The Audio Academy Podcast

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 pitches, and developing the skills needed to succeed in the audio industry.

Bournemouth Social is tonight 29th July 2026 and we have a Newcastle Social on 4th August 2026. There’s still time to book your tickets for both of these. It’s free for Audio Academy members and just £4 for non members - book your tickets at the Audio Academy Website

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 experience has shaped her work and passion for giving others a voice. 

You can buy Audio Academy Festival tickets here  and book your 1-2-1 session. 

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 advice on what to do—and what to avoid—when pitching ideas.

Bok here for the London (16th July) and Newcastle (4th August) Summer Socials 

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 conversations with Nicky Campbell, Marianna Spring from Top Comment, Dilly Carter from Sort Your Life Out: Unpacked, and Fun Kids' Dan Simpson.

Apply or nominate for 30 Under 30 here 

Book tickets for the London summer social on 16th July here 

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.

The Aiir Audio Academy 30 Under 30 for 2026 is open now - apply or nominate here

Check out our social events in Birmingham, Crossed Wires in Sheffield and London here 

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 Academy Members can view Valerie's Festival Session here and access the 30% discount code for Valerie's book Beyond Powerful Radio here

If you are not a member then details of how to join the Audio Academy are here

Tickets for the Birmingham Social on 1st July are available here

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 

You can book London Summer Social tickets for 16th July - here

Audio Academy Festival tickets for 1st October and details of the freelancer early bird rate are - here 

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