Tune into Aclass: Black Voices, a free online event on June 3 for Black podcasters

DeRay Mckesson, Noleca Radway and other creators will speak at the event, hosted by Acast

Aclass: Black Voices — a free online event organized by Acast for Black podcasters and podcast industry workers — will take place on Thursday, June 3, at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST.

The event is part of Aclass, an ongoing free event series from Acast, which was created as a space for underrepresented communities in podcasting to meet, share experiences, and learn from one another.

Acast: Black Voices will feature panel discussions focused on Black experiences in podcast creation, storytelling, and navigating career paths in the industry. Each discussion will feature a variety of speakers, such as DeRay Mckesson, Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown and Yolanda Sangweni, who will share their experiences in the podcast space.

“The podcast industry is growing immensely, and it’s imperative that Black people and other people of color are part of that growth — both in front of the mic and behind the scenes,” said Tiffany Ashitey, Director of Partnerships at Acast. “We’re seeing a growing number of creatives build their career in podcasting, with more opportunity for both creators and professionals. That’s why it’s so important to continuously have conversations about identity and inclusion — not just when they’re ‘timely,’ but all the time.”

“Podcasting has a long way to go and, if we’re serious about balancing the scales of inclusion in this industry, it’s essential to share access and resources.”

Aclass: Black Voices will begin with a panel discussion before splitting into two concurrent breakout sessions for attendees to choose from. Audience Q&As will take place at the end of each discussion, where people can submit questions to the speakers.

The event program is as follows:

1 pm ET / 10 am PT / 6 pm BST

Exploring Black Podcasting Beyond the US

Black podcasting extends beyond the borders of the United States. From Toronto to Trinidad, Black creators have planted roots in this industry and are setting their sights on connecting the diaspora locally and globally. Join international podcast creators as they share their perspective on the state of Black podcasting.

A panel discussion featuring:

• Tiffany Ashitey, Director of Partnerships at Acast (MODERATOR)
• Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown, CEO and founder of Breadfruit Media, host of Carry On Friends: The Caribbean American Podcast, and founder of Caribbean Podcast Directory (PANELIST)
• Selly Thiam, CEO and founder of AQ Studios and host of the award-winning AfroQueer podcast (PANELIST)
• Garvia Bailey, co-founder of Media Girlfriends’ Inc. and host of the upcoming Historica Canada podcast Strong and Free (PANELIST)

2 pm ET / 11 am PT / 7 pm BST

Breakout session 1: How Black Podcast Creators Can Position (And Pitch) Their Stories For Visibility

Are you positioning your show for success? From pitch decks to show notes and beyond, learn how to get your show noticed in a space that’s getting more crowded by the day. Hear from those who’ve made popular shows about what truly matters when trying to build your audience and make your show more marketable.

A panel discussion featuring:

• Noleca Radway, founder of Quarks and host of Raising Rebels (MODERATOR)
• DeRay Mckesson, Civil Rights Activist and host of Crooked Media’s Pod Save The People (PANELIST)
• Brittany Luse, an award-winning journalist, cultural critic, and on-air host (PANELIST)
• Berry Syk, creator of Podcasts in Color (PANELIST)

Breakout session 2: More Than The Mic: Careers and Transitional Opportunities in the Podcasting Industry

As the podcasting industry matures, the gap in equity and diversity has become even more apparent. Opportunities are opening up for Black creators, but what about the other job opportunities in this thriving business? Hear from those in different areas of the podcast industry about the many roles open for those who have a huge love for podcasting, even if they don’t aim to host a show themselves.

A panel discussion featuring:

• Vernon Foster, Content Development Manager at Acast (MODERATOR)
• Lauren D. Williams, Head of Marketing Strategy at SiriusXM and Pandora (PANELIST)
• Yolanda Sangweni, Senior Director of Programming at NPR (PANELIST)
• Donald Albright, President and co-founder of Tenderfoot TV (PANELIST)
• Emery Tarpkin, Global Talent Partner at Acast (PANELIST)

RSVP to Aclass: Black Voices for free via Eventbrite.