Head-to-head comparison
On Air Fest vs The Squeeze
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
Skye Pillsbury's investigative podcast-industry newsletter focused on people and labor.
Best for: Insider reporting
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
The Squeeze
Pros
- Independent reporting from a veteran beat journalist
- Focuses on people, not just deals
- Free to subscribe
Watch-outs
- Subjective by design
- Substack platform reliance
- Smaller readership than Podnews
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 The Squeeze if
You’re building around insider reporting. The closest thing podcasting has to a labor and culture beat. Skye Pillsbury reports on layoffs, deals, and the human cost of network moves.
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Frequently asked
What does On Air Fest do better than The Squeeze?
On Air Fest's standout is "Strong creative programming and live tapings". The Squeeze doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Independent reporting from a veteran beat journalist" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick On Air Fest; if the second does, pick The Squeeze.
What are the trade-offs?
On Air Fest: smaller than podcast movement. The Squeeze: subjective by design. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use On Air Fest and The Squeeze 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 The Squeeze for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.