Uni Pod Festival is returning with a focus on developing video podcast skills for emerging and regional creators.
The fourth edition takes place on 8 May at Birmingham City University, supported by BBC Sounds and Amazon Music, bringing together students, industry professionals and independent podcasters for a full day of talks and networking.
The event is aimed primarily at students studying media production through university partner networks, while also opening its doors to regional creators and anyone interested in podcast content development.
This year’s programme centres on video podcasting, reflecting growing interest in visual formats across the industry.
Attendees will have access to demos of podcast AI tools and a dedicated three camera pod lounge, allowing participants to record a video podcast on site.
The Uni Pod Award will again be presented during the event, with the winner receiving a development call with Em Kwenortey, strategy lead for video podcasts at BBC Sounds.
Festival Director Nina Robinson, a Peabody award winning journalist and Fellow at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, says the event continues to prioritise inclusion and regional voices within podcasting.
She said: “This year’s theme is video podcasts and we are excited to welcome some amazing content creators again this year in a space which has an informal and relaxed vibe.”
Last year’s festival focused on gender inequity in commercial podcasting and featured speakers including Audio Academy Managing Director Aradhna Tayal and former Audio UK Chief Executive Chloe Straw, now Chief Operating Officer at GoalHanger.
The organisers say Uni Pod remains distinct within the podcast festival circuit due to its focus on early career creators and its links to higher education institutions across the UK.
Find out more by visiting unipodfest.co.uk.
