The Empowered Podcasting Conference
is brought to you by The Content Creator's Accountant

About The Content Creator’s Accountant

The Content Creator’s Accountant is a platform designed to help creators, coaches, and digital entrepreneurs take control of their finances. From managing income to building smarter systems, the focus is on turning creative work into something sustainable, structured, and profitable.

About Ralph Estep Jr.

Ralph Estep Jr. is a licensed accountant and business coach dedicated to helping creators build real businesses behind their content. Through his work, he simplifies the financial side of the creator economy—covering everything from taxes to long-term growth.

Our Partnership

We’re excited to partner with Ralph and The Content Creator’s Accountant in the coming year. Together, we’ll be bringing more value, insight, and business clarity to creators looking to grow the right way.

Schedule

Explore the full EPC schedule, including registration, workshops, panels, keynotes, mixers, and networking events. Session times are subject to change.

Thursday, August 20th

5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Early Check-in & Registration

Attendees & Speakers Arrive at Hyatt Centric

7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Empowered Podcasting Conference Opening Mixer Presented by mowPod

2nd Floor Bar at the Hyatt Centric

7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

EPC Meet The Authors Event

Hyatt Centric 2nd Floor Bar & Restaurant

Featured Event

Friday, August 21st

8:00 AM - 9:10 AM

Attendee Registration

9:15 AM - 9:25 AM

Welcome to the Empowered Podcasting Conference!

Marc Ronick, Jason Cercone, & Rich Perry

Welcome Session

9:25 AM - 10:10 AM

The Podcast Growth Lab: 10 Systems That Skyrocket Listens

Simona Costantini

Workshop

10:20 AM - 11:05 AM

How to Build Your Sponsorship Package

Sid Meadows

Workshop

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Your Studio Is Your Signature

Junaid Ahmed

Workshop

12:10 PM - 12:55 PM

The Frequency of Your Voice: Why Energy, Not Strategy, Defines Impact in the Golden Age of Podcasting

Jessica Schiller

Workshop

1:05 PM - 2:15 PM

Lunch

Plenty of lunch options walking distance from the Hyatt

Break

2:25 PM - 2:55 PM • Track 1

Beyond the Download: Creating a Loyal Podcast Community

Christina Vidovich, Mark Lawley, Barbara Rozgonyi, & Sean McClellan

Panel

2:25 PM - 2:55 PM • Track 2

The Secret to Turning Community Into Purpose & Profitability

Sha Sparks & Adam Bird

30 Minute Presentation

3:05 PM - 3:35 PM • Track 1

Beyond Audio: Efficiently and Affordably Scale Your Podcast With Video

Wendy Brant

30 Minute Presentation

3:05 PM - 3:35 PM • Track 2

Systems That Make Your Show Grow

Shane Lukas, Timothy Brien, & Brandon Birkmeyer

Panel

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM • Track 1

Building Authority, Influence, & Profit In Podcasting

Haylee Gaffin, Karin Freeland, Rachel Strauss, & JJ Flizanes

Panel

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM • Track 2

The L.I.F.T. System I Used to Grow 1.5M Social Media Followers as a Faith-Based Creator

David Griffiths

30 Minute Presentation

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

The Best Ways to Manage the Money Side of Your Podcast

Ralph Estep Jr

30 Minute Presentation

5:10 PM - 5:45 PM

The Ai-Powered Flywheel: 5 Things Winning Businesses Do Differently + High Level Raffle Drawing #1

Ryan Brown

30 Minute Presentation + Raffle Drawing

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Empowered Podcasting Conference Happy Hour

Suffolk Punch Brewing - SouthPark

4400 Sharon Rd., Unit G23D, Charlotte, NC 28211

Saturday, August 22nd

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Storytelling That Matters: Finding Your Voice in a Noisy World

Heather Parady

Opening Keynote

Track 1 Sponsored by the Podcast Professionals Association

Track 2 Sponsored by PodToBook.ai

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM • Track 1

How to Keep Your Podcast Editor Sane Even If That Editor Is You

Jennifer Longworth

30 Minute Presentation

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM • Track 2

Stop Chasing Listeners: A 3-Step Podcast SEO Strategy to Attract the Right Audience While You’re Offline

Julia Levine

30 Minute Presentation

10:40 AM - 11:10 AM • Track 1

From Podcast to Profit: Repurposing Your Content into Books, Courses and Marketing that Lasts

JJ Flizanes

30 Minute Presentation

10:40 AM - 11:10 AM • Track 2

7 PR Strategies for Podcasters: How to Build Visibility, Get Booked in the Media...

Catrise Austin

30 Minute Presentation

11:20 AM - 11:50 AM • Track 1

Start With Strategy, Grow With Clarity: The Blueprint For Sustainable Podcast Success

Jason Cercone

30 Minute Presentation

11:20 AM - 11:50 AM • Track 2

How to Find and Land Podcast Grants Even If You've Never Applied Before

Danielle Corbett

30 Minute Presentation

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM • Track 1

What Makes a Good Podcast? The Secret to Getting You Growing

Dave Jackson

30 Minute Presentation

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM • Track 2

The Teammate Advantage: An NFL Mindset for Creators Who Want to Win Together

Ziz Abdur-Ra’oof

30 Minute Presentation

12:30 PM - 1:40 PM

Lunch

Lunch is on us at the Hyatt!

Break

Track 1 Sponsored by the Podcast Professionals Association

Track 2 Sponsored by PodToBook.ai

1:50 PM - 2:20 PM • Track 1

Ask The Pros

Jenn Trepeck, Traci DeForge, Podcast Professionals Association Members

Panel

1:50 PM - 2:20 PM • Track 2

Why You Should Consider Creating a Separate Podcast With Only 5-10 Episodes

Cliff Ravenscraft

30 Minute Presentation

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM • Track 1

Joining a Network: Perils & Pitfalls for the Unwary Podcaster

Gordon Firemark

30 Minute Presentation

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM • Track 2

Just Ask Already: Natural Calls to Action That Convert

Jen Rogers

30 Minute Presentation

3:10 PM - 3:40 PM • Track 1

Events, Collaborations, & Deals: How to Turn Your Podcast Into a Real Business Asset

Nata Salvatori

30 Minute Presentation

3:10 PM - 3:40 PM • Track 2

How to Use Your Podcast to Build an Empire of Social Proof

Ben Albert

30 Minute Presentation

3:50 PM - 4:20 PM • Track 1

It's Not All About the Money: Uncovering the Real ROI of Podcasting

Courtney Reimer

30 Minute Presentation

3:50 PM - 4:20 PM • Track 2

Designing a Category of 1: Top Podcasters Lead, They Don't Compete

Sean Douglas

30 Minute Presentation

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM • Track 1

The Health of the Host: Why Creator Wellness Matters in Podcasting

Remi Roy

30 Minute Presentation

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM • Track 2

Why Your Follower Count Doesn't Matter: Using Social Media to Build Community

Rich Henderson

30 Minute Presentation

5:15 PM - 6:00 PM

I Built A Dream Job I Can't Participate In: Podcasting through Autistic Burnout

Patrick Casale

Closing Keynote

6:00 PM - 6:15 PM

Raffle Giveaway & Closing Remarks

Raffle Giveaway #2 and Shure MV7+ Raffle Drawing

Closing Remarks

7:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Empowered Podcasting Conference Closing Party

Hyatt Centric

Networking Event

Sunday, August 23rd

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Unofficial Empowered Podcasting Conference Closing Brunch

2nd Floor Bar/Restaurant at Hyatt Centric

Brunch

Get Tickets

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower independent podcasters by creating accessible, inclusive spaces where connection, collaboration, and growth are the priority.

We believe podcasting is at its best when creators support each other’s efforts, share knowledge openly and candidly, and build relationships that extend beyond

a single event or guest appearance.

Our Vision

Empowered Podcasting is on a path to become the foremost authority for smaller, community-driven podcast events across the United States.

As our brand and community grow, our long-term vision includes:

Multiple conferences hosted in cities nationwide throughout the year
A thriving year-round community that connects virtually and in person
A trusted platform for education, connection, innovation, and insight
A global network of independent podcasters dedicated to helping one another grow, evolve, and succeed