The Audio Academy Podcast

Hits Radio’s Paul Gerrard, Radio Futurologist James Cridland, Gold Aria winner Victoria Glover from Hits Radio and the team that created an ‘epic’ sound bath for the Dolby Library feature in the third and final Audio Academy Festival 2026 podcast, brought to you by Rayo. Tom Jackson, Ruth Cooper-Dickson, Sami Hussy and Alisa Mayers speak with panellists, hosts and delegates to give you a flavour o...

Deputy Director General Rhodri Taflan Davies, Stephanie Hirst and the team behind Audible’s new production of Dracula feature in the second of our three Audio Academy Festival 2026 podcasts, brought to you by Rayo. Tom Jackson, Ruth Cooper-Dickson, Sami Hussy and Alisa Mayers speak with panellists, hosts and delegates to give you a flavour of the 2026 event. The Audio Academy mentoring scheme is n...

ARIA award winner Mishal Husain, Bauer Media Audio UK’s Simon Myciunka and BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Presenter/ part-time tandem cyclist Greg James feature in the first of our three Audio Academy Festival 2026 podcasts, supported by Rayo. Tom Jackson, Ruth Cooper-Dixon, Sami Hussy and Alisa Mayers speak with panellists, hosts and delegates to give you a flavour of the 2026 event. The Audio Academy men...

Rich Addis from the Music, Audiobook and Podcast Content Relations Team at Dolby in London chats about the Dolby Library Stage at the Audio Academy Festival 2026. The Dolby Library Stage offers an immersive audio experience, featuring cutting-edge content created using state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos technology. But how does Dolby Atmos differ from stereo and other audio systems? What makes high-qual...

Broadcaster Jamie Cawdell from On Air Content takes a closer look at the art of voice tracking — exploring both its benefits and the pitfalls to avoid. How long should it really take to voice-track a radio show? Why is voice tracking often seen as the poor relation to live broadcasting? And what’s the difference between simply filling a programme and properly preparing it? Jamie shares practical a...

Was 2026 the Podcast World Cup? In the past, the media war has always been between the BBC and ITV, and who would get the biggest ratings for the matches, especially the England games. But this year, that all changed, with multiple podcasts either launching or putting out special World Cup editions. Marcus Speller from fan favourite The Football Ramble and TalkSport’s Head of Podcasts, Abi Paterso...

Joe D’Angelo, Senior Vice President of Broadcast Radio and Digital Audio at Xperi shares the Xperi story and explores how technology is transforming the in-car audio experience. We discuss the evolution of connected car audio, how listeners are engaging with radio and digital audio, and the valuable data that connected in-car consoles can provide to broadcasters and advertisers. Book your Audio Ac...

This week, as we return to full-length episodes of the podcast, we’re looking ahead to the future of the Audio Academy. Where do we see our place in the industry, and how can we best support our members as they develop their careers? We’re also asking our members an important question: What is the one thing you’d most like to see the Audio Academy do over the next 12 months? Who better to explore...

In the final episode of our Summer Shorts series this week, we hear some previously unheard audio from the Crossed Wires Podcast Festival in Sheffield. We hear thoughts and reflections from the BBC Sounds Garden, the Loose Lips local podcast stage, the Gangster Podcast, comedian, musician and podcaster David Eagle, and BBC Radio Sheffield.  Festival tickets are on sale now for the Audio Academy Fe...

We look back at Radio Days, held in Riga, Latvia, in March, with previously unheard audio from the conference. We hear from Mohit Bakaya, Controller of BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra; Dave Riley Jones of Aiir; Matt Deegan and Nikki Burch from the BBC, as they explore audiences’ connection with radio and the evolving role of public service broadcasting.  Who and what would you like to hear in future...

Fellowships of the Audio Academy are awarded each year at the festival and represent the highest honour the Academy can bestow on a member of our industry. In 2025, Bernard Achampong, Nick Pitts, Rachel Barton and Chris North were all made Fellows of the Academy. This week’s podcast brings together some highlights from the conversations they shared across their individual episodes giving advice fo...

Stephanie Hirst is a Fellow and former trustee of the Audio Academy. She's one of the UK's most recognisable and respected voices on the airwaves, from Spinnin' the Decades on Greatest Hits Radio to Belters on Hits Radio, which celebrates its fifth anniversary at the end of August. Stephanie has built a loyal audience with her passion for great music and infectious enthusiasm. In this previously u...

We’re looking back at our Meet the Experts podcast series, featuring industry leaders who took part in last year’s Festival 1-2-1 sessions. The 1-2-1s offer a unique opportunity to spend valuable time with station heads and commissioners, ask questions, and gain insight into the industry. In these conversations, our experts share their top tips on creating standout demos, writing compelling pitche...

It's the first episode of our Summer Shorts series, and we begin with previously unheard audio featuring Lady Unchained, recorded earlier this year. In 2024, Lady Unchained, from the Prison Radio Association, won a Gold ARIA Award for Best Specialist Music Show for FreeFlow . In this episode, she reflects on her personal journey from prison to joining the Prison Radio Association, and how that exp...

In February, Alice Nagendran took on the newly created role of Head of Business, Radio & Music Commissioning at the BBC, bringing together commissioning for speech and music radio and podcasts for the first time. In this interview, Alice explains the thinking behind this new approach, outlines how the BBC is strengthening its engagement with independent audio producers, and shares practical ad...

Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield is now in its third year and has doubled in size, welcoming 50,000 people from around the world to 80 live podcast shows across 11 venues and stages. How does taking a successful podcast from the studio to a live audience change the dynamic of a show? We bring you highlights from across the weekend, including the festival Creative Director Greg James and convers...

As we launch this year’s Aiir Audio Academy 30 Under 30, 2019 alumnus Darby Dorras, Chief Content Officer at Platform Media, chats about what the accolade meant to him and how it can be your ‘calling card’ for the year you’re chosen. Leanne Alie, a 30 Under 30 in 2020 and now a freelance podcast producer, talks about the network of creatives 30 Under 30 can bring you and what she’s working on now....

Journalist, talent coach, and mentor Valerie Geller delivered one of our most popular sessions at last year's festival, and on the podcast this week she talks about making powerful radio and her latest book, Beyond Powerful Radio - a guide to the digital world. She shares her thoughts on how she approaches podcasting and video podcasting, and on how to connect, keep, and grow audiences. Audio Acad...

This week, we meet the last of our new fellows, Chris North, founder of North Media Talent and the Audio Academy Executive Director of the festival and Foot in the Door. Last September, Chris was surprised by the honour and chats about the accolade, how he started in the industry and his long association with Demo Factor at the SRA Con. You can book Birmingham Social tickets for 1st July - here  Y...

We find out what happened at our Liverpool Foot in the Door day, with guest producer Ella Eastaway from Moore Student Radio. Ella chatted to Aria Gold winner BBC Radio Merseyside breakfast presenter Kevin Duala, Mike Wooller, Head of Strategy and Podcasts at DMG Media and Julie Cullen, Managing Editor, BBC 5 Live, along with other students and delegates from the day.  

It’s part 2 of the ARIAS 2026, and we continue with the winners of the next 11 categories, including a Special Recognition Award for Trevor Nelson, the Radio Times Moment of the Year, the John Myers Local Station of the Year and UK Radio Station or Network of the Year. There are also backstage interviews with Gold Award winners and what happened at the after-party. 

It’s part 1 of the ARIAS 2026. We start with some Purple Carpet interviews before the ceremony, followed by the winners of the first 11 categories, including Best News, Best Speech Breakfast, Best Factual Series and Best Event Coverage, plus backstage interviews with Gold Award recipients. Early Bird Festival Tickets are available to buy on the Audio Academy Website 

South by South West Festival in Shoreditch, London, is a global festival of business, technology and creativity, packed with conferences, talks, a live music showcase and a film and screen festival. Adem Holness is Head of Music for SXSW and tells us how and when it all started, and how festivals like SXSW can shape what music stations play on the radio. Audio Academy Members can claim a discount...

It’s Eurovision week, and as the competition turns 70, we ask the UK Head of Delegation, Andrew Cartmell, how they choose our entry, what kind of influence the Eurovision Song Contest has on music radio and how it evolves and stays relevant for the next 70 years. Arias tickets, for the awards night on 21st May at The Roundhouse Camden, are available from our website audioacademy.org.uk

Jason Carter, the founder and festival director of The Podcast Show, which celebrates its 5th year this May, talks about how he first came up with the idea for the show, and how it’s changed and grown over the last 5 years. He also tells us how he keeps the content and stages fresh as podcasting continues to develop.