Verbal Highs & AUT School of Communication Studies present:
THE NZ PODCASTING SUMMIT 2025
An annual hui for Aotearoa’s podcasting community to meet, collaborate, learn, & grow.
SATURDAY MAY 10 2025
AUCKLAND CENTRAL
POWERED BY ROCKSHOP
-
Will Fleming
-
Sonia Gray
NO SUCH THING AS NORMAL
Sonia Gray is an actor, presenter, and podcast producer. She is New Zealand’s longest-serving Lotto host. As an ADHDer raising a neurodivergent daughter, Sonia produces & hosts No Such Thing As Normal, a podcast exploring the lived experience of neurodiversity. -
-
Lewis Tennant
-
Sasha Borissenko
-
Guyon Espiner
RNZ
Guyon Espiner has been a journalist for over 30 years, including 14 years in the parliamentary press gallery. He is a reporter, political editor, documentary maker, and podcast producer. Guyon’s podcast’s include The Service, Red Line, The Ninth Floor, and 30 with Guyon Espiner. -
Ethan Sills
NZ HERALD PODCASTS
Ethan Sills is Podcast Production Manager at NZME / New Zealand Herald Podcasts. His production credits include Heaven’s Helpline, Chasing Ghosts, and Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial. Ethan was named Podcast Producer of the Year at the 2024 NZ Radio & Podcast awards. -
Katie Lowes
FOHBOH
Katie Lowes is the director of Raglan-based research & campaign company FOHBOH (Front of House Back of House). Her work ranges from from creating giant murals with tamariki, to masterminding large marketing campaigns. Katie hosts Happy Mondays on Raglan Radio. -
David Fisher
CHASING GHOSTS: THE PUPPETEER
David FIsher has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years, winning multiple journalism awards and being selected as one of a small number of Wolfson Press Fellows to Wolfson College, Cambridge. He is the investigative host of Chasing Ghosts: The Puppeteer. -
-
Hannah Hunt
ROAR COLLECTIVE
Hannah Hunt co-founded one of New Zealand’s first independent podcast production agencies. Born in 2018, ROAR focuses on branded content. Hannah produces the award-winning podcast What Matters Most, hosted by Antonia Prebble and Jacqui Maguire. -
Alan McElroy
THE WORLD IS !@#$%*!
Alan McElroy is an award-winning Irish comedian, actor, content creator, and MC. He is a regular guest on RNZ’s The Panel. Alan co-hosts The World Is !@#$%*! , a podcast dissecting the crazy, funny and odd things that happen around the world. -
SCHEDULE
9am: Event Opens (30m)
Event and registration desk open. Sign in and uplift your summit pack at the registration desk. Help yourself to tea and coffee. Meet your fellow delegates.
9.30am: Welcome #1 - AUT (10m)
A few words from Assoc. Prof. Angelique Nairn (AUT School of Communication Studies)
9.40am: Welcome #2 – NZ Podcasting Summit (10m)
A few words from Summit HQ, before introducing your event host Sasha Borissenko.
9:50 am: Session #1 (55m)
‘Podcasting the Personal’
Sonia Gray (No Such Thing As Normal)
Sonia Gray reflects on creating, producing, storyboarding, editing, and hosting her award-winning podcast No Such Thing As Normal, a show focused on increasing awareness & understanding of (and support for) Aotearoa’s neurodivergent community.
10:45 am: Morning Tea (15m)
11:00 am: Session #2 (50m)
Mic Breaker
Hosted by The World Is !@#$%*! podcast host and stand-up comedian Alan McElroy. Mic Breaker. It's like musical chairs without the music. Pass the parcel without the parcel. Speed dating without the dating. Now is the time to meet as many of your fellow delegates as possible. Trust and follow the process and the Alan.
11:50 am: Session #3 (55m)
Free FM presents ‘Mic Drop Marathon’
Now Alan has broken the ice, we’ll continue to get to know each other before having some lunch. It’s time to break the world record for the most hosts and guests on a single podcast episode. You can join in or watch from the sidelines, up to you. Note: this world record does not currently exist, so our odds are favourable. Thanks to Free FM 89.0; independent community media based in the Waikato, and part of the Community Access Media Alliance
12.45 pm: Lunch (60m)
1:45 pm: Session #4 (55m)
’Starting & Growing a Podcasting Business in New Zealand’
A panel session with Hannah Hunt (ROAR Collective) & Will Fleming (Campfire Studios). Moderated by Katie Lowes (FOHBOH). From bespoke podcast production houses to custom podcast studio facilities, the number of independent podcast businesses in New Zealand is steadily growing. Hannah & Will reflect on launching, growing, and sustaining a podcast company in Aotearoa, offering insight and advice on running a business in the podcast space.
2:40 pm: Session #5 (55m)
RØDE presents ’An Assortment of Experts’
The expert version of a box of chocolates. Craig Parker (RØDE Microphones) is our podcast equipment, recording, and post-production expert. Ethan Sills (NZ Herald Podcasts) is our podcast production and project management expert. Sam Irvine (Copyright NZ) is our copyright expert.
The panel will be answering questions forwarded to them before the day of the summit. If you are attending the summit & have a question for an expert, please email it to nzpodsummit@gmail.com.
Thanks to RØDE; great sound is the foundation of every podcast, and RØDE has a range of solutions to fit your needs and budget.
3:35 pm: Break (20m)
3:55 pm: Session #6 (55m)
‘Investigative & Advocacy Podcasting’.
A panel session with Guyon Espiner (RNZ) and David Fisher (NZ Herald). Moderated by Collin Bjork (Pod Uni). Following on from 2024’s popular ‘The Ethical & Legal Obligations of True Crime Podcasting’ session, this korero includes reflections on how to effectively use of the podcast format for investigative and advocacy projects, the advantages & disadvantages of podcasting compared to other mediums, and approaches to investigative & advocacy storytelling.
4:50 pm: Event Ends
Follow us & connect with the NZ podcasting community: