It’s believed 1 in 20 adults in the UK has ADHD but only a fraction has had a formal diagnosis. How it shows up and what happens next can be a struggle – especially as an adult in the workpace – but it’s important to recognise ADHD’s strengths too. Long-time friends Sam Pittis and Katie Breathwick aim to create a home for people with ADHD, those awaiting diagnosis and their friends, family and colleagues sharing the high and lows of the condition. Their podcast, You’re Wrong About ADHD,
dives headfirst into it all. 

Join Katie and Sam to gain insight into the journey to diagnosis, dispelling some of the most common myths around what it means to have ADHD – and how podcasts have become such a welcoming community for everyone to understand ADHD
better. 

This panel discussion will explore how podcasters can cultivate their audience over time, create valuable content that resonates with listeners, and effectively monetize their podcasts through contextual advertising. The conversation will emphasize sustainable strategies for independent podcasters, highlighting the significance of audience trust, developing relationships with listeners, and scaling monetization through targeted ad solutions. This panel session will combine tactical advice with broader, long-term strategies. It will stress the actual effort involved in developing a monetizable podcast and the patience needed for lasting success. The focus will be on growing alongside the audience, utilizing contextual advertising, and ensuring that ads feel integrated rather than intrusive. The aim is to empower podcasters to take actionable steps toward monetization without compromising the quality of their content or their audience’s trust.

Join The Economist’s Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” and senior audio editor, to learn more about how Economist podcasts come to life and how The Economist’s series help listeners make sense of the big news shaping the world. Featuring “Boss Class”, “Scam Inc” and “The Prince”

How can creators build a sustainable business, one that withstands platform volatility, economic headwinds, and feed their passions? In this session, Patreon’s Head of Business Development Stephanie Smellie will sit down with Patreon creators and the hosts behind the award-winning podcast RedHanded, Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire, to discuss their path to building a full-time sustainable media business. They’ll discuss how they were able to pursue RedHanded full-time, the opportunities that ownership has given them as creators and entrepreneurs, and the importance of fan community.

Every great podcast is a blend of creativity and strategy—but what if data could make the creative process even stronger? This session will explore how analytics are helping podcasters and brands craft more engaging content by offering a deeper understanding of their audiences. From spotting trends in listener behavior to refining episode formats based on real engagement insights, we’ll discuss how data can act as a creative compass rather than a constraint. If you're looking to enhance your storytelling, optimize your format, or simply create content that resonates on a deeper level, this panel will show you how to turn analytics into an essential tool for innovation.

Sky News and Tortoise Media are about to launch a new series looking at how British defences would be tested if the country came under Russian attack. In a unique format, they’ve assembled real-life former ministers, military chiefs, and other experts to figure out how to defend the country in that scenario. Listeners will hear the kind of wargame that is used in government. The panel will discuss how the idea came about, its development and execution – and how it hopes to push storytelling boundaries.

This session will present a data-led deep-dive into what some of the most popular podcasts are doing in 2025. Go beyond your gut feelings and anecdotal evidence, and instead let the numbers do the talking. Discover the preferences for homegrown and international titles, and discover the release strategies that are being employed by the biggest titles around.

Whether you're looking to launch a new show, elevate your existing one, or you simply want to understand the dynamics of the landscape, this session will provide you with a sound roadmap for the ever-evolving audio landscape. 

Explorer, animal expert, and TV presenter Steve Backshall is going on his latest adventure...podcasting! As the host of the brand new show ‘That’s Just Wild’ alongside co-hosts wildlife biologist Lizzie Daly and eco journalist Sarah Roberts, Steve is creating a twice-weekly
podcast full of wildlife facts, unexpected filming stories and mind-blowing science. Oh, and discussing what its like to be farted on by a rhino.  

In a climate of bad news and intense discussion, from politics to the economy to, well, the climate itself, That’s Just Wild is the antidote to doom listening. Because who doesn’t love hearing more a fish with its gonads on its chin, how a porcupine’s spines work, or why sea otters are psychopathic?  

But how do you mix telling fun animal stories with making a science series that really bites? What does podcasting offer when nature content is normally all about amazing footage? How do three brilliant scientists complement each other in an audio show? And why did
producers Fresh Air – best known for branded content - decide this would be their first major original? 

We’ll be answering these questions, plus we’ll have a wildlife Q&A session with our audience, inspired by our extra non-human guest.

Join our panel of legal experts as they take you through the dos and don'ts of podcast deal making. In this session Alexia Bedat of Klaris Law, Stacey Mitsopulos of Global and Cliff Fluet of Lewis Silkin will help you navigate your way through the choppy waters of deals and contracts, from early development stages through distribution, and help you ensure you are water tight in your production.

As the podcast industry matures, owning your technology and monetization strategy is no longer a luxury - it’s a necessity. In this session, Öjje Holt (Director of Growth at Podspace) and Chris Peterson (Senior Advisor at Podspace and CEO of DWNLOAD Media) will discuss why networks need control over their distribution and revenue strategies and explain how Podspace provides the tools to facilitate this without forcing you into a walled garden. Big platforms don’t just limit your control - they also take a significant portion of your revenue. Rather than giving away half of your income & data, explore how partnering with the right technology allows you to keep more of what you earn, scale according to your own terms, and build a sustainable, high-growth podcast network for the future.

The Top Podcasts, podcast companies, and big-name podcasting tech companies are heavily weighted in male leadership. Why is it so difficult, as a woman in podcasting, to make it to the top? What are the barriers? How can we nurture more female podcasting leaders? Join some of the most successful women leaders in podcasting as we ask the hard questions and look for inspiring answers. 
 

The podcast industry's trajectory leading up to the dramatic contraction of 2023 mirrors historical patterns seen in other digital media transformations. With the 20:20 hindsight we have today in 2025, we have a unique opportunity for critical analysis of what went wrong, and examination of how the industry should look going forward. While there are signs of recovery, layoffs are still happening and skilled professionals continue to seek their place in the restructured ecosystem. This moment of reflection and rebuilding presents an invaluable opportunity to extract actionable insights from our collective experience.

Join The Observer’s Editor-in-Chief and the team behind the new Observer as they share their plans to revive Britain’s oldest Sunday newspaper into a modern subscription-based brand in print, digital, and audio. The team will discuss the new newsroom, combining Observer’s 233-year legacy with Tortoise’s audio strengths and plans for their podcast slate covering news, politics, investigations, culture and more. Plus, hear about some of the exciting new shows currently in development.

In the world of espionage, the dark secrets remain in closed folders, but on the One Decision podcast, nothing is off-limits. Join One Decision hosts Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, and preeminent British journalist Kate McCann as they take you behind the scenes of their hit global affairs podcast. From in-depth conversations with former intelligence agents and world leaders, Kate and Sir Richard pull back the curtain to uncover the motives behind some of the most consequential global decisions—from the complicated dynamics to what happens next.

Kate and Richard will reflect on some of their most memorable moments with guests and how the podcast's unique format—combining Kate's top-notch journalistic skills with Sir Richard's decades of intelligence expertise—consistently makes headlines and delivers relevant, ground-breaking scoops that reveal the truth about history’s biggest moments.

Podcasts have rapidly evolved into a powerful force for storytelling, cultural exchange, and social change in an increasingly interconnected world. From influencing elections and political discourse to building passionate global fandoms, podcasts are transcending borders, amplifying underrepresented voices, and redefining how we engage with the media. Podcasts are not just reflecting culture, they're actively shaping it. 

What do The Rest Is History, Kill List, Criminally Queer: The Bolton Seven and Three People with Rebecca Front have in common? You’ll have to come along to find out, but here’s a clue: they are among the most culturally significant podcasts of the last year - and beyond. What exactly makes a podcast culturally significant? Whether it's driving political and historical conversations in the UK and globally, telling extraordinary true crime stories, delivering sharp comedy, or spotlighting pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ rights history, these shows demonstrate the extraordinary cultural currency podcasting now holds. 

Podcasts create deep, intimate connections between hosts and listeners, making them a unique and powerful tool for education, advocacy, and cultural change - all whilst being incredibly engaging to listen to. This intimacy fuels influence - and with it, can also drive economic impact. Cultural relevance leads to audience loyalty, alignment in brand partnerships, and new revenue models rooted in meaning.

Join us for an insightful panel discussion to explore how podcasts are shaping culture on both local and global levels. From cultivating vast audiences to nurturing niche subcultures; from igniting conversations on politics, history, and identity to inspiring real-world changes, connecting communities, and transforming the art of storytelling.

Whether you're a seasoned creator or just starting out, don't miss this session - a deep dive into how podcasting is not just entertaining, but is actively shaping global conversations, fandoms, and cultural shifts.

The lines between audio and video are blurring, and podcasting is evolving beyond just listening—it’s becoming a full visual experience. But what does this shift mean for creators, brands, and networks looking to maximize impact? In this session, industry experts will unpack how video is reshaping the podcast landscape—from expanding storytelling possibilities to increasing audience engagement and discoverability. We’ll dive into the strategic advantages of video-first content, how it influences listener behavior, and what data reveals about its effectiveness. Whether you’re experimenting with video or looking to optimize your current approach, this panel will provide actionable insights to help you harness the power of video and create a podcast experience that captivates audiences across platforms.

What does it take to make an investigative podcast that really works in 2025? This panel goes inside the process— from the long timelines, to legal nerves, to editorial dead-ends—and shows why it matters.

Joining us will be reporters from some of the best investigative podcasts of recent years, including work from Novel, Whistledown, Tortoise and the FT.
 

Ever wondered how to sustain a narrative podcast every single week? The team behind Wondery's scripted espionage podcast, "The Spy Who" opens the file on their creative process. Learn the craft of telling binge-worthy stories, juggling tight production deadlines, and transforming words on a page into audio gold. Whether you're a storytelling pro or just dipping your toe into production, this is your all-access pass to the world of weekly narrative podcasting.

Curation is changing the game in Digital and Programmatic, using sophisticated data and analytics to build custom audiences based on consumer behavior and interests. But much of the podcasting and audio industry still operates around Audience Extension and targeting/placements based on channel or inventory. It’s time for a revolution - we’re calling for audio to expand how they think about Audience Extension and embrace Audience Curation for podcasts as the gold standard for accuracy, reach, and scale. In this session, we’ll explain how Consumable leverages existing podcast listener data to find new listeners and build larger audiences.

We'll explore how smart curation, through our podcast-powered intelligence, enables bigger podcast sales by leveraging the actual audience from the podcast to build the curation profile. During this session, you’ll learn how to: Unlock the Power of Your Podcast Audience: Discover how to leverage your existing listener base to create a highly valuable audience segment for targeted advertising. Expand Your Reach Beyond the Podcast: Learn how to extend your reach beyond your podcast and activate comprehensive media campaigns that resonate with your ideal audience across various channels. Maximize Revenue Potential: Understand how curation can drive bigger podcast sales and unlock new revenue streams by offering highly targeted advertising opportunities to brands.

Join us to discover how Consumable is paving the way in Podcast Audience Curation to deliver at scale, unlocking new opportunities for efficiency and effectiveness. We'll look at real-world examples, discuss opportunities for implementation, and show you how to take full control of your podcast audience and advertising potential. Don't miss this opportunity to be at the forefront of the audio revolution.

This is immersive ethical true crime, done differently. Where journalism meets narrative story telling, utilising our own generative AI solution to bring these stories to life, and truly bring a unique and immersive experience to our audience.
True Crime Reports by Al Jazeera brings you crime stories from the global south and beyond. Tales of corruption, power, and injustice that often haven’t reached headlines in the West, told by those who were there.

Our panel will reveal how we're transforming the video podcast landscape by:
● Visually Driven Storytelling: Using generative AI to create dynamic and engaging moving imagery that vividly illustrates our journalist host's narrative.
● Beyond the Studio: Moving beyond static conversations to deliver a truly cinematic podcast experience.
● Robust Journalism at its Core: Grounding our captivating narratives in thorough and ethical journalistic principles.
● Global South Focus: Amplifying important and often unheard stories from the global south.

Across our industry, audio producers are learning on their feet to embrace the world of video production, often for the first time. But with limited resources, and so much more to consider, the opportunity of video podcasting can feel like mountain to climb. Acast opened their state of the art studio facilities at Acast Studios London this year, in partnership with CVP, to lower the barrier of entry to new video podcasters. Now hear from a range of leaders in the video podcast industry, who’ve also learned how to transition their audio-only podcasts to video-first productions — without compromises for their avid listeners. This session will give practical tips and tricks for your workflows, considerations for managing visual productions, and examples of how you can seize the opportunity of video on any budget.