What is HC Pod?
HC Pod, formerly known as the Halfcast Podcast, is one of the pioneering Black British podcasts. The platform was founded by Chuckie Online and Poet in April 2015 and has gone on to feature Savage Dan as one of its main contributors. Skits, Craig Mitch and DJ Slick also regularly feature in the content.
HC Pod is said to have inspired a number of other podcasts surrounding the Black British music sphere, in terms of style, talking points and presentation of its content.
Over the years HC Pod has featured appearances from Giggs, Jme, Wretch 32 and a range of prominent Black British musicians.
HC Pod episodes are usually between one and two hours long and its content is released weekly. The instalments are published in parts via YouTube videos and in full on Spotify (and previously SoundCloud).
HC Pod Hosts
HC Pod is hosted by Chuckie Online, and Poet and Savage Dan are its two other core contributors.
HC Pod has gone through a number of changes since its creation. Initially it was led by both Chuckie and Poet, but as time has gone on Poet’s appearances reduced from the original weekly schedule. Savage Dan is also heavily featured in the content but is not featured on a weekly basis.
Chuckie Online, Poet and Savage Dan all have experience in the music industry and have recorded music as vocalists (as MCs and rappers at various points in their lives). Chuckie and Poet worked together as personalities years before HC Pod. The two were introduced to Dan while searching for a studio to record the podcast.
Chuckie Online
Chuckie Online is a DJ, presenter and content creator from Shepherd’s Bush in west London. Prior to HC Pod he was known as a DJ and had featured on a number of prominent YouTube channels including GRM Daily, Link Up TV and Jump Off TV as a presenter and music personality.
Chuckie appears on all HC Pod recordings and tends to lead all conversations on HC Pod and is curious about engaging in discussions about a wide variety of topics.
Since the growth of his profile via HC Pod, Chuckie has gone on to present content on JD’s YouTube Channel, a Vice documentary series and a number of additional YouTube-based roles.
Poet
Poet is a presenter, rapper and media personality from Tottenham in north London. Prior to HC Pod Poet had presented on a number of platforms centred on Black British music. Shortly before the first episode of HC Pod was released, he established the Filthy Fellas football-based YouTube channel.
On the podcast Poet is known for outlandish opinions and casual delivery of one-liner jokes. He has also shared many intimate details about his relationships with women, his family and people within the UK entertainment industry.
Poet has gone through various time periods where he did not record for the podcast due to personal matters regarding his children and his role as a presenter on a number of platforms including Copa90 Football.
Savage Dan
Savage Dan is an audio engineer and sports content presenter from west London.
Savage Dan served as HC Pod’s original producer (when it was called Halfcast Podcast). He was referred to as ‘Producer Dan’ before he was featured more prominently in recordings from 2017. Since the rebrand to HC Pod, Savage Dan has been credited as the third core host of the podcast.
Despite appearing on camera in a number of videos in December 2017, Dan’s face was obscured for a number YouTube episodes of the podcast in 2018 before he was unmasked.
Since his role on HC Pod he has featured heavily on Filthy Fellas, has presented content for a number of both football and boxing-based platforms.
On the podcast Savage Dan is known for sharing humorous anecdotes about his life experiences, particularly before his long-term relationship.
HC Pod Format
HC Pod features a free-form format whereby most discussions are improvised and the structure is loose. The lack of structure allows for natural conversations. HC Pod is recorded in Jukebox Studios, which is owned by Savage Dan. Chuckie sits at a desk while Poet, Savage Dan and any guests sit on sofas at the other side of the room.
When special guests are featured Chuckie uses utilises a rough format for the pacing of the conversation and the order he would like particular talking points to be presented. Often recordings with a special guest exclusively feature Chuckie (and a producer) from the team, whereas episodes with more regular contributors are more likely to feature Poet and/or Dan.
A number of the following segments have featured in the recordings over the years. More recent ones still in use include:
How are you?
Chuckie sometimes begins podcasts with guests by asking how they are twice – to gauge whether they are answering honestly or whether they have truly considered their feelings at the time.
Howlers
Starting in 2022 HC Pod episodes feature a Howlers segment where Poet presents a news story, video clip or scenario for everyone to react to. These have become shareable clipped features of the podcast.
One Thing People Need to Know About
At the end of HC Pod episodes, Chuckie often asks everyone in the room to contribute media that people need to know about. This may be a recommendation of music, a documentary, a book or something else for the group and podcast listeners to be made aware of.
HC Pod Example Episode
The following is an example episode of HC Pod featuring Chuckie Online and Poet in conversation with J2K.
HC Pod Topics
HC Pod covers a wide range of topics and there is no specific subject for each episode. For the first year the topics were mainly based around music but this expanded significantly in the subsequent years.
The HP Pod format is loose and the focus often drifts significantly from what’s discussed at the beginning compared to the ending. While HC Pod often centres around Black British music and light-hearted subjects, recordings have been dedicated to more serious matters including the Palestine-Israel conflict, mental health and sexual abuse.
Common topics discussed on the show include:
- Black music
- Romantic relationships
- Finance
- Music industry
- Self-employment
- Masculinity
- Family life
- Growing up with Caribbean parents in London
HC Pod’s Contributors
HC Pod is known for its close-knit range of associates that regularly make appearances within the content. Many of these individuals also collaborate with the core team on other YouTube channels and projects.
HC Pod Producers
Since it’s early days, HC Pod has known to feature its producers as frequently contributors to conversations. Savage Dan, followed Callum Root, succeeded by East Africa, have all been encouraged to participate in recordings and have become integral to the podcast’s output.
While HC Pod is presented as a platform for Chuckie, Poet and more recently Dan, Chuckie is the only person featured in every episode. There have been periods where Poet hasn’t been present for large consecutive strings of recordings. As such, during this time more guests were relied upon for conversations.
Savage Dan
Savage Dan was initially the producer for the show (which is recorded at his Jukebox Studios). He gradually became more a more vocal contributor, before he started to appear on camera. Eventually he became one of the core members of the podcasting team.
Callum Root
Callum Root (formerly referred to as Racist Callum) was the podcast’s producer up to early 2022. Callum is a producer and has filmed, edited and produced content for a number of other platforms, including Chuckie Online’s The Cheque Up.
Callum contributed to many episodes with unique perspectives and general knowledge Chuckie and Poet aren’t privy to.
East Africa
East Africa (Moses) joined HC Pod in 2022 around the time it transition from its original name Halfcast Podcast. He is often brought into conversations to add another perspective to the conversation or confirm details that may have been discussed in the recording.
Additional Contributors
Frequent guests past and present have included a mix of the core team’s friends, industry associates and content creators. It is often assumed that due to their close association with the podcast or hosts that no introduction is required.
These individual include:
- Skits
- Vuj
- Craig Mitch
- Scribz
- DJ Slick
- Tazer Black
- Qoi
- Jordy
- Billy the Goat
In addition, many more people have either made one-off or very infrequent appearances on the podcast.
Musicians
- Harvey
- Margs
- Madders Tiff
- Donae’o
- Manga St Hilare
- Gen
- Youngs Teflon
- ShaSimone
- Bossman Birdie
- Murkage Dave
- Novelist
Industry Associates
- Yasmin Evans
- Docta Cosmic
- Charmaine Hayden
- Morgan Keyz
- Reggie Yates
- CJ Beatz
- Marvin Sparks
- Twin B
- DJ Snips
- Femi Oyenira
- Maya Jama
- Mo Gilligan
- Arnold Oceng
- Nadia Jae
- Yung Filly
- Kritikal
- LaLa
- Alhan Gençay
- Julie Adenuga
- Miles Fearon
- Urban Financier
- Sideman
- J2K
- DJ Dubl
- Expressions Oozing
- Rashid Kasirye
- Daps
- Nicky Slimting
- Harry Pinero
- Terroll Lewis
- Sweets Lewis
- Jazzie
- Lippy
- Kojo
- Joseph Patterson
- Arnold Jorge
- Stevo the Madman
- Audrey Indome
- Tolani Shoneye
- Milena Sanchez
- Temi Alchemy
- Fred Santana
- VP
- Tricky
- White Yardie
- Idiel Muse
- Benny Scars
- George the Poet
- Mimi the Music Blogger
- Aaron Bridgeman
- Antigoni Buxton
- Denise Dainty
- Daniyal Khan
- Manny Norte
- Axel Blake
- Tego Sigel
- Viddal Riley
- Leon Wills
HC Pod Guests
HC Pod Special Guests
HC Pod has featured a number of special episodes in which significant celebrity guests have joined Chuckie and sometimes also Poet to feature on HC Pod. These guests are usually Black British musicians that may have some connection to the individuals involved with HC Pod.
Find the list of HC Pod special guests below:
- Jme
- Giggs
- Wretch 32
- Krept & Konan
- Swizz Beatz
- Ed Sheeran
- Jammer
- Tinchy Stryder
- George the Poet
- Angel
- Jae5
- Black Sherif
HC Pod Additional Guests
- Harmony Reigns
- Gina Jackson
- Mariah Idrissi
- Ladan Takow
- Saami
- Ozah Med
- Travis Jay
- Miss Meriam
- Queen Ash
- Louise Coleman
- Antigoni Buxton
- Murad Merali
- Jay Ajayi
- Natty
Halfcast Podcast Name Change
In January 2022, Chuckie Online announced the end of Halfcast Podcast on social media. The first podcast following this was to confirm that while the podcast itself would continue, the name had to change. In the interim it would be known as HC Pod and fans would be able to suggest a replacement name using ‘H’ and ‘C’ as the foundation.
To date, there has yet to be a replacement name for the podcast.
Significant HC Pod Episodes
HC Pod has documented significant events in the lives of its hosts and guests since 2015. The podcast has included personal details about the lives of Chuckie, Poet and Savage Dan (as well as many of the guests) some of which is still accessible in the podcast’s archives. The podcast has also highlighted stand out moments in recent British Black music history and those involved in it.
A number of podcast episodes stand out for having impacted the course of the platform and its continued output. Significant episodes include:
12 Things Men Fear But Never Talk About
Published: August 2018
Cast: Chuckie Online, Savage Dan, Madders Tiff, DJ Slick
Description: Chuckie, Dan, DJ Slick and Grime MC Madders Tiff discuss a list of common insecurities shared by men.
Episode: On YouTube
I Don’t Know Why Giggs is Pissed
Published: December 2018
Cast: Chuckie Online, Poet and Krept
Description: Krept appeared as a guest to discuss Giggs making a comment discrediting him.
Episode: On YouTube
Do Good Looking People Have It Easier?
Published: August 2019
Cast: Chuckie Online, Savage Dan, Milena Sanchez, Audrey Indome and Tolani Shoneye
Description: In a collaborative video between Halfcast and The Receipts Podcast, they discuss pretty privilege.
Episode: On YouTube
Losing My (Bonus) Parent
Published: March 2021
Cast: Chuckie Online and Poet
Description: Chuckie details the chronic illness his stepfather faced, the treatment he received and how he felt about the experience.
Episode: On YouTube
Goodbye ‘Halfcast’ Podcast
Published: January 2022
Cast: Chuckie Online, Poet and Savage Dan
Description: Announcing the name change and discussing the development of HC Pod from its inception.
Episode: On YouTube
The Industry Ruined Me
Published: August 2022
Cast: Chuckie Online and Hardy Caprio
Description: Hardy Caprio elaborates on tweets he made referencing abuse he faced as a child and his experience signed to a record label.
Episode: On YouTube
HC Pod Development
Chuckie and Poet’s first on-camera work together was on the Jump Off debates in 2011, in which they engaged in a number of UK music-based debates with the likes of Claira Hermet, Jade Avia and DJ Snips.
They continued with their individual pursuits in the years that followed.
Prior to the first Halfcast Podcast, Chuckie Online was featured on a number of radio stations but felt he didn’t have the freedom to speak much and was disheartened by trial experiences at BBC Radio 1Xtra and Choice FM (which was about to rebrand as Capital Xtra).
In October 2014 Chuckie decided to produce his Power Hours show from home (previously on BANG Radio) independently and publish it on SoundCloud. He used it as an opportunity to share his musical opinions. The first featured a reflection on Red Bull Culture Clash 2014 at Earls Court, which happened the day prior.
The SoundCloud version of Power Hours featured a Phone Check segment in which he called musicians including G-FrSH, Ray BLK, Kano, Ghetts and Jay Prince. In November 2014 a special Phone Check recording with Wiley was the full length of the show.
In early 2015 Chuckie approached Poet to create a podcast together. It launched as Halfcast Podcast in April 2015 and has released weekly content since. Since the first recording the episodes have been recorded at Savage Dan’s Jukebox Studios, which has changed locations a number of times over the years.
Oh yea…new podcast series dropping tomorrow with Poet. #Halfcast
— Chuckie Lothian (@ChuckieOnline) April 22, 2015
After the first recording Chuckie intended to record monthly, but Poet encouraged him to make it a weekly production. It has remained this way since its creation.
In 2017 the podcast was featured on Sian Anderson’s show and both Chuckie and Poet discussed the platform at length on TBC Podcast.
Starting from the 100th episode sections of the content have been uploaded to YouTube.
None of the early content – including Power Hours and many of the first Halfcast Podcast episodes – is available on SoundCloud or elsewhere online.
HC Pod Deleted Content
A number of HC Pod episodes have been deleted over the years. All of the audio content has been removed from SoundCloud (the original home of all the content), none of the pre-2019 Spotify content and many videos have been removed from YouTube.
Content was deleted as the podcast became more popular and anecdotes discussed to avoid any negative impact on either those discussed or the people involved in the conversations.
HC Pod Sponsors
HC Pod has had a number of different sponsors over the years. Among its long-term partners has been the grooming brand Manscaped. The London-based clothing brand Benjart became HC Pod’s exclusive sponsor in June 2022. Since then it has been sponsored by other brands including Crafted London and Temple Skincare.
HC Pod FAQs
Why was HC Pod called Halfcast Podcast?
Despite the connotations, the name was based on the fact that Chuckie is significantly smaller than Poet.
What was the first Halfcast Podcast episode?
The first episode of Halfcast Podcast was released on 23rd April 2015. It featured Chuckie Online and Poet in conversation entitled ‘Who is Really Musically Excited by Anyone or Anything?’
Where did Poet and Chuckie Online meet?
Content creators Poet and Chuckie Online met while recording for the Jump Off TV debates in 2011. They participated in a range of panel discussions with the show’s regular cast, which also included DJ Snips, TeeF and LaLa through to 2014. Halfcast Podcast launched weeks after Chuckie’s final appearance in 2015.
Who is Chuckie from Halfcast Podcast?
Chuckie Online is a media personality who was known as a DJ before the launch of Halfcast Podcast in 2015. In the years since he has been more established as a presenter and has fronted a number of YouTube shows based around Black music, including Champions League of Everything and In the Duffle Bag.
Did Halfcast Podcast end?
In January 2022 an announcement was made declaring the end of Halfcast Podcast. This was done as a means to promote the podcast’s rebrand. It was originally going to be a temporary change to HC Pod, but this has become the podcast’s ongoing identity.
Who made the HC Pod logo?
The current HC Pod logo was conceptualised by Jme and completed by Aims.
