Your Next Chapter: Podcast Pioneers and Innovators

Kate Helen Downey on Why Live Audio Works Best When You Throw Out the Template

Kate Helen Downey is a podcast producer and live-event creator who's adapted popular podcasts like Revisionist History, Scamfluencers, and Glamorous Trash for the stage. In this episode of Your Next Chapter, Kate and JT dig into what live events can offer podcasters beyond ticket sales. Kate shares how her background in theater shaped her approach to live audio, why there's no single "right" format for live audio, and how risk and experimentation in events can turn fans into a community. Relevant links: Listen to Kate's new podcast, ⁠⁠Cramped⁠⁠ Follow Kate on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ Book a consultation with Kate ⁠here⁠ Follow JT on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Arielle Nissenblatt on Why In-Person Events Are Bringing Hope Back to Podcasting

Arielle Nissenblatt is one of the most trusted voices in podcast community building. Outside of her official role as Director of Community and Content at Pinwheel, Arielle organizes local community events for New York podcasters on limited budgets. In this episode of Your Next Chapter, Arielle and JT explore the value of hosting and attending community events, whether major conferences or small local networking events. She shares how she defines success for community events, why a bit of “woo woo” opens up doors, and how events are bringing hope back to the industry. Relevant links: Follow Arielle on LinkedIn⁠ Read Arielle’s podcast recommendation newsletter, ⁠Earbuds Podcast Collective⁠ ⁠Attend future events hosted by Arielle in NYC⁠ Follow JT on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram

Chioke I'Anson Wanted to Make a Non-Boring Conference — Here's How Resonate Is Doing It

Dr. Chioke I’Anson is the founder of the Resonate Podcast Festival in Richmond, Virginia. He joined JT fresh off Resonate's fourth year to talk about how the festival has evolved into a hub for narrative audio makers. In this conversation, Chioke explains the inspiration behind the festival and why it has centered creativity in its programming. Chioke also shares the strategy behind Pitch Party—the Shark Tank-style competition that has launched real deals—and how taking pitches public can spark the momentum creators need. Plus, Chioke and JT workshop how to design a first-time event from scratch, why retreats beat conferences, and what’s ahead for Resonate in 2026 and beyond (including a potential international edition). Relevant links: Follow Chioke I'Anson on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Learn more about Resonate Podcast Festival: ⁠https://www.resonatepodfest.com/⁠ Listen to the Pitch Party Podcast: ⁠https://tinkmedia.co/pitch-party Follow JT on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Bryan Barletta on the Sounds Profitable-Podcast Movement Merger & the Future of Podcasting Events

Bryan Barletta is the founder of Sounds Profitable and the new President of Podcast Movement, following a major industry merger. He sat down with JT to discuss the acquisition that brought Sound Profitable's team and ethos into Podcast Movement, and what this means for the future of podcasting's largest event. Together, they explore how Podcast Movement is evolving to become more community-driven, with peer-selected panels, faster content distribution, and more accessible pricing for creators. Bryan also shares practical advice for crafting events that provide real value and connection in this digital industry. Relevant links: Follow Bryan Barletta on LinkedIn⁠ Sounds Profitable: https://soundsprofitable.com⁠ Podcast Movement: https://podcastmovement.com⁠ Follow JT on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠

Building Cross-Border Audio Communities with Eurowaves’ Andreea Coscai

Andreea Coscai is the creator of Eurowaves, a growing hub for European podcasters, and a marketing and community manager at Tink Media and EarBuds Podcast Collective. She sat down with JT to discuss the state of the European podcasting market and community. Together, they discuss the challenges and opportunities for podcasters to collaborate across languages and borders. Andreea also shares examples of European podcasts to check out — plus her take on emerging podcast events across the continent. Resources and links mentioned: Follow Andreea on Substack, Instagram and LinkedIn Andreea’s article for Podcast Marketing Magic on cross-border promotion Andreea’s Podcast Recommendations: Titania, The Europeans, Lost Cells, WePod