Big Ben, bigger podcasting ideas for Europe š”
Eurowaves #13
Hey podcasters,
A moment of appreciation for the cheesy title.
Last week was full of London adventures (if you know, you know), networking with lovely people in the podcasting community, and exchanging wisdom on where the industry is headed. Iām talking, of course, about The Podcast Show. If we didnāt get a chance to meet there, Iād love to connect and see how we can support one another, so please reply to this email.
You want a wrap-up, I hear? I wrote on LinkedIn about the wonderful people I met, my session on European podcasting (many cool podcasters came to say hi after, thank you!), a meeting with the Eurosounds Google Group, and post-conference souvenirs.
See you at The Podcast Show 2026? Tickets aren't yet available but dates are 20-21 May 2026 at The Business Design Centre. Sign up here to hear news, including when tickets will go on sale.
2 Key Takeaways:
YouTube now has auto dubbing in 12 languages!!!! That is absolutely huge. I wrote about it on LinkedIn and weāll definitely get into this more in upcoming issues.
Canva and Apple Podcasts have partnered to help creators capture eyes and ears with podcast cover art.
2 Podcasting Opportunities:
Ayo Oti launched Empact Exchange, a new community space and submission hub for people creating mission-driven audio. Check out the latest edition of Sounds Like Impact to learn more and join! Itās open internationally.
See you in Paris next week at WePodās Podcast Industry MeetUp. Iāll be moderating a panel on European podcasting and building bridges. Of course. See the schedule and sign up for free here.
Eurowaves Update āļø
Since the last issue, we haveā¦
ā¦+24 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, and weāre currently at 600+.
This newsletter will always be free but if youād like to support my work and youāre finding this newsletter beneficial, you can sign up for a paid subscription here!
šµš±Poland's Podcasting Boom, with Zuzanna Olejniczak
Zuzanna Olejniczak is a multimedia producer specializing in audio and video formats, responsible for podcast and videocast production in Polish media. She has collaborated with the international journalism collective Outriders and works with the weekly Polityka, while also producing the international affairs program Wider View for TVP World. She regularly speaks at industry conferences across Europe, particularly on audience engagement in audio storytelling.
You can connect with Zuzanna on LinkedIn and read the full interview here.
Polandās podcasting scene seems to have grown rapidly but under the radar internationally. What do you think sets Polish podcasts apart, and what stories do you feel are still waiting to be told?
The Polish podcast and videocast market has been growing rapidly in recent years, much like the global audio industry. At one point, Poland was even considered one of the fastest-growing podcast markets globally. That growth continues today. Over 11 million people in Poland listen to podcasts each month, which is about one third of the population. It is a huge and dynamic market with room for a wide range of voices.
One thing that really sets Polish podcasts apart is their deeply local character, especially how they engage with social and historical contexts. For example, one of the most popular podcasts focuses specifically on the 1990s or early 2000s, reflecting on Polish identity during the post-communist transition. There is also a massive appetite for true crime podcasts, especially those based on Polish cases, many of which were not widely discussed in the past but resonate deeply with local audiences.
Polish listeners also love in-depth interviews with public figures they respect, those they see as thought leaders or moral authorities. From my perspective at Polityka, it is very clear that there is a strong, growing interest in Polish politics and geopolitics, with more and more shows covering these topics.
Of course, there are still important gaps. We could use more podcasts that focus on underrepresented perspectives, stories of national and ethnic minorities, life in rural areas, or the experiences of LGBTQ+ people and older generations. Those narratives are present in public discourse, but they rarely make it into podcast or videocast formats.
What kind of listener habits have you noticed in Poland that might surprise those outside the region? Are there specific formats or topics that really resonate?
One of the clearest trends we have seen is the huge popularity of true crime, as I mentioned earlier, but also of podcasts focused on psychology, personal development, and broader social issues. These shows are often seen as tools for self-reflection and problem-solving. Listeners turn to them looking for insight into how to improve or better understand their lives, and podcasts offer that in a short, accessible, and often very personal way.
Another interesting habit is how and when people listen. Most Polish podcast users tend to listen either in the morning or in the late afternoon, typically during their commute. For many, it is a form of relaxation or light, informal education, which differs from more academic approaches to learning. That is why shorter formats, 15 to 25 minutes, are gaining traction. At Polityka, we have been leaning into that trend as well, understanding that people often want to learn something meaningful in a short time frame.
There is also growing interest in local topics. City-based podcasts, such as those focused on Warsaw or other major urban centers, are attracting loyal, place-based audiences who care about their communities and want to engage with stories close to home.
ā¦Read the full interview here.
šļøšWhat Iāve been listening toššļø
After TPS, my queue is longer than ever, so expect many good quality European podcasts to be reviewed! As a reminder, you can pitch me your show at <andreea.coscai@gmail.com> or by replying to this email.
Ana Xavier, the host of this podcast, is one of the cool creators I met in London, and we instantly bonded over our international perspectives in podcasting. She is originally from Portugal, living in the US. This podcast is THE go-to resource for podcasters. I started with the episode on How to Land Your First Podcast Sponsorship which I highly recommend. Justin Moore and her discuss many creative, out-of-the-box strategies on how you can secure sponsorships at all levels, including practical tips such as what time of the year is best to pitch to companies. Check it out and add it to your regular rotation!
One of the ways I think we can, and should, connect as European podcasters, is making use of this medium for education and language learning. Thatās exactly what Stephen Devincenzi is doing. Listeners get daily world news in 7-minute nugget episodes. Stephen uses accessible language and speaks at a slower pace for English learners. Itās a great podcast, also, if youāre interested in world news and are looking for an efficient way to keep up with them. It doesnāt hurt that Stephen is just wonderful and truly passionate about his work! Running a daily podcast is no easy task.
Next up in my queue. Attending TPS last week, Iāve done way more talking about podcasting and less listening. I also got connected to the ECB team in London and I was very excited to hear about their work. Branded, institutional, or nonprofit podcasts always peak my interest. The first episode in my queue is Mind the gap: gender and financial literacy and if you listen, do let me know your thoughts!
š³š±Podcasts from The Netherlandsš³š±
Marvin Jacobs is co-founder and Creative Director of the audio agency Airborne. He develops narrative podcasts for a wide range of clients. The agency, its work, and Marvin himself have received numerous industry awards.
De Kunst van het Verdwijnen: Deze Vlaamse podcast is een van de mooiste in ons taalgebied. Drie gebeurtenissen op een straathoek in Antwerpen blijken onverwacht met elkaar verweven: een tunnelroof in 2019, een aanslag op Joodse kinderen in 1980 en het verhaal van kleuter Fred die tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog ontsnapte aan deportatie. Verteller Bart Van Nuffelen slaagt erin om deze ogenschijnlijk losse verhalen op meeslepende wijze samen te brengen tot een gelaagd geheel. Zoān verhaal dat je bijblijft en waarbij je toch af en toe even een brok in je keel moet wegslikken.
The Art of Disappearing: This Flemish podcast is one of the most beautiful in our language area. Three events on a street corner in Antwerp turn out to be unexpectedly connected: a tunnel robbery in 2019, an attack on Jewish children in 1980, and the story of little Fred who escaped deportation during World War Two. Narrator Bart Van Nuffelen manages to weave these seemingly separate stories into a layered whole in a gripping way. It is the kind of story that stays with you and makes you swallow hard every now and then.
Waar is Sarah?: Nieuws over gezonken boten met vluchtelingen op de Middellandse Zee is helaas vaak routine geworden. Maar voor Rob Timmermans was dat anders: hij zegde zijn baan op en ging als reddingswerker aan boord van een schip dat vluchtelingen redt. EĆ©n redding laat hem niet los: die van het babyātje Sarah en haar moeder. Wat is er van haar geworden? Podcastmaker Laura Stek gaat op zoek naar een antwoord en verweeft dit persoonlijke verhaal met een bredere blik op het Europese migratiesysteem. Indringend en terecht bekroond bij de Dutch Podcast Awards.
Where is Sarah?: News about sunken boats with refugees in the Mediterranean Sea has sadly become routine. But for Rob Timmermans, it was different. He quit his job and joined a rescue ship saving refugees. One rescue won't leave him alone: that of baby Sarah and her mother. What happened to her? Podcast maker Laura Stek sets out to find an answer and intertwines this personal story with a broader look at the European migration system. Powerful and deservedly awarded at the Dutch Podcast Awards.
De verdwenen collectie Heppner: Deze vierdelige podcast maakte ik vanuit Airborne. Het vertelt het verhaal van Max Heppner, die als jongen meemaakte hoe de kunstcollectie van zijn vader door de naziās werd geroofd. Tot op de dag van vandaag zijn de werken spoorloos. Podcastmaker Marieke de Veer probeert te achterhalen wat ermee is gebeurd. Haar zoektocht voert langs archieven, gepassioneerde onderzoekers en persoonlijke gesprekken met de inmiddels hoogbejaarde Max. Wat begint als een kunsthistorische speurtocht, groeit uit tot een indringende reflectie op verlies, herinnering en rechtvaardigheid. Wat betekent bezit, als je eerst alles bent kwijtgeraakt wat je mens maakt?
The Missing Heppner Collection: I made this four-part podcast through Airborne. It tells the story of Max Heppner, who as a boy witnessed how the Nazis stole his father's art collection. To this day, the works remain missing. Podcast maker Marieke de Veer tries to find out what happened to them. Her search leads through archives, passionate researchers, and personal conversations with the now elderly Max. What begins as an art historical investigation grows into a powerful reflection on loss, memory, and justice. What does ownership mean when you have first lost everything that makes you human?
Thank you for sharing, Marvin!
You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
šEvents and Opportunitiesš
Sonic Acts Springs (The Netherlands)
Are you an early-career artist, aged 32 or younger, based in the Netherlands, ready to develop a bold new project? Sonic Acts invites you to apply for SPRINGS ā a new commissioning opportunity for the production of new artworks, to be presented at the 2026 Biennial in Amsterdam.
When? Submit by June 1st, this Sunday!
AJP Journalism Fund (Belgium)
Grants for approved journalists (trainees and professionals) in Belgium to develop value-added major or investigative journalistic work. Projects could be major investigations or shorter in-depth coverage.
When? Submit by June 15.
Prix Europa (Europe)
A free-to-enter award for the best European audio, digital media and video productions of the year which are funded or co-funded by public service media. They have seven audio categories. Nominated applicants must attend the Prix Europa in Berlin from 5th - 10th October.
When? Submit by June 15.
Love Marvin!