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Belgian podcast platform and production company Summ’it will launch what it describes as a world-first live podcast experience this summer, allowing audiences to listen to live recordings through their own earbuds rather than loudspeakers.
From July 18 through Aug. 29, Summ’it will operate a pop-up podcast studio every Saturday morning at the historic Barkentijn building in Nieuwpoort, a coastal city in western Belgium. The temporary studio will occupy the building’s recently restored seafront balcony, where podcast hosts and guests will record live in front of an audience.
Rather than broadcasting the audio over speakers, visitors will scan a QR code and listen through the Summ’it app on their smartphones using earbuds or headphones. The company said the approach recreates the intimate listening experience that has become central to podcasting while allowing audiences to watch the recording unfold in person.
“We could have kept it simple and had the conversation echo across the promenade through speakers,” explained Lennart Creël, founder of Summ’it. “But podcasts are, by nature, an intimate medium. You often listen alone, with earbuds in, and get the feeling that you’re part of the conversation. We wanted to preserve that experience live as well. By letting visitors listen through their own earbuds, they’re, as it were, joining the guests at the table,” he said.
Podcasts are, by nature, an intimate medium.
Lennart Creël, founder of Summ’it
Summ’it said the format allows listeners to hear the subtleties of each conversation, including pauses, laughter and emotional moments, while maintaining the immersive nature of podcast listening. Because the audio streams through the app, visitors can also continue listening as they leave the venue and walk along the coast.
Founded in Belgium, Summ’it operates a podcast platform, production company and creator community serving the Dutch-speaking market. The company has expanded beyond podcast distribution by developing an audio ecosystem that combines its mobile app, original content, live events and technologies such as geolocation and personalized listening experiences.
The Nieuwpoort project continues that strategy by blending live production with personal audio listening, exploring new ways for audiences to experience podcasts beyond traditional on-demand playback.
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