January is bleak, but the lineup of programming announced for the 2021 Hot Docs Podcast Festival is exciting, and definitely something to look forward to. 

Now it its fifth year, The Fest has become globally recognized as one of the world’s premier audio events featuring a dynamic mix of curated live conversations and on-demand sessions. 

Immerse yourself in this three-day event to listen to renowned thought leaders, learn about their groundbreaking work, and engage in thoughtful discussion. We know you will be deeply inspired. 

Here’s what’s on our must-attend list:

Personal Storytelling in Podcasts: How to Do it Right Without Selling Your Soul with Media Girlfriends and podcast producers Tori Allen, Garvia Bailey, Nana aba Duncan and Hannah Sung.

Canadaland on Breaking the Big Story OR How to Take Down a Giant Without Getting Sued into Obvlivion with Jesse Brown, Jonathan Goldsbie, Andréa Schmidt, Jaren Kerr, moderated by The Globe and Mail’s Robyn Doolittle.

Reckoning with Race: 1619 and Nice White Parents – Nikole Hannah-Jones and Chana Joffe-Walt discuss their hit New York Times series, and using podcasting to advance the cultural conversation on race, with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Culture writer at Buzzfeed News and host of the CBC Podcasts Party Lines and Pop Chat.

Reclaiming True Crime with Gimlet Media’s Connie Walker – Moderated by award-winning Anishinaabe author and journalist Tanya Talaga.

Big Stories, Big Ideas with Nishat Kurwa (Executive Producer, Vox Media) – Moderated by Vicky Mochama. The two will discuss the creative process that goes into building successful shows like New York Magazine’s The Cut and Today, Explained.

Stories That Slay: Roxanne Gay in Conversation with New York Magazine’s The Cut – Avery Trufleman, host of New York Magazine’s podcast The Cut, will chat openly with Roxane Gay, best-selling Bad Feminist author, fearless social critic, Queer and feminist icon, and now co-host of Luminary’s Hear to Slay podcast. 

WOW. And this is just some of the incredible programming. See full lineup here, and make a plan. The Hot Docs Podcast Festival is FREE for members; non-members can choose to purchase tickets for individual events, or see/hear it all (25+ events) with a Festival pass. More info here.