Since its first year Kings Place has welcomed 60,000 visitors and 700 podcasters to the London Podcast Festival – a festival focused on exceptional experiences for podcasters and fan communities, celebrating the artform of podcasting.

The festival is spread across all of Kings Place’s three performance spaces, ground-floor Podcast Lounge, bar, restaurant, and canal terrace and attendees can enjoy multiple events in one day while networking with the podcast community.

Photograph: Viktor Erik Emanuel

The festival has a wide variety of shows with some big names – Jameela Jamil, Like Minded Friends with Tom Allen & Suzi Ruffell, Beef and Dairy Network, Three Bean Salad, Big Kick Energy with Maisie Adam and Suzi Ruffell and The Guilty Feminist, to name just a small number of the acts.

This year the festival has been curated by Kings Place’s Spoken Word Programme Manager & Festival Producer Rebecca Millican so we asked Rebecca to tell us a bit more about what people can expect from the festival…

Kings Place Spoken Word Programme Manager & Festival Producer, Rebecca Millican

The festival start date has arrived! Which shows are you most excited about seeing this year?

I’ve really tried to find something for everyone this year, so we’ve got quite a few different genres within the festival. Personally, I love a history podcast, so I’m really excited for The Ancients, This is History and The History Hotline. The History Hotline is a great show from Deanna Lyn Cook. She creates a space to have honest conversations about Black history and how it impacts the world we live in. For her live show, she’ll be joined by black feminist historian, Dr Jade Bentil. We’ve also got something for film lovers in Frank Film Club with Maisie Williams, casting director Hannah Williams, and filmmaker Lowri Roberts as they discuss all kinds of films from box office smashes to little known independent films.

There are many exciting opportunities for podcast fans to catch their favourite shows during the festival, but is there anything specifically tailored to new or aspiring podcasters?

The Podcast Maker events are always an essential part of the festival – it’s important to us that we’re not only showcasing existing talent, but supporting the development of aspiring podcasters. They’re a great way to learn how to create a variety of podcasts, from 7 Steps to Making a Comedy Podcast to Interview Success Secrets. You’ve also got From Mic to Money, giving you advice on how to turn passions into profit and Mic: Back to Basics for the logistical approach, talking you through microphone basics, picking the right one and mic technique. You’ll be ready to start your own podcast in no time!

Photograph: Viktor Erik Emanuel

For those unable to attend in person, are there ways for people to tune in from home?

There are! We have quite a few shows that are available on KPlayer this year, our in-house streaming service. We’ve got the food-focused podcast Dish with Nick Grimshaw & Angela Hartnett, the hilarious Three Bean Salad, Beef and Dairy Network and the movie mad show The Weekly Planet.

There are some big names taking the stage again this year – The Guilty Feminist, The Allusionist, and The Empire Film Podcast to name a few – but we’re also excited about the diverse range of lesser known shows you have in the lineup. Are there any hidden gems you think our readers might enjoy seeing?

We really like to give up and coming podcasts a voice at the festival. It’s an essential part of the community we try and build upon year on year. This year I’m really excited about Mixed Up with Emma Slade Edmondson and Nicole Ocran. They’ll be discussing belonging and identity through the lens of the mixed-race experience with their incredible guests Jordan Stephens, Ayamé Ponder and Fola Evans-Akingbola.

We’ve also got the live debut of Tom Crowley’s sketch and character show Crowley Time with me, Tom Crowley. He’ll be bringing a brand-new original story entitled ‘The DiPoni Contingency’.

Photograph: Viktor Erik Emanuel

Is there anything else that you want to tell us about the festival?

In a personal sense, I’ve been working on the festival for the past 6 years as an Associate Producer. I’ve programmed a few shows here and there but this is the first year I’ll be programming the entire festival, so it’s a really special year for me. I’m really excited to welcome a lot of new faces in the podcasting world, and celebrate those who have been with us for years.

Where can Pod Bible readers find out more information about the festival?

You can find the full line up of shows on our website. We’ll also be announcing special guests from our socials @LondonPodFest on X and @londonpodfest on our Instagram.

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As a podcast enthusiast, attending UniPodFest at Birmingham City University and immersing myself in the world of storytelling was a particularly enjoyable experience and one that will continue to inspire me throughout my journalistic career.

The UniPodFest first took place at Birmingham City University in 2023 after founder of Soundtruism Productions Nina Robinson thought there needed to be more inspiration around the podcasting community in the West Midlands and that’s how the idea was born.

UniPodFest has lived up to its name by emphasising the university community, at the event, attendees included students not only from Birmingham City University but universities and colleges from around the West Midlands which created a dynamic range of perspectives for students who might want to take a leap into podcasting in the future.

This year included panels and workshops from audio professionals such as BBC radio presenter Adrian Goldberg and Jon Gill, podcast lead producer for Goalhanger Podcasts, alongside Sal Ahmad, executive producer of the Zero Ducks Given Podcast. On the day, I was volunteering at the podcast festival as head of desk registration but when I got the chance, I popped into watch this discussion and particularly enjoyed it as the panel delved into the future of sports podcasting, whether there is a market for it anymore and the importance of women in football.

Other workshops included, a pod-trepeneurs panel with Journalist and Good Morning Britain Presenter Marverine Cole as the chair, alongside guests, Emma Conway, Taylor James and Julie Anna Needham.

At the end of the event, a touching tribute was held by Dr Martin Glynn, lecturer at Birmingham City University to Handsworth-based poet, activist, and spoken word artist Benjamin Zephaniah who sadly passed away in December 2023. Truth be told, I did not know a lot about him before the podcast festival but after reading up on him and reading his poetry I was inspired by how he opened the door for other poets of colour to follow in his footsteps.

Benjamin Zephaniah – Photograph: David Morris Creative Commons

Before attending UniPodFest I had always had an interest in podcasting, as audio is my favourite medium to work with. On a daily basis I listen to a variety of podcasts but mainly ones that focus on people’s lives, as a journalist I love to find out what makes someone ‘them’. As a podcast listener, my preference is to actually watch a podcast on social media such as YouTube rather than listen as I like to gauge people’s reactions.

After the event, I felt I learnt a lot about the diversity of the podcasting industry and how we can use the platform to create a bigger voice for those who feel underrepresented. Hearing from professionals who have been in the industry a long time was compelling and I was inspired to continue with future projects.

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Sheffield’s brand new podcast festival, Crossed Wires, has had an excellent inaugural outing. Sheffield’s strong track record with events like DocFest, the Children’s Media Conference, and Tramlines made me hopeful for a weekend that combined great shows, industry conversations, and a laid-back vibe… and that’s exactly what I got. I look forward to its growth in the coming years.

Disclaimer, I’m a frequent podcast guest and radio interviewee when someone needs a period education expert (which is not never!). I’m also an avid podcast listener, with my particular tastes leaning toward the nerdy and topical (current faves: Lateral with Tom Scott, The Allusionist with Helen Austwick-Zaltman and No Such Thing as a Fish with the QI team, and, due to my Brooklyn beginnings, I’m a long-time fan of NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!)

I was initially unsure whether my adopted hometown had space for another festival in general or could draw audiences for podcasts specifically. Like many locals, I studied here and loved it so much I stayed, and we are fiercely loyal. Was this truly a homegrown festival? I agreed to come along, attend a few shows and give it a review for Pod Bible. An offer to pay my train fare up to Sheffield was slightly alarming – even the PR team thought I was from The South and needed remuneration to convince me to visit The North. I reassured them that I was so local I would be cycling over, but wouldn’t say no to an invite to the launch party.

Festival posters in the Bethel Chapel space – Photograph: Chella Quint

The opening speeches at the brand new city centre food hall, the Cambridge Street Collective, quickly allayed my fears. It turned out I actually knew several members of the wider team. I recognised some former BBC Sheffield broadcasters and bumped into the Lord Mayor, the Chief Exec of the council, and the South Yorkshire Mayor. Turns out the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) and Sheffield City Council have both pledged three years of funding to help the festival get off the ground. I headed to my first show.

Off Air with Jane and Fi at the Crucible Theatre attracted an audience of primarily older women (although Jane and Fi praised the mum who’d brought her daughter and thanked the husband who’d been brought along by his wife for his patience) and included attendees who’d travelled from as far as Wales and South Africa. Jane and Fi’s relaxed performance, with lights up in the room, felt intimate and welcoming. They answered audience questions, chatted, and discussed their transition from the BBC to Times Radio with refreshing honesty, touching on the challenges of accepting advertising but standing firm against gambling and credit ads. The chance to hear these familiar voices in a more candid setting would become a consistent theme of the festival.

Off Air with Jane and Fi at the Crucible Theatre – Photograph: Chella Quint

I headed back to the opening night party which featured outstanding local choir Neighbourhood Voices and a guest DJ set by local legend Self Esteem. (Serious props to Rebecca Lucy Taylor, who consistently lent her time and talents to the festival all weekend long, starting with the opening party and concluding with her session on Sunday with Adam Buxton.)

The next afternoon, I went along to Talk Art at Sheffield City Hall. Held in the smaller basement ballroom, Talk Art featured an engaging interview with local-artist-gone-London Corbin Shaw. Hosts Russell Tovey and Robert Diament asked the questions, and despite not being familiar with the podcast, I found their approach enjoyable and informative. Shaw’s work, which explores themes of toxic masculinity in football fandom and his sense of place and family, was super resonant. I left with a newfound appreciation for his art and the podcast itself. I even got to meet Russell Tovey, whose television work I’ve always loved.

Talk Art with hosts Robert Diament and Russell Tovey plus guest Corbin Shaw – Photograph: Chella Quint

After a brief visit to Kelham Pride, I came back to the city centre to catch Brown Girls Do It Too at the newly renovated Bethel Chapel (all the fringe events were held in a pop-up black box theatre space here). Hosts Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani captivated the full house with their humour and astute advice about sex and relationships. Their ability to blend serious topics with knowing observational nods to their families’ reactions to talking about (or catching them at) various intimate encounters was appreciated by the most diverse audience I’d seen yet. Their show concluded – as some of their previous live appearances have – with a sharp and triumphant musical number addressing the exoticisation of Asian women, earning them a standing ovation. The atmosphere was electric, and the energy was infectious.

Brown Girls Do It Too – on stage & surrounded by fans – Photograph: Chella Quint

The next day I headed over to The Naked Podcast, another free fringe show in Bethel Chapel, a former homegrown BBC Radio Sheffield production which came back for one night only as an independent outing. For a Naked Podcast, it was all very chaste. Starting in glamorous dressing gowns and then posing coyly in front of some strategically placed foliage, hosts Kat Harbourne and Jenny Elles interviewed Doncaster-born, Burmese-British actress, model and reality TV star Chrissie Wunna in a playful yet empowering session. Their usual openness and Wunna’s frank stories took everyone from giggles to guffaws. The session ended on a particularly heartwarming note, with a shout-out to former Naked Podcast guests in the audience – and a special thanks and birthday singalong to disability activist, former broadcaster (and, full disclosure, good friend of mine) Sam Cleasby. The warmth in the room was real and not just because of the lights keeping the ferns from wilting and revealing and the audience had a lot of affection for this show. I hope it will come back in another incarnation again one day soon.

Kat and Jenny of the Naked Podcast, clothed then hidden by ferns and foliage – Photograph: Chella Quint

Most of the audience went straight from there to The Adam Buxton Podcast at a sold-out Sheffield City Hall. I am on the periphery of Adam and Joe fandom, I caught them on Channel 4 on a visit to the UK as a teen and didn’t quite know what I was watching, but enjoyed it. Although I’m not a regular listener to his podcast, every time I do hear it or see something he’s done I enjoy it, and I’ll be adding it into my rotation. I wasn’t surprised it was sold out: a combination of him and Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor) who’s also a fan, were a huge crowd draw, and it was an absolutely amazing show. Wild juxtapositions abounded. After some Buxton-style scathing silliness with AI and a quality interview with Self Esteem, the show ended with her singing a heart-wrenching acapella arrangement of I Do This All The Time with her backup singers… leaving much of the audience of us ‘good sturdy girls’ openly crying… followed immediately by all four women on stage doing a conga line into the wings with not even a wave to the audience, and Adam Buxton shouting goodbye and thanks, and playing a looped video outro sequence where a screenful of cartoon likenesses repeatedly dive into his bottom and are regurgitated to some wacky music. It was all perplexingly wonderful. We were all invited back to Bethel Chapel for a breather.

Adam Buxton on stage and Self Esteem and her singers – Photograph: Ellie Eagle-Skinner

The final show, Katherine Ryan Telling Everybody Everything back at the City Hall, began with her short comedy set followed by an ‘in conversation’ with author and broadcaster Emily Dean. I did actually ask for a plus one for this one to get the full experience of being able to share Katherine Ryan’s ‘can’t unhear that’ moments with a friend, but although we had an extra chuckle over Emily Dean’s obsession with Henry VIII, really the whole room felt like one big hangout, complete with Katherine Ryan herself reminding folks when to get the last train home (even though the show was going longer), and Emily Dean’s adorable dog Raymond roaming the stage (apparently Sheffielders left a good impression on Emily Dean – we are more dog-friendly than Londoners).

Katherine Ryan and Emily Dean (and her dog) thanking the audience – Photograph: Chella Quint

And then, for those who didn’t have to worry about the last train, the festival ended. The verdict? Sceptical at first, but completely won over. Crossed Wires had Big DocFest Energy for me, and that is an excellent thing. The three-year commitment from both the council and SYMCA means there’s a plan for the future. The curation ticked a lot of boxes for me, and clearly even more for everyone else – there were a bunch of sold-out events in both the paid and fringe programmes.

My only critique would be the costs of the paid shows. My experience of having comps for the shows I wanted was unique, and I might not have spent that cash otherwise, but the ‘feel’ of being welcome everywhere was too good not to share with other festival goers in future. I hope next year it’s possible to offer a festival pass, allowing access to all shows for one price (perhaps supplemented by external sales to big draws). Actually, here is my full wishlist as the festival grows: more indie and emerging podcasts, offering an even bigger platform for local voices, improving access by including live captions, and programming in more themed strands, such as my own nerdy faves, plus other popular categories like true crime and politics.

My weekend was filled with laughter, learning, and a strong sense of community, leaving me eager for next year’s event. The festival’s organisation, venues, and overall execution were commendable, and the staff were attentive and ensured accessibility throughout. It has the potential to become a staple in both the podcasting calendar and the Sheffield festival diary. Roll on, Crossed Wires 2025!

Were you at Crossed Wires Festival 2024? What did you enjoy? What would you like to see more of? Let us know in the comments or on social media!

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What are you most looking forward to this year?

An impossible question! The London Podcast Festival is my absolute favourite time of the year. One of the things I love the most is the enormous variety of events, podcasters and guests. Where else can you see Jameela Jamil, Les Dennis, Dane Baptiste, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Louis Theroux, Tia Kofi, Mark Gatiss, Sope Dirisu, Gurinder Chadha, Nick Helm, Isy Suttie, Diana Vickers, and James Acaster on the same line-up?!

We have some of the biggest podcasts in the UK, like Beef and Dairy Network, Adam Buxton, Griefcast, Brown Girls Do it Too, Queer Talk, Drunk Women Solving Crime, No Such Thing as a Fish, Redhanded, The Guilty Feminist, Three Bean Salad Two Twos Podcast and Uncanny. So many genres and communities are represented, from Wrestling to Audio Drama, Feminism to Horror, Football, Current Affairs, True Crime, TV, and so much more.

Do you have a top tip for making the most of the festival if you’re a listener?

If there is a show you know and love on the line-up, come and see it! Not only will you get to hang out with the hosts, it’s a great opportunity to meet likeminded listeners. Come with friends, come alone – just come along! Once you’ve done that, pick something you haven’t heard of that piques your interest. Take a punt, support the podcast community and find a new favourite.

And if you’re a podcaster?

Well, not only can you network and meet some of the biggest names in the industry, we have a whole weekend of workshops and panels just for you. Whether you’re completely new to podcasting and want to know how to start, are looking for specialised classes to refine your art or inspiration from some of the most talented figures in UK and international audiomaking, the Podcast Maker Weekend has it all. The amazing programme was curated by Sarah Myles from Rise & Shine. We also have a totally free event on Podcast Subscriptions run by our festival partner Acast.

Are there any podcasts you’re currently listening to whilst you prepare?

I would never play favourites, but one of the first ever podcasts we ever booked at Kings Place was The Complete Guide to Everything who travelled to us from NYC in 2010. They came back every year until that pesky pandemic, but now that forced hiatus is over they’ll be back in London for this year’s festival. I’ve been listening to them in preparation for catching up with old friends.

That’s what I always look forward to most about the festival, seeing old pals and making new ones. We’d love to see you there too!

Tickets for The London Podcast Festival are on sale now via the Kings Place website.

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Taking place in front of a live audience at Kings Place, the festival is a chance to celebrate the fast growing popularity of podcasts whilst giving listeners the unmissable chance to meet their favourite podcast hosts. A number of the events will be livestreamed to audiences across the world via KPlayer, the Kings Place pay-per-view platform. The London Podcast Festival was founded by Kings Place in 2016 and has since welcomed over 37,000 visitors and 500 podcasters.

Newly added shows include:

• Popular true crime podcasts Drunk Women Solving Crime and RedHanded join forces for a special Drunk Women Caught RedHanded event
• Discover the creative process of hit Audible scripted podcast Radioman, with actor and cocreator Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, executive producer Emily Feller, writer, director and cocreator Joe Derrick and sound designer and composer Benbrick, as they discuss key scenes from the series in-depth in this special free live session
• BBC Sounds podcasts Uncanny with host Danny Robins and guest Mark Gatiss and Pressed with hosts Mariam and Adeola join for special live shows
• Comedy podcast Halfies: A Noisy Hajar Podcast with host Hajar J. Woodland and guests Darius Davies and Shirley & Shirley (aka Joanna Carolan and Pascale Wilson)
• Spencer Cooper and Mufseen Miah present Queer Talk LIVE! to share commentary on positive LGBTQ+ news stories and connect with a panel of brilliant, queer individuals
• Film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers present Disniversity, a podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics
• Desperado Podcast present a one-off special featuring a self-contained story from the Desperado universe
• First ever live show of Petrified, the terrifying horror fiction anthology podcast
• Indie AF sees Sarah Golding and special guests share experience and unmissable advice about creating audio fiction
• Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia present a live episode of Media Storm
• Thea Rickard and Ruby Rare explore the world of non-monogamy in feminist podcast The Last Night

Special guests revealed:

• Louis Theroux will join Adam Buxton for an episode of The Adam Buxton Podcast
• Tia Kofi from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 2 is the guest for Crystal’s The Things That Made Me Queer
• Lady Garden Foundation co-founder Chloe Delevingne, actress Amanda Abbington and the Scummy Mummies Ellie & Helen announced as guests for Mika Simmons’ The Happy Vagina
• Actress Michelle Collins joins comedian Michelle Collins and Dan Acton for a special live recording of Midnight Snack
• Les Dennis announced as special guest for quiz podcast Fingers on Buzzers, hosted by comedian Lucy Porter and The Chase’s very own Vixen, Jenny Ryan
• Director Gurinder Chadha talks about her career with host Simon Brew in the first ever live recording of Film Stories
• Comedians Karen Hobbs and Marcus Brigstocke and producer Saima Ferdows join Cariad Lloyd for an episode of Griefcast
• Huge Davies, Ed Byrne and Jen Brister announced as guests for The Film Quiz with Nick Helm
• Comedian Isy Suttie will be the guest on Joel Morris’ Comfort Blanket and has chosen the film Grease

They join the previously announced line-up which features:

• Special one-off show Springleaf: James Acaster featuring James Acaster as undercover cop Pat Springleaf talking to comedian Mike Wozniak
• Live editions of I Weigh with Jameela Jamil, The Adam Buxton Podcast, Dane Baptiste Questions Everything and No Such Thing as a Fish, as well as a special crossover show with The Guilty Feminist and Brown Girls Do It Too
• Live episodes from some of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ podcasts including Two Twos Podcast, A Gay and a NonGay and The Things That Made Me Queer
• Festival appearances from Cariad Lloyd with Griefcast, comedian Lucy Porter presents Fingers on Buzzers with The Chase’s Jenny Ryan and Joel Morris brings a live episode of Comfort Blanket, plus live episodes of The Happy Vagina and Ki & Dee
• Film podcasts including Film Quiz with Nick Helm, The Empire Film Podcast, Fade to Black, 90 Minutes or Less and Film Stories, plus trilogy of wrestling podcasts Wrestle Me, How2Wrestling and Attitude Era Podcast
• Festival debuts from Jew Talkin’ To Me?, The Famous Sloping Pitch and NonCensored with Rosie Holt, plus returning favourites Three Bean Salad, Beef and Dairy Network and Midnight Snack with Michelle Collins
• Other shows include The Complete Guide to Everything, A Wheezing Groaning Sound, The The One Show Show, Global Pillage, The Final Girls, Rock ‘n’ Roll Politics and Chart Music: The TOTP Podcast

The Podcast Maker Weekend returns once more, offering a diverse series of podcasting workshops at Kings Place covering the art, craft, technology, business and politics of podcasting. Experienced speakers from the world of podcasting and broadcasting offer affordable sessions for both beginner and experienced podcasts and audio makers. Sessions include:

• Festival partners Acast present Podcast Subscriptions: They’re a Thing, a free workshop panel to help aspiring podcasters set up their first podcast subscriptions. Hosted by Hannah O’Connell, Acast Partner Manager and host of Shrine Podcasts, the panel will be joined by Teacher Luke (aka Luke Thompson) and Adrian Carty, producer of the Nothing Is Real Beatles podcast – both of whom have very successful subscription podcasts
• The Importance Of People And Relationships In Podcasting with award winning audio producer Jaja Muhammad and broadcast journalist, presenter and producer Cherise Hamilton
• Comedy Podcasting with comedian and podcaster Suchandrika Chakrabarti and Drunk Women Solving Crime host Hannah George
• Researching For Podcasts with producer Leonore Schick and Sky News Podcasts producer Soila Apparicio
• Interviewing For Documentaries with multi award winning freelance audio producer, sound designer and community facilitator Jesse Lawson and freelance audio producer, editor and sound designer Arlie Adlington
• The Future Of Audio Fiction with Alexander J Newall, Founder and CEO of Rusty Quill Ltd, alongside Rusty Quill Ltd Executive of Production April Sumner and award-winning writer Nemo Martin
• Recording Podcasts with audio specialist Lisa Hack and audio executive Kieron Banerji
• Editing Basics with audio producer Mae-Li Evans and James Shield, Deputy executive producer of The Times and The Sunday Times daily news podcast
• Script For Presenting with Scott Flashheart, founder of the Queer Podcasters’ network and creator of Probably True podcast, and political/social affairs journalist and multimedia producer Dahaba Ali Hussen
• Ask Me Anything – Production Basics with founder of String Cast Media Sam Mbatha and award-winning producer Meera Kumar
• Podcast Formats Moving To TV Formats with Managing Director of Storyglass Steve Carsey and Founding and Managing Director of Gold Wala Faraz Osman
• Video For Podcasts with Super Stuff Creative producer Leon Gower and stand-up comedian, writer and author Sadia Azmat
• Using Social Media To Market Your Podcast with podmother, presenter, producer and consultant Kat Molesworth and Dan Page, CEO of Podspike and Chief Egg at podcast producer Why did the Chicken?

Tickets are on sale via the Kings Place website.

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Taking place in front of a live audience – with many events also streaming online – the festival brings together the community of podcast listeners and creators in a unique celebration of this flourishing artform.

Whether your lockdown podcast favourites have been comedy, documentary, culture, society, audio drama, history, true crime, sex and relationships, or chat shows, this is a chance to be in the audience for special live editions of your favourites, discover your new must-listen, and meet the voices behind some of the biggest podcasts in the country.

Tickets to all events (both in-person and digital streaming) are available now at www.kingsplace.co.uk. The London Podcast Festival is produced by Kings Place London and supported by Acast, Spotify and BBC Sounds.

To find out what Zoë Jeyes, festival programmer and Deputy Director of Kings Place, is looking forward to this weekend, check out our interview!

Big Names

See some of your favourite podcasters, including Helen Zaltzman with The Allusionist, Danny Robins with The Battersea Poltergeist, Rubina Pabani and Poppy Jay from Brown Girls Do It Too, Sofie Hagen and Dr Julia Shaw of the BBC Sounds true crime show Bad People and Kym Oliver & Jumoke Abdullahi of The Triple Cripples.

There will also be live shows with celebrity quests, include Mark Gatiss in From Queer To Eternity, Himesh Patel in Nikesh Shukla’s Brown Baby Podcast, The Chase’s Jenny Ryan leading an interactive quiz with Lucy Porter in Fingers On Buzzers, Nina Conti offering very unqualified relationship advice as part of Richard and Greta and Sanjeev Bhaskar performing in David Reed’s hilarious improvised parody of serious podcasts on the comedian’s art Inside the Comedian.

(A full list of the podcast line-up can be found at the bottom of the article).

New Events for 2021

For anyone inspired to give podcasting a go themselves, the Podcast Maker Weekend runs from 10th – 12th September and features a raft of industry talent offering invaluable insight into podcast creation, suitable for novices through to experienced broadcasters.

On 11th September, you can watch the world premiere of Highlife Romance, a new romantic comedy-drama by Jacob Roberts-Mensah (DEM TIMES) that follows the budding relationship between Nana Akua, a British-Ghanaian Highlife music enthusiast, and Michael, a Native Ghanaian musician. The live performance will be directed by Jessica Kalissa (director of the Edinburgh Fringe play Queens of Sheba).

There are also free, unticketed watch parties for special London Podcast Festival editions of huge US podcasts, streaming live from the States. Cosy up in the LPF Podcast Lounge (complete with comfy sofas and a bar) and watch live editions of shows such as Stop Podcasting Yourself and Judge John Hodgman. Those who can’t make it to Kings Place can also stream the shows live via Kings Place’s KPlayer.

Curated Days

As well as specials and live shows of many popular podcasts, there will also be curated days.

The 5th September is a special Audio Drama Day from Ella Watts and Felix Trench, including live shows from the likes of award-winning sitcom Wooden Overcoats  and horror/fantasy The Silt Verses. There will also be panels with the leading lights in audio fiction and listening posts to hear world premieres of brand new podcasts.

On 12th September, Content Is Queen founder (and Pod Bible columnist) Imriel Morgan curates a full day of essential new voices in British podcasting – including the World Premiere of a new comedy fiction podcast Epic Fun Land (from the team behind the award-nominated Scoop McDoolie); a special live edition of Hajar J. Woodland’s Conversations With My Sister; Honey and the Hex live with special guest The Mage’s Well, and The *Relate(able) Podcast.

The full A-Z Shows Confirmed For London Podcast Festival 2021 So Far

• 90 Minutes or Less Film Fest
• Audio Drama Showcase
• A Wheezing Groaning Sound
• Bad People
• Beef and Dairy Network Podcast
• Brian and Rodger
• Brown Baby Podcast
• Brown Girls Do It Too
• Chatting With Chorley: The Podcast
• Clash of the Titles
• Dr Gameshow
• Epic Fun Land (Content is Queen)
• FANTI
• Finding Q: My Journey Into QAnon
• Fingers on Buzzers
• Friends with Friends
• From Queer to Eternity
• Girls on Film
• Griefcast
• Highlife Romance
• Honey and the Hex (Content is Queen)
• Inside the Comedian
• Judge John Hodgman
• Kermode on Film
• Masala Podcast
• Midnight Snack with Michelle Collins
• Mockery Manor (Audio Drama Day)
• My Mate Bought a Toaster
• Radio Elusia (Audio Drama Day)
• Richard and Greta
• Seancecast
• Spit or Swallow
• Stop Podcasting Yourself
• Tea Towels and Tantrums (Content is Queen)
• The Allusionist
• The Battersea Poltergeist
• The Breakup Monologues
• The Empire Film Podcast
• The Guilty Feminist
• The MSG Pod
• The *Relate(able) Podcast
• The Rest is History
• The Silt Verses (Audio Drama Day)
• The The One Show Show
• The Triple Cripples
• Three Bean Salad
• Tights and Fights
• Two Twos Podcast
• Two Mr Ps In A Pod(cast)
• We Got This
• Wooden Overcoats (Audio Drama Day)
• Wrestle Me

Buy your tickets now at www.kingsplace.co.uk.

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The Froth with Rhod Gilbert, Sian Harries & Friends, Black Gals Livin’ and The Bugle have been added to the stellar line-up with the festival taking place from 20^th – 24^th October. All shows are being streamed live from the Unmute Podcast Festival official website. Tickets are on sale now from www.unmutepodcastfestival.com.

Check out the official press release from Plosive below!

During these Covid times, prepare to be swept away by a host of award-winning, hugely popular podcasts from some of the UK and Ireland’s most talented names in comedy and TV, all live from the comfort of your own home. The line-up consists of some of the highest charting podcasts in the UK including Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster, The Adam Buxton Podcast, Nobody Panic, Cuddle Club with Lou Sanders, Films To Be Buried With with Brett Goldstein, The Blindboy Podcast, The Froth with Rhod Gilbert, Sian Harries & Friends, Black Gals Livin’ and The Bugle.

Ben Williams, founder of Plosive Productions and Unmute, said: “Podcasts have been a source of comfort and company for many of us during this strange ol’ year, with more people listening than ever. And with live performances only just starting up again, we wanted to give podcast fans a fun way to feel part of a live podcast experience again – so we’ve launched an Online Podcast Festival. We couldn’t be more chuffed with the line-up.”

 Ed Gamble from Off Menu said: “We’re looking forward to bringing Off Menu live and uncut to the internet, mainly because it means that The Great Benito can’t edit out James’s Diet Coke story.”

 Stevie Martin from Nobody Panic added: “We are so psyched about doing Nobody Panic live online. Not only does it give us an opportunity to get changed out of our pyjamas, but we will both be enjoying fine brandies throughout. Very excited to announce our super special guest too (it’s not the fine brandies) (or 90s pop sensation Brandy).”

Tickets for Unmute: The Online Podcast Festival are on sale now from www.unmutepodcastfestival.com

Instagram: @unmutepodfest |Twitter: @unmutepodfest |Facebook: /unmutepodfest

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The two-day event will welcome 6,000 attendees, and expects to be the “largest podcast B2B and consumer show outside of North America”. Event features include industry panels, workshops, live podcasts, ‘In Conversation With’ discussions and exhibitor/partner activations. At night, venues around Islington will host fringe-style events and live shows.

The event features Lead Partner Spotify, as well as partners BBC Sounds, Acast, Audioboom, and Somthin’ Else. The Podcast Show has also signed the Equity in Audio Pact and “encourages and nurtures continued opportunities, including supporting gender balance, minority groups including LGBTQIA+ and ethnic diversity among panellists, speakers and those in attendance”.

We at Pod Bible are excited learn more, as details begin to be released. In the meantime, tickets will go on sale this October, so mark your calendars!

For more information, check out their website at http://www.thepodcastshowlondon.com/.

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