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Meet the 2025 Pitch Party Finalists! All three finalists will get a chance to present their pitch at this year’s RESONATE for a chance to win $10,000 to produce their own pilot. Pitch Party is sponsored by VPM.
Lyric Bowditch:
Conspiracy in Cairo
This is the story of how an Italian graduate student doing research in Egypt got caught in the gears of an authoritarian machine—and how the investigation into his murder reveals not only the audacity of a police state, but the complicity of the democracies that sustain it.
Alissa Escarce:
Going Home
In Going Home, a DREAMer brings the listener along on her journey self-deporting from the United States, and explores how the experience of immigrating has shaped her family and her life.
Hazel Hoffman:
Metaville
A podcast exploring the long-term relationship between my hometown and the information industry: namely Facebook, whose first data center was built in Prineville, Oregon.
PITCH PARTY JURORS
Chris Bannon
SVP, Head of Global Audio at Conde Nast
N'Jeri Eaton
Podcast Executive, Wondery
Fallon Jethroe
Founder & Talent Manager of Hello Fallon Entertainment (HFE), a Los Angeles-based production company and talent management firm
Tom Koenig
Podcast Executive & Consultant
Yooree Losordo
Director of Network Operations at Radiotopia from PRX
Christabel Nsiah-Buadi
Podcasting development strategist and CEO of My Lens Media
Chris Oke
Executive Producer at CBC/ Radio Canada
Mark Pagan
award-winning filmmaker, audio producer/story editor, writer, and educator
Preeti Varathan
Head of 30 for 30 Audio at ESPN
Pat Walters
Senior Editor, Radiolab
Nick White
SVP, Original Audio at Higher Ground
ABOUT VPM
As Virginia’s home for public media, VPM connects nearly 2 million people across Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley to insightful programming in arts and culture, history, science, news and education. In addition to its award-winning podcasts and acclaimed documentaries, VPM produces compelling original content across platforms for local audiences and national distribution. VPM’s programming is designed to reflect the diverse communities that they serve. VPM is a proud sponsor of RESONATE Podcast Festival and the VPM + ICA Community Media Center. Listen to VPM podcasts.
DETAILS
Eligible pitches must focus on narratives that feature the crossing of sovereign borders. We are looking for projects about migration, third cultures, and connections across great distances. Please do not submit chatcasts or true crime. To be considered, your podcast idea must not have been previously published. Submissions will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Clarity: Features a focused, compelling vision that would grab a listener’s attention
Originality: Offers an entirely original concept or presents subject matter in a unique way
Reach: Has the potential to attract and retain a broad audience
Impact: Encourages engagement beyond the listening experience
Timeline
June 17: Submission window opens
July 18: Submission window closes
September 15: Finalists notified
November 8: Live Pitch Party! Three finalists will pitch their ideas in front of a panel of judges and a live audience at the RESONATE Podcast Festival. The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the event.
Eligibility
The podcast competition is open to United States residents 18 years of age and older who are able to attend the 2025 RESONATE Podcast Festival in Richmond, VA, and who are NOT current employees of VPM Media Corporation, the Institute for Contemporary Arts or a named sponsor of the 2025 RESONATE Podcast Festival, their immediate family members or anyone living in their household. Eligible contributors may submit individually or as a group. Prior experience with audio production is not required but is recommended.
Selection Process
A jury of podcast industry professionals will select three finalists from the qualifying submissions to advance to the live pitch competition at the RESONATE Podcast Festival on November 8, 2025. Finalists will be notified via email on or around September 15, 2025 and will have 72 hours to confirm their participation in the live competition before their invitation is nullified and an offer is made to an alternate. The grand prize winner and runners-up will be selected at the live event by a panel of judges.
Prizes
Each finalist will receive complimentary admission to the 2025 RESONATE Podcast Festival on November 7-8, 2025. Finalists will also be offered virtual mentoring (over email, Zoom, etc.), in which professional producers will help hone pitches in preparation for the live event. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000 from VPM to create a pilot episode of their podcast. Runners-up will also receive a prize, TBD.
2025 RESONATE Pitch Party Terms & Conditions
By participating in the RESONATE Pitch Party Podcast Competition (the “Contest”), participants agree to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the official rules of the Contest (https://www.resonatepodfest.com/pitch-party), and that VPM Media Corporation (“VPM”), RESONATE, ICA and all parties acting in concert with them, including without limitation any producers, sponsors, service providers and affiliates or agents or employees thereof (collectively, the “Contest Entities”) will have no liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind resulting from their use or participation in the call for performances or participation in or utilization of any prizes awarded. Prizes are nontransferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. Each participant agrees to release and hold harmless the Contest Entities from any injury, loss, death, damage, action, claim, demand or other liability that may occur from participant's participation in this Contest or from the acceptance, use or misuse of any prize awarded, or attendance at any event, including the 2025 RESONATE Podcast Festival (the “Festival”). We reserve the right to verify eligibility qualifications of any participant, including the winner of the Contest. There can be no substitutions for a prize of equal or greater value.
THANKS TO OUR RESONATE PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
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