A new video podcast network has launched in the UK with an ambition to close the gender gap in podcasting and amplify women’s voices at scale.
HERA, described as the UK’s first female-focused video podcast network, has been founded by senior media leaders from Google, YouTube, BBC and Fremantle.
The company is the creation of Rosie Allimonos, Nishma Patel Robb and Kirsty Hunter, who bring decades of experience in scaling platforms, producing award-winning content, and pioneering digital storytelling.
Between them, they have launched YouTube’s creator economy, delivered shows such as Britain’s Got Talent and Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley, and driven growth strategies across Instagram Reels and global franchises.
HERA will focus on supporting women through every stage of the creative and commercial process. Its model includes producing original shows, brokering partnerships with brands, and building proprietary technology to help creators produce content faster, smarter and fairer.
At launch, the founders confirmed an initial seed round under the SEIS scheme has closed, with a second stage now open under EIS.
The network highlights what it says, is a major imbalance in the industry, with 90% of the top 10 podcasts on the UK Spotify Charts hosted solely by men and only 10% featuring a female co-host.
With women expected to control 75% of discretionary spending by 2030, HERA says brands are missing opportunities by overlooking female audiences.
HERA Club, a new membership initiative, will provide training, mentorship and access to tech tools for women and non-binary creators. The founders say this will act as a launchpad for the UK’s most exciting new female storytellers.
Nishma Patel Robb said: “Podcasts aren’t just entertainment; they’re trusted outlets where listeners go to find new information. But when you look at the charts, this is a sector dominated by men.
“It’s time for change. HERA is the platform to give voice to female creators, leaders and storytellers to ensure the world sees, hears and pays them.”
Rosie Allimonos added: “Women’s voices are still underrepresented across media, tech and investment, and the pace of AI transformation risks widening this gap.
“HERA is changing this by giving female creators real access to the platforms, studios and tech tools they need to scale their work.”
Kirsty Hunter concluded: “HERA is the destination for brands who want safe, scalable, premium content that unlocks new audiences.
“Our team is already building an original slate of shows with major talent, which is just the beginning of a new era of media.”
