HigherEd PodCon II Comes to Cleveland
Building on the success of the inaugural HigherEd PodCon, which drew 150 higher education podcasting professionals to Chicago in 2025, organizers announced today that HigherEd PodCon II will be held at Corporate College®, a division of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 16–17, 2026.
The two-day conference will bring together faculty, administrators, students, and podcasting professionals from across the globe to explore the rapidly expanding role of podcasting in higher education. With more than 1,100 higher education podcasts already identified at just 191 institutions in the U.S. and Canada—and the potential for tens of thousands more across 4,000+ institutions—HigherEd PodCon II will showcase innovation, storytelling, and community-building through audio.
“The success of our inaugural conference confirmed the important role podcasting now plays in higher education,” said Dean Hoke, Chair of the HigherEd PodCon Site Selection Committee and Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Group. “We’re thrilled to partner with Cuyahoga Community College to provide an even more dynamic platform for educators and professionals who are leveraging podcasting to tell their institution’s story and build meaningful connections with their communities.”
Tri-C, Ohio’s oldest and largest community college serving more than 37,000 credit and noncredit students annually, provides an ideal setting for the conference. Under the leadership of President Dr. Michael A. Baston, J.D., Ed.D., Tri-C remains a national leader in innovative educational approaches and community engagement.
“Hosting HigherEd PodCon II aligns perfectly with our focus of fostering innovation in education and supporting the professional development of our peers,” said Dr. Baston. “Podcasting represents a powerful tool for institutions to connect with students, alumni, and the broader community. We’re honored to welcome this growing community of higher education leaders to Cleveland.”
The event’s co-organizers emphasized that HigherEd PodCon is more than just a conference—it is a hub for collaboration and creativity. Together, Joe Sallustio and Elvin Freytes (The EdUp Experience), Gregg Oldring (HigherEdPods), and Neil McPhedran (Podium Podcasts & HigherEdPods) noted that the power of podcasting in higher education lies not in numbers alone but in its ability to connect people, inspire innovation, and launch new partnerships.
Event Details
Date: July 16–17, 2026
Location: Corporate College, Cleveland, Ohio
Expected Attendance: 250+ higher education professionals from across North America
About HigherEd PodCon
HigherEd PodCon is the nation’s premier conference dedicated to exploring the role of podcasting in higher education. Launched in 2025, the event brings together faculty, administrators, students, and podcasting professionals from across North America to share best practices, showcase innovation, and build connections. The conference highlights the ways podcasting supports institutional storytelling, enhances student and alumni engagement, and strengthens community ties. HigherEd PodCon II continues this mission by offering keynotes, workshops, and networking opportunities for the growing higher education podcasting community.
This is a press release which we link to from Podnews, our daily newsletter about podcasting and on-demand. We may make small edits for editorial reasons.