Internationally-recognised Australian comedian Josh Earl is set to be among more than a dozen local and interstate talents to converge on the city when it hosts its inaugural Newcastle Podcast Festival next month.
The Melbourne-based funnyman, who has his own successful podcast ‘Don’t You Know Who I am?’, will be one of the presenters offering advice on gaining success in what is now a USD$1 billion industry.
The three-day festival of knowledge-sharing, consisting of more than a dozen events, is promising audiences some helpful hints and tips on accessing popular podcasts, creating a podcast, or gaining more exposure on a podcast that’s already one of the 800,000 on offer worldwide.
All of the scheduled one-hour events will be held at The Digital Library on Stewart Avenue, with a stand-up comedy show to be held at the neighbouring Civic Playhouse.
Presented by Newcastle Podcast Station, in partnership with Newcastle Libraries, the Newcastle Podcast Festival will also include two schools programs for podcasters of the future.
For Earl, the event offers a chance to revisit Newcastle and enjoy its great outdoors.
“I have [been to Newcastle] twice with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival roadshow,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to jumping on the tram and going to the beach.
“After the last 10 months we have had in Melbourne, I am not taking being outside for granted ever again.”
As a librarian and comedian, a combination he admits is unusual, Earl says he can offer a plethora of tips and hints in becoming a successful independent podcaster.
“Make sure you create a show that you want to listen to,” he said. “Just because you are giving it away for free, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be great.
“Be consistent. You have to make sure you are part of the listeners routine.
“If you take a week off, or put up one on Tuesday one week, and then the next week it comes out on a Saturday, the listeners will find one of the many thousand other podcasts to listen to.
“Learn how to edit. If you know how to edit, you don’t have to rely on anyone else and their schedule.
“Also, you need to get used to listening back to your own voice, however painful you think it is.”
Earl has produced 239 podcast episodes.
In that time, he has interviewed an array of comedians, including Hannah Gadsby, Josh Thomas and Ronny Chieng, as well as celebrities Hamish and Andy, Darren Hayes of Savage Garden, and Aparna Nancherla from Bojack Horseman.
“I’ve been really lucky in that regard,” he said.
“A lot of them are comedians who are my friends, that was just texting them to see if they are free. The comedians or acts I didn’t know personally, [involved] sending them emails and asking nicely.
“The fact that the show is fun to do is a big bonus. With so many big names doing it multiple times, it’s nice to know they are willing to come back.”
Earl will feature in the program that includes Hey Soul Sista Podcaster Melissa Histon, All Good Podcast creator Shaun Wood, The Talent Squad’s Kelly Glover, business coach Rachael Evans and social media expert Alana Nixon.
Newcastle Podcast Festival will be held from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 February.
All events must be pre-booked, with event numbers limited.
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