Cork podcaster wins award for heavy metal film

A large part of a podcast’s success depends on the host being a good conversationalist, able to converse with anyone and everyone, and be ionate about their subject.

Richard Duhig, who hosts his own podcast in Cork called the Metal Cell Podcast, dedicated to the metal music genre, certainly ticks all those boxes. And now he is also an award-winning documentary-maker.

“I first got into rock music through my brothers’ record collection when I was a kid,” says Richard, who is married to Helen. The couple have two children Ellie, 22, and Ruben, 16.

Richard’s brothers had varied tastes.

“Bowie, Neil Young, Dylan, and then Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, Deep Purple and AC/DC.

“In my teens, I got into heavier music, this time through tape trading with my friends,” adds Richard, who does his podcast part-time and has worked for Viatris Pharmaceuticals in Little Island for 24 years.

Why did he want to get involved in promoting Irish metal?

“The big momentous change that made me want to get involved in promoting Irish metal was seeing Galway sludge metal act Ten Ton Slug over in Bloodstock in 2016.

“I could see straight away that they were as good as any European/UK act on the bill that day and it blew my mind they were not huge in Ireland.

“Attending the twice yearly Siege of Limerick festival in Dolans, Limerick, the mecca for every metal fan in Ireland, was another reason.”

Like many people at the time, Richard was listening to a relatively new form of media called podcasts. He found some inspiration there.

“Joe Rogan was the star,” he says. “But a Metallica podcast which was loosely arranged, non-scripted and had people talking about their love for Metallica also inspired me.”

Richard set to work to become a credible podcaster about a subject he knew so well and was so ionate about. “I researched to find out what gear I needed and converted a bedroom upstairs to a studio.”

What was his ambition?

“My mission was to talk to as many people as possible involved in the wonderful metal community in Ireland, North and South,” says Richard, who lives in east Cork.

“So not only was it to include bands, but it was also going to include the fans that attend the gigs, the promoters, the artists who design the art for the tee-shirts, the photographers, the solo artists.

“The goal was to make my podcast sound as professional as possible and driven by conversation, not music.”

Richard’s work schedule at Viatris helped fulfil his ambition.

“I do 12-hour shifts four days, which allows me the time to focus on my podcast and the work involved in promoting it.”

The first three episodes of Metal Cell Podcast went out on March 14, 2019, on the hosting site Fireside.

“The podcast soon took off,” says Richard, “I paid a company called Chartable to track the listenership which gave me a weekly figure of listeners both here and abroad through plays on Spotify and iTunes.

“The Metal Cell Podcast has charted all over the world, with our biggest listenership in America, followed by Ireland, the UK, , Canada, Australia and Europe.”

Richard was going places.

“Last year, the podcast hit five No.1 spots in Bolivia, Columbia, Cyprus, Finland and Ireland,” he says.

What is the content of his podcast?

“It offers bands a chance to come on the show to talk about their latest release, play a song or two, and gives fans an idea of what to expect from the band in the next few months.

“I’m ed by people who are all involved in the Metal Scene.”

He helped spread the word.

“I set up a sister podcast called the Smashing Skull Sessions in 2020 to talk to international acts,” Richard adds. “Pat O’Regan, our first host, brought it to a different level with his fantastic knowledge of post-metal and his ion for the music.

“Letty Sharp followed Pat, educating us all with different genres of bands from all over the world in her first year at the helm.”

In 2024, Richard decided the time was right for him to do a documentary on a band in Ireland.

“I have a great sponsorship with Cork-based Helio Gas Detection and they were keen also to see what I would produce,” says Richard.

He found the perfect fit.

“Partholón, a brilliant post-metal band from Cork, seemed the perfect fit,” says Richard. “Howard, who does the Metal Cell Forums with me and is the singer/guitarist of the band, explained to me that him and the other long-term member Alan were working on their second album, The Ocean Pours In, with stories about the Mary Russell seafaring tragedy, the death of an ancient tradition, so I was keen to explore what we could produce using the sea and backdrop to the documentary.”

After three months, the documentary, We Swallow the Ocean, made its debut on the Metal Cell YouTube channel, on August 2, 2024.”

What did Richard want to achieve in applying to various film festivals that host documentaries?

“I really wanted to show whoever watched it that in the Irish metal scene, the bands that do not fall into the general perception of metalheads with long hair, battle jackets, studs and covered in tattoos,” he says.

Richard wanted to promote his ion.

“The music is often emotive, compelling, and defies the box that national radio conveniently wants to put heavy music into.”

Richard sent out the message loud and clear.

“I applied to the Underground Cinema Awards in late August and the director David Byrne made to say that We Swallow The Ocean had been selected along with another 164 films to be screened out of 400 films submitted.”

The judges knew Richard had something worthwhile and credible to say.

“An international of judges reviewed the 165 selected films submitted. My documentary was nominated for an award.”

Last month, Richard did the walk of fame at the awards.

“My wife Helen and my daughter, Ellie, ed me on the walk along the red carpet in the Royal Marine Hotel Dublin,” says Richard.

The atmosphere was electric.

“Some of the most talented people and creative people involved in the Irish Film Industry were present.

“When the documentary section arrived, I ed to check for my short speech in my pocket.”

Richard was up against it.

“Having seen the clips of what I was up against on the big screen, it seemed to me the other nominees had better access to more expensive equipment, bigger budgets and their subjects would appeal to a more broader audience rather than a niche metal scene. I was just thankful to be there.

“When the host, David Byrne, called out my name, my legs turned to jelly,” says Richard. “I was in shock.”

He found his voice.

“I stumbled through my speech and thanked everyone involved in the documentary and carried that award back to the table with everyone’s applause ringing in my ears.”

Like the other nominated documentary/filmmakers, Richard has access to valuable assets too.

“Music is my life, and thankfully I have a wife and kids that recognise this and me doing the Metal Cell Podcast and my other work leading on from that.”

After success as a podcaster and documentary maker, what is his plan going forward?

“There are plans for another documentary in 2025. Hopefully, I can attract a sponsor to come on board and help with the costs,” says Richard.

“It has been a brilliant journey so far with the podcast and the development of it every year, as we move along with the changing times in music and social media.”

Richard appreciates his listeners, his ers and his fans.

“I just want to thank every single person that has helped me along the way with their kind words and encouragement.”

The Metal Cell Podcast can be found on various online platforms.