It's award season - don't miss these deadlines 🏆🇪🇺
Eurowaves #30
Hey podcasters,
Welcome to the 30th issue of Eurowaves. Many of you have joined since the last one so I want to wish you a warm welcome.
If you find the newsletter helpful, please text it to a friend or industry colleague!
Before we get into it, an announcement…
Get your tickets to The Podcast Show 2026 🇬🇧
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Book your pass to The Podcast Show London before 31 January and save up to £100! Bringing together thousands of delegates from 60+ countries, whatever your role, level or specific interests, The Podcast Show will connect you with the right people. From Leaders in Podcasting breakfasts and TPS Connects to the Creator Mix, it’s the industry’s go-to networking destination.
When? 20–21 May, 2026.
🇪🇺 Podcasting & Community News 🇪🇺
🇷🇴 I published an article about Romania’s podcasting industry for Scena 9: Why Romania watches podcasts and doesn’t listen (anymore).
🇩🇪Denise Fernholz of BEIFAHRERSITZ published a fantastic issue on podcast cover arts.
🏆 The final submission deadline for the True Crime Awards 2026 got an extension, now open until 25 January, 2026.
🏆 The Webbys Awards also extended their deadline to the 6th of February.
🏆 The Ambies released the 2026 nominees!
🇫🇷 In France, ACPM released its podcast ranker for December. (Podnews)
🇪🇸 In Spanish, AudioGen has published “the most relevant trends in the market in 2025 and the challenges for the year that has just begun” (Podnews)
🇱🇺 Radio 100.7 in Luxembourg is hiring an investigative journalist. (Podnews)
Eurowaves Update ☘️
Since the last issue, we have…
…+65 new subscribers.
Share this issue with your podcaster friends to keep the community growing.
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💡How New Podcast Markets Get Noticed, with Acast’s Joanna Aveillan
In her role as International Director of Content and Partnerships for Acast’s International Creator Network team, Joanna Aveillan is focused on bringing Acast’s Creator Network offerings to the best podcast talent around the world, focusing strategically on Acast’s key new markets. In her role, she works alongside Acast’s wider international team to develop content strategies to meet the demand that the advertising team are seeing and investigate new market trends in order to grow a successful international network of shows.
You can connect with Joanna on LinkedIn here.
What’s your podcasting origin story?
This is going to be quite a classic story! Like a lot of other people, I first got into podcasts through Serial and it quickly became a passion! I’ve always loved stories whether through books, movies or TV shows. Podcasts allowed me to get these stories while on the go so it was a dream. Some of the first podcasts I started listening to were Tranfert, Pop Culture Happy Hour and the High Low (I still wish it would come back!).
I had started my career in the music industry (licensing, supervision of film & TV music), working in various countries: the US, France and The Netherlands. When I decided to move to Stockholm, in 2019, I interviewed with Acast when they were looking for someone with international experience in the audio space to help them launch their activity in new markets. I’ve been with the company for 6 years now, in different jobs and have loved seeing the industry and Acast grow at the same time!
At Acast, you’ve been responsible for launching in entirely new markets. When you enter a new country, what are the three key elements you look for to decide if a market is ready?
There are many factors that come into play when launching a new market but I think the most important ones are the following:
Diversity in content: One sign of a developed market is seeing podcasts in many different genres hosted by diverse hosts. This is essential to capturing vast audiences and sustaining a thriving local industry.
Dynamic advertising industry: At Acast, we connect advertisers to podcasters and audiences so it’s essential that any market we get involved in has a solid demand for audio advertising. We work with them extensively to show the value of podcast audiences but it’s always great if they are already involved in the medium.
Audience engagement: We usually look at survey data around the percentage of the population who is familiar with podcasts and who regularly listen to them. The more listeners, the better!
We’ve been seeing more European network collaborations. What do you think is the biggest challenge European creators face when trying to migrate their content to other markets, and how can they overcome it?
I think this is one of the hardest things to get right in podcasting because I believe there’s a lot to be said about knowing your audience well which is much easier to do if it’s your own market. Many people have tried and failed to do it successfully, but I believe great stories can and should travel from one country to another, just as books do. I would probably advise starting with a scripted show, finding a very good translator, having locals listen to the content and then becoming well-acquainted with local platforms, newsletters etc. to get the word out there when you launch the show. Also, I always advise podcasters to get help from their audiences as we know listeners tend to feel close to podcast hosts. If all your listeners tell one friend about the show, that brings in many new listeners. I think networks organizing themselves across countries is a great way to bypass a lot of the challenges!
What’s your 2026 podcast prediction for the European market?
I expect European podcasting to increasingly carve out its own space within the broader creator economy as a form of influence narrative, offering content that is deeper and more story-driven than short-form social media. Audiences are choosing when and how they listen or watch, and while video can enhance discovery and engagement, audio remains central and true to what makes podcasting unique. This shift means creators with strong voices and compelling stories will have the greatest impact, with resonance valued more than sheer reach.
Share with us 2-3 recommendations of European podcasts you’ve been loving!
Keeping it to 2 or 3 is an impossible task so apologies in advance for not respecting the brief! I listen to podcasts in French and English mostly so here are some in both languages.
AMIES: This podcast was originally done by two friends who would show each other a film or a TV show they didn’t know. The format has recently evolved but it’s one of my favourite shows as I love listening to both of their opinions and finding out about new films and TV shows.
Table Manners: It’s been going on for years and I still love it. I love the format of it, the banter between the hosts and the food talk!
Sentimental Garbage: I love the way this show takes elements of culture that aren’t usually necessarily regarded as the most high brow but dissects it to a point where it feels so much smarter and well thought out than you originally thought.
Last but not least, I’ll say anything produced by Arte Radio is amazing and I’ll listen to anything they put out!
Thank you, Joanna!
🎙️🌍 Podcasts recommended by you 🌍🎙️
French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED
French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED is your honest, no-fluff guide to renovating, restoring, and surviving property projects in France. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a seasoned renovator, or just dreaming of owning property in France, we provide real stories, insider tips, and actionable advice to help you avoid mistakes, save money, and navigate your renovation journey with confidence.
Favorite Place: The Library is a reportage podcast about Swiss libraries. Over the course of six episodes, audio journalist Laura Bachmann visits libraries that are booming—and those fighting for their future. Every library tells a story. It’s about people who find more than just books there: community, education, a sense of belonging—and sometimes, a second home.
Available with auto-translated captions on YouTube.
A join-in adventure series filled with stories and songs for kids. Step into the world of the Armchair Adventures Imagination Travel Agency and learn new things about people, history, science, and different cultures along the way. Join Connie, her Uncle Chris and their crew of explorers on incredible journeys - where anything is possible!
Want to see your podcast recommended? Reply to this email or…
🇫🇷 Podcasts from France 🇫🇷
Jeremie Mani is the co-founder of Podcasthon.org, a global charitable initiative that mobilizes the podcasting community across four different languages to support various causes. Leveraging his background as a digital entrepreneur, he has helped transform this project into a significant international event that bridges the gap between digital content creators and philanthropy.
Bliss Stories: Created and hosted by Clémentine Galey, Bliss.Stories is a leading French podcast dedicated to motherhood, sharing raw and authentic accounts of pregnancy and childbirth. It has evolved from a popular audio series into a comprehensive platform that breaks taboos surrounding the maternal experience through honest storytelling.
Créé et animé par Clémentine Galey, Bliss.Stories est le podcast de référence sur la maternité en France, proposant des témoignages sans filtre sur la grossesse et l’accouchement. Véritable phénomène, cette initiative a libéré la parole des femmes en transformant des récits personnels en une plateforme engagée qui lève les tabous liés au devenir mère.Génération Do It Yourself is a premier French business podcast hosted by Matthieu Stefani that explores the success stories and failures of entrepreneurs, athletes, and artists. Through deep-dive, long-form interviews, the show provides listeners with actionable insights into leadership, resilience, and the “do it yourself” mindset.
Animé par Matthieu Stefani, GDIY est le podcast de référence sur l’entrepreneuriat en France, recevant des leaders, sportifs et artistes pour décortiquer leurs parcours. Ces entretiens au format long explorent sans complaisance les succès et les échecs, offrant une immersion profonde dans l’état d’esprit de ceux qui font.
Demain N’attend Pas: Hosted by Delphine Darmon, Demain n’attend pas features inspiring conversations with individuals who have shifted their careers or lives to pursue social and environmental impact. The podcast serves as a powerful resource for listeners looking to align their professional paths with their personal values and the challenges of the ecological transition.
Animé par Delphine Darmon, Demain n’attend pas met en lumière des parcours de femmes et d’hommes qui s’engagent concrètement pour un futur plus durable et solidaire. Ce podcast explore les déclics et les actions de ceux qui ont choisi de mettre leur énergie au service de l’impact social et environnemental.
Thank you, Jeremie!
You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
🚀Events and Opportunities🚀
Audio UK’s Audiotrain Launch (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Speakers announced for the launch of Audiotrain in Edinburgh. The second in-person of the event of year will be in Edinburgh to launch Audiotrain, AudioUK’s skills and training platform for the podcast and audio industry, in Scotland. This free event is a great opportunity to hear about the latest developments in Audiotrain, learn from an excellent lineup of industry speakers and connect with AudioUK members and the wider podcasting and audio community in Edinburgh with informal networking and drinks.
📩 To book your place, email Juliette Nicholls at juliette.nicholls@audiouk.org.uk
When? January 29.
Postcode Lottery Fund for Journalists (The Netherlands)
Are you an independent journalist who closely follows what’s happening in the world and loves to report on it? And not just about the issues that dominate the front pages of newspapers and the opening of the news, but also about events in countries that are less in the spotlight? Do you want to produce high-quality reporting abroad? Then this fund is for you! The Postcode Lottery Fund assesses applications from journalists who write a challenging pitch four times a year. The applications have a maximum budget of €4,000.
When? January 30.
Podcast Creator Summit (London, UK)
Public media organisation PRX – bringing acclaimed podcasts and radio to millions – and AudioUK – the industry body dedicated to advancing podcasting and audio – today announced a 2026 Podcast Creator Summit in London, UK, inviting podcasters of all experience levels to share and gain insights spanning the art and business of making podcasts and audio.
Deadline? February 6.