Your Next Chapter: Podcast Pioneers and Innovators

Inside Audio Spice's Experimental Approach to Community Events

When audio producer Vivien Schütz moved from Germany to New York City, she was searching for her people. After meeting producer Max Wasserman at On Air Fest, they decided to build a space for audio makers that felt nothing like traditional networking — and Audio Spice was born. Three years later, Audio Spice has grown into one of New York City's most beloved audio communities, hosting free, sound-focused gatherings for creatives across the city. Their magic lies in their variety, as no two events are the same. They've played audio trivia, smashed piñatas filled with creative prompts, danced in the dark, hosted community skill shares, and so much more. And they've done it all on a zero-dollar budget. In this episode, JT sits down with Vivien and her co-organizer Laura Rojas Aponte to hear what it takes to build a creative community from scratch. They get into how they secure venues, navigate unpredictable attendance, and figure out what sustainability looks like for a volunteer-run collective. Relevant links: * Learn more about Audio Spice here: https://www.instagram.com/audio_spice/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/audio_spice/]  * Follow JT on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwwjt/] and ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/itmejt/?hl=en]

Giles Gear Built a Global Comedy Podcast Festival with No Investment — Here’s the Blueprint

Giles Gear is the founder of Cheerful Earful, an international comedy podcast festival held in London, Melbourne, and New York City each October.  In this conversation, Giles shares the remarkable grassroots story of how he built this three-continent festival from zero investment. Together, Giles and JT explore the state of comedy podcasting, why indie shows with dedicated followings can outsell big names, and the creative venue strategies that make large-scale events financially sustainable. Relevant links: * Learn more about Cheerful Earful & the Golden Lobes here: ⁠https://cheerfulearful.co.uk⁠ [https://cheerfulearful.co.uk/] * Follow Giles on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [http://linkedin.com/in/giles-gear-7b200135?originalSubdomain=uk] and ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DPtRjPADO-w/] * Follow JT on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwwjt/] and ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/itmejt/?hl=en]

Radiodays' Peter Niegel on Navigating AI, Trust, and Growth in the Global Audio Ecosystem

Peter Niegel is the CEO of Radiodays, one of the most influential global conferences for audio professionals. He's also a longtime media analyst at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, where he's spent more than 25 years studying the industry's evolution. Radiodays began as a European conference and has since expanded into a truly global platform, with events across Europe, Asia, and North America. In this episode of Your Next Chapter, Peter and JT discuss how cooperation among international markets sparks innovation and curiosity in the industry. They also dig into the rise of AI in audio; where it helps, where it could harm, and why trust and credibility remain essential as new technologies flood the space. Relevant links: * Follow Peter on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-niegel-b66291/] * Learn more about Radiodays Europe's upcoming conference in Riga ⁠here⁠ [https://radiodayseurope.com/] * Follow JT on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwwjt/] and ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/itmejt/?hl=en]

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 [https://www.katehelendowney.com/cramped] * Follow Kate on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-helen-downey/] and ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/katehelendowney/?hl=en] * Book a consultation with Kate ⁠here⁠ [https://www.katehelendowney.com/] * Follow JT on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwwjt/] and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/itmejt/?hl=en]

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielle-nissenblatt/] * Read Arielle’s podcast recommendation newsletter, ⁠Earbuds Podcast Collective⁠ [https://earbuds.audio/] * ⁠Attend future events hosted by Arielle in NYC⁠ [https://luma.com/user/usr-tbxhSOQBWOumfni] * Follow JT on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwwjt/] and ⁠Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/itmejt/?hl=en]