There’s something special about seeing an idea evolve from a passing thought into something real. At Coolbox Video, we’ve had the privilege of watching exactly that happen over the past few weeks, working with Rob Lee to bring his long-standing passion project, A Life in Orange, into an exciting new format: podcasting.
A New Chapter: Beyond The Overalls
Originally launched as a blog and community platform, A Life in Orange has spent nearly a decade shining a light on the world of motorsport marshalling, an area of the sport that has historically gone underappreciated and underrepresented.
Now, with the launch of the Beyond The Overalls podcast, Rob is taking that mission even further.
The goal is simple, but powerful:
- To share the stories and experiences of motorsport marshals
- To raise the profile of the marshalling community
- To celebrate the incredible people who make motorsport possible behind the scenes
The first episode has officially been recorded, and the energy in the studio was unmistakable. As Rob himself put it, it may only be episode one, but the excitement for what’s ahead is huge.
Built on Passion
This podcast isn’t just another content project. It is something deeply personal.
Rob started A Life in Orange back in 2016 while studying journalism, initially as a way to develop his skills. Over time, it became much more than that. It became a platform for a community that, at the time, had very little visibility.
Motorsport marshals were rarely talked about. When they were, it was often in passing. Few people understood what they did, or how to get involved.
Fast forward to today, and thanks to passionate individuals and organisations, that’s starting to change. But for Rob, there is still more to be done.
This podcast is about giving marshals a voice, letting them tell their stories in their own words, and connecting them with a wider audience than ever before.
The Power of the Right Team
A big part of bringing Beyond The Overalls to life has been collaboration.
Rob has surrounded himself with people who understand the vision and want to help bring it to life, not reshape it. That includes co-host Daniel Fitz-Gibbons, who brings energy, humour, and insight to the conversations, making the dynamic feel natural from the very first recording.
From the moment the cameras started rolling, it was clear. Rob and Dan just work. Their chemistry makes the podcast feel authentic, relaxed, and genuinely enjoyable, exactly what you want from a show built around real stories and real people.
From Idea to Recording Day
At Coolbox Video Studio in Manchester city centre, we’ve designed our podcasting setup to make this process as seamless as possible.
Rob’s experience is exactly what we aim for with every client. You show up, talk about what you know, and we handle the rest.
Behind the scenes, that includes:
- 4K cinema cameras capturing every moment
- Professional multi-track audio for clear sound
- Customisable lighting to match the tone of the show
- An acoustically treated studio space
- In-house post-production
- Same-day delivery when needed
It is all about removing the technical barriers so creators can focus on what really matters, great conversation.
Why Podcasting, Why Now?
There is a reason more people are turning to podcasts to tell their stories.
They are personal. They are engaging. Most importantly, they build trust.
Around 57 percent of consumers say they trust podcast hosts more than traditional media personalities. That kind of connection is hard to achieve elsewhere.
For A Life in Orange, podcasting is the perfect next step. It takes everything the platform stands for, community, storytelling, and passion, and brings it to life in a more human and immediate way.
What’s Next?
While the pilot episode marks a huge milestone, this is just the beginning.
Future episodes will introduce guests from across the motorsport world, diving deeper into the experiences, challenges, and stories of marshals and the wider community. These are the voices that rarely get heard but absolutely deserve to be.
If the first recording is anything to go by, it is going to be a brilliant ride.
Final Thoughts
Projects like Beyond The Overalls are exactly why we love what we do.
Seeing someone take a passion that started as a university project and grow it into a platform with real impact, and now a podcast with even bigger ambitions, is incredibly rewarding.
Rob and Dan have created something genuinely exciting here. It is honest, driven by purpose, and full of heart.
We cannot wait to see where it goes next.
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Maybe this is your sign. 😇