Our Newsround editor Haseem Raja interviews Josh Michaels from the Association of Otolaryngologists in Training (AOT) to discuss the new podcast.
Josh Michaels.
Congratulations on creating The AOT Pod ! Tell us more about AOT and what inspired you to create this podcast?
Thank you, and for featuring our podcast in ENT & Audiology News ! It has certainly been a rollercoaster journey from first concept to podcast release but a really enjoyable one at that. AOT is the Association of Otolaryngologists in Training and was first founded in 1989 by Professor Tony Narula to support current and future trainee otolaryngologists. Since its establishment, AOT has been invited to sit on a number of key working groups and committees including ENTUK, JCST and ASiT, with our excellent committee members advocating for the needs of our membership. Membership to our organisation is free and signup can be found on our website (aotent.org) where there is an array of information ranging from training requirements, fellowship updates, the AOT Education YouTube page and, of course, our newly established AOT podcast!
The idea of a podcast first came to us at the annual AOT conference in Manchester. I had just spent the last two years working with both AOT and the Association of Surgeons in Training and was coming to the tail end of my role as ASiT Representative. I was looking to take on a quieter role within AOT after a busy few years. But when Georgie Wellstead, another AOT committee member, and I discussed the concept of an UK-based ENT podcast midway through the conference, it wasn’t long before were pitching the idea at hustings during the AOT AGM, where we were elected as AOT Education Leads.
Georgie and I were both very aware that registrars often struggle to balance their work and personal commitments throughout surgical training. During their exam preparation, this can become more challenging, especially in the context of rotational placements and subsequently long commutes. To maximise study time and to make best use of the journey to and from work, we agreed that a high-yield educational podcast devoid of visual material that can be safely listened to during a trainees commute. The episodes would be curated around the JCST otolaryngology curriculum and follow a structure that facilitated preparation for the FRCS examination.
One of the great things about AOT is that the organisation is all about supporting trainees, whether that’s through The AOT Pod, the educational YouTube channel, courses, conferences and fellowship support. And it all comes off the back of ideas brought to the committee by trainees themselves. I’m incredibly grateful that their support, alongside that of the ENTUK Foundation, has helped get this project off the ground.
What is the core mission, the vision and objectives, of The AOT Pod ?
Our core mission is simple – to provide trainees with expert insight into topics within the JCST otolaryngology curriculum that is tailored towards those sitting the FRCS exam, in a format than be received and digested at times when traditional study cannot occur, such as during the work commute. Since its release, AOT has received huge amounts of positive feedback and is pleased to announce that our podcast has been downloaded in more than 220 cities across 36 countries globally.
The podcast covers discussions with leading experts – how do you select and invite guests?
Georgie and I are fortunate to have an incredible AOT committee behind us. It made sense in the early set-up to work with the consultants that our committee members currently work with, so as to streamline the development and recording of episodes. With that in mind, we have been keen to speak with newly-appointment consultants that are familiar with what’s required for successful exam preparation or those with particular subspecialist interests. As our podcast evolves, we may look further afield when inviting guest speakers and we welcome those that are interested The AOT Pod to get in touch via our AOT platforms.
How do you ensure that the content is high-yield, exam-focused, and practical for listeners?
All content is written using up-to-date FRCS resources and scrutinised first by our subcommittee and then by the invited consultant for each episode. We encourage all parties to reference current literature but are aware that to sustain longevity of our material, the latest landmark papers and guidelines should always be referred to when trainees prepare for the examination.
What role does the AOT Education Team play in the development of the episodes?
The AOT Education team is the hub of all episode creation. We are responsible for coordinating with the host and guest speakers to ensure that each episode is relevant to trainees, that it matches the curriculum and can be delivered effectively in podcast format. Where needed, I help to develop the script, schedule recording dates and – thanks to some online tutorials – I am able to carry out post-production edits to the point that the episode is ready to release!
The podcast is supported by the ENT UK Foundation – how did that collaboration come about?
ENTUK Foundation is a fantastic philanthropic organisation that supports a broad range of projects within our specialty. After coming up with the idea for The AOT Pod, Georgie and I set about submitting a proposal to the ENTUK Foundation and we were very fortunate to be awarded a grant to facilitate our production. The opportunities that the ENTUK Foundation offers for trainees are there for all to see and with regular application windows found on the ENTUK website, I would encourage all those seeking to embark on a novel project to explore further.
Are there any plans to collaborate with other organisations or educational bodies in the future?
I was very pleased to receive some positive feedback from a number of subsidiary committees within ENTUK and have recently been in touch with BAETS about collaborating on a podcast episode with them. We have had other organisations reach out as well and are keen to work with all those willing to support our cause.
Have there been any unexpected challenges or learning curves in podcasting?
Recording, editing and producing a podcast has been a steep learning curve but one that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Our primary goal is to give listeners high quality, high-yield educational podcasts that they want to keep coming back to. I have learnt a lot about post-production editing and what it takes to move from first concept to final release. Of course, no project is without challenges and at first the thought of producing a library of ENT material was daunting. But we are making steady progress, and I hope our listeners are benefitting from the efforts that AOT are putting in.
What are your long-term goals for The AOT Pod ?
On a personal level, I would love to see The AOT Pod be a staple educational resource for those sitting the FRCS exam. From its early conception to now, we have already made such progress and as the project develops, we hope to build a library of curriculum-focussed episodes. Beyond that, there is enormous scope to incorporate panel discussions, trainee support episodes and broader discussions on clinical governance and safety within the workplace; something that I see being hugely beneficial and interesting for trainees to engage with. For now though, I’d like to keep my feet on the ground, our heads down and carry on producing more clinically-focussed episodes.
If you could interview any figure in ENT for The AOT Pod, who would it be and why?
I think depending on what hat I have on, this question could be answered in so many ways. But sticking the theme of what our podcast currently offers, I would love to interview a member of the FRCS exam board to ask what aspects of the examination they felt trainees struggled with and what advice they would give to better steer their chances towards success. We also know that there is a plethora of incredible speakers and educators within our speciality that would be perfect for our podcast. I would happily welcome those who are interested, whether to produce an episode with us or to give us some feedback, so get in touch at theaotpod@gmail.com
