Jo Turner is a National Practice Development Project Manager at Homeless Link.
As of last month, our Going Beyond podcast has been downloaded over 20,000 times by over 10,000 individual listeners – an amazing milestone for our Podcast. What started as a bit of an experiment back in 2021 (and got properly off the ground in 2023) has now grown into 41 episodes, with plenty more on the way.
When I joined Homeless Link’s National Practice Development Team three years ago, after many years working in frontline homelessness services, I never imagined I’d be hosting a podcast. So, when I was told it was part of my new role, I felt equally excited and terrified. The idea of my voice being recorded for people to listen to? Awful! But after recording my first few episodes, I felt privileged to be able to speak to such interesting and passionate people.
Our early series focused on how working in the homelessness sector can affect your own wellbeing. These conversations were powerful: speaking openly about stress, burnout, and self-care with experts who understood those feelings, validated them, and provided practical solutions. I’ll never forget recording an episode on mindfulness where we did a grounding exercise - I got so relaxed I nearly fell asleep mid-recording! (Some excellent editing was needed for this episode.)
Since then, we’ve explored all sorts of important topics - from supporting people with complex health and care needs, to drug and alcohol support, to the barriers people face in accessing services. Some of the most meaningful moments have been when people with lived experience joined us, sharing their stories and insights.
A real highlight for me was our collaboration with Stonewall Housing on a series exploring LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of homelessness. Each episode started with someone sharing their personal story, followed by a chat with Stonewall Housing staff about how services can be more inclusive. It was moving, eye-opening, and such a privilege to record.
This year we’ve mixed things up, moving from themed series to spotlight episodes -short, focused conversations on what’s current and useful for the sector. The aim has always been to make the podcast an accessible way of learning for people on the frontline - something you can tune into on a commute or over a cuppa, rather than scrolling through pages of guidance.
Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing! There have been plenty of ‘technical difficulties’ along the way — from guests forgetting to hit record, to my dog barking mid-interview. I’ve learnt a lot – and mostly the importance of having a fantastic editor.
What makes it all worthwhile is the feedback. Hearing that organisations use the podcast in team meetings, or that an episode has actually inspired practice change. It’s been so rewarding to hear about the power a conversation can have.
So, here’s to the next 20,000 listens. We’ve got episodes coming soon on verification, supporting ethnically marginalised people, and palliative care.
If you’ve got any ideas for topics that you’d like us to cover, I’d really love to hear from you.
Thank you for listening, learning, and Going Beyond with us.
