The Podcast Academy 2026 Open Call

Plunge into professional podcasting

The Aerowaves Podcast Academy is offering participants the chance to be mentored in the fundamentals of podcasting at the annual Spring Forward festival.

Spring Forecast’s presenter/producer Dany Mitzman is a broadcast journalist with over 25 years of experience making features for the BBC and Deutsche Welle Radio. She is the producer and presenter of Spring Forecast (the Spring Forward Festival podcast) and of the audio section of Aerowaves’ On Record multimedia archive project. Under her guidance, participants will share ideas about how to create and present podcast content; discuss interviewing, production, and presentation techniques; and gain practical experience both individually and as part of a team.

The Podcast Academy is looking for 5 participants based in Europe who are proficient in spoken English (not necessarily as a first language). The call is open to people interested in dance and the work of emerging artists, who enjoy exploring artistic themes and voices through different cultural, political and social perspectives.

As well as being mentored, the successful applicants will receive travel costs, accommodation, hospitality, and a pass to the Spring Forward festival.

What the Podcast Academy will entail:

You do not need to have any prior experience in podcast making but you should be curious and enjoy talking to people one-on-one.

We will cover the entire process of podcast making from pre-production to recording and editing, to production and presentation, and finally to post-production and publication.

Online meetings (during February – April):

– Participants will have the opportunity to share their ambitions and opinions and discuss how they would like to use their podcasting skills.
– We will look at how to use recording equipment, how to set up interviews, how to approach interviewees, and how to create a soundscape.
– We will discuss how to take your recorded material and turn it into a coherent podcast with a narrative structure that keeps listeners engaged.
– One session will be run by BBC sound engineer Rohan Madison who specialises in podcast recording, offering technical advice and tips for creating top quality audio.

During the festival:

Participants will have the chance to gain practical experience under the guidance of a mentor and a deeper understanding of the skills and tools they need. They will set up and record interviews and gain feedback and tips on turning recorded material into a finished podcast.

After the festival:

Participants will have the option of publishing one or more episodes as part of Spring Forecast under Dany’s editorial guidance.

The participants will meet online again by the end of June or beginning of July for a troubleshooting/feedback session.

Follow the Aerowaves Podcast channel

Our podcasts feature artists, their work, and what inspires them, giving the listener an inside look at contemporary dance across Europe. We also discuss wider topics around art and life whilst trying to demystify the choreographic world!

Listen to the Podcast Academy podcast episodes of Spring Forward 2025.

How to apply:

Please send us one biographical paragraph about you together with an mp3 file (maximum 1 minute) about why you would like to participate in the Podcast Academy. Feel free to be as creative as you want with your audio file!

Fill in and send the online form by 24:00 (CET) on Sunday 30 November 2025.

Our team will consider all applications. Successful applicants will be notified by email by mid December 2025.

Good luck!