Are you sacrificing meaning for monetization? + It's a Podcasting Events Summer ☀️
Eurowaves #14
Hey podcasters,
Summer is here and it’s an exciting, busy time for podcasting events.
Last week, WePod held an event in Paris where they recapped the past two years of work connecting European podcasting, launched their last co-production (read my review below), and invited guest speakers from Acast and all over the continent. I wrote about the event on Linkedin. I also had the honor of holding a panel with Charlotte Pudlowski (Louie Media), Jasmin Bauomy (The ECCO), and Lory Martinez (Studio Ochenta). It was so great re-connecting with everyone and celebrating WePod’s work! Keep an eye out on their socials to stay updated with what’s next for the consortium.
This issue is full of upcoming events happening all over Europe, including updates on cancellations and what’s happening next week: from Bucharest (Grand Prix Nova) to London - The International Women's Podcast Awards are happening next Tuesday, June 17th. Get your tickets here!
Before we get into this issue, a recommendation from a friend of the newsletter…
MIC’s Podcast Club is a global community for indie podcasters. It’s a space to connect, learn and grow together – with one simple mission: to help each other make brilliant podcasts. Set up in 2018 by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, it’s for anyone making podcasts – whether you’re a presenter, producer, editor (or all three). Monthly meet-ups included! Learn more here.
Eurowaves Update ☘️
Since the last issue, we have…
…+16 new subscribers.
Please share with your network to keep the community growing. My goal is to reach a community of 1,500 podcasters this year.
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💰Monetization with Meaning, with Alejandra Rojas
Alejandra Rojas is an entrepreneur, Forbes contributor, writer, and founder of Brown Way To Money, a financial mentoring platform that helps women overcome financial trauma and improve their relationship with money. She is also the host of the Brown Way to Money Podcast. Alejandra provides a unique blend of financial expertise and trauma-informed coaching, empowering women of color to break free from limiting beliefs and create financial abundance. She delves into the emotional and psychological roots of money problems, helping women heal from past experiences and develop a healthier, empowered relationship with their finances.
You can connect with Alejandra on LinkedIn here.
Brown Way To Money is such a powerful space for women of color in business. Tell us about it and what are some things European creators or entrepreneurs could learn from this work?
I see Brown Way To Money as more than a platform but a movement rooted in the belief that financial independence starts by healing your relationship with money. It is a space where women of color do not have to shrink themselves to fit into outdated financial systems. We talk about financial trauma, money mindset, and building wealth in a way that is culturally grounded and emotionally intelligent.
Creators can learn from this by recognizing the power of identity in storytelling. When we stop separating personal identity from financial strategy, the message becomes more transformative and more inclusive. There is so much opportunity to deepen community impact through authenticity, not just expertise.
When you are telling stories across cultures and identities, what is the most important thing you keep in mind to make sure the message truly lands?
Curiosity and respect lead all the conversations. I always ask: Is this story being told with care? And can someone see themselves in it even if they do not share the exact experience? The key is not oversimplifying but inviting people into the nuance. Especially in business and money, that is where the real growth happens.
You have a strong background in finance, so what is your approach with podcast monetization, especially in the European landscape?
My podcast is the first face of my brand funnel, not just content but a key entry point into the ecosystem of Brown Way To Money. I monetize through programs, products, speaking engagements, and media features. The podcast builds trust, creates connection, and opens the door for aligned financial transformation, and that is my ultimate goal. In Europe, I see a major shift coming, with more creators seeing it as a business, and the beauty of audio is its borderless nature: from Africa to the Americas, we are connected through voice.
Given your international perspective, what are your thoughts about the current podcasting landscape in Europe and opportunities for growth?
There is definitely momentum building. My audience is mainly US but I see podcasting in Europe growing fast, especially in places like the UK, which is setting a strong example of how quickly audiences can grow when content is relatable and well produced. I believe what is needed now is a broader perspective of the stories we want to tell, respecting the roots of those stories. The more localized the storytelling, the more global the resonance.
What do you think are some ways European podcasting could do a better job of including more diverse stories and voices, especially around money and business?
The answer is simple: intentionally look for diverse voices. Not just as a checkbox but as a core value. We do not need another campaign. We need commitment. Diverse creators exist. Women of color talking about money, business, and growth already exist. Inclusion starts with listening and not just curating.
What is one podcast you always recommend or love going back to?
I love a lot of podcasts but lately I have been hooked on IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson.
🎙️🌍What I’ve been listening to🌍🎙️
You already know PocketCasts is my go-to listening app. You can now subscribe to their Partner Newsletter to hear about upcoming curation opportunities, information on advertising, and gain helpful insights!
Another one for your radar: 1UpMedia is the first Ambie-nominated podcast house from Asia. They specialize in converting narrative audio shows into video, and they’ve done it for the BBC - check it out here.
The episode Making America Pregnant Again is a really thoughtful look at how governments around the world are responding to falling birth rates. It focuses on the US but brings in comparisons with Hungary, Sweden, Japan, and South Korea. There are lots of surprising facts I learned while listening, including a proposed policy where women who have more than six children could receive a medal. Excuse me, what?! I appreciate that they also take the time exploring why many women might not want to have children at all. I don’t have to tell you, this is especially relevant given the current political climate. It’s an important listen.
The Right Kind of Family (available in English, French, Italian, Spanish)
WePod’s last co-production also looks at abortion rights in Hungary, Italy, and Spain. It touches on legislative measures being pushed by far-right governments: from Hungary’s tax exemptions for families with children to efforts and rhetoric that claim to “protect families”. What’s great about the podcast is that it also highlights personal stories behind the policies, including the experiences of Roma women. We need a lot more conversation about that. I was so excited to hear snippets from the episodes played at WePod’s event last week. There was also an amazing panel of producers and reporters from all the countries involved. A quote I noted down: “Women are not traumatized by abortion itself, but by the complicated and humiliating process of accessing it”.
This is one of my favorite podcasts and I honestly can’t believe I haven’t featured it before. Pain Softens Your Heart is a stunning example of how sound, storytelling, and vulnerability can come together so beautifully. Every episode includes original music based on the person’s story. The conversation goes from family abuse and physical violence to the complexity of religion and identity. Tom approaches it all with such genuine curiosity and care. It’s a reminder of how powerful audio can be when it creates space for truth.
What podcasts have you been listening to lately?
🇮🇪 Podcasts from Ireland 🇮🇪
Andy Gaffney is a multi award winning podcast creator and producer from Ireland who was named as one of “The Top 50 Talents to Watch ” by The Irish Times for creating “evocative audio”. The Guardian called his podcast Promenade “Beautifully produced, a shining gem” while Newstalk said “This podcast floored me. It gave me goosebumps”. It has also won at the New York Radio Awards and Irish Podcast Awards.
Promenade: Promenade is a series of short tales from around the world about memories and the stories they trigger. In just a few episodes, listeners can be taken from a modern day rooftop in New York to Budapest in the 1930s and then a barbers in London in the 60s where a Beatles fan’s life is about to change. Using score and soundscape, I hope the listener is brought from one story to the next almost like they are listening to an old record they loved from their youth. I am incredibly proud of this show and it is a privilege to hold the stories for people that I think they hold onto their entire lives and I like to think that Promenade proves that no matter where we come from, we all want moments of connection in our lives.
The Cinemile: The Cinemile is simply one of those all time great podcast ideas. Married couple Dave and Cathy walk home from the movies and discuss the movie they just watched. The joy here is both the chemistry between Dave and Cathy and the fact they capture that absolute perfect time when you have left the cinema and all you want to do is talk about the movie you have seen. It is actual gold dust as a podcast. I love it.
Juvenalia: I think the Irish do pop culture discussion podcasts brilliantly as we just always want to talk about the things that we love. Juvenalia is “the daddy” of them all really where Alan, Andrea and Sarah invite a guest on to talk about the pop culture that made them who they are today. There is an episode for everybody here as topics can be anything from Buffy to Goldeneye on the N64. The show is such a staple of Irish podcasting that the question “So what would be your Juvenalia topic?” is asked in pubs.
Thank you for sharing, Andy!
You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
🚀Events and Opportunities🚀
Grand Prix Nova, the international audio drama festival, will take place in Bucharest next week (15th - 20th June). Many European countries are represented, as well as Mexico and Iran. Hopefully the next editions are more international. I’ll be attending and reporting back!
FYI, The Prix Marulić Festival will not be held in 2025. They’re coming back in 2026 in Zagreb, Croatia.
Sound Studies Writing Residency (The Netherlands)
Sonic Acts and De Ateliers/Woonhuis present The Walls Have Ears – a fully funded sound studies writing residency taking place in Amsterdam in February 2026. Open to one established artist, researcher, or scholar working in the field of sound studies, the residency offers time, space, and critical support to develop a focused writing project.
When? Apply by June 14 (tomorrow).
Education through Podcasting, EPOD (The UK)
Education through Podcasting (EPOD) is an initiative which provides a space for academics, researchers, and professionals to come together to share and disseminate their research and practices using recorded audio media and podcasting. From the outset, we wanted to create a physical and social space for theoretical and practical discourses between educators, the podcasting industry, academics and practitioners.
Naomi Mellor of Everybody Media and the IWPA is a keynote speaker!
When? June 26-27.
PodBXL (Belgium)
PodBXL is a free event organized by the association The Podcast Factory Org, freely inspired by the podcast festival PodRennes. This event was made possible through the collaboration with our big sister: the French association BadGeek
When? July 5.