Welcome to This Week in Podcasting, where we bring you some of the latest updates and news from the world of podcasting. This week, we’re sharing exciting opportunities from the 2025 International Women’s Podcast Awards call, to the launch of SemaBOX Africa’s Podcast Academy Program in Mombasa, plus, a new Spotify feature that helps you gain deeper insights into your audience. Let’s get into it!
1. Entries are now Open for the IWPAs
That’s right, the 2025 International Women’s Podcast Awards (IWPAs) are now open. The aim of the awards? To celebrate the moments that make you most proud of your podcast.
Last year, the awards received over 700 entries from across 33 different countries, with the number set to grow this year. The IWPAs have also partnered with BBC Sounds, Wondery and Amazon Music to set up a Bursary Fund again, which is open for anyone, anywhere in the world to apply for free entry to the awards.
What are you waiting for? Entries are open until 17 March 2025, and you can find all the information you need on their website, as well as a run down of the inspiring 2024 nominees.
2. Spotify’s New Shareable Links Feature
Spotify recently dropped a new feature: shareable links. Created to track your show’s clicks and streams from social to Spotify, this new feature means that you can get a breakdown of streaming trends on and off Spotify, so that you can better understand how to reach your audience.
Find out more about how this new feature can work for you and your podcast community here.
3. Podcast Academy Program comes to Mombasa
SemaBOX Africa, the continent’s largest podcast academy and creator community, is bringing their Podcast Academy Program, Runway, to Mombasa, Kenya!
The program is open to creators aged 18-35 years old, and applications are free. Find all the information you need to apply for this exciting opportunity here.
4. In Case you Missed it: Africa Podcast Day 2025 with Afripods
This week saw the fifth Africa Podcast Day celebrated. You can read all about Afripods’ celebrations in our last post here.
While you’re here don’t forget to share your podcast stories, news, awards, events or anything else happening in your podcast world with our team. DM us on social media or email us at: thepodcastsessions@gmail.com
