PRESS & TESTIMONIALS

A Chance To Open Up On Mental Health - The Times

The Mental Health MOT - The Guardian

Mentally Yours Podcast (Guest) - The Metro

13 Unsung Glasgow Heroes That Deserve Recognition - Glasgow Live

The Record Spins: A Music Podcast Guide - Dr Lucy Bennett

The Hot 100: Top Digital 20 (BBC The Social) - The List Magazine

9 UK Podcasts You Should Be Listening To - Fader

Scottish Music Industry Association Launch Advisory Group - Music Week

Music Keeps Me Going - MHF Live (Mental Health Foundation)

Dealing With Anxiety At Festivals - BBC The Social

Louise Bury (Independent Talent Digital)

“Halina is super reliable, professional and always managed to turn things around for us super quickly. Halina was an invaluable resource when we decided to record a podcast [Stirring it Up (on the road) with Andi and Miquita Oliver] on the go around Scotland, full of great ideas and brilliant at problem solving. We look forward to working with her again.”

Karin Goodwin (Journalist & Co-editor, The Ferret)

“I would choose to work with Halina Rifai whenever possible. Not only is the quality of her work outstanding and to an incredibly high standard but she brings an unrivalled level of commitment and care to any project. Halina always has your back. Working with her on The Ferret's Sheku Bayoh: The Inquiry podcast has been a joy. She is forensic in every aspect of the work and her understanding of the material means she is able to elevate it and ensure the best possible output. Halina is also a great human being. Grab the chance to collaborate with her if you possibly can.”

Jude Barber & Louise Welsh (Who Owns the Clyde?)

“Halina was a brilliant collaborator on our podcast ‘Who owns the Clyde?’.  This was our first podcast, yet our ambitions were high. We were therefore fortunate that Halina agreed to work with us.  She gently and expertly guided us through the process of podcast scripting and production.  Her expertise and skills elevated our work and enabled us to reach a wider audience together. Halina brought a level of professionalism and quality to the podcast that we could not have achieved alone.  We would thoroughly recommend working with Halina and look forward to further collaborations in future.”

Daniel Abercrombie (Head of Programming, Scottish Storytelling Centre)

“Halina has been a professional, talented and calming presence throughout our storytelling podcast project Another Story. She was a joy to work with and we are delighted with the final product. We can heartly recommend her, in fact we already have…!”

Kathryn Welch (Culture Collective Lead)

“Halina was the most awesome Producer for the Future Culture podcast series. As podcast newbies, she guided us through the whole process, from commissioning music and stings, to scripting, accessibility and interviews. She is phenomenally organised, and able to create really high quality content on unfathomably tight timescales. Her interviews with artists were wide-ranging, intelligent and supportive, and resulted in the creation of a thought-provoking and illuminating podcast series. Halina kept us involved at every stage of the process - always happy to take on feedback and suggestions. We couldn’t be happier with the end result, and would recommend Halina without reservation. We’re already looking out for opportunities to work with her again.”

Emma Lynch (Curated Experience Lead, ISS)

“We worked with Halina and Podcart to produce a number a podcasts for our virtual campaign for our client Barclays. Halina was great to work with, really professional and really creative took our brief and developed the idea. The work was fantastic over, above what we expected. We’d love to work with Halina again.”

Rob Dickie (Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival SMHAF)

“Halina has delivered several workshops providing training in podcasting and journalism for volunteers engaged with the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival and the Mental Health Foundation. She is always dependable, immaculately prepared, and happy to adapt her approach according to the needs of individuals and groups. She is a great communicator, and is open, encouraging and supportive in order to help people achieve their goals.”

John Williamson (Glasgow University)

“Halina is an excellent workshop leader. Besides her experience and technical skills as a podcaster, she brings wide-ranging music industry know-how and a friendly and engaging style. Students left the sessions inspired, motivated and better able to produce their own podcasts. I would highly recommend her for any work in and around music, writing and broadcasting as well as in PR and communication and education more generally. She is great at all of them.”

Graham Stephen (Aberdeen University)

“Halina delivered a masterclass in podcasting to our fellow SGSHA funded PhD researchers at Stirling University. Her knowledge of the genre was exemplary and her infectious enthusiasm inspired everyone in the workshop, including the organisers. All our feedback was unanimous in its praise of her methods and content and we are aware that many of the participants have gone on to use the skills she shared to create their own podcasts, which is precisely what the workshop was designed to achieve. I would have no hesitation in engaging her for future workshops and have recommended her services to several others.”

Charlotte Lauder (University of Strathclyde)

“Halina delivered an informative, inclusive and engaging presentation on the practicalities of podcasts as part of our podcasting workshop for PhD students. She spoke with warmth and expertise and was generous with her answers to students’ questions. She offered personal advice as well as an introduction to essential skills and was genuine and down-to-earth with her guidance. Halina is organised and always prompt with her communication and email correspondence. I wholeheartedly recommend Halina to any workshop, seminar or conference that explores how podcasts and digital audio can be used to widen access to education and research.”

Sharon Stephen (The Personal Development Coach)

“I have worked with Halina on numerous projects and businesses over the last 5 years, her hard work, drive and diligence makes her an invaluable team player but independently her ambition, drive, passion and creative flair sees her make a success of any new project she puts her mind to.”

Aarti Joshi (Coach & Mentor/Presenter)

“Halina is a truly multi-skilled, multi hyphenate professional – someone I really enjoy collaborating with due to her can-do approach, creativity and flawless attention to detail. As a PR and Marketing professional, her vast skillset is second to none and she delivers over and above, consistently. From the perspective of a client, she manages expectations extremely well and is always friendly and professional in her approach. Personally, I really enjoy working with her – in particular because of the great ideas she brings to the creative process, her love for collaboration and skill in bringing the right people together, but also because she is a joy to work with and I have always been impressed with every iota of her work”. 

Clare McBrien (YCSA)

“Halina's core beliefs in lifting up other woman, fighting for a more equal society and sharing her skills with others was clear when she worked with me at YCSA. She didn't just teach a group of young female asylum seekers how to make podcasts. She supported the creation of a community of young woman who continue to thrive. She was dedicated, passionate and knowledgeable and really inspirational to work with.”

 Carrie Marshall (Author & Broadcaster)

“I’ve been lucky to work with Halina in a variety of roles over the years. We’ve appeared on the same radio programmes, we’ve worked with the same charity and Halina has produced and edited podcasts I co-present. I’m always impressed by her knowledge, her enthusiasm and her incredible work ethic. Halina is the person who Gets Things Done.”