CREATOR STAGE

Is it possible for creators to effectively & profitably monetise in today’s podcasting market? In this expert panel session, three of Global’s renowned podcast monetisation leaders teach you what the “big players” already know: how to prepare your show or network for scalable monetisation and create a diverse range of revenue streams that are futureproof, listener-friendly and attractive to advertisers using a mix of programmatic, host-read, listener supported and hybrid monetisation models. Bring your notebook and pen!

This session led by Substack's Head of UK Entertainment offers the insider's guide on how to launch a paid subscription on the new media platform, how you can unlock revenue and audience through utilising video, chat, and writing, as part of your podcast offering and who is doing this successfully.

Big industry shows and events can often feel overwhelming and intimidating, especially if you're attending for the first time, don’t know many people, or find networking awkward.

But like the best podcasts, making connections is about telling stories that resonate, finding common ground, and becoming part of a community that works for you.

This friendly and powerful 30-minute session offers tips and real-world insights on how to do exactly that, particularly if you’re trying to summon the courage to speak to ‘big players’ and industry leaders. Learn how to navigate this new terrain with greater ease, build confidence, and manage imposter syndrome.

More than anything, this session is about owning your narrative so you can move through new spaces in a way that feels authentic to you.

Hear the real talk, pick up practical tips, and find your people at this year’s Podcast Show.

What to expect:
Warm and welcoming Vibes
Practical tips for what to do when you want to run away
How to talk to leaders and hold your own without the corporate speak.
Real-world experiences - how imposter syndrome hits everyone in their career
Easy takeaways to commit to and practice whilst you’re at The Podcast Show
Why being kind and considerate always matters. 

Got a podcast idea? This is where you can put it to the test.

In this fast-paced live session, emerging creators have just 60 seconds to pitch their ideas to a panel of leading development execs.  What follows is honest, constructive feedback in real time, offering a rare window into how ideas are assessed, shaped, and either elevated or picked apart.

You’ll hear what cuts through, what holds an idea back, and what it really takes to stand out in a crowded market.  Whether you’re pitching or watching from the room, you’ll come away with a sharper understanding of how to develop and position a podcast that gets commissioned.

One mic. One Idea. One minute. Expert feedback.

Join Dellessa James from Amazon Music, David Larbi, and Your Aunties Could Never for an intimate conversation about navigating creativity within boundaries - and knowing when to break them. David Larbi, a Sunday Times bestselling author and poet, builds communities through introspection and emotional connection across diverse platforms. His debut audiobook Frequently Happy reflects his mission: leaving audiences feeling better through his work. Your Aunties Could Never - Akua Gyamfi, Farrah Charles, and Nana Evan, tear up the rulebook on modern womanhood. These three mature Black women speak with the heart, wisdom, and humour of your favourite aunty, breaking down culture and news with their special sauce each week.
This is a candid exploration of creative freedom, authenticity, and impact from voices reshaping the cultural conversation.

How do you make listeners feel inside the story, not just hear it? This panel explores how sound design and immersive production can shape emotion, perspective, and atmosphere, helping turn audio into a richer storytelling medium.

 

Brands want to work with independents. So why do so many deals never happen? This panel brings together leaders from some of the most commercially successful independent networks — including Crooked Media, Vois, and AdLarge — to give indie creators a direct line to what buyers actually need. From building a pitch that converts, to ad load standards, attribution and pixel basics, sales operations, and how to structure ongoing brand relationships, this is the monetization masterclass the independent community has been asking for. Think less panel, more publisher university — interactive, practical, and built around aligning creators with real buyer expectations.

What separates a "good" story from a viral obsession? Top story editors from the front lines of narrative audio break down the core mechanics of hit series. Moving beyond the basics, this panel explores how to steal pacing, character arcs, and suspense techniques from film and theatre to keep listeners hooked.
The audience will get concrete, practical tips and techniques for story editing and crafting a more compelling narrative.

For someone with a brilliant idea but no industry connections the podcasting landscape can be daunting. Where are the opportunities to break through and what are the pathways for podcast education, both formal and informal?

This session meets some of those leading podcast education alongside others creating opportunities for young creatives.

This conversation will cut through the noise surrounding AI in podcasting. The core discussion will center on how creators can use AI tools in 2026 to scale operations efficiently—from AI-powered tools to create social clips to automated multi-lingual dubbing —without compromising the essential human element. We'll address the Authenticity Gap and why raw human conversation is becoming more valuable as AI-generated content increases.

You've found the perfect story, hosts, and sound design, your episodes are published, congrats! Now the (real) work begins: getting your show in front of the right audiences. What kinds of marketing campaigns work for which shows? How can I cut through the noise and find my show's next cohort of super fans? What kind of media buying should I use and what results can I expect? How much should I pay for guaranteed downloads, and how do I know if they're real? Branded and community-driven podcasts are leading the way for testing audience development and marketing techniques. Join this session for real case studies to show you what works and what doesn't.

This session explores what it really means to build a career in a young and rapidly evolving industry, where traditional pathways are often unclear and opportunities are self-created.

Through an open and honest panel conversation, the discussion will explore how people continued to create opportunities for themselves after breaking into the industry, how they adapt to constant change, and how they deal with uncertainty around progression and long-term stability. The session will offer practical advice, personal reflection, and reassurance - while also celebrating the advantages of being early and forging your own path.
 

You've been told your listener numbers are too small to matter. They're not. The model being used to measure your value was never designed for the kind of media you're making.

This taster workshop is for creators who are building something great but can't yet translate it into sustainable income. In this session, we go beyond downloads-and-ads to help creators see and articulate the value of what they've already built.

The gap between an "indie" podcast and a "network" show isn't just about the microphone—it’s about the strategy of sound. While major studios have the budget, indie creators have the agility. This session moves beyond gear lists to explore how you can achieve a professional finish without falling into the trap of "unpaid labor." We’ll bridge the gap between bedroom recording and broadcast standards, showing you where to spend your limited cash, where to use AI to save your time, and when to stop "hacking" and start thinking like a studio head.

Hear from two creators who have a history of creating both audio and video content on the best practices when deciding if your show needs video. Do all podcasts need video? Of course not. But deciding if it’s the right move for your show can be daunting. By the end of this session, attendees should have a better understanding of why it doesn’t always make sense to do video, and why sometimes it’s a must.

Arielle Nissenblatt, Shreya Sharma, and Lauren Passell are back by popular demand to share as many podcast marketing tips as possible within this session's time limits. Last year we dropped a bunch of ‘em, and this time we're back with an updated List for the first time in 5 years. Attendees of The Podcast Show will be the first to hear it. So buckle up for the new 100 tips, again, but for the very first time.