Want to know the history of the Shure SM7 microphone? There’s a podcast for you. Interested in the inner thoughts of Black feminist dominatrixes? Okay, there’s a podcast for that. Oh, so you’re into ethereal haunted house stories that mostly take place over answering machines? Well, cool, there’s a podcast about that, too.
Now there’s the inaugural Resonate podcast festival, presented by the ICA at VCU, happening this weekend. The two-day event includes workshops with industry leaders in the VPM + ICA community media center, a live podcast pitch competition, one-on-one consultations, exhibitions, and special performances featuring Sharon Mashihi of “Appearances” and Nick van der Kolk of “Love + Radio.”
Partly inspired by Third Coast and Sound Scene, the idea was to have an event that would celebrate all the best aspects of podcasting while also being educational. Chioke I’Anson, ICA at VCU director of community media, recalls enduring far too many dry, boring conferences. “I wanted Resonate to be exciting even as it was informative,” he says. “And, crucially, I didn’t want it to start early in the morning.”
Professional podcasters will lead sessions on all aspects of podcast production from scoring to long-form narrative, marketing and promotion. Workshops take place in the VPM + ICA community media center, a production studio, classroom, and workspace. Anyone can come in and reserve time in the recording booth for free or speak to staff about an idea that they’re working on.
One-on-one consultations will be offered to attendees by the Association for Independents in Radio (AIR) who put together a roster of experts to help with podcast problems. “Think of it like a quick auto tune-up where you go in with an issue and leave with a fix,” I’Anson says. “The experts on hand are kind of serious. One of them co-created The Daily.” He also recommends those who have a ticket might want to sign up in advance.
Earlier this year, VPM invited established and aspiring podcasters to pitch their best idea for a chance to receive funding and production support to produce a pilot episode of their show. Submissions could not have been published and had to align with one or more of these genres: arts and culture, history, science, news or education. Over 60 submissions were received, all of a very different nature.
“Oh, man, choosing the finalists for the pitch party was one of the hardest things I think I’ve ever done,” I’Anson recalls. “At least 20 of them were spectacular and deciding on the final three was agony. I do not envy our judges.” The three finalists will present their ideas at the pitch party this weekend in front of a panel of judges and a live audience for a chance to win the top prize of a $10,000 production contract from VPM.
Pundits have suggested that part of podcasting’s appeal is that it allows the listener to multitask, but I’Anson has his own thoughts on that.
“I think the appeal of podcasting is the intimacy of the naked voice,” he says. “I think it’s much easier to connect with this medium that removes the things that we might judge at first sight and puts a voice directly into our ears.”
Attendees can listen to newly commissioned audio works at the media center’s podcast art installation throughout the festival. Individual listening stations will feature audio pieces from Levels Up Academy, a summer program where young adults were taught podcast production skills, and selected works from James T. Green, considered one of the most impressive sound designers working in podcasting right now. “You can also listen to ‘The Secrets Hotline,’ a podcast in which people tell their darkest secrets,” I’Anson says. “You’ll feel really weird after listening to that.”
As if workshops, performances, consultations, and a pitch party weren’t enough, l’Anson says there will also be snacks. “The finest seltzers. The saltiest chips. There might even be a Pop Tart or two,” he deadpans. “Listen, there aren’t many tickets left. Everyone reading this should go register before we sell out. I got a promo code for you: resonatewithus. It’s good for 50% off.”
As for why podcasts have become such a cultural force, l’Anson is absolutely certain.
“Have you ever tried driving I-64 without a podcast?”
Resonate Podcast Festival will be held this Friday, Oct. 14 through Saturday, Oct. 15 at the ICA at VCU, 601 W. Broad St., icavcu.org
Full disclosure: Style Weekly is owned by a subsidiary of VPM though we are not involved with the production of this festival.
