Mary Bolling and Kate McMahon are superfans of kids' TV show BlueyCredit:Mary Bolling
“I just needed more episodes,and I knew the new episodes weren’t coming[for a few months]. But I just had that feeling of wanting more,” explains Bolling,laughing. “The only thing I can compare it to was listening to Serial,and then listening to podcasts about Serial,while you wait for the next episode of Serial. So I thought well,that's it. I’ve[got to make a Bluey] podcast.”
“When I suggested it to Kate,I was only half joking,because she leads a very busy life and I didn't think she'd really take me up on it. But she was all guns blazing as well,although we had been finding before we started the podcast that all our catch-ups with each other were debriefings about Bluey anyway. So not that much has changed,we just hit record now.”
Bolling credits the success ofBluey to the relatability of the characters and its perfectly observed parenting moments,be it negotiating with a four-year-old in a supermarket,to worrying about screen time,not just for your kids,but the example you’re setting by looking at your own phone too often.
Bandit plays on the trampoline with Bluey and Bingo.Credit:
“Everyone feels like they know what kids TV is about. ButBluey is just so fresh and so real that you just can't help but love it and relate to it - although every parent I talk to is pretty jealous of that amazing house and Bandit’s[work from home] lifestyle.”
Bolling and McMahon are surprised by the success of their hobby podcast,and the positive feedback it is receiving. Among the listeners isBluey creator Joe Brumm,who the pair will be interviewing for a future episode.
“The feedback from listeners has been so lovely. Even if no one had listened,we probably would have kept doing it just because we get so much enjoyment out of it ... We both have a journalist background but I mean,we're not claiming to bring a journalistic skill set to this. We’re just very overenthusiastic mums.”