Liverpool-based production company hosts show at its studio
Former England and Liverpool footballer John Barnes has launched his own podcast, Defend & Attack: The John Barnes Podcast.
Barnes is working with Liverpool-based production company Virtuopo on the show, and the first two episodes of the series are now out. The podcast features former Liverpool FC and England star John Barnes and TV personality Simon O’Brien discussing some of the biggest issues in football, with fan interaction and guest interviews planned for future episodes.
This is Virtuopo’s first foray into sport podcasting, and it grew out of a conversation at a client event, where John Barnes appeared as a keynote speaker. Virtuopo managing director Chris Holmes later suggested launching a football podcast together.
Defend & Attack has been launched while Virtuopo looks to grow its content creation services, building on its experience in virtual events, livestreaming and broadcast production. It is recorded at Virtuopo’s studio in Brunswick Business Park, which features green screen facilities and remote production technology.
Defend & Attack is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with clips also shared on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. These social media clips have reached over one million views to date.
Holmes said: “John and I hit it off straight away and we quickly realised there was an opportunity to work together. He’s always had a unique perspective on football and isn’t afraid to say what he thinks, so I came up with the idea of launching a podcast.
“Virtuopo is best known for virtual and hybrid events, but we also have a purpose-built podcast studio and an experienced production team. Podcast production is a growing part of our business, and this project marks an important step as we continue to extend our podcast portfolio, working with personalities, brands and corporates.”
Barnes said: “The response from football fans has been fantastic. Simon and I have some great conversations about what’s happening in football, and we don’t always follow popular opinion. That’s what makes it interesting. Chris and the team have created the right environment for those conversations. Hopefully people enjoy listening and joining the discussion as the podcast grows.”
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