Introducing: Away Days Podcast

Summary

Summary of "Introducing: Away Days Podcast"

Episode: Introducing: Away Days Podcast
Host: Jake Hanrahan
Release Date: May 13, 2025

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1. Introduction to Away Days Podcast

In the premiere episode of the Away Days Podcast, host Jake Hanrahan sets the stage for what listeners can expect from this raw and unfiltered documentary series. Drawing inspiration from historical movements, Hanrahan outlines the podcast's mission to shed light on the lesser-known, often overlooked aspects of society.

“Away Days is a pushback against the climate of fakery where not phoning it in once, we're actually outside making something real and at times unapologetically ugly.” — Jake Hanrahan [00:03:45]

2. The Legacy of Kitchen Sink Realism

Hanrahan delves into the Kitchen Sink Realism movement of the late 1950s in Britain, emphasizing its significance in portraying the stark realities of the underprivileged. He contrasts this movement with the prevalent feel-good narratives of the time, highlighting its role in bringing the hardships of everyday life to the forefront.

“Kitchen Sink Realism dramatized the underbelly of Britain, bearing it, warts and all to the nation.” — Jake Hanrahan [00:02:10]

He references seminal works like "Look Back in Anger", pointing out how such productions broke away from artificial escapism to present authentic, gritty stories set in real environments, such as overcrowded council flats in the East Midlands—the very region Hanrahan hails from.

3. The Inspiration Behind Away Days

Acknowledging the decline of authentic representation in modern media, Hanrahan shares his personal motivation for creating Away Days. He expresses a passion for uncovering and documenting the hidden facets of society that mainstream media often overlooks or sanitizes.

“This is a concept close to my heart and has always been at the back of my mind when producing all of my own independent projects.” — Jake Hanrahan [00:04:20]

4. Mission and Vision of the Podcast

Away Days is positioned as "kitchen sink journalism," aiming to provide unvarnished reportage from society's fringes. Hanrahan emphasizes the podcast's commitment to presenting real-life countercultures without embellishment or prejudice, offering listeners an unfiltered glimpse into underground worlds.

“We're compassionately documenting the underground without watering it down or editorially obscuring it.” — Jake Hanrahan [00:05:15]

The collaboration with Cool Zone Media and iHeartRadio is highlighted as a strategic move to expand the podcast's reach and deepen its investigative approach, ensuring that the stories remain "raw and real."

5. Topics and Stories to be Explored

Hanrahan provides a tantalizing overview of the diverse and edgy topics that Away Days Podcast will tackle. From fight clubs in Europe to illegal street racing in Japan, each episode promises to transport listeners to places rarely seen or understood by the general public. Other highlighted subjects include:

• Football hooliganism in Kazakhstan
• Gang governments in the favelas of Brazil
• Various other underground movements and subcultures

“We'll show you parts of the world you never knew existed underground. No rules, fight clubs in Europe, illegal street racing in Japan... We've been there and now we'll show you it all.” — Jake Hanrahan [00:06:30]

6. Accessing the Podcast

Concluding the introduction, Hanrahan directs listeners to where they can engage with Away Days across multiple platforms. The podcast is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and other major podcasting platforms. Additionally, he promotes the video documentary series available on YouTube, encouraging viewers to subscribe for upcoming content.

“Listen to the Away Days podcast reporting from the underbelly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.” — Jake Hanrahan [00:07:50]

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Conclusion

The inaugural episode of Away Days Podcast effectively lays the foundation for a series dedicated to uncovering and narrating the unspoken stories from society's margins. Through a blend of historical context and forward-looking vision, Jake Hanrahan invites listeners to embark on a journey into the depths of the underground, promising authenticity, depth, and a break from conventional media storytelling.

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Watch Away Days Documentaries: youtube.com/@awaydaystv

Subscribe to the Podcast: Available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms.

Transcript

[A]

In the late 1950s, a cultural and artistic movement known as Kitchen Sink Realism formed in Britain. For many, it was the first time seeing the harsh realities of the downtrodden represented in creative media. Kitchen Sink Realism first took form in the shape of theater productions such as Look Back in Anger, which is set entirely in an overcrowded council flat in the East Midlands, which happens to be where I'm from. Kitchen Sink Realism dramatized the underbelly of Britain, bearing it, warts and all to the nation. At that time, artificial feel good plays about happy families were generally the norm. Meanwhile, the country was a rough, harsh and broken place to live for the vast majority of the underprivileged. Whilst the old plays offered soft escapism for the viewer, Kitchen Sink Realism did the opposite. It kicked the door in and aired out the dirty laundry. This is a concept close to my heart and has all always been at the back of my mind when producing all of my own independent projects. Problem is, there's less and less of this in today's modern media. As a response to all of this, I've created Away Days, a new project that you could say is kitchen sink journalism reportage from the fringes of society that doesn't seek to caricature it or soften the blow at all. I'm presenting to you real life countercultures without frills and judgment. At its base, Away Days is an independent video documentary series that you can watch over the next few [e-mail] subscribe there ASAP. We've also teamed up with Cool Zone Media and iHeartRadio to bring you this podcast version that goes deeper with all the nerves left raw. Away Days is a pushback against the climate of fakery where not phoning it in once, we're actually outside making something real and at times unapologetically ugly. This is reporting from the Underbelly. We'll show you parts of the world you never knew existed underground. No rules, fight clubs in Europe, illegal street racing in Japan, football hooliganism in Kazakhstan, gang governments in the favelas of Brazil, and much, much more. We've been there and now we'll show you it all. Listen to the Away Days podcast reporting from the underbelly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.