On Air Fest expands

• After eight years, On Air Fest is to expand, “into an always-on cultural organization producing live shows, special projects, and brand + creator collaborations”. The Ambies awards ceremony will be part of On Air Fest in NYC next February. On Air @ Ludlow House is to host live tapings with creative storytellers and podcasters every fortnight; there is also the return of On Air Fest LA in November. (Disclosures)

• A new podcast and radio production service run by an experienced audio executive has launched the Accent Academy, a free, one-year development programme for emerging creators. A small number of selected creators will be given the tools to build smarter formats, stronger shows and standout storytelling – with 100% IP retained.

• Yesterday’s story about the AI slop podcasting company certainly kicked off some discussion. Matt Deegan writes: “My biggest surprise about the Inception Point AI crowd is what a poor job they’ve done with it.” Mark Francis reckons they’ve inflated the number of episodes they claim to be making. And Eric Nuzum says “It’s all a steaming pile of hot garbage. It is truly, deeply, profoundly terrible.”

  • Listen Notes removed 4,063 podcasts from its database last month after determining that they were wholly priced with AI. Since December last year, it has removed 29,435 shows. The data is available here.

• A new monthly networking event for podcasting has been set up in London. Called The Podcast Social. it’s sponsored by The Dean Street Podcast Studio.

• Lemonada Media released its fall “audio and video” slate. including its newest original series, “Don’t Listen To Us,” a new advice show hosted by Mandy Patinkin and his wife, Kathryn Grody.

Thank you to our latest personal supporter, Phil Tower. The host and producer of WOOD’s West Michigan Weekend, and also hosting and producing a podcast on aging, This Day and Age, he tells us he’s pleased to become a monthly supporter because he’s been a reader for years. Thank you, Phil - for helping pay for Podnews for everyone. We’re grateful to you! You can be like Phil, by supporting us here.

Exclusive webinar series on podcast growth

Paid content

The Podcast Study: Growth is here, and the insights are game-changing. Join Point-To-Point Marketing and Strategic Solutions Research for an exclusive webinar series where we unpack the full results of this nationwide study.

• 11 Sep (today!): How to deepen loyalty and engagement with your existing audience
• 25 Sep: Strategies for discovery, trial, and conversion
• 9 Oct: How contests, hosts, and branding drive long-term success

We’ll reveal what drives listeners to connect, subscribe, and stay loyal, along with the strategies that creators and executives can put into action right away.

Whether you’re focused on audience growth, monetization, or deeper engagement, these sessions will give you a clear roadmap forward. Reserve your spot now at ThePodcastStudy.com

People News

• The Podglomerate has hired two new marketing managers. Erin Weiss moves from PodcastOne; Stephan Moore comes via Pushkin Industries.

Tips and tricks - with Patreon

Podcaster burnout is real. Transistor posts How to deal with burnout as a podcaster.

Podcast News

The award-winning Bear Brook has a new episode: with news that the case has finally been solved. But that new discovery raises new questions. It’s from NHPR.

Live long and prosper - N2K’s T-Minus Space Daily reached its 600th episode this week. As the only daily space intelligence podcast - that is hosted by a real human anyway - they hit the milestone on Star Trek Day.

This week on True Crime Prevention Podcast, dance instructor turned activist Jess Michaels tells the full spine-chilling story of her 1991 assault by Jeffrey Epstein. Living with PTSD from her encounter with the serial sex trafficker, hear how she’s turned her pain into purpose by fighting for survivors, and why she’s calling on the administration to release the files.

Keeping the Zoo is a brand new audio is a comedy sitcom set in a financially struggling zoo, about a group of employees trying to save the zoo from closing. In this first episode, Alan needs a new colleague, or else how will the team cope if an animal escapes?

On SoloMoms! Talk this week, we kick off Season 8 with Amanda Carrasco sharing her story of overcoming childhood trauma. Amanda is a solo mom of 4 children who has earned multiple college degrees including two law degrees while raising her children alone. This is a story of courage and resilience that will empower you to think, “why not me”?