Listen to These Podcasts to Get Ready for Global Voices

Sep 27th

There is just one week to go until the International Women’s Podcast Festival 2024! One of the best and most unique things about this festival is how the word ‘international’ is truly accurate. The Global Voices stage of the festival is a chance to join in from anywhere in the world for an online series of panels, discussions and workshops from podcasters across the globe.

We believe that it is important to amplify what is happening in global podcasting. Not only is it a chance to learn from other professionals who might have different approaches, but it is a chance to hear stories from around the world. It opens up our own experience as listeners, and as podcasters we can find out different techniques, preferences for styles and ideas for creating our own unique shows.

We’re sharing some recommendations from our Global Voices speakers so that you can find out more about their work before you watch them at our Online Festival this year.

I LIKE NETWORKING

One show from our speakers that could be particularly useful before coming along to the International Women’s Podcast Festival is Isabel Sachs’ I LIKE NETWORKING. Isabel is an entrepreneur and public speaker with over eighteen years of experience in the creative industries, and her podcast is an extension of her networking program for women and non-binary people in that space. Speaking to experts from design, fashion, visual arts, and theatre, unpacking how they have designed their careers and sharing advice on how you can actually enjoy networking. If you want a podcast that will make you feel confident no matter what room you walk into, this one is a good choice. Isabel will be hosting the Sports Podcasting Panel on our Global Voices Stage. Listen to I LIKE NETWORKING here.

KABRAZEN

The KaBrazen podcast from the LAM Sisterhood is a children’s podcast that reimagines the stories of beautifully brazen women from Africa. We’ve written before about the value of creating podcasts in multiple languages, and this show creates every episode in both English and Kiswahili. In both versions, the host Auntie Shishi gives space for the listener to get involved, practising pronunciations of names and sing along. Whilst this is a podcast aimed at children, there is so much in this show for adult listeners – the music and sounds are wonderfully integrated, and whilst there is joy in the stories, they don’t shy away from some sad contexts at times. Two seasons are currently available of the show, which won the APVA Award for Best Children’s Podcast 2023. Aleya Kassam from The LAM Sisterhood is speaking on the Audio Drama and Storytelling Panel at this year’s Global Voices stage. Listen to KaBrazen here.

DOPE LABS

A podcast that received endorsements from notable figures including former First Lady Michelle Obama, Dope Labs was a Spotify Studios podcast created by MegaOhm Media. Its mission was to bring out the inner scientist in their listeners and being hosted by two best friends (and very dope scientists), Titi and Zakiya, there is a good balance of buddy-pod in there too. Dope Labs explored the idea of scientific principles in an engaging and relatable way (which is why we asked Zakiya to host an online workshop about turning boring facts into engaging podcasts!). The show covered a vast range of topics by using cultural touchstones as starting points, such as Mothers Day to look at maternal healthcare, or the Tinder Swindler as a starting point to explain cybersecurity. Sadly the podcast is no longer active, but the topics are still relevant and worth rediscovering. Listen to Dope Labs here.

CASEFILE PRESENTS TROUBLED WATERS

“I’m still worried about all the things in Australia that could kill you…” I like to think that this offhand comment from one of the contributors in this true crime podcast was put in because of the irony. It is true that many people from the UK looking in on Australia are concerned with the wildlife, but this show is focused on more malicious deaths. Troubled Waters is a new ten-part series from Casefile. The second podcast by Julia Robson, a Melbourne based Investigator, it explores the tragic and mysterious death of a young woman in 2011. Louisa Ioannidis was only 24 when her body was discovered in a local creek by passers-by (one of whom uttered the above passing comment). Her death was concluded to have ‘no suspicious circumstances’ but for Louisa’s family and friends, the circumstances surrounding how or why she came to be in the creek – in her dressing gown – have never been satisfactorily explained. Julia is speaking on the Investigative Podcasts Panel. Listen to Troubled Waters here.

BLOODLINES

Bloodlines is a joint production between BBC Asian Network, BBC Sounds and CBC, and that collaboration of resources, viewpoints and storylines may be part of what made this an multi-award winning investigative podcast. Another factor is no-doubt Poonam Taneja who is the host and reporter of Bloodlines. This podcast considers the aftermath of the war against the Islamic State, and asks – what became of the children of IS fighters? In particular, Poonam is tracking the story of two-year-old Salmaan, who disappeared in Syria in 2011. In London, his grandfather is still desperately searching for answers, and Poonam’s reporting takes her into dangerous territory to find out what happened to Salmaan and thousands of children like him. As an investigative journalist Poonam has reported from Syria, Afghanistan, Bosnia, India and many more countries and she is hosting our Investigative Podcasts Panel on the Global Voices stage. Listen to Bloodlines here.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE ROAD

For those wanting a little bit of light-hearted horror (especially at this time of the year) Slaughterhouse Road by Sydney-based writer and producer Jess Hamilton is my new go-to recommendation. Self-styled as “an australiana romantic horror musical podcast” we get perfect pacing between the dulcet narration from Jess and the comedic-noir of the songs. With lyrics such as “there’s nothing in the world like the sound of a cow’s last moo” (from a tune in the first episode that apparently evolved from a very funny jam with mates) the comedy is dark, and the romance is honey-sweet – a phrase that makes sense when you start listening! Jess is speaking on the Audio Drama and Storytelling Panel alongside Ella Watts and Aleya Kassam. Listen to Slaughterhouse Road here.

PLUS MANY MORE!
  • One of the Content is Queen podcast picks of 2023, Black Earth Podcast sees environmental leader, Marion Atieno Osieyo, celebrating nature and black women leaders in the environmental movement. Marion is speaking on the Activism for Podcasters Panel alongside Youmna El Sayed and Attika Choudhary.
  • Wheel It Up F1 features three friends Simone, Chanise and Anita who love F1 and each race week they bring listeners race reviews, F1 gossip, opinions, banter and a whole lot of laughs. Simone is talking on our Sports Podcasting Panel alongside Suzy Wrack, Viviane Favery Costa and Isabel Sachs.
  • Mo! Sibyl is a Nigerian-born, US-educated, Korean-speaking, self-described “Struggling Intellectual”. The More Sibyl Podcast is about culture and culture nomads designed for Black listeners and Asian listeners – and those who love them.
  • The MTB PASS GREGARIO podcast is an interview program all about mountain biking. It’s hosted by Viviane Favery, a two-time Brazilian champion mountain bike athlete, commentator for Red Bull TV and panellist on our Sports Podcasting panel.

This is still just a taste of the incredible audio that our speakers have created! You can listen to podcasts from all speakers from London event and Global Voices over on our Spotify playlist.

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We’re thrilled to share that this year our Global Voices online festival sessions will be free to access as part of the International Women’s Podcast Festival on 4th October. Head to festival.contentisqueen.org to see the stellar programme we’ve lined up for you or grab those tickets now.