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Small group roundtable
Kickstart your podcasting career or take your audio skills to the next level with this program for Canadian podcasters age 18-34 to grow their skills, gain invaluable industry knowledge and make lifetime connections.

Supporting a diversity of perspectives and new voices, the Hot Docs Podcast Career Accelerator equips emerging creators with the tools they need to take their audio skills to the next level, helping strengthen and sustain the burgeoning Canadian audio industry.

Selected participants will join acclaimed Canadian and international audio creators, executives, and taste makers for four days of workshops, panels and networking events that are sure to enlighten, inspire and help kick-start their career in podcasting.

Program elements will be available both in person, and online for those that are unable participate in an in-person event, or unable to travel to Toronto.

Back to Hot Docs Podcast Festival

Participants

  • 2022 Podcast Career Accelerator Participants
    • Umalkhair Ahmed (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Ikran Abdullahi Ali (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Vincent Arnone (Mississauga, Ontario)
    • Olly Azeez (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Chidinma Azubuike (Pickering, Ontario)
    • Daniella Barreto (Vancouver, British Columbia)
    • Adam Beggs (New Westminster, British Columbia)
    • Kenisha Bennett (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Samuel Bird (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Jessa Braun (Kitchener, Ontario)
    • Maxime Brunet (Montréal, Quebec)
    • Anthony Bruno (Woodbridge, Ontario)
    • Samantha Candeloro-Wolter (Mississauga, Ontario)
    • Max Chan (Oakville, Ontario)
    • Emily Chiarvesio (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Jonathan Collaton (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Lucy Collingwood (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Vanessa Conley (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Arielle Contreras (Ottawa, Ontario)
    • Olivier Day (Candiac, Quebec)
    • Amrit Dhillon (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Julianna DiPasquale (Markham, Ontario)
    • Mickie Edwards (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Blair Elliott (Montréal, Quebec)
    • Jennah Foster-Catlack (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Lisann George (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Maya Gonzalez-Fuentes (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Sonja Hanson (Montréal, Quebec)
    • Miranda Hassell (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Elizabeth Hodgson (Etobicoke, Ontario)
    • Chukky Ibe (St Catharines, Ontario)
    • Hunyah Irfan (Brampton, Ontario)
    • Abigail LaDouceur (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Felicia Latour (Montréal, Quebec)
    • Aiden Lee (Oakville, Ontario)
    • Aviva Lessard (Montréal, Quebec)
    • Samantha Loney (Barrie, Ontario)
    • Shin Ling Low (Montréal, Quebec)
    • Oscar Lu (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
    • Léa Martin (Montréal, Quebec)
    • Steuart McCoy (Acton, Ontario)
    • Sam McNulty (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Julie Mongeluzi (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Benjamin Moragia (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Ruvi Mugara (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
    • Afraaz Mulji (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Danielle Orr (Burlington, Ontario)
    • Maude Petel-Légaré (Montréal, Quebec)
    • Dylan Peters (Thornhill, Ontario)
    • Megan Pierotti (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Caitrin Pilkington (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Ethan Ralph (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Carly Ream-Neal (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Meena Rizwan (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Tashya  Rizzo (Coquitlam, British Columbia)
    • Brianna Roett (Brampton, Ontario)
    • Gwen Roley (Montréal, Quebec)
    • Umang Antariksh Sagar (Vancouver, British Columbia)
    • Sandro Augusto Santos Silva (Edmonton, Alberta)
    • Thomas Sayers (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Lucy Smith (Vancouver, British Columbia)
    • Marie Sotto (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Mykella Van Cooten (North York)
    • Andrea Varsany (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Kristine White (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Andy Wong (Vancouver, British Columbia)
    • Ailey Yamamoto (Toronto, Ontario)
    • Cherry (Yixin) Yang (Toronto, Ontario)

Exclusive Sessions for Participants

To access these sessions and all Hot Docs Podcast Festival programming, sign in to the Festival portal at watch.hotdocs.ca using the email address and the password associated with your Hot Docs account. If you don’t have an account, or have forgotten your password, please click here.
 

Doing It Indie
Tuesday January 25, 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM(EST)

Most of the attention goes to podcasts airing on large networks, or featuring celebrity hosts, but there are thousands of successful independent podcasts that publish regularly to their dedicated audiences. Hear from the creators of some of these independent podcasts on how they make it work Indie style. 

Moderated by Aliya Pabani (We Are Not the Virus). Featuring Nashwa Lina Khan (Habibti Please) and Jess Shane (Constellations).

Why You Need to Think About Product Packaging with Dan Misener
Tuesday January 25, 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM (EST)

Podcaster (Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids) and director of audience development at Pacific Content Dan Misener leads a session on how to package your podcast. When developing a new show, creators often overlook the importance of details like thumbnails, descriptions, and even how what title you choose can affect the ability of eager audiences to find your show. Dan will give an overview of these and many more essential elements that you should consider before you start producing your next show.

Presented by Dan Misener (Pacific Content) 

Hot Docs Podcast Career Accelerator Mix & Mingle
Tuesday January 25, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM(EST) 

Meet your fellow Podcast Career Accelerator participants in this exclusive networking event.

Submission Guidelines

The program is open to Canadian emerging audio creators who are 18-34 years old and wish to learn more about establishing a career in the podcast industry. Creators from historically underrepresented communities are specifically encouraged to apply.

Eligible applicants must be either:

• Enrolled and actively working toward a degree or certificate in an audio or media arts program

OR

• Have 3 years or less experience independently creating audio content AND will not currently be employed by or have a show in production with a major broadcaster or digital platform.

Successful applicants will receive:

• A complimentary pass to the Hot Docs Podcast Festival presented live in Toronto and online from January 25-28, where they will have the chance to dive deep into the art and craft of audio storytelling by taking part in a robust lineup of live events with some of the world’s leading audio creators. Participants will have the opportunity to enhance their skills and gain invaluable tips and insights.

• An invitation to a private pre-festival career accelerator day on Tuesday January 25 which will include bespoke panels and networking opportunities. At this event participants will get invaluable insight which will help them successfully navigate the upcoming festival, meet their peers, and get firsthand off-the-record intel from notable audio professionals.

How to Apply

Applications for the 2022 edition are closed.
Successful applicants will be notified as of January 10, 2022.

Questions? Contact [email protected]