Third Annual Vancouver Podcast Festival Returns (At Home)

November 4, 2020

5 min read

Blue cloud with a microphone stand below and text Vancouver Podcast Festival

Following an incredible second year, the Vancouver Podcast Festival, presented by DOXA, returns for its 2020 ‘At Home’ edition. The virtual festival takes place November 18-22 online. Given the pandemic, VanPodFest has refined its programming, but still offers a robust mix of live events, workshops, panels, and VanPodFest’s first-ever pitch session over the course of five days.

“Vancouver Podcast Festival (at home) may look a little different, but we’re excited to continue showcasing the best storytellers and audio producers from around Vancouver, Canada, and the globe,” says Hannah McGregor, Vancouver Podcast Festival programming committee member. “Our pared-down online programming has a little bit of something for everyone, whether you’re a brand new podcaster looking to pitch your ideas, a producer trying to put together a great show despite social distancing, or a fan excited to see your favourite podcasters live.”

Event Highlights Include:

In Conversation: Michelle Shephard (Brainwashed) and Ian Hanomansing

Brainwashed is a multi-part investigation into MKUltra in Montreal — how the CIA and Canadian government-funded secret experiments to find out whether people’s brains could be rewired and controlled. We learn about the psychiatrist who used hundreds of his patients as human guinea pigs. And discover the devastating impacts that the experiments have had — on the victims, their families, and on thousands of other people around the world.

Green-tinted close-up of an eye with the word BRAINWASHED in white distorted text across the center.

Sandy & Nora Talk Politics live recording

Sandy & Nora Talk Politics is a weekly podcast that’s required listening. Every week Sandy Hudson and Nora Loreto talk politics, radical social change, what’s currently wrong with the Left and what must happen to make it right. In this live event, the co-hosts will discuss the outcome of the American presidential election, its impact on Canada, and where we all go next.

Two people side by side with a blue circle in the center containing yellow text that reads 'SANDY NORA'.

Pop Chat live recording
Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud and the Pop Chat panel invite you in to the group chat to help make sense of the cultural drama blowing up the internet. Bringing their hottest takes to the table, join them every week as they debate, discuss and work through the pop culture discourse. The Pop Chat panel consists of: Shireen Ahmed, Angelina Chapin, Kevin Fallon, Sarah Hagi, Hussein Kesvani, Stacy Lee Kong, Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Amil Niazi, and Andrea Warner.

Yellow background with colorful speech bubbles and a large red speech bubble in the center containing the text Pop Chat in yellow.

How to Monetize Your Podcast

Can podcasts make money? Do you have to sign up with a big network, or can you do it on your own? Lauren Bercovitch and Chris Kelly from Kelly&Kelly host a workshop looking at different ways to monetize your podcast with companies like RedCircle and Supercast (both local to Vancouver!) and demonstrate that making money from your podcast doesn’t have to be hard.

Blurred glowing dollar signs in orange, white, and blue on a dark background.

VanPodFest Pitch session
Local Vancouver podcasters are given the opportunity to get feedback on their best podcast show pitch from executive producers at some of the biggest podcast networks around, including CBC Podcasts, TELUS STORYHIVE, and Canadaland.

Close-up of a microphone on a stand with a dark, blurred background and purple lighting.

Libraries, Archives, and Podcasts are Never Neutral (Amplify Podcast Network)

Join a group podcasters working at the intersections of libraries, archives, activism, and community organizing to discuss why podcasting is the perfect medium to democratize access to information and politicize how we share knowledge. Featuring Allison Jones and Karen Ng (Organizing Ideas), Yves Rees ( Archive Fever), and Kendra Cowley and María Alvarez Malvido (Communication at the Edge [forthcoming from Amplify Podcast Network]).

Interior of a modern multi-level library with white walls, numerous bookshelves, staircases, and people sitting and walking.

Producer’s Roundtable

VanPodFest gathers a group of high-level producers to talk about the challenges of producing podcasts virtually. What are their best practices? What kind of studio setup do they recommend at home? How do you get a good performance from your hosts? Find out how to produce a studio-quality podcast in the comfort of your own home.

Two microphones on adjustable arms and two pairs of headphones on a wooden table in a modern office with brick walls and glass partitions.

Narrative News Panel

Many current events podcasts are created with narrative structure in mind, and employ strategies used by nonfiction podcasts to tell real life stories. How do they pull it off? What roadblocks arise? And when do the lines of journalism become blurred? This panel will feature local people and perspectives.

Close-up of a gold and black microphone in front of a laptop screen displaying green audio waveforms.

Additional online workshops from Vancouver Public Library’s Inspiration Lab enable podcasters to hone their own production skills. And, for podcast creators or businesses looking to connect further with the community, the Vancouver Podcast Fest’s Virtual Podfair Happy Hour on Friday, Nov. 20, hosted by Hannah McGregor (Witch, Please and Secret Feminist Agenda) and Andrea Warner (Pop This! and Pop Chat) will provide a fun online hangout opportunity for attendees and guests to get to know each other.

Festival passes and individual tickets are on sale now. Event prices range from free or pay-what-you-can to $5 (students/seniors/reduced income) and $10 (adults) per ticketed event, and $25 (full festival pass).

Vancouver Podcast Festival

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