PhD social anthropologist, podcaster, and mum of 2 small children. Originally from Chicago, now living in Edinburgh. 

Aquayemi-Claude Garnett Akinsanya is a British-Nigerian podcaster, social justice campaigner, environmentalist, and award-winning changemaker. As the creator and host of a bold, independent podcast series rooted in activism and lived experience, he uses his platform to amplify underrepresented voices, expose systemic injustice, and advocate for real change.

Mr. Akinsanya is the founder of The Claudes SEN Law Campaign, a pioneering initiative dedicated to the rights of neurodivergent individuals, disabled children, and families facing inequality. His work spans across media, education, policy, and grassroots mobilisation often spotlighted in outlets like The Guardian, Forbes, and Business Insider. In 2024, he was honoured with the Global Recognition Award for his contributions to sustainable fashion, social justice, and youth leadership.

With a distinct voice and fearless lens shaped by personal challenges, academic pursuit, and public service, Aquayemi-Claude’s podcast bridges activism and storytelling. He creates honest conversations that inspire listeners to confront injustice, challenge norms, and take collective action. As a full-time student, public speaker, and media strategist, he continues to break boundaries and redefine what it means to be a young leader and independent creator in today’s world.

Aquayemi-Claude Garnett Akinsanya is the visionary host and creator of Shinespot Light: Cultivating Awareness, an independent podcast amplifying the voices and lived experiences of marginalised communities. Through deeply personal, socially conscious conversations, Aquayemi-Claude brings issues such as disability rights, neurodivergence, mental health, youth homelessness, and racial justice into the spotlight cultivating awareness and action at a grassroots level.

A London-based, neurodivergent student and multi-award-winning campaigner, Claude founded the podcast in 2021 as a platform to challenge systems, inspire change, and foster empathy. His work is rooted in authenticity and intersectionality, informed by lived experiences of autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia (DCD), OCD, and managed epilepsy. As the founder of The Claudes SEN Law Campaign, he is a powerful voice in the UK’s fight for inclusive education and policy reform.

Senior Marketing & CRM Leader | Trustee Board Member | Former adidas, Ted Baker, Michael Kors | Specialist in Customer Data, CRM, Loyalty | Wellbeing Advocate & Yoga Teacher

Having started as a proudly independent podcaster in the early days of the pandemic, Drew Toynbee is now a full time freelance creative making audio and video content for clients around the world. He is thrilled to be returning again to the Independent Podcast Awards as a judge and member of the Advisory Board.

Eve has been a writer at The Week Junior and The Week Junior Science+Nature for more than three years now. She writes a range of articles for children ranging from news of the world, to interviews with fascinating people, to the history of biscuits. She is in charge of managing The Week Junior Show, the magazine's weekly podcast, and features regularly on the show too. 

OG Podcaster from way back in 2004. Co-authored Podcasting For Dummies way back in 2005. Ran Podiobooks.com from 2005–2015. Hall of Fame class of ‘22. Professor of podcasting at ASU since 2025.

Retired from podcast punditry and am now focused on curating #AudioFiction at TheEnd.fyi

Liz Mosley is a graphic designer with over 17 years experience and now specialises in creating creative branding and websites for small business owners. She also hosts a podcast called Building Your Brand and teaches courses showing people how to create their own branding  if they don’t have the budget to outsource it. Her goal for her clients and students is for them to come away with branding that they love that helps them to feel so proud and confident promoting their businesses and sharing what they do with the world. She also loves sharing her own lessons about running a small business, talking about rejection, public speaking and just generally trying to be a cheerleader for her audience and clients. You can find out more on her website lizmosley.net and following her on instagram @lizmmosley. 

Molly Merwin is an independent producer and podcaster having created and presented Fringe Benefits Edinburgh, a six-part documentary series exploring the challenges, triumphs, and risks of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the worlds largest arts festival. She also co-created and hosted How to Survive Your Life, a comedy giving life advice on everything from how to survive your thirties to friendship to shame. How to Survive ran for three season with the last two landing in the top 25% of the comedy category. In addition to her own podcasts, Molly has worked with podcast clients in B2B, women's health, and culture. When not listening to a podcast (which is rare) you can find you hanging with her daughter, watching a good film or telly show, at the theatre, traveling with a good book, or sipping on natural wine. Molly is looking forward to hearing some new podcasts she can add to her queue. 

Twenty year plus podcasting veteran and broadcaster before that. Founder of Podknows Podcasting, a podcast agency helping smaller to medium sized podcasts compete fairly with big podcasting. And win.

Nicky Anderson is an award-winning documentary maker and Stak’s Head of Narrative. With a background in journalism and a talent for uncovering complex human stories, she specialises in creating thought-provoking, emotionally resonant audio that cuts through. Her work spans culture, sport, and society - and always centres storytelling that challenges the listener to think differently.

She produced The English Disease, which won Podcast of the Year at the 2024 Sports Journalists’ Association Awards, and has created a string of chart-topping narrative series including The World’s Hardest Puzzle and The Interruption. Most recently, she wrote and hosted Dancing with Shadows, a critically acclaimed investigation into power and abuse in the ballet world, featured in The Guardian’s Best Podcasts of 2025.

Nicole Goodman is an award-winning podcaster, author, and unapologetically honest voice in the world of independent podcasting.

As co-creator and co-host of the hit shows Self Care Club and 40ish, Nicole has recorded over 700 episodes, bagged a British Podcast Award, racked up millions of downloads, and carved out a fiercely loyal listenership with her trademark blend of sharp wit, emotional depth, and fearless vulnerability.

Together with co-host Lauren Mishcon, Nicole has redefined what it means to be a woman in the podcasting space—independently producing content that is as hilarious as it is heartfelt. Self Care Club, their first podcast, became a five-year deep dive into the wellness world—debunking, testing, and laughing through every trend imaginable. Off the back of its success, Nicole co-authored the book"Have You Tried This?" that brought the show’s ethos to life beyond the mic.

In 2024, Nicole and Lauren launched 40ish, a bold, unfiltered celebration of midlife in all its messy, complicated, comedic glory. The show quickly became a breakout success, charting in Apple Podcasts’ Top Ten Personal Stories and earning a coveted spot in the Apple Podcasts Spotlight Program, where it proudly represented Women’s History Month. Nicole’s voice—equal parts relatable, raw, and riotously funny—has made her a standout in the audio landscape. A true champion of independent creativity, she has built a podcasting powerhouse from the ground up, and remains one of the most authentic and compelling female voices in the industry today.

Phil is the host of the weekly Leeds Business Podcast , interviewing Leeds business owners about the ups and downs, and learnings from their business journey. He has also appeared as a guest on over 60 podcasts, webinars and interviews, from around the whole globe, talking on a variety of business subjects. 

Phil is also the founder of the Leeds Podcast Community; a support community for those involved in podcasting in and around Leeds.

Phil previously went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey. 

Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Souunding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them get clarity. Phil’s mantra is ‘It doesn’t need to be lonely at the top’. 

I'm a square-eyed writer and podcaster who loves TV. The topics I get most passionate about are diversity and representation on screen and behind the camera, cheerleading for creatives in my home city of Birmingham, and how great TV builds communities and brings people together.

Find me in Film Stories Magazine, or presenting the Maid for TV and The Custard TV Podcast. New Doctor Who pod coming Autumn 2025.