Head-to-head comparison
On Air Fest vs Out on the Wire (Book)
Two of the resources tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Brooklyn audio festival mixing live tapings, performances, and industry conversations.
Best for: Creative craft festival
Graphic-novel guide to audio storytelling craft based on interviews with top radio producers.
Best for: Storytelling craft book
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
On Air Fest
Pros
- Strong creative programming and live tapings
- Three walkable Brooklyn venues
- Ambies awards now embedded in the weekend
Watch-outs
- Smaller than Podcast Movement
- Mostly NYC-centric attendees
- Public passes sell out quickly
Out on the Wire (Book)
Pros
- Unique illustrated graphic-novel format
- Real producer interviews including Ira Glass
- Deep story-structure focus
Watch-outs
- Published 2015 — pre-video-podcast era
- Narrative podcasts only
- Not a practical step-by-step how-to
Which one should you pick?
Pick On Air Fest if
You’re building around creative craft festival. Called the "Coachella of Podcasts" by Fast Company. Leans creative and editorial rather than ad-tech and sales.
Pick Out on the Wire (Book) if
You’re building around storytelling craft book. Jessica Abel's illustrated book unpacks how This American Life, Radiolab, Planet Money, and others actually construct stories. The graphic-novel format makes it readable in a sitting.
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Frequently asked
What does On Air Fest do better than Out on the Wire (Book)?
On Air Fest's standout is "Strong creative programming and live tapings". Out on the Wire (Book) doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Unique illustrated graphic-novel format" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick On Air Fest; if the second does, pick Out on the Wire (Book).
What are the trade-offs?
On Air Fest: smaller than podcast movement. Out on the Wire (Book): published 2015 — pre-video-podcast era. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use On Air Fest and Out on the Wire (Book) together?
Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using On Air Fest for one show or episode type and Out on the Wire (Book) for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.