03-06-2025
Find out how thoughtful planning drives podcast success
Chris Marsh has spent over 15 years producing radio shows and podcasts for Australia's leading comedy duo. He explains how trust, craft and chemistry and keeping it real build lasting podcast success.
For those of us outside Australia, the comedy duo of Hamish and Andy might not ring huge bells. But it certainly does for the 27 million people who live on the southern continent. The two comedians got started back in 2001, and rose to host the biggest drive-time radio show of all time in Australia and ventured into TV. Eight years ago, they jumped over to podcasting full time and are still topping the national charts.
Chris Marsh has spent more than 15 years helping shape Hamish and Andy's shows. And while his duties there certainly keep him on his toes, he's also busy in his role as Senior Lead of Future State Sound Design at the Australian digital audio platform LiSTNR, where he's exploring what the future of podcasting might sound like (and yes, that's a real job title).
Chris, now 44, didn't set out to shape Aussie audio. He studied film and television, picked up some community radio experience and before long, found himself producing major radio shows. He gained a reputation for technical skill, but also for creating an environment where creativity could thrive.
With Hamish and Andy, Chris has helped build something rare: a show that has stayed consistently funny, smart and extremely popular for years and years. The secret, he says, is moving with the times but staying true to the show's mission.
PodCircle: You've worked with Hamish and Andy for over 15 years. What has made their partnership work so well and last so long?
Chris Marsh: Their chemistry is rare and undeniable. From the beginning, they understood each other's strengths. Hamish is incredibly quick and naturally funny – it's not overselling it to say he's a comedic genius. Andy recognized that and leaned into being the foil or the straight man, though he's also very funny. That dynamic was never about ego; it was about what made the show better. They also hit early on what they called the DNA of the show – "The People's Show". That's informed every content decision they ever made. It's been about inclusion, mutual respect and making the audience part of the experience. Beyond that, they simply like each other. They still find each other funny, which helps a lot when you're producing hundreds of episodes over many years.
There's a lot of talk in podcasting about 'authenticity'. For you, what does that mean in practical terms?
It means you're not putting on a character. Hamish and Andy are being themselves – OK, maybe a slightly heightened version – but it's real. And we aim for real reactions on air. For example, we set up our email system so that listener messages go to either Hamish or Andy, not both. Exactly 50-50. So when one of the guys talks on the show about an email he's gotten from a listener, the reactions of the other one are genuine. The other is hearing it live for the first time. The reaction is genuine and that, I think, is authenticity. They're finding out at the same time as the rest of the listeners are finding out about it. You're taking people on that journey in the studio, and that is what we think helps lead to that authenticity. But it's a mistake to think authenticity means a lack of preparation. We plan meticulously. We review story arcs and talk about where an idea could go. The authenticity is in how we arrive at those moments, not a lack of craft.
Chris with Hamish (center) and Andy (right) during one of their tours Image: Chris Marsh
Do you think listeners can tell when something isn't authentic?
Absolutely. Listeners can hear when a moment is being faked or forced. They can sense when a host doesn't actually care about a topic. In podcasting, you're often in someone's ears for 30 to 60 minutes, so the intimacy makes it even easier to detect. That's why we put so much effort into making sure the show reflects who we are and what we genuinely care about.
How do you balance authenticity with production quality?
It's a dance. We have high production standards – we care about pacing, sound quality, music, structure. But that can't come at the expense of spontaneity. So we do things like record long, then edit selectively. We create space in the recording sessions for conversations to flow naturally and take the ideas wherever they feel most exciting. The best plans are the ones you abandon to follow the idea down a rabbit hole. But you need to have the plan in the first place. We keep the energy loose while keeping the bones strong.
How do you keep a show fresh after so many years?
It's a constant evolution. We always ask ourselves: what felt fun last year? What feels tired now? We'll retire segments that have run their course and give ourselves permission to try things and fail. Some of our most loved bits were accidents. We also bring new people into the team occasionally, which brings fresh energy and ideas. But most of all, the boys are self-aware. They don't coast. They want to push the boundaries of what they can do within the show's format. That's pretty rare.
It sounds like their chemistry with each other is a key ingredient. For new podcasters, how can they develop chemistry if it's not there from the beginning?
Chemistry can be built, but it takes trust. I suggest spending time together off-mic. Do test episodes and listen back, getting honest with each other about what works. And don't try to be the funniest person in the room – try to make the other person shine. Not everyone has to be the punchline. Some of the best partnerships work because one person knows how to set the other one up. It's about understanding roles and playing to your strengths.
What happens when it doesn't work?
Well, sometimes it just doesn't click, and that's okay. Chemistry isn't guaranteed. But more often, the issue is not lack of chemistry, it's ego. When people compete for airtime or want the spotlight too much, the show suffers. The best teams are generous and listen more than they talk.
Chemistry between hosts can be built, but it takes trust and time Image: Pond5 Images/IMAGO
In this era of so many, many podcasts, there's real pressure to stand out – to be louder, more dramatic, more outrageous? What's your take on that?
That might work for a minute. You can get clicks or maybe a viral moment. But then what? Can you sustain that energy week after week? Usually not. And audiences are smart. They know when you're performing something or someone that isn't you. That's not to say you shouldn't push yourself creatively, but start from who you are, not who you think the market wants.
Hamish and Andy have a very strong relationship with their audience. How did you maintain that through the transition from radio to podcasting?
We knew the shift would change the feedback loop. Live radio has instant energy. I mean, you throw something out and get a call back in minutes. Podcasting is just by its nature slower. You don't have that live buzz and absolute requirement to do something immediately. What we did was double down on listener engagement. We brought listeners into the show through emails, call-ins and in-person events. We hold live tapings. We answer emails on the show. We even built episodes around listener challenges or memories. And the guys spend a lot of time greeting and talking to our audience members one on one at live events. It's paid off—our audience feels involved because they are involved.
What's your process for reviewing and improving the show year over year? Making sure it doesn't get stale?
We take stock every year – what landed, what didn't? We read audience feedback and have planning meetings and ask: Is this still fun? Does this still reflect who we are? And when it doesn't, we change it. That mindset – that the show is a living thing – is essential to longevity.
The interview was edited for length and clarity.
