Podcast events are highlights in the podcast host’s calendar as they make it possible to interact with fellow podcasters and fans, to network and establish relationships with others in the podcasting world, and they also provide you with the incredible opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business on topics catered especially to different aspects of the industry.
However, in 2020, due to the pandemic, many live, in-person events were canceled or postponed, which was a real loss for podcasters and podcast enthusiastic alike. Thankfully, some organizers found effective ways to pivot and host online, virtual events, and this trend looks to continue, at least for the first half of 2021.
There are a whole host of incredible podcast events on the cards for this year, so get your year planner out (or did we just give up buying calendars after last year?) and get ready for some outstanding podcast events.
January
Product Deepdive With Triton Digital
Date: January 21, 2021
Hosted by: Sounds Profitable
Event type: Online Event
Cost: Free
Sounds Profitable brings a recurring podcast event on the third Thursday of every month, at 4pm EST, known as Product Deepdives, with a different podcast adtech partner. This isn’t a sales pitch or a marketing powerpoint presentation, it’s an in-depth product review. Think of this like the final meeting you would have with an adtech vendor, fully running through what the product actually is and how you would practically use it. The next guest will be Daryl Battaglia of Triton Digital, walking us through their Triton Digital Podcast Metrics product, with a specific focus on all the new features for advertisers. This event is free to attend, and a major bonus of attending these events as they happen is the live Q&A after. However, if you can’t make it on the day, you can always access the replay which will be made available on demand after the premiere.
Christian Podcast Summit
Date: January 22-23, 2021
Sponsored by: Podcast Magazine
Event type: Virtual Event
Cost: $119 – $167
The next event on the calendar is the Christian Podcast Summit taking place on 22-23 January, 2021. This virtual summit aims to equip podcasters with the knowledge of how to engage their audience more effectively with less effort. It’s a two day summit with one mission: to make social media work for your podcast! There are some incredible guest speakers lined up sharing some timely information on making social media really work for your show. There are sessions covering TikTok for podcasters, why podcasters should be making use of Instagram Reels, and even a Q&A Session all about the new kid on the block, Clubhouse. And with guest speakers like Steve Olsher, Heather Parady, and even John Lee Dumas, you know you’ll come away fully equipped to take social media by storm! The Early Bird special is ending soon, so make sure you don’t miss out!
February
Africa Podfest
Date: February 12, 2021
Event type: Virtual Event
Cost: Free
February 12, 2021 is Africa Podcast Day and it is also the date of Africa Podfest 2021. Africa Podfest is an annual gathering on podcasting and the Unconference on Podcasting series. These events showcase developments in African podcasting, convene players in the new media ecosystem, and boost the production of podcasts in the region. If you want to find out more about how the podcasting industry is growing and developing in Africa, you want to learn more about the opportunities that exist in their podcasting space, or you want to be inspired by how the continent has embraced podcasting, Africa Podfest is the place to be!
Podfest Global Summit 2021 Pre-Event
Date: February 22-26, 2021
Hosted by: Podfest
Event type: Virtual Event
Podfest was created by Chris Krimitsos in 2015, and has quickly become a must-attend event. Each year, Podfest brings together podcasters and creators from all over the world. This greatly-anticipated event provides a dynamic space for podcasters to get together and talk about their passion for sharing their voice and message with the through the powerful mediums of audio and video. In February, you can get the opportunity to attend the Podfest Global Summit Pre-Event, with the main event will taking place in March.
March
Podfest Global Summit 2021
Date: March 1-5, 2021
Hosted by: Podfest
Event type: Virtual
Cost: $49 – $995
The beginning of March brings us the beginning of the official Podfest Global Summit. This event is an extension of Podfest Multimedia Expo, one of the longest running and tightest-knit communities of podcasters in the world! Their mission is to get together as many people as possible to learn, get inspired, and grow better together. On top of the quality content and camaraderie Podfest has become famous for over the years, this year, they are also attempting to break their current Guinness World Record title for the Largest Attendance for a Virtual Podcasting Conference in one week! You’ll get to hear from some amazing speakers who are experts in their field, as they deliver valuable content from the virtual stage, and you’ll have the opportunity for real-time conversation afterwards, making this event one not to be missed!
June
Podfest2021
Date: June 10-13, 2021
Place: Orlando, Florida
Hosted by: Podfest
Event type: In Person
Cost: $247 – $745
If you’re longing for an in-person podcast event, Podfest has you covered in June! As with their virtual events, the goal remains to bring together as many within the podcast industry as possible, and enable and empower them to share knowledge, and learn and grow from each other. This hub is well-loved for being the place for passionate podcasters who love the audio and video mediums, and who are driven to use these platforms to share their message and let their voices be heard. As this is their first live, in-person event since the start of the pandemic, you know the team is hard at work to make this the best Podfest yet! And to prove it, they’re promising all the latest on all things podcasting and new media. You’re able to customize your daily agenda, making sure that you get all the information you need for your show. Check out their website for more information on all the amazing tracks that are available, and start planning your Podfest today!
Two of the biggest, in-person podcast events are set to take place later this year. We are mentioning them on Part I of this topic so that you have adequate time to plan!
August
Podcast Movement
Date: August 3-6, 2021
Place: Nashville Tennessee
Hosted by: Podcast Movement
Event type: In Person
Cost: $180-$480
Each year, Podcast Movement brings together thousands of passionate podcasters and industry professionals from around the world under one roof to learn, grow professionally, and most importantly, to evolve their skills and hone their talents. In the past, over 3,000 podcasters have come together to share their knowledge and their passion for podcasting. In 2020, they had to switch their event online, and they still managed to pull of a great event! But in August this year, they’re looking forward to getting to host an incredible in-person event. The world-famous expo is also back this year, which provides great opportunities for podcasters to network and build relationships with others in the industry. They’ll be breakout sessions and panel discussions, and great keynote speakers, so there is something for everyone within the industry. There will also be a number of fun parties taking place over the course of the conference! With all this and more, it’s easy to see why it is the biggest event of its kind and a favorite on the calendar of many in the podcasting industry.
She Podcasts Live 2021
Date: TBD
Place: Scottsdale, Arizona
Event type: In Person
Price: $247 – $1,500
The powerhouse team behind the She Podcasts Live had to make the hard, but necessary, decision last year to postpone their annual event as Arizona’s COVID-19 cases had spiked considerably as the date of their event drew near. But they’re looking forward to once again hosting the largest in-person gathering of women podcasters, audio content creators, storytellers, and more. She Podcasts Live offers women audio creators a chance to learn and experience community in an environment created just for them. Through their Facebook group, they’ve created a vibrant, thriving community, and this live event gives their members the opportunity to connect in the flesh. These conferences, as well as the online group, are a safe space for women to ask questions and learn and grow from each other and is a really empowering environment for women audio creators. This year’s line-up features 6 different conference tracks, so there is definitely something for everyone, no matter what your podcasting journey looks like. You can see all the tracks, as well as their sample schedule on the event’s website here.
Closing Thoughts
These podcast events, whether in-person or virtual, are a fantastic way to make and strengthen connections, garner inspiration, and just be a part of all that is taking place in the podcasting industry the world over. Getting to engage with others who face the same challenges, and who experience similar highs and lows, is a great source of encouragement to help you along your podcasting journey, and getting to hear key insights from some of the industry experts can go a long way to helping you and your show achieve your podcasting goals, and then sum! And, with so many of these events taking on a virtual format, it will be easier than ever to fill your calendar up!
2021 certainly looks to be chock-full of some amazing podcast events! Diarize the above dates, then keep a lookout for Part II which we will share later on in the year!
What podcast events are you planning on attending this year? Let us know in the comments below.
