris a year ago, and I was instantly captivated by his narrative. We met at the Blue Boar pub near Roots Hall on the eve of the play-off final against Oldham. Chris had journeyed all the way from New Zealand just to witness the match. Now that exemplifies dedication!

We struck up a conversation, immediately connected, and later reunited after the play-off final at the players’ after-party in Wembley.

After Finn’s unexpected exit, Chris reached out to inquire if we needed a website, offering his expertise to create and manage it. The rest, as they say, is history, and here we are with an outstanding website!

The team continues to generate content and express our enthusiasm for Southend United as supporters.

Sensei Phil, Charlie, Chris, and Katie would like to extend their gratitude to each and every one of you for your support as we progress on this journey. We aim to enhance what we have built while seeking additional sponsorship partners to assist us in expanding, improving, and elevating the podcast to new heights.

Up the Shrimpers! 🦐