BROADCASTS.com

Published: Sept. 13, 2023, 9:30 p.m.

How can we be better at explaining things? On the 250th episode of the podcast, I\u2019m joined by a very special guest who has made explaining an art form and has just published a book called \u2018The Art of Explanation\u2019.

That guest is Ros Atkins. He\u2019s a BBC News presenter and the BBC\u2019s Analysis Editor. Ros is best known for his explainer videos, which, since 2019, have become a global phenomenon with vast audiences on social media and on the BBC's digital, TV and radio channels.

His new book \u2014 full title \u2018The Art of Explanation: How to Communicate with Clarity and Confidence\u2019 \u2014 is part autobiography, part history of his explainer videos and a practical guide to how we can all be better at explaining things.

I\u2019ve been a fan of Ros\u2019 videos and presentation style since first discovering them a few years ago. Not only have they made me smarter about the world, but the techniques he uses are engaging, informative and entertaining. So much so, in fact, that I\u2019ve often found myself recommending to my clients that they watch them as masterclasses in how to make complicated subjects interesting and compelling.

Key talking points:

In our discussion, we explore:

• the importance of explanation and why we need to be better at it;
  
  
• the genesis of the explainer videos;
  
  
• the techniques Ros uses to make his videos;
  
  
• how Ros generates his ideas, sometimes taking inspiration from the most unexpected of places;
  
  
• lessons about how we can all be better at explaining things, not just at work but also in our personal lives;
  
  
• how Ros uses an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach to get projects off the ground;
  
  
• Texting Keith Olbermann, a very unusual BBC podcast that Ros recorded with his wife Sarah and US sports presenter Keith Olbermann.
  
  
• The 50:50 project, a highly successful initiative to support diverse representation in the BBC\u2019s journalism, which Ros started in the newsroom in 2017 and has now spread across the BBC and beyond;

and much more.

\u2018The Art of Explanation: How to Communicate with Clarity and Confidence\u2019

To find out more about Ros\u2019 book: geni.us/TAOEBOOK

Keith Jarret K\xf6ln Concert

Ros mentions a story about jazz musician Keith Jarrett and a concert Jarrett played in K\xf6ln, Germany. As he tells the story \u2014 which links to the Inheritance Tracks podcast below \u2014 Ros says that we must fact-check it.

True to his reputation, after we\u2019d finisjhed recording, he sent me this NPR link which appears to confirm the story: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/719557642

This piqued my curiosity, and I did further research and discovered that a reporter from \u2014 where else?! \u2014 the BBC \u2013 had looked into the K\xf6ln concert story. Not only did he confirm the facts, but he also managed to interview the concert promoter in question. You can hear the story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p00ldwyp

You can hear the K\xf6ln concert \u2014 part 3 features on the Spotify playlist below \u2014 here: https://open.spotify.com/album/0I8vpSE1bSmysN2PhmHoQg?si=UkPi_oTXR7Grrrwc403Fxg

\u2018Art of Explanation\u2019 playlist

The Spotify playlist that features tracks from the book and podcast jointly curated by Ros and me: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/27ku9laOh8IantyEEdhTQa?si=fa1f8ca6d3cc41d1

Texting Keith Olbermann podcast

You\u2019ll find Ros\u2019 podcast \u2018Texting Keith Olbermann\u2019 here and on all podcast platforms: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p071wbr5

Inheritance Tracks

Hear Ros talking about Keith Jarrett\u2019s K\xf6ln concert and Steely Dan\u2019s Aja https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0g6c5bz

The \u2018Ros Atkins on\u2026\u2019 series

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p095rjk1/episodes/player

My absolute favourite of Ros\u2019 Explainer videos is Ros Atkins on\u2026The Number 10 Christmas Party: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-59514568