On Air Fest 2025: Podcasters Of The World Unite In Brooklyn

 As podcasting has grown, so too has its gatherings. Consider events like Podcast Movement and On Air Fest, the Comic-Con for podcasters. 

Next month, On Air Fest happens in Brooklyn, New York. I attended a few years ago, and it is a glorious affair. 

 From February 19-21, 2025, On Air Fest asserts: "The event brings the intersection of media, technology and culture to venues across Brooklyn and beyond. For the most dramatic expansion in the event's eight-year history, the premier showcase of sound and storytelling will welcome thousands of creators and creative professionals working in audio, video and new media."

Over the course of three days and four nights, 200+ artists, producers, publishers, writers, industry leaders and influential voices will present 80+ performances, podcast tapings, panel conversations, art exhibits, experiences, and interactive workshops. 

Just last week, On Air Fest announced its daily schedule of sessions that will take place at the Wythe Hotel, and first-time festival locations like Creator Hall at XXV, iHeartPodcasts' Party at 74 Wythe, National Sawdust, Dolby88 Atmos Theater and KCRWWW, the livestream internet radio café on February 19th, 20th and 21st. Alongside Hysterical, Taylor Lorenz, SubwayTakes' Kareem Rahma, SNL's James Austin Johnson & Jokermen, The Kid Mero, laughter meditation with Laraaji, Lemme Say This with Peyton Dix & Hunter Harris, Death, Sex & Money, Design Matters, Radiolab creator Jad Abumrad and more.

On Air Fest's 2025 Lineup now includes Anderson Cooper breaking down his CNN Audio original podcast All There Is, as well as a special panel on the making of the Audible Original Ali in Me, exploring Muhammad Ali's life and legacy with Muhammad's widow Lonnie Ali, close friend, confidant and award-winning broadcaster John Ramsey, and Oscar-nominated actress and long-time boxing fan Rosie Perez. Also added are live editions of How Long Gone, Hearing Things' Waste or Taste, Transom's Sound School, Good Boys, The Puzzler live with host A.J. Jacobs and guest Mo Rocca, Elon, Inc. from Bloomberg, and KQED's Close All Tabs, discussing AI and internet literacy. 

Furthermore, Penn Badgley will sit down with Modern Love host Anna Martin, acclaimed record producer and musician Daniel Lanois will bring a performance and conversation to National Sawdust in partnership with Reflections, The Atlantic and Spolitics Podcast's Jemele Hill will look at how women are rewriting narratives in sports, Feed Me's Emily Sundberg will unpack the state of newsletters, Fresh Air and She Has a Name's Tonya Mosley will discuss the genre of family mystery podcasts with Inconceivable Truth's Matt Katz and more, and Normal Gossip host Rachelle Hampton will talk with Chris Duffy, of TED's How to Be a Better Human. On Air's "Hear The Universe" session will feature a performance of NASA's "sonic renderings" – which make music from space data – followed by a conversation with astronaut Matthew Dominick and special guests.

CMD+JAZMINE and Fil Corbitt's "Retracks" will deliver a night of audio storytelling cover performances, and Peabody-winner Sonja D. Williams (Howard University), the award-winning Kalli Anderson (CUNY Newmark) and Harvard Nieman Fellow Julia Barton will host "Radio Thrifting," a selection of vintage radio pieces from the 1930s-1970s. Other new sessions include a live rendition of Mehdi Hasan's We're Not Kidding, Miss Peria in an exclusive interview and live performance (the trailblazing artist credited with founding Roblox music as a genre), and Diana Regan, the digital creator behind @CitiesByDiana, on their creative journey.

If you're a podcaster or podcasting fan, you can geek out at this event. Maybe you can duplicate Comic-Con and dress up as one of your favorite podcasters. 

Learn more about On Air Fest 2025, and find tickets here:

https://www.onairfest.com