Brighton student and childhood friends turn lockdown podcast into Brighton creative business

Daniel Kent, a Sports Journalism student at the University of Brighton and his childhood friends Imran Ahmed and George Mahoney, launched the Brighton branch of Podcast Room after identifying a lack of affordable, professional podcast facilities in the city.

The trio, who have been friends for more than a decade after growing up and attending school together in Brighton, first began podcasting during lockdown as a way to stay connected when restrictions prevented them from meeting in person.

Recording conversations over Zoom, they initially focused on discussing mental health and wellbeing. As restrictions eased, the project moved in person and gradually expanded to include interviews with local businesses, creatives and members of the Brighton community.

Daniel Kent, George Mahoney and Imran Ahmed

Through producing their own content, the trio discovered that many creators in Brighton were travelling to London to access podcast studios that offered both professional production quality and affordable pricing.

After spending eight months developing a business plan and securing start-up funding, they opened the Brighton franchise in February 2026. Since launching, the studio has welcomed a range of guests including local businesses, content creators, athletes and community organisations, while continuing to create original content showcasing Brighton’s people and stories.

Dan said: “Podcasting should be a safe space to talk openly, freely and not feel judged. Brighton is a hugely creative city with many individuals whose voices should be heard. What I love is that we can welcome anyone and everyone to help make their content come to life.”

For Daniel, building the business has formed part of a wider personal journey.

After initially enrolling at the University of Brighton in 2019, he felt he wasn't getting the best out of himself and chose to explore opportunities elsewhere, spending several years working in sports and social media. Following the death of his father in 2023, Daniel took time to reassess his future before deciding to return to higher education and pursue his ambition of working in sports media.

He said: “Coming back to university felt like a chance to prove something to myself. I knew I wanted to build a career in sports media, but I also knew I needed to develop my skills and knowledge to get there.

“Brighton was the perfect place to do that. It's such a creative city and being able to study Sports Journalism close to home felt like the right decision at the right time.

“To now be building Podcast Room Brighton while still at university feels like an incredible achievement. I've made amazing friends, built great memories and gained experiences I never would have had otherwise.”

The business has also complemented Daniel’s studies, allowing him to apply classroom learning in a real-world environment. Fellow Sports Journalism students have used the studio to record their own podcasts, while Daniel has incorporated the facilities into coursework projects and documentary-style assignments.

Dan said: “Being able to apply what I'm learning on my course in a real-world environment has given me valuable experience and confidence. We've already worked with students, businesses and creators across Brighton, and I'd love to see the studio become a hub for content creation in the city.”

Co-founder Imran Ahmed said: “I love the studio because of all the amazing people, businesses and guests we welcome in on a daily basis. Being in the podcast industry, you never know who might walk into the studio.

“Brighton is an amazingly creative city, so having an affordable podcast studio where people can share their stories and collaborate is incredibly important to us. Our hope for the future is to expand into other parts of South England and help as many people as possible.”

Co-founder George Mahoney added: “Podcast Room Brighton is proof that dreams can come true. Growing up watching YouTube, I knew from a young age that content creation was what I wanted to do. So, building this podcast business with my best friends, feels like a true blessing.”

Looking ahead, the founders hope to expand the business while continuing to support Brighton’s creative community and provide opportunities for aspiring content creators.

Podcast Room Brighton also offers students a 30 per cent discount on studio bookings, helping more young creators access professional production facilities and develop their skills.