THE ORIGIN THEATRE

The Editor of Podnews, James Cridland, looks back at the last twelve months of podcasting and an exclusive reveal of the Podnews Report Card.

Podcast monetisation has moved far beyond promo codes and the standard “brought to you by.” As audiences become more selective, the strongest audio partnerships prioritize credibility and context over pure reach. For podcasters looking to expand the monetisation of their content, this session explores the growing shift from transactional ad buys to bolder brand-funded storytelling, offering a practical look at how ambitious audio partnerships are taking shape.

Session details coming soon.

Brandon Feldman speakers with top YouTube podcasts about their diverse journeys and how shows are embracing video to drive growth.

Video podcasts continue to evolve, transforming how creators connect with fans, monetize their content, and grow their business. Join us to learn about the recent introduction of HLS video podcasts on Apple Podcasts through a keynote presentation from Susie Warhurst, Head of International Podcasts at Apple Podcasts, followed by a panel discussion featuring Laura Hagen, Acast's SVP, Regional Managing Director, Americas, and podcasters Toni Lodge and Ryan Jon Dunn from Toni and Ryan discussing the evolution, growth, and opportunities of video podcasting. Discover how Apple Podcasts' HLS video offering provides listeners with greater flexibility, which in turn allows creators to seamlessly deliver content and unlock new revenue opportunities. Learn how podcasters can strengthen fan connections by adding video and how dynamic video ads offer innovative ways to break traditional formats and give creators control of their monetization.

Spotify is celebrating its 20th anniversary by reflecting on key milestones and looking ahead to the future of podcast innovation. This session features a candid conversation with Olivia Attwood, host of Olivia’s House, as she shares insights from her own creator journey and what’s next.

In this high-energy discussion, Simon and Tyler explore: 
 Building a podcast network rooted in strong local brands across Europe  
 KISS as a 360 youth brand across audio, social, video and podcasts  
 What talent needs to thrive in a multi-platform world  
 The balance between global platforms and owned ecosystems  
 Whether local-language loyalty can compete with the algorithm

This session brings together industry, government, and platform leaders to examine how podcasting contributes to the UK economy today.

This session reframes monetization for 2026. Featuring leading Patreon creators, this mainstage conversation
will examine how membership communities fuel experimentation, deepen audience connection, and
transform podcasts from distribution channels into enduring cultural brands. Creators will explore how to
convert attention into sustainable income by building communities that pay, participate, and stay and will
focus on how ownership, direct relationships, and recurring revenue models power expansion across formats.

From Dig It to My Dad Wrote A Porno, we’ll look at how podcasts create an access-all-areas relationship with audiences.

A former genetics PhD student who got his start through an unpaid internship at a public radio station, Roman went on to create 99% Invisible, one of the world's most influential podcasts with around 750 million downloads over more than a decade. He co-founded the podcast collective Radiotopia, co-authored the New York Times bestseller The 99% Invisible City, and delivered what is still the most popular TED Talk on design. Now he's teaming up with BBC Studios for his latest project: A History of the United States in 100 Objects. This session traces one of the great careers in audio.

Session details coming soon.

Join Piers Morgan, PAVE Studios Founder Max Cutler for a discussion about what is essential to be a part of this quickly evolving, video led future.

Session details coming soon.

Acast CEO, Greg Glenday delivers a defining keynote on why ubiquitous distribution is the sustainable future for the podcasting economy. 

Session details coming soon.

Jordan shares his unique perspective on building influential digital ventures and his journey to creating Arcade.

Join YouTube for a deep dive into the platform’s global podcasting strategy and the evolving creator landscape.

Podcasting was built around episodes, feeds, real-life hosts, and audiences. AI may change all of that, and fast.

Jeanine Wright of Inception Point AI - the company making AI-generated personalities and content with a podcast network of more than 11,000 active podcast shows (not episodes!) - and Nicky Birch, the person leading AI in audio efforts for BBC, join Katie Prescott of The Times for a forward-looking conversation about where AI is taking audio next. Are autonomous podcasters coming and, if so, when? Is the BBC's responsibility to be human at all costs? Is AI generated content any good? Are people actually consuming it? 

As synthetic voices, adaptive storytelling, agentic production tools and personalised listening experiences move from experiment to reality, audio is entering a new phase. Shows may become dynamic instead of fixed. Listeners may get versions shaped to their interests, context or language. Creators may build worlds, formats and characters that were impossible to produce at traditional scale. And media organisations will need to decide what still makes audio trustworthy, human and worth returning to.

The panel will explore what happens when production becomes increasingly automated, voices become programmable, and storytelling becomes more responsive, personalised and global.

This session is for anyone who wants to understand not just how AI is changing podcast workflows, but how it may redefine the very format, principles, economics and audience experience of audio itself.

This session explores the evolution of video podcasts, from early experimentation to current scaled adoption across platforms.

Goalhanger co-founders Gary Lineker and Tony Pastor join broadcaster and The Rest Is Football: La Liga co-host Alex Aljoe to discuss the extraordinary rise of The Rest Is Football.