Attend Speke Fest 2025: Night of the Living Pod

 Most podcasts don't make it past episode three. They call these "zombie podcasts." They're not dead, but they're no longer releasing new episodes. So they're not alive either.

Attend Speke Fest 2025: Night of the Living Pod, and help to put an end to the zombie podcast plague. The war for podcasting's future begins on October 10th and 11th at The National Museum of Funeral History.

Will you be there to help reclaim the airwaves? Indie podcasters need tools to help their podcasts survive and thrive. 

On October 10-11, 2025, join podcasters, marketers, and branding professionals at the National Museum of Funeral History (NMFH) for a two-day Halloween-themed event like no other. With workshops, games, keynotes, and networking opportunities, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to resurrect your brand and captivate your audience.

• Theme: Night of the Living Pod—where podcasts come alive!
• Dates: October 10-11, 2025
• Location: National Museum of Funeral History (Houston, TX)
• Activities:

Reena Friedman-Watts says: "Our vision for Speke Fest is simple: Fight the zombie podcast plague by reducing the number of podcasts that fade into oblivion after only three episodes."

Reena adds: "And you don’t need a show to join the uprising."

On October 10 & 11, industry leaders, marketers, and bold thinkers take over the National Museum of Funeral History for an event where brands rise and zombie podcasts get buried.

The keynote speakers include:
- Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez, NMFH CEO and host of The Final Curtain Never Closes,
- Britney Crosson, founder of Fun Love Media
- Cathy Christen, serial entrepreneur
- Roger Igo, $100 million executive producer, event doctor, and host of The Roger Igo Podcast
- Rania Mankarious, Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO and co-host of The Balanced Voice
- Laura Pennino, founder of Pennino & Partners


Workshops include:

• Creating a Killer Interview, hosted by Reena Friedman-Watts from Better Call Daddy
• Brand Voice with AI, hosted by Zoetica Media founder Kami Huyse
• Build a Podcast Community, hosted by Pod Houston Founder Ozeal Debastos from The Creator Factor
• Crafting a Bingeworthy Show, hosted by World Podcast Network Founder Bruce Chamoff

 One of the attendees and speakers is Reena Friedman-Watts, creator/host of Better Call Daddy, which is a podcast for people who love stories. Reena interviews everyone from influential business leaders to phone sex workers are featured on the show. As she insists, "Nothing is censored here!" 

Each episode, her father will chime in with his words of wisdom. The show has released more than 400 episodes and has over 2,500 listeners, so Reena can speak from experience and success.

About her workshop, Reena comments: "We can help indie podcasters better prepare for the rigors of podcasting so they can sustain their shows and not become zombie podcasts."

Reena is conducting an invaluable skills' workshop to help podcasters nail their interviews. 

Reena notes: "In my experience, there are certain podcasting skills that aspirational podcasters vastly underestimate the degree of difficulty involved. The focus of the interview should be on the guest, so try not to interrupt and use your words to keep the interview focused and moving forward. As an interviewer, practice active listening, which means to listen and then process what your guest is saying and then ask pertinent questions based on their comments."

Reena continues: "Too many hosts simply follow a script of questions regardless of what the guest just said, often missing an opportunity for revelation. One of many reasons why The New York Times’ podcast The Daily is so popular is that host Michael Barbaro is a superb interviewer. His questions are incisive and probing, and he listens well to his guests and then reacts with a follow-up query that shows understanding and a desire to know more."

All the workshops offer tools that podcasters can add to their skillset. 

Ticket information is HERE. Join the fight against zombie podcasts. Attend  Speke Fest 2025: Night of the Living Pod.