James Cridland, the Editor of industry newsletter Podnews looks back at the last year in podcasting, to put this year’s Podcast Show London into context: what are the the trends, how is the industry growing, and what do we need to know to move forward? Sharing exclusive data, James will then look forward to the year to come, and what to look out for.

Producers of the UK’s biggest video podcasts, reaching billions annually, The Fellas Studios have stormed the audio and video market over the past 3 years with Gen Z and Millennial shows like Saving Grace, Pitch Side, Chloe vs The World and Bach & Arthur. With an average 66% of their slate watching as opposed to listening to their full length episodes, the studio will be lifting the lid on their approach, leanings, how they’re maximising their inventory and where they see the future of podcasting. Join this Keynote to get a look behind the curtain of the company and to learn more about what is to come from the studio.

Join two of the most trusted voices in journalism, Emily Maitlis (The News Agents) and Christiane Amanpour – who has just signed a podcast deal with Global – for an unfiltered conversation that goes beyond
the headlines. Their podcasts pick up where TV left off – bringing listeners along for raw insights, untold moments, and honest reflections that don’t make it in a 90-second broadcast package. 

These two veteran female journalists pull back the curtain on what it means to be truthful – not neutral. In a world saturated with soundbites, podcasts are creating space for deeper storytelling – and audiences
are leaning in. 

In this session, Emily and Christiane discuss the role podcasts play in building trust in news media, shaping culture, and engaging communities. You’ll discover:
- The untold stories behind major events in the news
- Why podcasts have become a raw, authentic storytelling space 

Video is booming on Spotify, with over 300M users having streamed video podcasts and 70% watching them in the foreground. As demand grows, Spotify is investing in tools to help creators and publishers scale across every format. Join this session to hear from Roman Wasenmüller, Spotify's Head of Podcast Business, in conversation
with leading publishers who are growing their reach and revenue on Spotify. These industry voices will share firsthand how they’re scaling their content businesses across audio and video, expanding into new markets, and using Spotify as a strategic partner for multiformat success.

What works in LA doesn’t always land in London. And British wit? Not always a hit in California. So how has BetterHelp, one of the world’s biggest podcast advertisers, built a global audio strategy that actually performs in two very different markets? In this session, you’ll hear how BetterHelp tailors host reads, messaging, and measurement across borders with exclusive insight from both sides of the Atlantic. Global and iHeart break down the creative and cultural nuances behind high-performing podcast ads, and share how brands can move beyond copy-paste global rollouts to deliver real local impact.

Some stories feel too outrageous, or otherworldly, to be tangible: like the investigative podcast about catfishing, Sweet Bobby, or the viral romantasy thrillers by Sarah J. Maas. But in the voice of the author, voice actor, or podcast host, the narratives sound less like magazine pieces, and more like the kind of dynamic storytelling we’ve come to expect - in 2025 - with the most exhaustively researched or imaginative podcasts and books. In this session, industry leaders in the radio, podcasting, and audiobooks space come together to discuss the opportunity emerging from these blurred lines, and how the future of audio storytelling has the potential to reach those who were never going to engage with the audio format alone.

This intimate chat features actress, comedian and TV presenter Mel Giedroyc speaking for the first time as the new host of the award winning, hit comedy podcast Where There’s A Will, There’s A Wake. Alongside members of the production team, she’ll discuss what drew her to the podcast, how humour can be a great approach for tricky subjects (such as death!), who she is looking forward to sending to the afterlife and how podcasts like this are seeing increased fan and brand engagement.

While the industry debates audio vs. video, YouTube vs. Spotify, and performance vs. brand budgets, the real opportunity is being missed. In this keynote, FlightStory Studio makes the case for rethinking what a podcast really is and why the shows winning today aren’t winning because of format, but because they’re built like IP: designed to scale, earn cultural relevance, and unlock brand investment at a global level. Because if you’re still asking what a podcast is, you’re already behind what podcasts are about to become.

Why is the genre so enduring, versatile and how can it be a force for good? A panel looking at 4 very successful, but also very different approaches to the genre with producers and hosts of Stalked, Cover: Stakeknife, Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion and Murder They Wrote. Stalked sees co-hosts Hannah Mossman-Moore and Pulitzer-nominate investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr team up as co-hosts to unmask Hannah’s cyberstalker, and do something the police couldn’t. Cover: Stakeknife gave voice to the families of victims of top IRA informer and British military secret agent Stakeknife and tries to get to the truth of a story where everyone, including the State, are lying. Host Mark Horgan’s previous Cover series – Where Is George Gibney? led directly to a new police investigation. Murder They Wrote sees husband and wife duo Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling look at a different crime each week and has built up a huge community of listeners who now send in stories of crimes from their local areas. Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion made global headlines and led to the arrest of a people-smuggler.

How do you double-down on the success of a hit narrative show? Join the teams at Novel and iHeart podcasts as they take the chart-topping and Ambie- award-winning hit show The Girlfriends into an always-on feed. They’ll discuss why they’ve made the decision to make it always-on and the creative journey they’ve been through.

Armando Iannucci’s stellar career started in radio. He got his break writing comedy sketches at BBC Radio Scotland and progressed from there to define a new era of satirical comedy alongside Chris Morris with On The Hour and unleashing Alan Partridge on the world with Knowing Me Knowing You on BBC Radio 4. In this session, chaired by Rich Knight (BBC Studios’ Director of Audio), Armando will explain how his hugely successful TV and film career – a career that’s given us The Thick of It, Veep, In the Loop and The Death of Stalin – began in audio. He’ll explore his enduring love of the medium, what it can do that TV can’t and how you make Alan Partridge shouting “GOOOAAALL!” funny when you can’t see his face. Armando co-hosts the podcast Strong Message Here from BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds with Helen Lewis.

Emily will explore how the evolving podcasting landscape is empowering creators in a new era. From technological advancements to shifting audience dynamics and innovative monetization models, she'll analyze the trends that are providing creators with unprecedented independence and a wider array of growth opportunities and revenue streams than ever before.

What does the next generation of media look like when creators are in the driver’s seat? Join Max Cutler (Founder, PAVE Studios) and Jack Davenport (Co-founder, Goalhanger) for a forward-looking conversation on how these leading media companies are evolving podcasting into something much bigger– and bolder.

PAVE Studios is reshaping the media landscape with a creator-first model, paving the way for a new era in media. Through genre-specific studios like Crime House and OpenMind, they’re partnering with top creators including Khloé Kardashian, Morgan Absher, Kaelyn Moore, and Jemma Sbeg to launch original content across video, audio, books, live experiences, merchandise, and more. 

Goalhanger has redefined political and cultural commentary with arena-filling live shows, a U.S. expansion, and chart-topping hits like The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is History, making it the UK’s largest independent podcast producer. 

This panel will unpack how these creator-first businesses are fostering meaningful fandoms, adapting to the rise of video, and creating cultural IP with global reach. Whether you're a studio, storyteller, or strategist–this session offers a blueprint for what’s next.

 

Every weekday, the Capital Breakfast team wakes up the nation – and while Jordan North, Chris Stark and Siân Welby have honed their craft to perfection on radio, they’ve mastered their connections through podcasting. Jordan North entertains thousands with Help I Sexted My Boss, while Chris Stark brings sports fans and food fanatics closer to what they love with his podcasts. And Siân demands answers! 

Siân Welby hosts a chat with Chris and Jordan for the ultimate audience masterclass. Discover how to get the most out of audience engagement like a radio presenter, building authentic chemistry and making ideas listeners and brands both love to be involved in
 

Media commentators were quick to credit Donald Trump's appearances on a series of hit podcasts with helping earning him his reelection as US President, but was it really podcasting wot won it? Is right wing dominance amongst American podcast influencers - from Joe Rogan to Candace Owens - driving more conservative politics, or just reflective of broader trends in The States? Host of The Rest Is Politics US, Wall St financier and former White House Communications Director under Donald Trump, Anthony Scaramucci, talks to Goalhanger co-founder Tony Pastor about the state of political podcasting on both sides of the Atlantic, how TRIPUS has cut through in a partisan world, and what the Democrats are doing to fight back.

With an exciting women’s summer of sport on the horizon, discover how to tap into a vibrant, young, and passionate female audience ready for more content. Join BBC Sounds for a panel discussion that explores how podcasts and digital platforms are reshaping the way we engage with women’s football.

Our diverse panel brings together industry trailblazers to discuss strategies for maximizing audience potential in a market that has been largely underserved. Join highly regarded sports presenter Kelly Somers; award-winning comedian and co-host of the "Big Kick Energy" podcast, Maisie Adam; former WSL goalkeeper, co-host of the "Upfront" podcast, and CEO of She’s a Baller, Chloe Morgan; and Assistant Commissioner for BBC 5 Live & BBC Sounds, Lizzi Doyle, who’s work includes hit podcasts such as "The Tooney & Russo Show."

Learn how to harness digital storytelling in women’s football and why now is the perfect time to serve up content that truly connects. Uncover how you can lead the way in capturing an audience that’s only going to get bigger. Don’t sleep on the power of this untapped market—join us and be part of the digital revolution in women’s sport.

Apple Podcasts is home to a huge and growing audience of highly engaged listeners across the world, and is an important platform for millions of creators. Apple will share some of its features for listeners and creators, as well as dive into how Apple Podcasts works, and how creators can grow their audience and build a business on the platform.

Learn how to maximize your podcast's reach and impact by mastering YouTube's unique ecosystem for audio and video, including algorithm optimization techniques and audience growth strategies. Plus, hear directly from YouTube’s product team on new feature releases.

In this insightful session, acclaimed journalist, author, and podcaster Elizabeth Day discusses the art of building a dedicated community of loyal fans with her hit show How to Fail. From subscription offerings and live shows to immersive experiential events, discover the strategies that keep audiences coming back for more.

Joining her will be another Sony Music stablemate who has seen success in this area, Dan Jones, host of This is History, along with Sony Music Entertainment’s Chris Skinner and Jaimie Meyers. Together, they’ll share their secrets to building loyal, engaged communities and discuss the future of audience interaction.

More session details coming soon.

As podcasting grows, so too do the commercial opportunities for podcasters. From Substack and Patreon to live shows, live streaming, merch and endorsements, podcasters are now about far more than just their podcasts. Join this session to learn from those at the forefront of the creator economy who are tapping into video, socials, products and custom content to engage audiences wherever they are.

How do you turn a sixties singing legend with six decades in the music business into a podcast star? Lulu, and her producer, Faye Lyons White of production company Whistledown, discuss the making of Turning Points: the Lulu Podcast, in which Lulu dissects the lives of many of our best known entertainers and gets them to open up about the ups and downs of their lives and careers. Lulu and Faye will explain what makes a good guest, how they structure the turning points, and the power of personal relationships with people like Boy George, Gary Barlow, Kirsten Scott Thomas, Anastacia, Elton John, John Legend, Brian Cox. There'll be clips of the show, and there will also be the chance to see some rare archive material of Lulu, and hear her talking about her own life in a frank and honest way. Produced by Whistledown.

Join Alison Lomax (YouTube UKI MD) as she sits down with Goalhanger creators Tony Pastor and Jack Davenport to explore what it takes to launch and scale a podcasting empire on YouTube. In this session, Tony and Jack will share how their early vision for Goalhanger in the burgeoning podcast space propelled it to the global success it is today.