PODcast
PODCast is a project under the Erasmus+ program, focusing on digital literacy, non-formal education, and fostering inclusivity. Partner organisations of this project are: Defoin (Spain), Mais Cidadania (Portugal), Media Diversity (Serbia), Media Diversity Global (Belgium), Eurotreviso (Italy), and YC Epirus (Greece). The project is based on 3 main goals: to promote digital literacy among young people, to promote social inclusion of young people, and to foster collaboration and impact of youth organisations.
Enhancing Digital Literacy: The project provides training and resources to equip young people with essential digital and media skills, enabling them to navigate and contribute to the digital world effectively.
Promoting Social Inclusion: The project creates safe spaces for youth voices, fostering representation and belonging through activities like podcast competitions.
Fostering Collaboration and Impact: Project builds connections between youth, organizations, and institutions across Europe to develop sustainable solutions for shared challenges, promoting employability and active citizenship.
Main activities of the PODcast project are going to be:
#1 Research about youth PODcast channels already existing, and about specific support and skills that young people would need to receive to become podcast creators or improve their existing skills in their podcast creation.
#2 International training sessions for youth and youth workers: digital literacy workshops and podcast production training.
#3 Podcast competitions: a platform for youth to showcase their creativity and ideas in national and international levels.
#4 Open-access resources: created and available guides, tools, and educational materials for widespread use, especially for youth organisations, youth workers, and young individuals.
Below, you can follow the news of the project, as well as read about the project's upcoming activities & join us on our social media! The official website of the project: https://podcast-project.eu/.
News of the PODcast project
Kick-off meeting in Madrid, Spain
Representatives of all partner organisations met in Madrid, Spain, from 8th to 9th of January 2025, to discuss the project's plans and details. Representatives shared set guidelines for work to be done within the first quarter of the project, apart from getting to know each other better, discussing the expected specific quality of work for this project, and agreed on various practices for several areas of the project. Keep following updates about the project, and you can already contact us if you would like to share about your experience of creating a podcast!
"Speak. Connect. Empower" Research Results
For a large portion of the first part of the PODcast project, researchers from each partner organisation worked on answering the following questions: what youth-led podcasts already exist in our countries (Greece, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Serbia), where young people find inspiration and skills to work on podcasting, what challenges the young podcasters face, how working on podcasts affect young people's lives, in what areas of podcast creation the young creators would like to receive a training, and many more.
Here, we offer to have a look at the results of the research "Speak. Connect. Empower", noting the differences and common themes appearing between the involved countries. In final conclusions, a strong majority of the 308 interviewed young people and youth workers agree that podcasts are now seen as more than just a new media trend - they are here to stay and there is a strong interest from the young people to become podcasters and to grow their skill set and receive opportunities in the field to overcome the obstacles.
Podcasting holds an extraordinary potential to become a central tool for youth empowerment, and we will focus on using these research results for further work on this project.
LTTA in Serbia, Belgrade
In November 2025, the city of Belgrade became a vibrant hub of creativity, collaboration, and learning as young people and youth workers gathered for the PODcast training.
PODcast is a collaborative project aimed at enhancing digital literacy and empowering young people across Europe. By using the power of podcasting, the project provides non-formal education opportunities that foster creativity, digital skills, and social engagement.
The training brought together 18 participants from 6 organisations, with each partner organisation represented by two young people and one youth worker, creating a diverse and dynamic learning environment.
Building skills through podcasting
Over four intensive days, participants explored the full journey of podcast creation, from the first idea to the final episode.
The journey began with an introduction to podcasting as a powerful tool for youth empowerment. Through interactive workshops and expert-led sessions, they learned how podcasting can empower young people, give them a voice, and strengthen community engagement. The training combined brainstorming and content development with practical skills, including recording, editing, and using podcast tools. Participants also explored storytelling techniques and learned how to structure engaging episodes. At the same time, sessions on social media, networking, and promotion strategies helped them understand how to make their podcasts visible and impactful.
They explored recording tools, tested equipment, and learned the basics of post-production, including editing, sound design, and structuring episodes.
More than just a training, PODcast was a space for creativity, collaboration, and intercultural exchange. Participants not only developed digital and communication skills but also built meaningful connections and shared experiences that will continue beyond the project.
The experience through the eyes of one of our participants
Meet Zoi, who took part in the PODCast project training on podcasting in Belgrade, a journey full of learning, creativity & unforgettable moments :
“My experience in Belgrade, Serbia, was fantastic. We went with the Youth Center of Epirus organisation and talked about empowering young people through podcasting. We learned a lot, and our trainers took it from there. From how to make a podcast and the recording process to how to market ourselves effectively through social media. Important people in the field of podcasting spoke, such as professors, business leaders in sound recording, and the CEO of a podcast that talks about women's empowerment, the rights of the LGBT community in Serbia, etc. Of course, one important thing I should add about Erasmus+ is the friendships we make in such a program and the contact with cultures we don't know. I am really looking forward to the next stages of the program!”
The journey doesn’t end here. With new skills, ideas, and inspiration, participants are now ready to create their own podcast stories and share their voices with the world.
TPM in Serbia, Belgrade
In November 2025, partners of the PODCast project met in Belgrade for the second Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), alongside the training activities. With one representative per organisation, the meeting created a focused space for coordination and strategic planning.
Throughout the sessions, partners reviewed project progress, discussed financial and reporting updates, and aligned on the next steps across different work packages.
The TPM also focused on developing project content and organising upcoming activities, including brainstorming ideas for participant engagement and planning dissemination strategies to increase the project’s visibility and impact.
An important part of the meeting was dedicated to evaluation and quality improvement. Partners reflected on the training in Belgrade, analysed participant feedback, and explored ways to enhance future activities.
Beyond the formal discussions, the meeting strengthened collaboration between organisations, reinforcing a shared vision: empowering young people across Europe through podcasting and digital storytelling.
TPM in Ioannina
Partners of the PODCast project recently gathered in Ioannina, for the latest Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), bringing together representatives from all partner organisations to review progress and plan the next steps of the project.
The meeting focused on reflecting on the pilot testing phase, during which young participants across the partner countries applied the knowledge and skills gained throughout the project to develop their own podcast episodes. Partners shared experiences from their national teams, discussing how the pilot testing was implemented in each country, the activities carried out, participants’ achievements, and the challenges encountered along the way. This exchange of experiences and good practices provided valuable insights for the project's next phase.
A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to planning the upcoming national podcast competitions. In each partner country, participants will have the opportunity to showcase their work, with two winners selected through a combination of public voting and jury evaluation. The competing podcasts will be based on themes explored in the project's Pocket Guides, encouraging young people to address relevant social topics through storytelling.
The national competitions will serve as a step towards the final international competition, which will take place in Italy this October. There, the winning teams from each country will come together to present their podcasts and exchange ideas together.
As the project slowly leads towards its final stages, we are all excited to support participants in transforming their ideas into impactful stories and make their voices heard !
Stay tuned for the next PODcast stories !
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