You’re the expert. We find the story.

Editorially led podcasts for experts, founders and organisations with something substantial to say.

We turn complex ideas into clear, human, broadcast-quality podcasts built around story, trust and attention.

Book a free 30-minute call Explore the offer

How we work

Every project starts with journalistic research and story development, to find the strongest angle before recording.

Who we work with

Built for people with something substantial to say.

We work closely with clients who have a serious idea, but need the right editorial shape.

Founders & business leaders

With a point of view they want heard in the conversations that matter.

Experts, consultants & specialists

With deep knowledge but no clear format for sharing it.

Organisations, brands & institutions

Shaping the conversation in their sector — not just adding noise to it.

The studio

Editorially led podcasts for serious ideas.

The Matchstick House produces podcasts with the editorial discipline of broadcast journalism — not the disposable feel of content made just to fill a feed.

Led by Craig Langran, a journalist and producer who spent nearly a decade at the BBC across documentary, digital video, audio, podcasts and written journalism, including around seven years at BBC World Service on People Fixing the World.

Our work combines editorial judgement, interview craft and broadcast-quality production to help serious ideas become clear, human and worth listening to.

Start with a pilot. Build into a series.

Start small, learn quickly, then build the show properly.

Stage one

The Pilot

A proof-of-concept built around your strongest idea.

A low-risk way to prove the concept, find the strongest format and create three broadcast-quality episodes. We manage the editorial process, recording workflow and post-production — including remote recording, local studio coordination or in-person recording where needed.

By the end, you’ll have

Editorial concept development.
A clear test of your format, voice and audience proposition.
Three professionally produced episodes ready to publish.
Practical recommendations for how the show should reach the right people.
A better sense of whether a larger series is worth pursuing.

Best for: a first commitment, before investing in a full series.

Discuss The Pilot

Stage two

The Commission

A complete editorial launch system — built to shape the conversation.

For organisations ready to establish an ongoing editorial platform. We define the audience and format, produce the launch series, and equip your team with the strategy, systems and assets needed to take it to market.

The Commission includes

Audience definition, editorial positioning and format development.
Production of an initial launch series, with episode count and release structure scoped around the format and production requirements.
Show identity and music, with licensed music as standard and original composition scoped separately.
Two presenter coaching sessions.
Distribution setup across major platforms.
Launch and release strategy.
A defined launch campaign pack, with the mix of clips, social, newsletter and episode-launch assets agreed before production.
Success measures agreed before launch.
A practical handover plan identifying what Matchstick delivers and what the client’s team operates.

Best for: organisations that want a complete editorial launch, with the strategy, production system and assets needed to take the show to market.

Discuss The Commission

Stage three

Optional managed campaign

Launch Activation

Operate the launch, measure what works and improve it.

For organisations that want more than a strategy and asset pack, Matchstick can coordinate and operate the launch campaign with trusted audience and distribution specialists. The scope is built around the channels, partners and audience that matter to the project, rather than a generic posting schedule.

Launch Activation can include

Campaign coordination and publishing support.
Guest and partner amplification.
LinkedIn, newsletter, YouTube and selected channel execution.
Additional campaign assets where required.
Performance reporting and optimisation.
Specialist paid media or earned-distribution support where appropriate.

Best for: organisations that want Matchstick to help operate and improve the launch, not simply design it. Launch Activation is scoped separately. Paid media spend, sponsorships and external placement costs are not included in the service fee.

Discuss Launch Activation

The Commission designs, produces and equips the launch. Ongoing campaign management, paid media, PR, partner outreach and sustained audience-development activity are available through Launch Activation and are scoped separately.

Beyond launch

Ongoing editorial and production support, for shows built to last.

For organisations publishing regularly, Matchstick can provide ongoing editorial planning, guest development, production and campaign support on a monthly basis, with Craig continuing to lead editorially and sign off every episode.

Distribution execution can be included where required, with scope based on publishing cadence, channels, specialist support and campaign intensity.

Discuss an ongoing programme

Reach

Help the podcast travel further.

A strong episode should not disappear into the feed after launch day. Matchstick can turn episodes into edited clips, social posts, newsletter copy, quote-led assets, YouTube versions and launch messaging, so the story has more ways to reach the people it was made for.

Campaign assets can be included in The Commission or added to The Pilot. Where organisations want Matchstick to coordinate publishing, guest and partner amplification, reporting or wider promotion, that work is scoped separately through Launch Activation.

Video can be incorporated where appropriate: filmed podcast recording and social-first cutdowns, scoped as an add-on to The Pilot or built into The Commission.

Editorial advisory

Exploring a podcast, but not ready to record?

A thoughtful entry point for people who know they have the expertise, but aren’t yet sure what the show should be.

Many clients come to us before they’ve settled on a format, identified the right guests, or worked out whether a podcast is the best way to tell their story.

Before you invest in production, we help you understand the conversation already happening around your subject — the shows, voices, formats and angles shaping the space — then help you find the story only you can credibly tell.

Podcast strategy and format development.
Editorial workshops for teams and organisations.
Story development and audience positioning.
Pilot reviews and editorial feedback.

A note on pricing

The Pilot starts at £7,500. The Commission starts at £15,000. Final pricing depends on format, episode count, contributor logistics, production complexity, recording requirements, video and the agreed campaign-asset package.

Launch Activation, additional episodes, ongoing campaign management, paid media, PR and external placement costs are scoped separately.

Why trust The Matchstick House?

Editorial judgement, earned at the BBC.

Every Matchstick project is led editorially by Craig and supported by a trusted network of specialist producers, editors and audio/video creatives where needed.

Nearly a decade

At the BBC across audio, video, documentary, podcasts and written journalism.

Seven years

On People Fixing the World, BBC World Service.

313m

BBC World Service average weekly audience, 2024–25.

BBC Annual Report and public accounts material.

Craig Langran producing in a radio studio, wearing headphones at a broadcast mixing desk. — Craig Langran — in studio

Craig’s BBC work covered documentary, digital video, audio, podcasts and written journalism, with a focus on making complex subjects clear, human and compelling.

That editorial approach now shapes every Matchstick project, from first idea to final edit.

Selected BBC work

A compact portfolio from Craig’s BBC career across documentary, digital video, audio, podcasts and written journalism.

Audio & podcast

Snakebite

A People Fixing the World episode about community responders in Nepal and antivenom innovation in Malaysia.

Reporter/producer: Craig Langran

Audio & podcast

Tackling bias in health

A People Fixing the World episode about health equity, trust and practical attempts to reduce bias in healthcare.

Reporter/producer: Craig Langran

BBC film

AI bias and synthetic faces

A short BBC film presented by Craig on synthetic faces, facial recognition and bias in AI systems.

Produced, presented and edited by Craig Langran

Audio & podcast

Surgery in a backpack

A People Fixing the World episode about portable medical innovation and crisis-response healthcare.

Reporter/producer: Craig Langran

Video documentary

Trauma therapy during lockdown

A BBC News video story about trauma, homelessness and support during the coronavirus lockdown.

Produced and filmed by Craig Langran

Video documentary

Forensic identification and expert evidence

A BBC News video documentary on how expert forensic analysis helped secure a conviction in a serious criminal investigation.

Produced by Craig Langran

2.4m+ YouTube views.

Contains sensitive subject matter.

Some BBC audio links may open differently depending on location. Apple Podcasts and Spotify links are included where available.

Have an idea worth shaping?

Bring the expertise. We’ll help find the story, the format and the sound.

Book a free 30-minute call Email Craig