INTRODUCING THE PITCH PARTY FINALISTS
Embedded Files
Jennifer pemberton
In LATER: Abortion after 24 weeks,
Jennifer Pemberton pitches a hard, open conversation about hard decisions, maternal grief, and shared storytelling between friends. Because abortion is about so much more than abortion.
allison herrera
In 47 Cents an Acre,
Allison Herrera pitches a story about her family’s experience with the LandBack in California told through archival interviews with her grandma and other family members.
louise morris
In March of the Butterflies, Louise Morris pitches a bilingual narrative series about a Colombian dancer who defied the paramilitaries in drag, and whose testimony helped shape the peace process.
Do you have a great idea for a podcast?
Now is your chance to submit it to the RESONATE Podcast Festival Pitch Party, sponsored by VPM!
RESONATE invites established and aspiring podcasters to pitch their best ideas for a chance to receive funding to produce a pilot episode of their show.
We are accepting submissions for works of journalistic investigation. Submissions must not have been previously published and must come from independent producers (producers who are not on the payroll of a company with more than 2 employees.) Submissions must come from US citizens. Please do not use AI in your submission.
present
Three finalists will be selected to present a live pitch at the RESONATE Podcast Festival Pitch Party in front of a panel of judges and a live audience.
earn
The winner will receive $10,000 from VPM to create a pilot episode of their podcast. All finalists will receive free passes to the 2027 RESONATE Podcast Festival!
win
Finalists will the opportunity to work alongside podcast industry professionals to hone their pitches prior to their presentation at the RESONATE Pitch Party.
Finalists must attend the RESONATE Podcast Festival and participate in the Pitch Party to win.
Pitch Party: Podcast
Discover the next great podcast pilots with Pitch Party! From RESONATE Podcast Festival and Tink Media, each episode of Pitch Party will feature a different podcast pilot from an independent producer. Audio lovers and production company reps alike can tune in to learn about forthcoming shows, as well as the process of making narrative audio with conversations with the creators of each pilot.
Details
Eligible pitches must focus on narratives that feature works of journalistic investigation. We are looking for projects about trust, persuasion, and truth in journalism. Please do not use AI in your submission. 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
Submissions must include the following:
A brief overview of your concept
A detailed summary of the podcast, including a description or outline of a sample episode
Production team details, including potential host(s)
An overview of your specific intended audience(s)
An audio trailer no more than 3 minutes in length
timeline
July 28th: Submission window opens
August 30th: Submission window closes
September 18th: Finalists notified on or around this date
October 17th: 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 citizens 18 years of age and older who are able to attend the 2026 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 2026 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. Submissions must not have been previously published and must come from independent producers. Independent producers are not on the payroll of a company with more than 2 employees.
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 October 15-17, 2026. Finalists will be notified via email on or around September 18, 2026 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 2026 RESONATE Podcast Festival on October 15-17, 2026. Finalists will also be offered virtual mentoring (over email, Zoom, etc.), in which RESONATE founder Chioke I’Anson 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.
2026 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-2026), 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 2026 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.
The copyright in and to the podcast entries will remain solely with the participants; however, participants acknowledge that there may be multiple submissions that are similar in nature. By entering into the Contest, each participant (including all members of each participant that is a group) grants permission to Contest Entities and those acting under their authority to use their name, photograph, voice and/or likeness in and in connection with their submission, the Festival and for advertising and/or publicity purposes, and the right to use and exploit their submissions and performances, in any and all media now known or hereinafter invented throughout the world and without compensation (except as otherwise set forth herein). Each participant represents and warrants that all submissions shall be free of malware or other viruses, and all submissions and resulting work product will not contain any material that is obscene, violates the legal rights of any third party (including any third party intellectual property rights), or defames any third party. Additionally, each participant represents and warrants that all submissions do not and will not incorporate, are not and will not be based upon, nor derived from, any AI Technology. 'AI Technology' means any and all training, self-improving or machine learning software, algorithms, hardware or other artificial intelligence tools or aids of any kind, including large language model(s) and data contained therein. Each participant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Contest Entities from any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys fees), arising out of any violation or breach of these official rules by such party.
The Contest Entities will notify applicable participants if they have been selected as Contest finalists using the email address associated with the participants’ entries. Failure to provide an accurate, working email account through which we can contact a participant will disqualify the applicable participant. All finalists are solely responsible for all costs and expenses associated with attendance at the Festival, other than entry to the Festival which will be provided for the finalists. Each finalist may be required to complete and submit additional documentation as requested by Contest Entities, including to verify eligibility and confirm acceptance of these terms and conditions and the official rules. The Contest Entities shall have the right to select a winner of the Contest in their sole discretion.
The winner of the Contest agrees to deliver a completed pilot episode of their podcast to VPM by July 1, 2027 (“Delivery Date”). Failure to do so may result in disqualification from the Contest. The payment schedule for the Grand Prize will be structured as follows: $5,000.00 upon receipt of an invoice from the winner of the Contest following the 2026 RESONATE Podcast Festival, and $5,000.00 following delivery of the pilot episode. VPM shall have an exclusive 90-day first negotiation right commencing upon the Delivery Date, to negotiate a production agreement for the winner’s podcast.
The Contest Entities reserve the right to revoke any determination of a finalist or winner at any time for any reason, including for any failure of such party to comply with these terms and conditions and the official rules. The Contest Entities reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual that the Contest Entities find to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or website; to be in violation of the terms of service of the Contest Entities' website; to be acting in violation of these terms and conditions or official rules; or to be acting in a disreputable or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.
As a condition of participating in this Contest, each participant agrees that any and all disputes which cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively, before a court located in Richmond, VA, having competent jurisdiction, which court shall apply the laws of Virginia. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will any participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, nor consequential damages, and participant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
Restrictions may apply. By participating in the Contest, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and official rules, and by all decisions of Contest Entities and Contest judges, if any.
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.
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