Carl Hartley – Humanities Podcast Network

The countdown is on! With just weeks to go until this year’s Humanities Podcasting Symposium 2026, now is the perfect time to secure your place at one of HPN’s flagship annual events. The free virtual symposium takes place on 23 and 24 October 2026 and brings together podcasters, researchers, educators, students and audio professionals from around the world for two days of discussion, reflection and community.

Registration is now open via Eventbrite

Now in its sixth year, the symposium will explore the theme:

“What to do now?”: Humanities Podcasting, Agency and Avowal

At a time when public institutions face increasing pressure, trust in expertise is frequently challenged, and independent voices are more important than ever, this year’s theme asks vital questions about the role of humanities podcasters in public discourse. The symposium will examine how creators, scholars and communicators can find agency within existing systems while confidently asserting the value of their work and expertise.

The event is designed to be a welcoming space for everyone involved in humanities podcasting and public scholarship. Whether you’re an experienced podcaster, a researcher experimenting with audio, a student exploring new forms of communication, or a producer working behind the scenes, the symposium offers opportunities to learn from colleagues, exchange ideas and build new connections.

Participants can look forward to discussions on topics including:

The importance of agency and avowal in contemporary humanities podcasting.
Overcoming barriers and fears around public communication.
Rethinking expertise and amplifying diverse forms of knowledge.
Sustainable approaches to podcast production and growth.
Building trust, resilience and longevity in humanities podcasting communities.

One of the strengths of the Humanities Podcasting Symposium has always been its commitment to bringing together people from across disciplines and sectors. Alongside humanities scholars and podcasters, this year’s event welcomes contributions from journalism, education, archiving, community media and other related fields, creating a rich environment for interdisciplinary conversation.

As a fully virtual event, the symposium is accessible to attendees wherever you are based. Best of all, attendance is completely free, making it an ideal opportunity to engage with the latest thinking about podcasting, public humanities and audio scholarship.

If you’ve been thinking about attending, don’t leave it until the last minute. Register today and join colleagues from around the world for two days of inspiring conversation about the future of humanities podcasting.

Register Today

Humanities Podcasting Symposium 2026
📅 23-24 October 2026
💻 Online
🎟️ Free to attend

Registration is now open via Eventbrite.

We look forward to welcoming you to this year’s symposium and continuing the conversation about the future of humanities podcasting.

*Artwork for Podcasting the Humanities: A Companion to the Palgrave Handbook, the forthcoming podcast series accompanying The Palgrave Handbook of Humanities Podcasting.*

The Humanities Podcast Network is delighted to share an exclusive first look at the artwork for the forthcoming podcast series accompanying The Palgrave Handbook of Humanities Podcasting.

Edited by founding members of the Humanities Podcast Network, The Palgrave Handbook of Humanities Podcasting brings together more than 80 contributors from across the global humanities podcasting community. Drawing on their experiences as podcasters, educators, researchers and practitioners, the authors explore the theory, practice and impact of humanities podcasting, highlighting the ways audio has opened up new forms of scholarly communication and public engagement.

The newly revealed artwork offers the first glimpse of the companion podcast, titled Podcasting the Humanities: A Companion to the Palgrave Handbook. Designed to extend the conversations begun in the book, the podcast will bring contributors together to discuss their chapters, reflect on key themes and demonstrate humanities podcasting in action.

The series will feature 21 episodes, including an introductory episode with the handbook’s four general editors, followed by a dedicated episode for each of the handbook’s 20 sections. Across the series, listeners will hear contributors discuss subjects ranging from podcast production and pedagogy to scholarly communication, collaboration and community-building. The format allows authors to continue the conversations that began on the page while showcasing the distinctive possibilities of podcasting as a humanities practice.

One of the most exciting aspects of the project is that the entire podcast series has already been recorded and edited, ready for release alongside the publication of the handbook. When the book appears in print, listeners will be able to move seamlessly between reading and listening, engaging with the ideas in multiple formats and hearing directly from the scholars and creators behind them.

Together, the handbook and podcast represent a landmark project for the humanities podcasting community. Not only do they document the growth and development of the field, but they also embody the collaborative, accessible and conversational spirit that has made humanities podcasting such a vibrant space for scholarship and public engagement.

As publication draws closer, we’re thrilled to share this preview of what’s to come. Keep an eye on future Humanities Podcast Network newsletters and channels for further updates on both The Palgrave Handbook of Humanities Podcasting and Podcasting the Humanities: A Companion to the Palgrave Handbook, including publication and release announcements.

The book and podcast are due for release next year.

Author: Carl Hartley

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