Announcing Our 2025 Podcast Pitch Award Judges
We are thrilled to announce our panel of judges for the 2025 Podcast Pitch Award in partnership with Sheffield DocFest.
Returning for a second year is multi-award-winning Commissioning Editor for Factual at BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds, Dan Clarke. Dan’s work includes some of the most acclaimed audio storytelling in recent years, including hit podcasts Things Fell Apart and Uncharted, alongside Three Million (Gold, Best New Podcast at the British Podcast Award), Legend (Gold, Best Music Podcast at the British Podcast Awards), and Intrigue: To Catch A Scorpion, which won both the Prix Europa and Prix Italia for Best European Investigation in 2024
We are also pleased to welcome Talia Augustidis to the panel for the first time. An award-winning audio producer, artist, community organiser, and former Whicker winner, Talia is known for her innovative approach to storytelling and sound design as well as authoring the All Hear newsletter in collaboration with Transom.org
Also for the first time on our panel, we welcome the award winning producer of the iconic podcast This American Life, Emmanuel Dzotsi. Emmanuel has reported on everything from backroom deals for political power, vast money-making phone scams hidden in plain sight, to stories about America’s broken immigration system. Most recently, Emmanuel was the co-host of the popular podcast about the internet, Reply All, where he was a National Magazine Award finalist for his 3-part series on a years-long feud in the Alabama Democratic Party. His work has been profiled in publications including the New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian, among others.
Each member of our panel has been carefully selected for their expertise in the podcast maker’s journey: from navigating funding and the commissioning process to directing and overseeing production, to the crucial aspects of sales and distribution.
The 2025 Whickers Podcast Pitch will take place at Sheffield DocFest on Saturday 22nd June, 10am – 12pm
FIND OUT MORE HERE