Highlights of this year’s UniPodFest at Birmingham City University include special guests George the Poet and Hamza Syed.
The podcast festival celebrates diverse voices with a mission to grow podcasts in the Midlands. It’s a day of panel discussions, workshops and networking with high profile podcasting guests.
Last year, the event was piloted as Birmingham Podcast Festival 2023 where the line-up of speakers included guests from the BBC, Spotify, Global Player and more. The aim of #UniPodFest is to inspire and upskill next gen and regionally based podcasters.
This year, there’s a keynote address from Hamza Syed, host of the global number one hit podcast The Trojan Horse Affair from Serial Productions, part of New York Times Audio, who will join via video link from New York.
Special guest, George the Poet, host of the hugely successful, award-winning BBC podcast Have You Heard George’s Podcast, will be paying tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah who passed away in December 2023. He’ll be joined by Dr Martin Glynn – lifelong friend to Benjamin Zephaniah. They’ll discuss Benjamin’s rich contribution to podcasts.
Other highlights include:
Sports Podcasting Panel discussion with top sports podcasters from the BBC, TalkSport and more. How to cut though the noise in a competitive podcasting landscape.
Pod-trepreneurs Panel Discussion chaired by ITV Good Morning Britain broadcaster, Marverine Cole. With digital content creators and influencers discussing the entrepreneurial skills and mindsets of successful podcasters.
Chat n Chai Room for networking and chatting.
Workshops dedicated to sharing podcast skills and knowledge including a special ‘How to Pitch your Podcast’ with company director Bernard Achampong from ‘We Are Unedited’, an independent audio production company making podcasts for Amazon Music and BBC 1Xtra.
UniPodFest takes place 9.30am-5.30pm on Wednesday 5 June at Parkside Building Lecture Theatre, Birmingham City University. For more information and to register for tickets, visit the UniPodFest website.
