Call for Speakers: Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW 2026

Podcasting is having an identity moment. The industry has never been more visible, more adopted, more legitimate—and yet it's also never felt more uncertain. Old assumptions are being questioned. New questions don't have easy answers.

At Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW 2026, we're dedicating three days to the conversations that matter most right now. And we want your voice to help shape them.

We're looking for 10-minute talks that will kick off panel discussions across our programming. These aren't product pitches or show promos—they're provocations, perspectives, and hard-won insights meant to set the table for deeper conversation.

The Themes

Mature and Fragile Podcasting is simultaneously a grown-up industry and one that feels like it's standing on shifting ground. What does sustainability look like when the landscape keeps changing? What assumptions need to be thrown out? What needs to be protected?

The Undervaluing of Creative In an industry built on storytelling, creative work often gets treated as an afterthought—underbudgeted, underappreciated, and rarely part of the business conversation. What would change if we centered creative? What are we losing by not doing so?

Global Voices, Local Truths Podcasting is a global medium, but the conversation often isn't. We want perspectives from outside the usual markets—insights on what's working elsewhere, what representation actually looks like in practice, and how the industry can better reflect the audiences it serves.

What We're Looking For

We'll select talks based on:

• Diversity of background, perspective, and experience

• Quality of thought—not polish, but substance

• Relevance to the theme

• Contribution to the arc—how your talk connects to the larger conversation across two days

Podcast Movement Evolutions is a free event, co-located at SXSW, which will reach hundreds of publishers, buyers, and brands. No passes are required. Chosen submissions will work with Podcast Movement to create a killer 10-minute talk, and all speakers will receive a $500 honorarium in addition to entry into the event.

How to Submit

Submission Link

Deadline: December 31, 2025 

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We can’t wait to see many of you in Austin this March. For those of you in the states, have a great Thanksgiving, and we’ll talk with you soon!

The Podcast Movement Team