Echo Podcast Summit

Podstarter

In a media climate dominated by digital voices and one-sided relationships between creators and audiences, trust in podcasting has become one of the most urgent conversations of our time. On June 19, 2025, Halifax hosted Echo Podcast Summit, the largest podcast event Atlantic Canada has ever seen, bringing together global leaders, creators, and critical thinkers to explore the future of trust in media. Brought to you by Halifax-based podcast strategy company Podstarter and global podcasting powerhouse Acast, the summit will be held at the iconic Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in downtown Halifax. It promises a day of sharp insight, bold questions, and boundary-pushing conversation about how trust is built, challenged, and reshaped in today’s fractured media landscape. Proudly sponsored by Acast, the world’s leading independent podcast company, the event reflects a shared mission to foster integrity and openness across the podcasting space.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Your Podcast Is a 50,000-Year-Old Technology: The Kula Ring & the Gift Economy

    Discover why your podcast is part of a 50,000-year-old gift economy – and how understanding that can transform your community, loyalty, and monetization. Digital anthropologist Charles explains the Kula Ring, an ancient system of ceremonial exchange, and shows how it maps perfectly onto modern podcasting. You’ll learn why your voice is a gift, why your listeners’ attention is a form of debt and reciprocation, and how to separate community from commerce so you can monetize without breaking trust. 🎧 What you’ll learn: Why podcasting is really about gifts, not contentHow parasocial bonds and ritual make audiences feel deeply connectedThe difference between Kula (community gift exchange) and Gimwali (commercial exchange)How to frame Patreon, merch, and ads so they don’t damage your communityWhy podcast communities are self-organizing systems you can’t fully controlRecorded live at the Echo Podcast Summit (June 18, 2026 – Halifax Convention Centre), hosted by Podstarter and supported by amazing sponsors including Acast, Amazon, Accessible Media Inc, and more. 00:00 – Opening idea: Your voice as a gift00:12 – Echo Podcast Summit intro & theme: Community02:45 – What is digital anthropology? Charles’ background04:10 – The Kula Ring: Ancient ceremonial exchange07:07 – From shells to podcasts: Introducing “the how”09:20 – Voice, intimacy, and parasocial bonds in podcasting11:14 – Attention as currency: The listener’s reciprocation13:40 – Debt, mutual aid, and why communities feel like family15:06 – Discords, subreddits & fan behavior as gift exchange16:40 – Monetization: Kula vs. Gimwali (community vs. commerce)18:45 – Merch, Patreon, tickets: How not to break the ring19:34 – Rituals in podcasts: Intros, music, and cadence21:30 – You don’t own your community: Self-organizing systems24:07 – Why podcasting is culturally significant right now25:14 – Q&A: Platform “enshittification” & hope for digital spaces27:03 – Closing remarks & Echo Podcast Summit 2026 invite Recorded live at the Echo Podcast Summit (June 18, 2026) at the Halifax Convention Centre. Subscribe for more talks, panels, and behind-the-scenes conversations from Echo and the Podstarter team. echopodcastsummit.com

  2. Jul 22

    From Clips to Communities: How Podcasters Grow Across Platforms with Acast

    How do you turn casual listeners and TikTok scrollers into a real podcast community that shows up, shares, and even buys tickets to live events? Recorded live at the Echo Podcast Summit in Halifax, this panel explores how podcast communities migrate across platforms with experts from Acast Canada: Rhys Waters – Host, Podstarter / Echo Podcast SummitAl Strasberg – Creator Network Development Manager, Acast CanadaHeather Gordon – Managing Director, Acast CanadaYou’ll learn: Why video isn’t mandatory (and why some top shows stay audio-only)The real signals of engagement beyond download numbersHow creators like Morgan Book and Adam & Jax moved audiences from TikTok & social into podcast appsWhy a massive following on one platform doesn’t automatically translate into podcast listenersPractical ways to package your show for sponsors and think in omnichannel terms (podcast + social + newsletters + live shows)Concrete tactics for building real community: DMs, Facebook groups, naming your fans, and unforgettable live eventsIf you’re trying to grow a podcast, monetize it, or turn your show into a multi-platform brand, this conversation is packed with actionable insight. 00:00 – Why podcast community matters now more than ever 00:09 – Echo Podcast Summit intro & theme of ‘community’ 01:24 – Panel intro: Acast, Al Strasberg & Heather Gordon 03:24 – How podcasts have changed in the last few years 03:55 – The rise of video… and why some creators stay audio-only 05:35 – Younger audiences, video trends, and meeting listeners where they are 06:32 – What real engagement looks like beyond downloads 07:17 – Picking your platforms wisely: discovery vs deep engagement 08:55 – When clips go viral but full episodes don’t—does it matter? 09:41 – Case study: Morgan Book’s journey from BookTok to podcasting 10:49 – Lessons from moving audiences from social to RSS 11:16 – Why big social numbers don’t guarantee podcast listeners 12:27 – Don’t assume your short-form fans will stay for 45 minutes 13:10 – Case study: Adam & Jax building TikTok first, podcast second 14:11 – Launching a podcast as a “big reveal” after social growth 14:31 – Monetization shift: from audio-only to omnichannel selling 15:54 – Why podcasters can be more influential than traditional influencers 18:03 – How Acast packages shows for sponsors & handles monetization 19:49 – Practical tips to start building your community spaces 20:12 – Substack, TikTok, Instagram, and choosing what fits your show 20:30 – Montreal case study: thriving Facebook group to 1500-seat live shows 21:30 – Tony & Ryan: naming their community and replying to everyone 22:42 – Turning live shows into ‘you’re the only one in the room’ moments 23:34 – Listener ownership: “I approve this podcast” intros 24:02 – Closing: sponsors, thanks, and Echo Podcast Summit 2026 Recorded live at the Echo Podcast Summit (June 18, 2026) at the Halifax Convention Centre. Subscribe for more talks, panels, and behind-the-scenes conversations from Echo and the Podstarter team. echopodcastsummit.com

  3. Jul 8

    The Funniest Politician in Podcasting? The Honourable Mike Savage Welcomes Echo Summit

    Former Halifax mayor and current Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Mike Savage kicks off the Echo Podcast Summit in Halifax with one of the least-stuffy, most entertaining welcome addresses you’ll ever hear. Savage riffs on: Why podcasts beat traditional media for real conversationHow storytelling builds community in Atlantic Canada and beyondThe role of diverse voices and immigrant stories in shaping Nova ScotiaWhy Halifax is secretly one of the world’s top party citiesPlus some classic crowd work, jokes, and a very unofficial “tell the cops I sent you” line.00:00 – “Podcasts create space for thoughtful conversation” – cold open00:10 – Rhys sets the stage: Echo Podcast Summit 2026 & theme of community02:29 – Mike Savage takes the mic: jokes, intros & who’s in the room04:30 – Land acknowledgement & treaty relationships in Nova Scotia06:59 – Why podcasting matters: storytelling, community & diverse voices09:40 – Atlantic Canadian stories reaching a global audience11:48 – How podcasts replaced radio in Mike’s daily life13:07 – Audience interaction: first-timers in Halifax & party-city cred13:46 – Halifax tips, SailGP, and “tell the cops the Lieutenant Governor sent you”15:35 – Rhys’ closing: thanks, sponsors, and Echo’s future plans Recorded live at the Echo Podcast Summit (June 18, 2026) at the Halifax Convention Centre. Subscribe for more talks, panels, and behind-the-scenes conversations from Echo and the Podstarter team. echopodcastsummit.com

  4. Season 2 Trailer

    Echo 2026 Is Coming: Nova Scotia Today with Dan Ahlstrand

    Nova Scotia Today, host Dan Ahlstrand chats with Rhys Waters of Podstarter about the rapid growth of podcasting and why Halifax is the perfect home for the Echo Podcast Summit on June 18. Rhys shares the origin of the summit, Halifax’s surprising role in Canadian podcast history, and this year’s theme: community. They discuss how podcasters can stand out in an increasingly crowded space, the power of focusing on a clear niche, and why authentic, long-form audio is a powerful antidote to AI-driven content. Rhys also previews the summit’s lineup, including partners like Acast, YouTube, Amazon Music, CBC, and Canadaland, plus an Amazon Music after-party at the Podstarter studio.

  5. 06/25/2025

    Me, Myself & TMI

    How personal should journalists go with their audio storytelling? CBC Atlantic Voice host/producer Lindsay Bird joins Luke Quinton, writer/audio producer and host of the CBC Podcast Come By Chance, to discuss first-person pieces, the role of journalists as a guide, and the rules they’re guided by. ​Lindsay Bird is the producer and host of Atlantic Voice, the home of documentaries and storytelling about the East Coast on CBC Radio and CBC Listen. Luke Quinton is a writer and audio producer in St. John's, who returned to N.L. after a decade in Austin, Tex. His documentaries have appeared on the podcasts 99% Invisible and Snap Judgement, and on radio for the BBC, CBC and NPR. https://www.echopodcastsummit.com/

    Me, Myself & TMI

  6. 06/25/2025

    The Anthropology of Trust in Podcasting

    Examining and discussing the unique power and responsibility podcasters hold as modern storytellers. We’ll explore how digital myths emerge and transform into cultural narratives via podcasts and can ultimately shape listeners perception of reality. A short presentation from a digital anthropologist perspective and ample time to discuss an increasingly influential medium where gatekeepers are often absent. This presentation was given by Giles Crouch, Digital Anthropologist. He helps organizations navigate these new territories using time-tested anthropological methods combined with cutting-edge digital insights and 20+ years as a leader in marketing communications. He’s been featured in WIRED, Forbes, National Geographic, BBC News, CBC News, Arab News and CTV News among others. He brings deep insights from 150+ netnographic research projects and 20+ successful technology product launches to help clients decode the intersection of technology, marketing and culture.  https://www.echopodcastsummit.com/

    The Anthropology of Trust in Podcasting

  7. 06/25/2025

    Branded Truths

    Where does journalism end and branded content begin? In this provocative panel, former journalists pull back the curtain on their transition into the world of branded storytelling. With credibility on the line and truth wearing a new outfit, we explore the ethical grey zones, creative compromises, and surprising opportunities that come with producing content for brands—while still aiming to inform, engage, and resonate. Heather- Heather Gordon is the managing director of ACAST CANADA. a digital media sales veteran, rising through the ranks of CHUM interactive before taking the reins of the digital sales team responsible for the legendary Canadian music television brand—MuchMusic. From there Heather moved to the CBC, where she led digital sales. And now she leads the amazing ACAST CANADA Team. Tori - Tori Weldon is an award-winning producer and journalist with 15 years of experience creating audio, television and web content. Tori was a journalist with the CBC, covering local, regional, and national news. She has been making branded content for Pacific Content and JAR Audio, but before that Tori dug into stories ranging from municipal politics to food security, with the ability to step in as field producer, show director and technician as needed.  Lisa - Lisa Hrabluk is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur focusing on bringing national and global issues down to street-level. She’s worked for just about every newspaper chain in Canada, as a reporter, columnist, editor and freelancer. Her byline has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Time, Halifax Herald, New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, Mississauga News, and the Canadian Press. She is a frequent commentator on CBC, recently as the film and streaming columnist for CBC Radio’s Information Morning, Saint John, and on the CBC Listen app.  https://www.echopodcastsummit.com/

    Branded Truths

  8. 06/25/2025

    Outsiders vs. Legacy News

    Independent voices and digital disruptors are reshaping the way we consume news. In a conversation between veteran Journalist Pauline Dakin and Investigative Podcaster Jordan Bonaparte - We explore the clash between legacy media and outsider journalism. Who holds the power, who earns the public’s trust, and what the future of news looks like in an era of rapid change? Pauline  - "Pauline Dakin is the bestselling author of the award-winning memoir Run, Hide, Repeat: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood. She hosted and co-produced the CBC podcast series of the same name Run, Hide, Repeat based on the book. It topped international podcast charts, had more than a million downloads in Canada, and won a prestigious New York Festival award. Pauline is a professor of journalism at the University of King’s College in Halifax, specializing in audio and podcasting.  Jordan - "With a passion for true crime, unsolved mysteries, and the unexplained, Jordan has built a dedicated following by diving deep into the stories that captivate his listeners, from high-profile cases to lesser-known, local enigmas. Known for his investigative approach and thoughtful interviews, Jordan engages with experts, family members, and those directly involved in the stories he covers. Whether discussing unsolved crimes, paranormal events, or strange phenomena, Jordan’s storytelling brings a unique perspective that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. https://www.echopodcastsummit.com/

    Outsiders vs. Legacy News

Trailer

About

In a media climate dominated by digital voices and one-sided relationships between creators and audiences, trust in podcasting has become one of the most urgent conversations of our time. On June 19, 2025, Halifax hosted Echo Podcast Summit, the largest podcast event Atlantic Canada has ever seen, bringing together global leaders, creators, and critical thinkers to explore the future of trust in media. Brought to you by Halifax-based podcast strategy company Podstarter and global podcasting powerhouse Acast, the summit will be held at the iconic Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in downtown Halifax. It promises a day of sharp insight, bold questions, and boundary-pushing conversation about how trust is built, challenged, and reshaped in today’s fractured media landscape. Proudly sponsored by Acast, the world’s leading independent podcast company, the event reflects a shared mission to foster integrity and openness across the podcasting space.

Information

  • Creator
    Podstarter
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Podstarter INC
  • Show Website
    Echo Podcast Summit