Go down in history
Are you a First Nations storyteller with a great idea?
First Nations people have been passing down their knowledge, culture and history through storytelling for tens of thousands of years.
Diversity has long been a weak point for podcasting. But in order for this golden age of audio to truly shine – it has to include all of us. Spotify launched Sound Up to find, train and develop the next generation of diverse creators. It’s our mission in Australia to empower First Nations (Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander) creators to tell their unique stories through podcasting and then amplify them across the world.
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About the program
Launched in 2018, Sound Up has grown from a local initiative into a global program - reaching hundreds of aspiring creators around the world. Australia was one of the first programs in 2018, and we’ve brought the program back in 2021 to ensure the unique stories of First Nations creators are shared and heard by all.
What to expect
It begins with a great idea. And grows from there. We invite up to ten aspiring creators to join each program event. Through a mix of in-person training and virtual sessions, you’ll immerse yourself in the art of podcast creation learning everything from ideation and storytelling to interviewing, editing and producing. Working with Awesome Black Media and other experts from the industry, you’ll then be supported to produce the pilot episode of your own podcast.
Who are we looking for?
Our program is open to storytellers who have historically not had access to the resources and opportunities present in the growing audio and podcasting space. If you identify as First Nations – Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander – and you live in Australia, we want to hear from you. You don’t need any previous experience to join the program. Passion is what’s important here – along with a unique voice and the eagerness to bring your ideas to life.
Meet the experts
Get to know the experts you'll be working with that partner with Sound Up
Travis De Vries
Travis De Vries is the producer and host of Broriginals and the producer of Fear of a Black Planet he is a concept artist and a gamer. He is also the founder and director of Awesome Black and an avid artist.
Brooke Scobie
Brooke Scobie is a queer Goorie woman, single mum, writer, podcast host, and community worker. She is one of the hosts of Yarn Quest and Trash Tiddas.
Jade Goodwin
Jade Goodwin is an illustrator, letterer and arts worker. Jade's passion for creating colourful work aimed at a younger audience is shown through her unique style that she creates in both traditional and digital mediums.
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Discover more about Sound Up from around the world at For the record news section.
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Listen to the top shows created by our alumni and loved by our listeners.
Good to know
Before you hit apply there are a few things we’d like to share.
To apply you must live in Australia and be over the age of 18.
We are looking for storytellers from underrepresented backgrounds.
The program is free and you don’t need your own kit - we’ll take care of it.
We’ll cover any expenses related to travel and housing for the duration of the program.
No experience is needed. We’ve built this program to find and elevate new creators.