The “Got Talent” franchise is a global reality television series watched by millions of people around the world. It features the world’s most talented (but not yet famous) performers: singers, dancers, magicians, comedians and more. They perform for celebrity judges, competing to win a life-changing prize, as well as viewers’ hearts.
Podcast Movement’s got talent as well! Every year the speaker lineup gets better. Every year the exhibitors, workshops, meetups and networking events gets better.
Similar to the Got Talent franchise, Podcast Movement strongly believes in giving podcasters a chance to bring their A-game. We do this every year by offering an open speaker submission process, plus providing additional speaking events such as Ignite.
We even made events like PMx and the Academy of Podcasters Awards free to the public, so local podcasters not attending the rest of Podcast Movement could still participate! And we’re always evolving to continue to provide opportunities to members of the community, which leads us to…
And the winners are…
In 2018, Podcast Movement launched a new scholarship program to give a deserving few new podcasters, who are not able to afford to attend on their own, the opportunity to win a scholarship to attend the full event in Philadelphia, and act as brand ambassadors for PM18.
We had nearly 100 podcasters send us their scholarship applications, but like what happens on Got Talent, most unfortunately received the Big Red “X”, as we could only choose 6 scholarship recipients. That said – it’s time to announce the “auditions” that made it through to Philadelphia.
Betsy Cardenas – The Currently
Catherine Hefferan – Happy Soup Podcast
Laala Matias – LAaLALand Alert!!
Laura Gee – fitT1Dfoodie Life With Diabetes
Melinda Hasbrouck – Couch Sessions with Melinda Hasbrouck
Pete McPherson – The Do You Even Blog Podcas
Congratulations to these six podcasters, please consider reaching out and congratulating our PM18 scholarship winners and new PM ambassadors!
And going straight through to the live show…
This week, we’re excited to announce 14 more speakers who will be taking the main stages at Podcast Movement this summer!
Amanda McLoughlin – Multitude
Talent: Creating Great Podcasts
Session: DIY Sponsorships: Pitching Sponsors, Setting Prices and Making Money for Indie Podcasts
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): Learn how to write a great pitch, set prices for your show, find potential sponsors, and incorporate ads into your episodes—the right way.
Anna Hossnieh – Ethnically Ambiguous
Talent: Comedy
Session: Minority Voices
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): Anna will lead a discussion on what it means to be a minority voice as a podcaster, the challenges they face, and a look toward to the future of podcasting diversity.
Cathy Byrd – Fresh Art International
Talent: Art
Session: Sonic Sisters Sharing Stories—Amplifying Our Diverse Cultural Landscape
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): In this session, Cathy will invite podcasters to consider the impact of optimizing their potential to involve community voices in storytelling and to reflect on how to tell stories about important issues in new and unexpected ways.
David A. Jackson – School of Podcasting
Talent: Teaching Aspiring Podcasters How to Podcast
Session: How to Maximize Your First Impression
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): This session covers the top mistakes people make at the top of their show, and what to do instead!
Dot Cannon – Over Coffee
Talent: Engaging communities
Session: Women’s Networking Event
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): This is a special networking opportunity for women podcasters that want to connect and create new friends at the beginning of the conference.
Jeffrey Bradbury – Teacherscast
Talent: Teaching
Session: Creating a Niche Brand & Active Community that Sponsors Adore
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): This session will guide podcasters new and old through the process of escaping their audio-only confines and how to become a strong, specific brand within their niche, being recognized as an industry leader, and building a niche community that sponsors will fall in love with (and pay to talk to!), even with downloads in the hundreds, not the thousands!
Joe Saul-Sehy – Stacking Benjamins
Talent: Board Games and Dad Jokes
Session: New Attendee Orientation
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): The new attendee orientation was so popular last year that it has been brought back, this year with 2 different time slots to allow more new attendees to join. This special orientation is a must for anyone who is new to Podcast Movement, or who is just looking to best prepare for the week ahead.
Julia Schifini – Spirits Podcast
Talent: Mixing Adult Beverages and Myth Storytelling
Session: Pitching Sponsors, Setting Prices and Making Money for Indie Podcasts
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): Learn how to write a great pitch, set prices for your show, find potential sponsors, and incorporate ads into your episodes—the right way.
Kwame Christian – Negotiate Anything
Talent: Negotiations
Session: 6 Ways Podcasters Can Leverage Psychology for Growth, Influence, and Improvement
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): Participants will learn six fun and effective ways — based on psychology — to grow, ethically influence, and improve.
Lex Friedman – Midroll
Talent: Popularity
Session: My teams have generated $100M+ in Podcast Revenue. How can you make more money with your podcast?
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): This AMA will answer questions from folks about how to make more money from their podcasting. It will span ads, premium plays, merch, live events, and more.
Michael Schubert – Potterless Podcast
Talent: Quidditch
Session: Pitching Sponsors, Setting Prices and Making Money for Indie Podcasts
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): Learn how to write a great pitch, set prices for your show, find potential sponsors, and incorporate ads into your episodes—the right way.
Dr. Phyllis Hubbard – Journey to Radiance
Talent: Vibranium Handling
Session: Lessons from Wakanda – Stealth Moves to Drive Social & Narrative Change
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): This session offers practical stealth strategies to create empowered, positive social and narrative change.
Shereen Lani Younes – Ethnically Ambiguous
Talent: Filmmaking and Poetry
Session: Minority Voices
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): Shereen will participate in a session regarding what it means to be a minority voice as a podcaster, the challenges they face, and a look toward to the future of podcasting diversity.
Steven Goldstein – Amplifi Media
Talent: Smart Speaker development
Session: What Podcasters Need to Know and Prepare for with Smart Speakers
Why You Should Vote (or attend in this case): This session will discuss the impact that smart speakers will have on podcasting.
Next week, another announcement of amazing speakers coming to Podcast Movement this summer.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPRESS THE PODCAST JUDGES (YOUR AUDIENCE)?
BY MAKING THE MOST OF PM18, AND STAYING AT THE HOST HOTEL!
When podcasters come to Podcast Movement, they leave with all sorts of new knowledge, skills, and TALENT. We want YOU to make the cut when it comes time to throw it to the judges, and booking your room with us might be what it takes.
BOOK YOUR ROOM BEFORE THEY SELL OUT
Things you should:
Hit the Golden Buzzer for: “Inside The New Google Podcasts Strategy That Could Double Audiences Worldwide” – Google has a new podcasting strategy that completely reimagines how people find and listen to shows. This article is part one of an exclusive five-part series. This is part two. Part three.
Listen to the Spice Girls in honor of judge Mel B: The 28 Day Challenge begins again on May 1. This is a free community class with step by step instructions on how to go from zero to launching your podcast. If you have a friend or colleague who has wanted to start, but has lacked the courage or perceived resources, this is their chance to to take advantage of an incredible resource. Sign up here.
Celebrate, even if Simon Cowell does not: The April edition of the Podcast Movement Community New Members Spotlight is available. We encourage you to review some of the new shows, and consider connecting with the new members of the world’s greatest podcast community.
Tell your friends not to miss: Edison Research will be presenting new data and research at PM18, but in the meantime you can check out a writeup of last week’s Podcast Consumer 2018 webinar.
Set your DVR to Record (or subscribe to): We send you news and updates weekly, but if you’re looking for a daily dose of the latest in podcasting, consider subscribing to the PodNews newsletter!
Similar to a season of Got Talent… we appreciate your journey to create great podcast content. We know that this road has a lot of peaks and valleys. The Podcast Movement community is here to celebrate your victories with you, and encourage you to keep hitting record.
Team PM18
