Here are the ones we are going to cover, listed in order of date:
- The Podcast Show
- She Podcasts
- Podthon
- Podcast Movement
- True Crime Podcast Festival
- Indie Pod Con
- Blk Pod Festival
- PodFest Berlin
- The Afros and Audio Podcast Festival
Sound like fun? Let’s jump in! 😁
The Podcast Show
Date
May 24-25, 2023
Location
London, England 🇬🇧💂
Overview
The Podcast Show gathering is an international celebration of podcasting with close to 15,000 attendees from over thirty different countries. This podcast conference is going to have industry professionals, independent creators, business leaders, brands, and advertisers. The schedule is full of 305+ speakers and 150+ sessions. 👀
Content
There are eight stages where podcasters can listen to and participate in keynotes, sessions, and other events all day long. This includes sessions on how to grow your brand across multiple platforms, evolutions in podcasting data, launching new podcasts, and turning a podcast into a global business. 🌏
This podcast conference plans to create special spaces for independent creators and advertisers to meet, potential branded content partners to discuss business, and VIPs to network and share their experience with each other. Two bars will also act as informal networking and community building hubs.
Last but not least, is an industry exhibition featuring staff and products from leading companies in podcasting technology, marketing, digital media, etc. 🤖
In the evenings, some top podcasts are scheduled do live recordings of their shows.
Tickets
If you book your ticket early, you get a discounted rate of about $70 per day and $130 for both days. At the door, the price for tickets go up about $5 for each day. If you are under thirty years old, you can get a day ticket for around $30. 👶
Accessibility
There does not seem to be any virtual access to this podcast summit. No accessibility features are listed on the event’s website.
She Podcasts Live!
Date
June 19-22, 2023
Location
Washington, D.C. USA. 🇺🇸
Overview
The She Podcasts summit is marketed as the world’s largest gathering of women podcasters, audio content creators, and story tellers. The purpose of this podcast conference is for women in the industry to accelerate their growth. 💪
Content
Podcasters can attend to sessions covering technology innovations, marketing and advertising evolutions, and creative media ideas. Listen to speakers like Chisa Pennix Brown, the Creative Director of ‘Give it to the People’ and Laura Ivey, Director of Research at Edison. 👩💼
This podcast conference also holds space for networking with industry professionals and like-minded creators.
Tickets
A one day pass is $200. A pass for both days is $352. The All-Access pass is $564 and includes three months of membership to the She Podcasts community. 💰
Accessibility
There is not a virtual option for this conference. No accessibility information is listed on the event’s website.
Podthon
Date
July 22-23, 2023
Location
Virtual 💻
Overview
In the past, Podthon has been an virtual summit with over thirty speakers. This year they are changing it up. Instead, it has been converted to a virtual small group monetization coaching program.
Content
The content is targeted toward indie podcasters who want to make money with their podcast. Attendees can learn how to establish themselves as authorities in their field, apply for grants, get hired for speaking gigs, put together a media kit, and secure sponsors. 🤑
Danielle Desir Corbett is going to share her experience and expertise in marketing and monetization, while Lee Uehara will focus on building your brand and public speaking.
Tickets
If you buy a pass before July 1, you can get it for $497. After that data, it costs $597. The pass covers both days of programming. ✌️
Accessibility
This event is completely virtual via online video and audio. No other accessibility information, like closed captioning, is listed.
Podcast Movement
Date
August 21-24, 2023
Location
Denver, Colorado, USA 🏔️
Overview
Podcast Movement calls its annual gathering the “world’s largest podcast conference.” Podcasters can expect to “learn, grow professionally, and most importantly evolve and improve the podcast community.” 👍
Content
This podcast conference is organized into tracks: Creation, Industry, Growth and Marketing, Monetization, Technical, and Social/Cultural/Advocacy. There are ten stages with close to one hundred and fifty events to choose from, including top industry speakers.
The expo and trade show will be full with the latest data technology, digital media tools, etc. Plus knowledgeable staff to explain it all.
This podcast conference also is home to several parties to help with networking and building community. 🕺
Tickets
A “Standard Pass” is $259, and “Plus Pass” is $359, and a “Pro Pass” is $559. Prices increase as the event data gets closer. 📆
Accessibility
The “Plus Pass” comes with a virtual ticket, meaning that you can access on-demand video recordings after the podcast conference is over. The “Pro Pass” also includes this virtual access. 🎦
All recorded session videos are going to be auto-captioned.
Additionally the podcast conference will be “surveying attendees as they register to ensure any specific accessibility needs or concerns are addressed before the event, as opposed to during or after.” ✍️
The podcast conference also has a listed code of conduct. In summary, all general opinions and statements are welcome, but individual harassment is not accepted. 🤷♀️
The event website states “these solutions are only a start, and pledge to use this as a starting point for more accessible events in the future.”
True Crime and Paranormal Podcast Festival
Date
August 25-27, 2023
Location
Austin, Texas, USA 🤠
Overview
This podcast conference is meant to be a place where podcast fans can meet their favorite podcasters in person. 🤩
Content
A panel discussion of speakers who do true crime and paranormal podcasting will reveal their research and production process the the audience. However, the emphasis of the conference is podcasters and fans interacting. Audiences can sit in and listen to live episode recordings. Podcasters are also going to have tables in a big hall so fans can meet and talk with them. 🤝
This year there is going to be space for crime victims and victims family’s to be heard. Some crime victims and their family members will be featured speakers.
Accessibility
This true crime podcast conference states that it does try to make itself accessible for victims. The website reads “Ultimately, at TCPF we put victims first. They will always be given a safe environment here.”
The conference has a nondiscrimination policy that prohibits discrimination, harassment, or bullying of anyone for any reason. 🙅
No other accessibility details are given.
Independent Podcast Conference
Date
September 9, 2023
Location
Philadelphia, PA, USA 🔔
Overview
This podcast conference is for independent podcasters who want to build their podcast and who want to grow their podcasting community.
Content
Speakers are going to cover three main areas of podcasting: Technology, Technique, and Thriving. Podcasters will also have the opportunity to get a free professional headshot. Lunch is included. 🙌
Tickets
Entry to this podcast conference costs $299.
Accessibility
The event includes a virtual ticket by which they mean one year of access to the Indie Pod Video Archive. 📹
The event website does not list any other accessibility information.
Blk Pod Festival
Date
September 30 – October 1, 2023
Location
Atlanta, Georgia, USA 🍑
Overview
The goal of this podcast conference is to showcase and connect Black audio creatives. It is powered by the Blk Pod Collective (Ona Oghogho is the founder and creative director).
Content
The Blk Pod Festival is going to have close to 120 speakers and 80 sessions. They are organized into four tracks: Launch, Growth, Monetization, and Service Providers. The service provider track focuses on systems and tools to find and manage clients (for audio engineers, podcast producers, etc.). 🎙️
Tickets
There are three tiers of tickets. “The Creator” is $75 and gets you access for both days. “The Insider” is $125 and gets you access for both days plus “The Experience.” “The Collective” is $200 and gets you what is included in the lower tiers, plus conference swag, expedited check-in, and video replay of all sessions. 🎟️
Accessibility
If you buy the highest ticket level, you can access video replays of the sessions. The event website does not list any other accessibility information.
PodFest Berlin
Date
October 13-15,2023
Location
Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
Overview
PodFest Berlin describes itself as a “homegrown podcasting festival celebrating our city’s podcasts and podcasters.” The podcast conference is an opportunity to build community and knowledge.
Content
Speakers are going to present workshops, seminars, and panels. Podcasters are scheduled to live record their episodes. A panel of experts will review audience submitted podcast ideas and give feedback. There will also be time and space for networking and enjoying the collective experience. 🫶
Tickets
Ticket information is not yet available.
Accessibility
PodFest Berlin is poly-lingual. They expect eighteen different languages to be spoken at the event. They emphasize that interpersonal communication is more important than grammatical perfection. 🗣️
The podcast conference website says the organization is democratic and grassroots, dedicating itself to diversity, inclusion, and rectifying inequalities.
The event website does not list any other accessibility information.
The Afros and Audio Podcast Festival
Date
October 21-22, 2023
Location
Baltimore, Maryland, USA and Whova Event App 🦀
Overview
The Afros and Audio Podcast Festival is a podcast conference for and by Black indie podcast creatives and audio professionals.
Content
The conference is going to cover several key topics: Podcast News and Trends, Growth and Marketing, Launching a Podcast, Editing and Production, Monetization, and the Art of Podcasting. Speakers plan to also cover interdisciplinary topics including understanding your legal responsibilities as a podcaster, starting and maintaining a podcast network, and more. 🤓
In addition to the opportunity to listen and learn, attendees will also have networking opportunities with vendors, brands, top industry professionals, and fellow creators.
Tickets
There are several ticket options, ranging from $50 for one day virtual access to $300 for both days virtual and in person access plus entry to the kickoff event and afterparty. 🥳
Accessibility
The Afros and Audio Podcast Festival website gives a thorough outline of accessibility features for the event. 😍
The Festival offers virtual access. All virtual sessions are going to have automated closed captioning.
ASL interpretation will be available for any sessions upon request. The Festival asks that you request an ASL interpreter by September 1, 2023, but they will also try to fulfill any day-of requests. 🧏
The podcast conference website notes that the hosting hotel is a fully accessible venue and any additional services can be made available on request. It also provides a link to an “Accessible Baltimore Guide” for travel information. 🧑🦽
The Festival strongly encourages attendees to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 😷
On its accessibility page, the conference also notes that it is an inclusive community and promotes respect for all individuals. Making it clear that this conference is a place where everyone can access the full experience, the website says “Attend another event or join another community if you identify with being: Racist, Transphobic/Anti-Trans, Homophobic/Anti-LGBTQ, fatphobic/Anti-Fat, Sexist, Misogynistic, A Misogynoir, Ageist, Ableist, Classist, Anti-Black, and Anti-Black American (Nuanced but IYKYK).” 😤
How to Choose the Right Podcast Conference for You
We hope this guide has been helpful in giving you the basic information about some of the best podcast conferences in 2023. Conferences, both in-person and virtual, can be great places to learn, meet fellow podcasters, and be immersed in the wonderful world of podcasting. 🎧
Each podcaster is different so each podcast conference has different benefits and drawbacks for them. Weigh your own pros and cons as best you can. Remember, these happen every year so do not feel too much FOMO if you cannot make it to one. 😫
If you have the time and energy, think about giving feedback or get involved in organizing future podcast conferences! 🫡
And as always, enjoy the podcast journey! 🚀
Independentsprofessionals
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