PODSUMMIT 2026

Panel

Title: The Audience Already Exists: How Communities Become Audiences

🗓 Friday October 16, 2026

🕐 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm

📍 The Flanagan Theatre

Speakers:

Yael Strasberg, Creator Network Director at Acast

Amil Delic, Head of Production & Creative, The Nation Network

Tanya Springer, Director, Audience and Growth at CBC

Matt Cundill (Moderator), Sound Off Podcast


Description:

What if the audience you’re trying to build already exists?

Some of the strongest podcasts and media brands aren't creating communities from scratch. They're finding people already connected by a shared passion, identity or interest and giving them a place to gather.

This panel explores how creators and media companies can build around existing communities, turning shared interests into engaged audiences through content, trust and participation. From becoming a trusted voice within a community to creating habits, expanding across platforms and building sustainable opportunities around that relationship, we'll look at what happens when you stop trying to reach everyone and start serving the people already there.