Yesterday (28 Mar 2024) has seen the first anniversary of the final episode of the BBC Digital Planet podcast. I have been following and listening to the podcast episodes for over a decade. So I got really excited when I spotted Gareth’s tweet on a “Digital Planet Reunion” event in a pub in London during Easter week, organised by Richard Lucas. It has given me a perfect excuse to travel to London, not only for the event but meeting a long-time friend, enjoying Britain after a long time away and enjoying the company of my two adult kids who unexpectedly but happily joined the ad-hoc 3-days-trip.
The event took place in the Map Room of Daly’s Wine Bar, not far away from Bush House, formerly the headquarters of BBC World Service. I did not count but I guess that around 30 persons attended and it has been an interesting bunch of people. There has been room for interesting discussions between the “formal” parts of the agenda which were
- a conversation between Ghislaine, Bill and Gareth on GenAI – it will eventually show up in the Gareth and Bill podcast,
- an interview with Peter Cowley on his life between public success and private grief which has become the title of his last book,
- and finally a piece which will end up in an episode of the, well, somehow successor podcast to Digital Planet, namely the Somewhere on Earth podcast.
I have had an enjoyable 3 hours at the event, lots of interesting conversations with many interesting co-listeners and, obviously, the podcast hosts who I have been eager to meet after so many years of listening. Naturally, there have been a few details about the unexpected end of Digital Planet but “what has been talked in the Map Room, stays in the Map Room”. I add a few photos that might convey a flavour of what it was like. Thanks to all who have made it happen.
@tfxz 
Great !! Glad to know these event was a success. Thanks for sharing. A long time fan of digital planet from Singapore. Cheers! – chandra