SPOTLIGHT ON... the HoT Podcast Festival

As Henley’s first Podcast Festival kicks off in February, we chat to its founders about bringing real stories to life from the world of travel, parenting and adventure.

Georgie Parvin and Hattie Sanderson

Tell us a little about what you do and your background

Goodfull Media is a media production agency specialising in podcasts and live events, founded by Hattie Sanderson and Georgie Parvin. We both come from strong production backgrounds. Georgie is a former producer at British Vogue, while Hattie was a television producer for broadcasters such as the BBC and Channel 4. 

We both believe in championing real voices and lived experiences, and in the power of great stories to inspire, educate, connect, and entertain.

How did the Podcast Festival come about, and why Henley?

In April 2025, we produced a sold-out podcast recording in front of a live audience, An Audience with the Movers & Shakers - a conversation centred on Parkinson’s - at the Kenton Theatre. The response was overwhelming and confirmed a real appetite for thoughtful, live storytelling in an intimate setting.

Building on that success, we saw a natural opportunity to explore the format further, which led to the creation of the HoT Podcast Festival with Goodfull Media, running February 11-13. As locals from Shiplake, producing another event in Henley at the much-loved and hugely supportive Kenton - felt like an obvious choice.

With Henley already home to so many brilliant events, we wanted to contribute something new to the town’s cultural calendar: bringing the intimacy, energy, and immediacy of live podcast recordings to the stage, and creating space for connection, conversation, laughter, and storytelling in real time.

How have your former creative careers shaped what you do now?

Coming from backgrounds in media production - spanning magazine shoots, live entertainment shows, and documentaries - producing live podcast events feels like a natural extension. At its core, it’s about collaborating with creative minds to create engaging content, while delivering projects to a clear budget and timeline.

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How do you find your line-up, and have you noticed any trending topics?

A clear trend in UK podcasting is the rise of high-production, conversational shows. With comedy and entertainment thriving, and health/wellness emerging as one of the fastest-growing podcast genres in 2025, live podcasts feel like a natural next step.

Our three-night festival offers a mix of genres - Travel, Parenting, and Adventure. Local links were also central to the programming, with podcasters and guests who have strong ties to the area, strengthening the sense of place and community.

Do you have a dream guest or podcast to feature in the future?

We’re huge admirers of Romesh Ranganathan - he’s exceptionally clever and effortlessly funny, with a storytelling style that’s relatable and genuinely hilarious.

We’re also big fans of Fern Cotton's Happy Place and her work to open up conversations around mental health, with honesty, warmth, and real purpose.

What has been the biggest highlight and challenge to date?

One of the biggest highlights has been working for ourselves, rather than within a large corporate agency. It’s given us the freedom to stay true to our creative instincts. We’ve also loved collaborating with so many creative minds in the Henley area.

Like any small business, there’s been a learning curve, juggling everything from social media to paperwork. That said, we’ve been lucky to have brilliant support, including (among many others) working with Katie Howe, a local businesswoman who has helped us to build strong connections with local businesses, the Creative Duck of course, who have helped us create our brand, and the brilliant Kenton Theatre.

Best nugget of wisdom you can share with your fellow Creative Ducks?

Be adaptable - Things won't always go as planned; so be ready to change direction, find new doors when one closes, and learn from setbacks. 

Build a network - Seek advice from those more successful than you and build relationships with mentors. 

Where can we find out more? 

Hotpodcastfestival.com and follow us @hotpodcast to find out about the festival line-up. Keep an eye out for Goodfull Media as we announce news on future projects.