Spotify announced Sound Up LatinX. It calls for LatinX podcasters in the United States to sign up to tell their stories.

Earlier this year, we shared we’d be launching Sound Up LatinX to directly address the disparities present in the podcasting community. Today, we invite aspiring U.S. LatinX podcasters to apply for the program.

Fernando Spuri, Manager of Sound Up, had a lot of say about it. One of the key points was: “We’re looking for creators with powerful ideas that want to tell whatever stories on whatever subjects that resonate with them best. Of course, those subjects are an intrinsic part of almost all LatinX, but how and with what intensity they want to address them is up to them.”

All LatinX U.S. residents age 20 or older – regardless of immigration status – are invited to apply to Sound Up U.S. LatinX now. Sign-ups close October 1, 2021. Please apply as an individual, rather than as a show or a group. Spotify can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

Sound Up LatinX is divided into two parts. First up is a virtual training program in 2021, which will take place over the course of eight weeks. The 10 participants who are short-listed by Spotify will attend workshops for a comprehensive introduction to the art of making a podcast. Ultimately, participants will create and submit a podcast trailer and pitch proposal for the opportunity to be selected as a finalist to attend part two: in-person Sound Up sessions in 2022.

Maria Murriel and Isis Madrid, co-founders of Pizza Shark will be facilitating Sound Up U.S. LatinX. Maria has been a Sound Up facilitator for the U.S. program already in 2020 and 2021, after participating as a speaker in 2019. Maria and Isis have both delivered Spotify’s global training in how to deliver the curriculum to new Sound Up facilitators in new markets globally.