Please note if you are attending the additional early morning session of Podcasting for Academics and Experts at 10am, please arrive at 9.45am for registration.  

10am start for Podcasting for Academics and Experts:

Dive into an early morning additional session where big ideas meet bold storytelling.  Join academics and higher education experts as they break down how to turn complex theories and high-concept arguments into compelling, accessible podcast content.  Whether you’re tackling politics, culture, science, or social issues, you’ll gain practical insight into making your ideas land with clarity, confidence and impact.  Expect thought-provoking discussion, real-world examples and plenty of inspiration to help you translate intellectual depth into content that resonates beyond your usual research communities.   

Uni Pod’s special host officially opens Uni Pod 2026.  

Podcasting is going visual – and the numbers are impossible to ignore.  Platforms like YouTube have become one of the biggest destinations for podcast audiences, with an expectation that you can watch your podcast if you want and not just listen.  From studio interviews to fully produced visual formats, video podcasts are reshaping how creators build audiences, grow communities and attract sponsors.

Join our guest speakers exploring the rise of video podcasting and what it means for creators, producers and the future of the medium. They unpack why visualised podcasts are booming, how platforms like Spotify and TikTok are accelerating the trend and what opportunities and potential drawbacks they think this poses for podcasters who want their work discovered.

If you’re curious about where podcasting is heading and want to know how to make your podcast content stand out in an increasingly visual landscape, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Your network is your net-net-net worth! and samosas are so tasty

Meet podcasters and producers from all walks of life, mingle with media experts and other attendees, we provide the samosas and intros and you do the rest.  Exchange social media handles and chat about what you do and want to do.  

Sports podcasting has exploded over the past decade, transforming how fans connect with their favourite sports and sports stars from cricket, football, boxing and beyond.  

Podcasts are becoming one of the most exciting spaces for new voices and media careers to emerge. We’ll explore how to get started and what actually goes into making a sports podcast — how creators find loyal audiences, identify gaps that mainstream sports media misses, all to turn your passion into compelling content. 

However, the industry still has serious representation gaps: with women particularly underrepresented in sports categories.

Even if sport isn’t your usual podcast listen, there’s plenty to learn from one of the fastest-growing podcast genres in the UK.

Please be advised that lunch will be served later than usual due to the late start so make sure you get some samosas in the first break to keep you going until 2. 

A hot lunch will be served from the counters in Curzon Canteen on the upper ground floor.  The options for Uni Pod attendees are burger + chips and Caribbean chicken.  Both meals have vegetarian and halal options.  If you have any allergies, please let organisers and kitchen staff know well in advance by emailing contact@unipodfest.co.uk.    You are also welcome to take a bottle of water provided.  The cost of this lunch is included in your ticket.  You are welcome to buy teas/coffees/sweets from the nearby café.  

This session explores how AI-powered tools are reshaping podcast creation; from research and scripting to editing, social media captioning, gathering data metrics, whilst critically examining who these technologies are built for and who they risk leaving behind.  Designed for a gender- and race-diverse audience, the discussion foregrounds (in)equity embedded in the podcast AI ecosystem.  Speakers will run through practical ways creators can use AI tools to lighten the podcast workload and also set out the pitfalls and possible future for what comes next.  The session aims to equip attendees with both hands-on knowledge and a critical framework for engaging with podcast AI tools. Oh and they might tell you how to generate an AI Brummie accent!

Step into a relaxed, high-energy space where great ideas meet real opportunity.  Our afternoon Network + Chill session is your chance to connect with industry insiders, share your podcast pitch and get honest, constructive feedback from people who know what makes shows stand out.  Whether you’re refining your concept or just starting out, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, sharper positioning and new connections that could take your podcast to the next level.  Come curious, bring your vision, and get ready for conversations that spark momentum!

Headline guests to be announced but who are smashing it on YouTube. 

Previous Uni Pod headliners have included George The Poet (121k followers) and Kelechi Okafor (165k followers). 

This is THE most exciting award to win for emerging audio creators.  Set up by a podcast judge expert who was Head judge for the industry’s top awards including the ARIAs and APAs.  The Uni Pod Award is sponsored by BBC Sounds and is more than just an award. The winner receives development time with a podcast industry insider and a podcast microphone to level up their setup, as well as the opportunity to have their work judged by veteran media professionals with real influence in the industry (past winners even secured a one-to-one meeting with a BBC commissioner).  It’s the kind of recognition that instantly elevates your creator profile and gives you serious credibility in the space; setting you apart from the rest added to your socials and professional profile.  It’s easy to enter, just send a paragraph about you and your podcast with a link to your podcast by April 17^th 2026 to contact@unipodfest.co.uk.  Remember to read the judging guidelines!