The International Women’s Podcast Festival returned yesterday to the South Bank’s Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre in celebration of women in podcasting and audio. The day was hosted by Content is Queen, who brought together a line-up of audio professionals from around the world for talks, panels and workshops exploring the industry.
Opening the day on the main stage was a session on trends: where they start and how creators can get ahead of future movements. Speakers encouraged creators to keep trying and perfecting things, to look inward and focus on their audience, meeting them where they are. The morning continued with a session on using video creatively within audio-first podcasts, exploring how creators can use video without losing what makes audio distinctive.
Beyond the main stage, the festival offered a range of practical sessions across the Global Voices and Upskill stages. These included discussions on disability representation and the need for greater awareness in audio, the power of themed interviews to deepen listener engagement, and how storytelling can be used for social impact campaigns. Another conversation addressed how creators can navigate working with AI, including ethical considerations and the potential legal implications.
The afternoon programme began with a talk exploring how creators can grow outside of the studio, from live events and workshops to community building and brand collaborations. Meanwhile, another panel examined alternative ways to fund podcasts, highlighting why some creators are turning away from traditional advertising in favour of purpose-led sponsorships and partnerships, as well as offering tips on the power of saying no.
There were more sessions covering production budgeting, marketing strategies for different audiences, and how creators can amplify local stories for global listeners. Another speaker gave advice on maintaining creativity through “podcast sidequests”, smaller experimental projects that can keep creators inspired while building new skills, which finished with a “sidequest surgery” for members of the audience. The day concluded with an insight into microgrant pitching.
Packed with inspiring talks, from practical advice to bigger conversations about representation and innovation - the International Women’s Podcast Festival highlighted how rapidly the podcast industry is evolving, while reinforcing the importance of representation, community and experimentation in audio.
