Head-to-head comparison
Out on the Wire (Book) vs The Podcast Show London
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.
Graphic-novel guide to audio storytelling craft based on interviews with top radio producers.
Best for: Storytelling craft book
UK and Europe's largest podcasting festival, held annually at London's Business Design Centre.
Best for: European industry event
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
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
The Podcast Show London
Pros
- Best European podcast event
- Strong platform participation across the industry
- International advisory board
Watch-outs
- London travel and hotel costs
- Schedule is dense over two days
- Day-pass pricing varies
Which one should you pick?
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.
Pick The Podcast Show London if
You’re building around european industry event. If you're in the UK or European podcasting industry, this is the event of the year. The 2026 fifth edition runs May 20-21 at London's Business Design Centre in Islington.
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Frequently asked
What does Out on the Wire (Book) do better than The Podcast Show London?
Out on the Wire (Book)'s standout is "Unique illustrated graphic-novel format". The Podcast Show London doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Best European podcast event" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Out on the Wire (Book); if the second does, pick The Podcast Show London.
What are the trade-offs?
Out on the Wire (Book): published 2015 — pre-video-podcast era. The Podcast Show London: london travel and hotel costs. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Out on the Wire (Book) and The Podcast Show London together?
Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Out on the Wire (Book) for one show or episode type and The Podcast Show London for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.