Head behind the scenes of AAT’s Balancing ambition podcasts

Take a sneak peek behind the cameras to see what happened during the first ever recording of our new Balancing ambition podcasts.

Launching in July, Balancing ambition and Balancing ambition for students will offer honest discussions, bringing together voices from across the AAT community and wider to share experiences, challenges and practical advice.

We’ve listened to what our students and members have said about the way they consume content, and have taken a huge step in changing the way we deliver for them.

Sara Doggett, Reputation, Influence and Brand Director at AAT, said: “It’s so important that the content we create for our members meets them where they are, in a way that works for them.”

“The podcast is just one of the way’s we’re doing that. Across the board we’re now creating content that’s delivered across all our channels to reach people in their preferred places. Podcasts are a great way to deliver inspirational stories that can fit around people’s lives – you can listen on the go, read the transcript, watch the video – whatever works for you.”

Behind the cameras of Balancing ambition

Hear from some of the people across AAT who are working hard to bring Balancing ambition to life:

Zoe Smith, Key Partner Account Manager and Balancing ambition host:

What did you think when AAT asked you to be host? 
My first reaction was genuine surprise but also honoured to be asked. I’ve spent a lot of time speaking with AAT students, members, and employers over the years, and I love hearing about the different journeys people have taken and listening to their stories, so it felt like a fantastic opportunity to have those conversations and share them with a wider audience.

 What was the best thing about the day? 
The best part of the day was meeting our guests and hearing their stories. We had some brilliant conversations that branched out into all sorts of directions, thanks to the varied experiences and perspectives everyone brought. Those unexpected detours are always the most memorable moments.

Paul Coombes, Digital and Social Communities Lead:

What was the best thing about the day? 
Seeing the guests click and working harmoniously together, as well as our amazing host and colleague Zoe Smith, who was fantastic! It was great to see the podcast space for the first time too. 

How many photos/ videos were captured on the day?

As well as the podcasts themselves, we  captured six interviews on video for AAT’s social media channels, along with numerous amounts of b-roll footage – about 13 clips in total!

Federica Battiato, Senior Video Producer:

How much camera equipment did you use on the day? 
We had four cameras to help us capture everyone’s best angles. We use an FX6 for all our projects because it’s an industry-standard cinema camera that delivers exceptional image quality and flexibility in production.

How many hours of editing for one episode? 
We typically spend two days editing an episode, including the different versions and all the clips you’ll see being teased across socials.

Was there anything that didn’t go to plan?

Of course, filming had to be on one of the hottest days of the year! And the aircon in the studio was broken. We had a huge fan running until the very last second but then had to turn it off when the cameras started rolling so our guests wouldn’t look windswept. They were real troopers.

You can subscribe to Balancing ambition on your preferred platform via the links below:

Members:
Apple podcasts
Spotify
Amazon

Students:
Apple podcasts
Spotify
Amazon

Harry Rogers is AAT Comment’s news writer.