Live Podcast Festival in LA Begins November 3

 With COVID protocols withering away, and the thirst people have for social interaction, live podcasting is back again in a big way. Before the COVID tornado, live podcasting had gained momentum among podcasters and listeners. 

For podcasters, live podcasts enable them to strengthen bonds with listeners and build a new audience and solidify the loyalty of existing listeners. "Pressing the flesh, "off-air conversations" with listeners and small-group conversations can do wonders for downloads and donations. 

According to podcast consultant George Witt, "The energy that is generated by live shows is palpable and so valuable for podcast hosts. At a live event, they can hear and see feedback on their show in real time. There’s no substitute for that immediacy.

Witt adds, "It’s the connection with the audience that is key. It’s about loyalty. It’s about building on a relationship. Plus, we do see an increase in downloads after the live shows, and I think the live events build long-term listener loyalty."

So, it's big news that from November 3rd-5th, On Air LA Annex returns to Southern California for a three-day series of performances, conversations and live podcast tapings from the artists and storytellers defining the current moment in sound. Hailed as "the Coachella of podcast festivals" (Fast Company), "showing how creativity, branding, and the power of the human voice can come together" (Forbes), the bicoastal, Brooklyn-based festival's first Los Angeles edition in three years will showcase a sweeping lineup of leaders, inspired listeners and trailblazing new voices in the city's audio scene, from the hosts of Vulture's Into It and KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, to Los Angeles Poet Laureate Lynne Thompson and much more announced today.

Unfolding across venues including the KCRW HQ in Santa Monica, the brand new dublab warehouse, and alternative comedy hub Dynasty Typewriter, the On Air LA Annex will present an unparalleled, multidisciplinary slate of programming that has just been expanded with exciting new additions. Joining the schedule alongside Sam Sanders (Host, Into It), Anthony Valadez (Host, Morning Becomes Eclectic), Novena Carmel (Host, Morning Becomes Eclectic), Lynne Thompson (Los Angeles Poet Laureate), Ariel Shapiro (Lead Reporter, Hot Pod), and more than a dozen other creators, comedians, and executives are exclusive world premieres from acclaimed producer Shima Oliaee, for ESPN's 30 for 30, as well as Unlicensed, a new Audible Original podcast from the creators of long-running hit Welcome to Night Vale, plus a live taping of Object of Sound, the acclaimed Sonos Radio podcast hosted by Hanif Abdurraqib.

On Thursday, November 3rd, during night one of the LA Annex at KCRW HQ, On Air will present the first listen of Pink Card, the new series from ESPN's 30 for 30 and Shima Oliaee, co-creator of Peabody Award-winning podcast Dolly Parton's America. As the first breakout solo series from the prolific producer and first-generation Iranian-American, Oliaee delivers what is perhaps her most revolutionary story yet. Launching later in November, the podcast reveals the creative resistance of Iranian girls across three generations, who risked their lives for freedom and defied the country's ban on their right to attend soccer games. Ahead of its premiere at On Air LA Annex, learn more about Pink Card in Oliaee's interview with the festival here.

On Friday, November 4th, night two of On Air LA Annex at KCRW HQ will feature the world premiere of Unlicensed, previewing the Audible Original podcast ahead of its November 10th launch. Welcome to Night Vale and Unlicensed creators Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor will be joined by the series' stars Molly C. Quinn (Castle, Agnes, Doctor Sleep), Lusia Strus (Anton Chekhov's Seagull, Search Party) and T.L. Thompson (CW's 4400, Welcome to Night Vale) for a live performance of the first episode, with a live score performed by composer Disparition, and a creator talk-back. Unlicensed follows Molly Hatch (Quinn), recently divorced, two years sober, and completely lost on where to go next in her life. On a whim she answers an ad for an assistant to a PI, traveling to an unpromising strip mall on Citrus Avenue in Azusa, CA, where she meets Lou Rosen (Strus). Lou is a brilliant detective, but also a completely disorganized mess. Molly and Lou form a tight friendship, and when a teenage girl pleads for them to take the strangest case of their career, this unlikely pair follows a trail of seemingly unconnected cases that leads them to a ransom, a murder, a mysterious wellness center, and a conspiracy that might go all the way to the governor.

Before the live performance of Unlicensed, night two of On Air LA Annex will also include a celebration of The Last Waltz from Object of Sound, the Sonos Radio show that brings listeners in tune with the music shaping our culture. In a special live taping, host Hanif Abdurraqib and guest Hrishikesh Hirway (Host, Song Exploder) will focus on the beloved documentary recording of The Band's final concert, exploring what drives people to keep returning to it year after year, and why it has become one of his favorite holiday traditions. 

Find the current lineup of programming below, with tickets and more information available here.

Nov 3 - Hot Pod Summit @ KCRW HQ

10am | By invitation only, the exclusive business summit from The Verge's podcast-focused publication, Hot Pod, brings together key industry decision makers and leading voices for a full day of interactive dialogues. Hosted by Hot Pod's Lead Reporter Ariel Shapiro, it will cast a special focus on the current developments, issues and opportunities related to the podcast industry on the West Coast. Sessions will explore how podcasting has become the unlikely haven for talk shows in the digital era, as well as the booming relationship between podcasts and Hollywood, podcasts in the election cycle and more with industry members from Team Coco, The Verge, Wondery, Pushkin, Crooked and more. This is a separately ticketed private event, produced in partnership with The Verge and work x work and sponsored by Amazon Music, Wondery and AdsWizz.

Nov 3 - LA Annex @ KCRW HQ

6:30pm-9:30pm | A multidimensional evening of performances and conversations, featuring a session of music, games and conversation between reigning king of pop culture Sam Sanders (Into It, Vulture), Novena Carmel and Anthony Valadez (Morning Becomes Eclectic, KCRW); the exclusive world premiere for Pink Card from producer Shima Oliaee (Co-Creator, Dolly Parton's America) and ESPN's 30 for 30; plus a cocktail meet & greet with performers and the LA audio community, and more hosted by writer-director Walter Thompson-Hernández.

Nov 4 - LA Annex @ KCRW HQ

6:30pm-9:30pm | Day two of On Air LA Annex at KCRW, presented by Audible and hosted by podcast creator Megan Tan, featuring an exclusive live performance and world premiere event for Unlicensed, the new Audible Original from Welcome to Night Vale creators; live poetry from LA Poet Laureate Lynne Thompson, and a live taping of Sonos Radio's Object of Sound with host Hanif Abdurraqib and special guest Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder; pus a cocktail meet & greet with performers and the LA audio community.

Nov 5 - Open House @ dublab, Powered by Patreon

12pm-5pm | The first-ever On Air Open House powered by Patreon. Free and open to all, it will bring together audio makers, storytellers, podcasters and artists for a day that's all about LA's creative community. Happening at the brand new dublab warehouse, the event features on-the-hour DJ sets honoring late LA legend Art Laboe, exclusive podcast merch, stories, live tapings from Locatora Radio, Little Deaths, Celebrity Book Club and Canción Exploder, a conversation and town hall from LA Radio Club, a mixology demo from Erick Castro, plus performances and more TBA.

Nov 5 - On Air Comedy Event with Earwolf @ Dynasty Typewriter

6:30pm-9:30pm | On Air LA Annex closes out with an evening of laughs at the acclaimed hub of alternative comedy, Dynasty Typewriter, presented by Earwolf. Hosted by Jacquis Neal, the event will see two teams of podcasters compete in Comedian Family Feud, in the style of the classic game show. Lineup includes Paul F. Tompkins, Chinedu Unaka, Jack O'Brien, Novena Carmel and more TBA.

Program Partners & Sponsors Include: Audible, Patreon, Stitcher, 30 for 30, KCRW, Vox Media Podcast Network, The Verge, Hot Pod, LA Public Library, Inkling, dublab, Dynasty Typewriter