Head-to-head comparison
On Air Fest vs School of Podcasting
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
One of the oldest paid podcasting courses, founded 2005, now owned by Podpage.
Best for: Structured podcast course
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
School of Podcasting
Pros
- Two decades of continuous teaching
- Hall of Fame instructor with unlimited coaching access
- Free tier rolling out via Podpage acquisition
Watch-outs
- Curriculum in transition right now
- Older content still being refreshed
- Tone is folksy rather than slick
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 School of Podcasting if
You’re building around structured podcast course. Dave Jackson has been teaching people to podcast for two decades and was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2025, Podpage acquired the school and is rolling out a free tier and rebuilt curriculum in 2026.
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Frequently asked
What does On Air Fest do better than School of Podcasting?
On Air Fest's standout is "Strong creative programming and live tapings". School of Podcasting doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Two decades of continuous teaching" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick On Air Fest; if the second does, pick School of Podcasting.
What are the trade-offs?
On Air Fest: smaller than podcast movement. School of Podcasting: curriculum in transition right now. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use On Air Fest and School of Podcasting 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 School of Podcasting for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.