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SXSW Sydney is placing podcasting at the centre of the conversation this October, with the most comprehensive programming ever assembled at the festival. Join us for podcasting's biggest moment across two dedicated stages and woven throughout the conference program.
One stage examines the infrastructure, economics, and strategy determining which voices scale. The other celebrates the intimacy and creative possibilities that make audio uniquely powerful.
Beloved podcasts are leaving your headphones for the festival floor. From Gary Jubelin’s I Catch Killers dissecting financial crime, to Mamamia Out Loud’s decade-long-blueprint, to The Guardian recording Full Story live, the Podcast Stage delivers cultural moments that feel intimate even in a packed room.
Catch these sessions LIVE on the Podcast Stage:
Intelligent Money: AI, Blockchain, and the Future of Finance
Discover how blockchain and AI are reshaping finance today, from Australia’s landmark Project Acacia to the future of digital currencies, in this live podcast and meetup with NotCentralised and the Aus DeFi Association.
I Catch Killers - Live
Ex-homicide detective Gary Jubelin and financial crime survivor Tracy Hall unpack the rise of AI-driven scams, global cyber syndicates, and modern fraud in a gripping live recording of I Catch Killers.
We Can't See the Future: Two Global Futurists Explore Unlimited Possibilities
Futurists Neil Redding and Jo Lepore explore how rapid AI advancement is reshaping the human experience, raising profound questions about our tech-enabled future.
Hard Tech, Fast Money: The Quantum Startup Hustle
Discover how NSW is emerging as a global quantum powerhouse, as founders, engineers and investors unpack how breakthroughs are moving from research labs to commercial reality, and what it takes to build in this high-stakes frontier.
Small Populations, Massive Impact: How Islands are Unlocking Global Health Breakthroughs
Explore how nations like Barbados are emerging as unexpected health tech hubs, using their unique infrastructure to drive breakthroughs in epidemiology and cardiac diagnostics while advancing global AI models with diverse data.
Handle with Care: What if the internet was designed by and for kids?
As the internet grows more dystopian, this panel asks: what if kids designed the digital future? Advocates, regulators, and young people explore how we can build an online world they truly deserve.
Mamamia Out Loud Podcast - LIVE: Audience, Trust & Risk: The 10-year Mamamia Out Loud Growth Blueprint
Mamamia Out Loud has stayed at the top of Australia’s podcast charts for over a decade. Mia Freedman, Jessie Stephens and Holly Wainwright share the strategies, risks and insights behind building lasting audience trust and cultural relevance.
Down Payment on Tomorrow: Insuring Earth's Future
As climate impacts escalate, this session spotlights how finance is driving resilience, with experts sharing case studies on investment strategies, insurance risks, and the frameworks turning climate science into actionable financial decisions.
Design Speaks Weekly - LIVE
In this live recording of Design Speaks Weekly, Georgia Birks, Elizabeth Farrelly and Ross Harding unpack the barriers facing Australian architects amid climate and housing crises, and explore bold visions for a self-sufficient, sustainable future.
This Song is Yours with Trials - LIVE
Acclaimed songwriter and producer trials joins Simon Finck (This Song Is Yours) for an intimate conversation about his evolving creative journey, from A.B. Original to solo work, production, and composing for screen.
Date with Tait - LIVE
Tait McGregor brings her hit dating show to the stage, turning intimate artist interviews into live “first dates” that reveal the personal side of music’s biggest names through unfiltered conversations and on-stage chemistry.
Mental as Anyone - LIVE: Practical Solutions for Australia’s Mental Health Challenge
Author and advocate Jonathon Moran leads a dynamic, solutions-focused conversation with public figures, exploring practical ways to strengthen resilience, build supportive cultures, and turn mental health awareness into real action.
Mark Pesce Podcast Interview
Futurist, author, and metaverse pioneer Mark Pesce joins for a wide-ranging podcast conversation, sharing insights from decades at the forefront of technology, innovation, and cultural change.
Innovating for Impact: Emerging Tech Unpacked and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals
A live podcast and interactive workshop exploring how emerging technologies are driving advocacy, accessibility, and elite sports, followed by a collaborative dive into the UN Sustainable Development Goals to inspire local action and global impact.
The Evolution of the South Asian Music Market
The live podcast dives into South Asia’s rapidly expanding music scene, exploring how streaming, touring, and tech are reshaping the industry and creating new export and collaboration opportunities with Australia.
Beyond Reality LIVE: Behind TV’s Most Addictive Shows
Go behind the scenes of Australia’s biggest reality hits in this live podcast as top TV execs unpack how unscripted formats are made, adapted for changing audiences, and primed for the future.
MIK Studio presents Show Notes, the SXSW Sydney stage dedicated to exploring the podcasting industry. Over three days of unflinching industry interrogation and celebration, platform executives from Spotify, Acast, Nova, and Mamamia reveal what's actually working. Hear directly from executives from Sportify, Acast, Nova, Mamamia and independent creators including Myf Warhurt, Mitch Churi, and Vivienne Kelly. Sessions tackle monetisation, sports media political independence, brand partnerships and the shifts from downloads to empires. Join them in having honest conversations about what’s working now and what comes next.
Explore the Show Notes podcasting industry sessions:
Plugged In: How Brand Integration is Driving Podcast Creativity
Discover how Overnight Experts turned branded content into a storytelling superpower, as hosts Sam and Chris reveal how insights-driven partnerships transformed their podcast into a trusted knowledge platform.
Moneyball for Sports Media: How Podcasters Win Fans
Dylan Buckley and Clubby Sports reveal how independent creators are reshaping sports media, using podcasting, data, and community to outplay legacy broadcasters and build loyal fan networks.
In Sync: The Chemistry Behind Australia's Favourite Co-Hosts
Ryan Jon, Luisa Dal Din, and Jack Archdale unpack the trust, chemistry, and creative balance that make podcast duos thrive, with talent coach Craig Bruce offering expert insights from iconic partnerships.
Independent Voices: The Rise of Political Podcasting in Australia
Vivienne Kelly leads a candid conversation with Antoinette Lattouf, Jan Fran, and Osman Faruqi on how podcasting is fuelling a new wave of independent media in Australia, giving creators freedom, direct audiences, and space for critical perspectives.
Legacy to Loyalty: Reinventing Entertainment for the Attention Economy
Myf Warhurst and Mitch Churi join Amelia Chappelow to unpack how reinvention, audience interaction, and sharp strategy are reshaping podcasting in an era of fractured attention.
We Don't Have Time For This Live feat. Ryan Jon
Beloved hosts Gem and Revz bring their hit parenting podcast to the SXSW stage, sharing how they keep content fresh, build a fiercely loyal community, and balance honesty with boundaries, plus a special dad’s-eye view from Ryan Jon.
Sound Check: Podcast Insights From The Inside
Leaders from Spotify, Acast, Nova, Mamamia, and MIK Studio unpack the state of podcasting, the rise of vodcasts, and the platform strategies and trends driving the industry’s next phase.
Flip The Script: How Podcasts Can Reshape The Narrative
Gary Jubelin, Kayla Jade and Clare Stephens explore how podcasting can challenge institutions, amplify marginalised voices and rebuild trust through bold, thought-provoking storytelling.
The Rise Of An Empire: From Good Podcast To Great Business
Guy Scott-Wilson, Josh Lindgren, Jordan Michaelides and Rosie Waterland unpack how top creators turn podcasts into thriving multimedia empires, through IP protection, smart partnerships, and growth beyond downloads.
Streaming Deeper: Video, Podcasts, and the Next Wave of Growth
This panel explores how long-form video is transforming podcasting, deepening engagement, expanding reach, and driving new revenue, while sharing practical strategies, platform tips, and AI-powered production hacks.
SXSW Sydney’s podcast programming extends across the event. Highlights include Billion-Viewer Platforms and Mega-Deal Makers, where Steve McLendon (Head of Product, YouTube Podcasts) and Josh Lindgren (Head of Podcasts, CAA) join moderator Liz Keen to explore how platforms are reshaping the industry; Is Podcast the Democratic Medium It Set Out To Be? And Is It Good For Democracy?, a provocative panel debate; and a special live edition of ABC’s If You’re Listening with Matt Bevan.
And let's not forget superstars of podcasting including Lucy Blakiston, Simran Kaur and Wendy Zukerman, all appearing on sessions across the conference.
Whether you're building shows, backing them, or obsessed with where audio, video and the creator economy is headed, this is where industry meets artform.
Explore these sessions further on our app and plan your week at SXSW Sydney. Don’t have a pass? Secure yours today.
