Los Audio: May 4 - May 17
XMTR Audio Arts Festival open call, International list spring cleaning, and Cinco de Mayo (or the Star Wars One®)
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
I had a roommate in college who was from Jalisco, and greeted me one May 5th morning with, “happy ‘Americans get drunk again’ day!”
She told me I had her blessing to wear a novelty sombrero and call it “cinco de drink-o” if I wanted – I did not want. But I do appreciate taco, michelada, and margarita discounts around the city. La Cuevita in Highland Park is a favorite, and you can take this opportunity to check out Salsa & Beer at one of their three NoHo locations or their Van Nuys/Lake Balboa location. I believe Tocaya also does some kind of Cinco special, but… Why would you choose that.
Also, obligatory “may the fourth be with you.”
I don’t know, I’m not a Star Wars person (tomato, tomato; I get it) but I went to Scum and Villainy recently and was reminded of this calendar milestone.
Go… Uh, wield your light sabers and ask someone if they know that “Vader” means father (hint: they do.)
VID-POD Braintrust
Next month, Kristina Samulewski will host a few more VID-POD Braintrust sessions. They will include topics like how to edit a video ep, YouTube tricks, clip creation, etc.
If you or anyone you know would be a good fit for leading discussions on these topics, please do send your info to k.samulewski@gmail.com!
In the meantime, here is an excel spreadsheet that currently contains two sheets:
1. Contacts: If you would like to share your contact info and expertise with the wider group so people can reach out, network, ask questions, this is the place to do it.
2. Resources: if you have resources or links to things you want to share, think people could find useful, add away!
Tribeca TV and Podcasts
This just in: Tribeca TV and Podcast Official Selections!
The Podcast program is Tribeca’s largest and most ambitious to date, cementing the Festival as a live stage for the most influential voices in audio storytelling. From live tapings and conversations with must-see guests to a selection of world premiere podcasts, it’s a monumental year.
With Tribeca’s Live Podcast Events, enjoy a taping of The New York Times’ Cannonball with Wesley Morris or one-night-only events with your favorite storytellers—with hosts Bella Freud, Kara Swisher, David Remnick, Anna Sale, and special guests Marc Maron, Adam Scott, Peter Dinklage, Laurie Anderson, to name a few.
Official Selections bring never-before-heard podcasts, including ESPN’s The Fastest Girl in Somalia which follows Olympic runner Samia Yusuf, a look at America’s 250th birthday with BBC’s A History of the United States in 100 Objects, and more.
New to Tribeca, The Showcase List honors independent podcasts from the past year: ghost stories, supernatural thrillers, personal investigations, a Vodou deep-dive, and several Spanish-language podcasts (a Tribeca first!).
Get a pass for this year’s Festival!
International List Spring Cleaning
It’s time for the 2026 spring cleaning of the list of International Tape Syncers & Studios! If you’d like to enter, update, or remove your info, now is the time.
Reminder: this is a public list - you can add/edit yourself! Don’t forget to look at the tabs at the bottom.
XMTR Audio Arts Festival 2026
This year, XMTR will see some exciting changes - the main festival will be on the Saturday and Sunday, kicking off with the audio cabaret on Friday night, providing lots more opportunities to connect and hang out with the international creative audio community.
During the day on Friday, they will be testing out ‘XMTR PULSE’ - a day dedicated to: What’s next for creative audio? With less traditional opportunities and an exciting surge of independent initiatives, we will take time to connect, unpack, inspire and conspire with like minded audio folk.
This has a limited number of spaces - if it’s something you would like to be part of, get in touch directly.
The festival weekend is set to be a packed ambitious and exciting programme, spanning multiple unique and wonderful venues in and around St Leonards-on-Sea on the UK’s South Coast. Deep diving into the craft of creative audio and sonic storytelling. From powerful and provocative performances, to focused listening and immersive experiences, this is a gathering space for the international creative audio community to connect, collaborate and get inspired!
If you would like to pitch an idea to participate in the festival this year, you can apply through the festival open-call. Deadline is May 22nd.
You can also book your early bird pass now.
Hospital of Emotions
Have you seen Instagram ads for this new exhibit at a hospital in MacArthur Park?
My interest was piqued – but LA Material published this piece (login required, subscribing is free!) with more about the whole operation, and now I’m conflicted.
On the one hand, a hospital full of art sounds amazing. On the other hand, such a thing at this specific hospital seems a bit tone deaf at best, and – between what sounds like underpaying artists, not disclosing information to artists, being weird to reporters, and possibly impeding the development of a treatment center for the unhoused – the organization behind the facility and exhibit seems a little bit shady.
Thoughts? Are you (still) going?
Event: The Moth StorySLAM - I GOT IT FROM MY MAMA
The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a true, personal, 5-minute story on the night’s theme. Sign up for a chance to tell a story or sit back and enjoy the show! Tonight’s theme is…
I GOT IT FROM MY MAMA: Prepare a five-minute story about what runs in the family. From memorized Sunday sauces to generational trauma wrapped in questionable traditions. Fashion tips and whispered warnings. Sharp tongues and sharper cheekbones. Tell tales of inherent humor, proud features, warm embraces and the advice only a matriarch can deliver. Explore our motherly ties and those before them that shape our worldview and make you, you.
📅 May 5th
⏰ Doors 6:30 PM, Show 7:30 PM
👤 The Moth
💰 $20
🎟️ Tickets
Live Taping: Wild Card with Rachel Martin LIVE
Wild Card with Rachel Martin is the celebrity podcast that throws out the standard interview script and replaces it with randomly-chosen questions from a deck of cards. It can get pretty deep pretty quickly! Join LAist for a night of exploring life’s biggest questions, live and unscripted with Rachel and special guest Tracee Ellis Ross. You’ll get to hear the show weeks before its podcast debut.
📅 May 7th
⏰ 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
👤 LAist
💰 Free (first come, first served) - $25 (guaranteed seating)
🎟️ Tickets
Meetup: Los Angeles Podcasters Meetup
Connect with other local podcasters and creators to help grow and monetize your show as part of the Podfest Tour!
Los Angeles, CA Podcasters Meetup Part of the Podfest Podtour
Welcome to the LA Podcasters Meetup, Presented by Morgan James Publishing and Podmatch, and brought to you in partnership with Podfest and Your Brand Amplified with Anika Jackson!!
Join us for a fun time of networking, learning, and sharing podcasting tips. Whether you’re a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, this event is for you!
📅 May 14th
⏰ 5:30 PM
👤 Podfest Podtour
💰 Free
🎟️ RSVP
Live Taping: Brains On Universe Presents…..Puberty! (The podcast)
Join Molly Bloom, host and creator of the kids' podcast company Brains On Universe, for a live panel about puberty! Featured guests include Dr. Cara Natterson, pediatrician, author and founder of Less Awkward, a company designed to make puberty a less awkward, more joyful experience, and Dr. Christopher Miller, a clinical psychologist and the founder of The Boys’ Institute for Growth (BIG), which educates boys about puberty and facilitates healthy conversations between boys and their trusted adults. The evening will feature a moderated discussion followed by a live Q&A designed to help parents prepare kids ages 7–11 for the changes ahead.
📅 May 14th
⏰ 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
👤 LAist
💰 Free (first come, first served) - $25 (guaranteed seating)
🎟️ Tickets
Event: Writing Gets Lonely
Join host Katja Bartholmess for an open writing studio at Heavy Manners Library from 1-3! No frills, no prompts, just write!
Manuscripts, Screenplays, Articles… Stories… Podcast scripts… whatever you’re working on, let’s do it in each other’s company!
📅 May 15th
⏰ 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
👤 Heavy Manners
💰 Pay-what-you-want donation
🎟️ RSVP
Live Taping: Go Fact Yourself LIVE with Laura Dave and William Stanford Davis
Go Fact Yourself is a pop culture trivia show hosted by J. Keith van Straaten (he/him) (Ask Me Another, Senior Writer) and Helen Hong (she/her) (Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me, recurring panelist).
On May 17, author Laura Dave (“The Last Last Thing He Told Me”) and actor William Stanford Davis (“Abbott Elementary”), plus surprise guest experts will join J. Keith and Helen for a trivia show like no other!
Register for free for general admission or reserve a guaranteed seat for $20. Concessions available starting at 3 p.m.
📅 May 17th
⏰ 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
👤 LAist
💰 Free (first come, first served) - $20 (guaranteed seating)
🎟️ Tickets
💻 Virtual Events 💻
Session: VID-POD Braintrust Session 3 – How to make a video ep
The next session for the VID-POD Braintrust will dive into how to edit a video episode. Connor Lynch, a video producer since 2009 and podcast producer since 2016, will lead this session. Connor will walk us through his real-world editing workflow by breaking down how he builds an episode of "Unclear and Present Danger," offering a practical, step-by-step example in Premiere.
📅 May 5th
⏰ 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
👤 Kristina Samulewski and Connor Lynch
💰 Free
🎟️ Register
Class: Video Podcasting
Video podcasts are everywhere, but making one that looks sharp, sounds great, and actually connects with an audience takes more than just hitting record. In this 2.5hr crash course, you’ll learn the building blocks for a professional approach, whether you’re planning a solo show, a co-hosted chatcast, or a guest-driven, interview format. Most importantly, you’ll get a sense of the level of effort and tradeoffs offered by different approaches.
We’ll cover principles for a full production workflow: setup/prep, gear recs, recording, editing full episodes, editing vertical clips for social and more.
We’ll also touch on more advanced topics like workflows for multiple audio/video cuts, camera switching, sound mixing, and optimal packaging for platforms.
You’ll leave the class with increased knowledge and confidence to build a repeatable approach to a polished video podcast that works for your show, budget and format.
📅 May 8th
⏰ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
👤 Radio Boot Camp
💰 $100
🎟️ Register
Class: YouTube for Podcasters 101
So you’ve heard you have to be on YouTube. Before you panic, take a breath. You don’t need to become a full-time YouTuber overnight (or even show your face) to make the platform work for your podcast.
YouTube expert Bessie Fong and podcast marketing guru Lauren Passell cut through the noise to focus on what actually matters for podcasters. This class is less about chasing the algorithm and more about using YouTube intentionally, efficiently, and without burning yourself out.
You’ll learn how to decide whether YouTube even makes sense for your show, what formats work best for audio-first creators, and how to set up videos so they’re discoverable without obsessing over trends. We’ll walk through practical optimization basics, smart repurposing strategies, and low-lift content options—especially if you don’t want to be on camera. Instead of vague growth hacks, you’ll leave with clear frameworks, repeatable processes, and realistic expectations—so you can use YouTube as a tool, not a time suck.
📅 May 13th
⏰ 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
👤 Radio Boot Camp
💰 $150
🎟️ Register
Class: The A-Z of Descript for Beginners
Descript is a game-changer for making podcasts, allowing producers with minimal experience to tackle editorial work. In this online workshop, experienced editor and producer Shawn Allee will familiarize you with Descript’s core features for transcription, clip management, and editing. He’ll also walk through how to export a project to traditional audio mixing platforms (like Audition, Reaper, Pro Tools, and Hindenburg) for final processing — no matter the workflow.
You will also have the opportunity to try out the tools we review in class with a piece of tape you’ve been working on.
Required: Descript accounts at the Creator level or higher. You must have downloaded the program and logged in prior to the session. See Descript’s pricing. You should also bring some MP3 files you can work with during class. Wire headphones recommended.
📅 May 15th
⏰ 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
👤 Radio Boot Camp
💰 $140
🎟️ Register
Submit an Event
Do you know of (or host!) a radio, podcasting, journalism, or audio event in LA? Shoot an email to losaudio@substack.com with the details! Include the date, time, location, any applicable links, and whether or not the event is recurring (along with any other relevant info, and maybe a photo of the best LA sunset you’ve seen recently.) Any kinds of events, meetups, and workshops are applicable.
Los Audio is a biweekly (every two weeks) newsletter – if your event is time-sensitive, please mention the timeframe you’d like it to appear and I’ll do my best to accommodate your request!