Schedule
Podcast Learning Festival 2026
Thursday 26 February · Mary Sumner House, London
24 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3RB
Programme details are subject to change.
Welcome and Introduction
09:15–09:30
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Andrew Jacobs
Conference Hall · Lower Ground
Opening keynote
09:30–10:30
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Why Most Podcasts Don’t Grow (and What Holds Them Back)
Christina H Moore
Conference Hall · Lower Ground
Session 1
10:45-11:30​
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Talk stream
The Learning and Development Podcast
Chair: Erica Farmer
Speaker: David James
Conference Hall · Lower Ground
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Record stream
AI Tips and Tricks to Power Up Podcast Workflow
Chair: Anit Mahay
Speaker: John Helmer
Rosa Parks Room · 2nd Floor
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Change stream
The Perfect Podcast Guest and Host
Chair: Gaelle Watson
Speakers: Martin Couzins and Kirsty Lewis
Mary Sumner Room · 1st Floor
Session 2
​11:45 - 12:30
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Talk stream
AI and the Future of Podcasts and Learning
Chair: Erica Farmer
Speaker: Carolyn Shepherd
Conference Hall · Lower Ground
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Record stream
Sound Advice. Making Sense of Microphones
Chair: Anit Mahay
Speaker: Tom McDowall
Rosa Parks Room · 2nd Floor
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Change stream
Changing the Conversation. A DEI Podcast Case Study
Chair: Gaelle Watson
Speakers: Helen Woolnough and Charlotte Gardner
Mary Sumner Room · 1st Floor
Lunch
12:30–13:30
Session 3
13:30 - 14:15
Talk stream
Ask Me Anything
Chair: Hannah Frame
Speaker: Helen Marshall
Conference Hall · Lower Ground
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Record stream
Your Voice, the Message
Chair: Sarah Clayton-Jones
Speaker: Anne Leatherland
Rosa Parks Room · 2nd Floor
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Change stream
Talk That Changes Things
Chair: Adam Lacey
Speaker: Ruth Wood
Mary Sumner Room · 1st Floor
Session 4
14:30 - 15:15
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Talk stream
Women in Podcasting
Chair: Helen Marshall
Panel: Jo Cook, Hannah Frame, Jenny Garrett, Leah Garrett
Conference Hall · Lower Ground
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Record stream
The Things You Wanted to Ask (but Never Had the Chance)
Chair: Sarah Clayton-Jones
Panel: Erica Farmer and Anita Guru
Rosa Parks Room · 2nd Floor
​
Change stream
Launching Audio Learning at AO.com
Chair: Adam Lacey
Speaker: Stephen Holderness
Mary Sumner Room · 1st Floor
Closing Keynote
15:30–16:30
The Fundamentals of Podcast Discovery
Jonathan Reid
Conference Hall · Lower Ground
Summary and Close
16:30–16:45
Andrew Jacobs
Conference Hall · Lower Ground