Sam Martindale

Podcast Co-Host & Music Content Creator - Scorching Hot Takes Podcast

I’m Sam, a 20-year-old from a small village in East Yorkshire called Brandesburton. I’m currently a second-year Music Industries Management student at Leeds Beckett University. I co-founded the Scorching Hot Takes podcast with Max during my first year as part of a university module, and after realising we’d built a genuinely engaged audience - and that we loved making it - we decided to properly commit and keep growing the project.

I’m deeply passionate about the music industry and see myself working within it long-term, with a particular interest in grassroots music venues and local scenes. Coming from an area with limited opportunities in music, moving to Leeds has been massive for me - it’s opened doors, helped me build meaningful connections, and allowed me to get involved in a thriving music community that I’m keen to support and contribute to.

Scorching Hot Takes is a Leeds-based music podcast hosted by two mates who love chatting about music the same way lots of people do with their friends. The podcast features album and discography rankings, new music reactions, and Q&As built around thought-provoking questions, from best songs for specific scenarios to bigger debates about artists and scenes.

Alongside this, we regularly covers live music, with gig reviews and promotional content created in collaboration with local promoters and organisations including Futuresound Live at Leeds, Super Friendz, Monomyth Records, and Independent Venue Week. With a strong passion for supporting grassroots venues and local scenes in Leeds, the podcast also champions emerging and lesser-known artists who deserve more attention.

Our taste is wide-ranging, with very little off limits - there’s always something for everyone, and we’re always up for a good chat about music.