Chioke I'Anson Wanted to Make a Non-Boring Conference — Here's How Resonate Is Doing It

Dr. Chioke I’Anson is the founder of the Resonate Podcast Festival in Richmond, Virginia. He joined JT fresh off Resonate's fourth year to talk about how the festival has evolved into a hub for narrative audio makers. In this conversation, Chioke explains the inspiration behind the festival and why it has centered creativity in its programming. Chioke also shares the strategy behind Pitch Party—the Shark Tank-style competition that has launched real deals—and how taking pitches public can spark the momentum creators need. Plus, Chioke and JT workshop how to design a first-time event from scratch, why retreats beat conferences, and what’s ahead for Resonate in 2026 and beyond (including a potential international edition). Relevant links: Follow Chioke I'Anson on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Learn more about Resonate Podcast Festival: ⁠https://www.resonatepodfest.com/⁠ Listen to the Pitch Party Podcast: ⁠https://tinkmedia.co/pitch-party Follow JT on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠