Georgia’s Premier 5-Hour Podcast Competition
Saturday May 1st, 2027 at the Academies of Creative Education (ACE) in Forsyth County GA
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Saturday May 1st, 2027 at the Academies of Creative Education (ACE) in Forsyth County GA 〰️
Saturday May 1st 2027 Starting at 9:00am
PodJam Competition
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PodJam Competition 〰️
PodJam will take place Saturday May 1st, 2027 at the Academies of Creative Education (ACE) in Forsyth County GA (1160 Dahlonega Highway Cumming, Georgia 30040) from 9:00 am-2:00 pm.
Awards Ceremony will take place at the FoCal Center (1150 Dahlonega Hwy, Cumming GA 30040 from 5:00pm-6:00pm
PodJam Competition: https://ace.forsyth.k12.ga.us/
FoCal Awards Ceremony: https://focal.forsyth.k12.ga.us/
Lights, Camera, Action!
Write, Ask, Listen, Speak!
Learn More Here:
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Get ready to jam with PodJam! On May 1, 2027, teams of five—one teacher and four students from grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9–12—will take over the Academies of Creative Education in Forsyth County GA for an action-packed five-hour podcast marathon. Judges will draw five surprise topics from a hat and teams will race the clock to create the most compelling five-minute podcast by 2 p.m., when five expert judges will be ready to listen, score, and celebrate their work. The excitement continues that evening with an awards ceremony at 5pm at the FoCal Center where creativity and collaboration take center stage. Medals will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes with the overall winner walking away with a Sony Studio package!
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Teachers should bring a team to PodJam because it’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to turn learning into action. In just five hours, students and teachers work side-by-side to research, write, record, and produce a podcast—strengthening literacy, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity in a truly hands-on way. It’s project-based learning at its best: fast-paced, exciting, and deeply meaningful. PodJam gives teachers a fresh, engaging way to connect curriculum to real-world skills like communication, problem-solving, and digital storytelling. Plus, it’s fun! Teachers leave inspired, students leave empowered, and teams walk away with memories (and skills) that last far beyond the event.
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Please follow our link to sign up!
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2026 Winners Coming Soon!
Meet The Team
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Chief Creative Officer
Since 1998, Rick Williams has worked behind the camera as a wedding videographer, capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments and turning them into lasting visual stories. In 2020, he transitioned into education and launched the FAME (Film, Arts, Media & Entertainment) pathway at the Floyd County College & Career Academy—a dynamic program where students explore filmmaking, podcasting, and social media production.
With over two decades of industry experience, Rick brings a real-world, hands-on approach to teaching that blends creativity, technical skill, and entrepreneurship. He empowers students to not only master production tools, but also to build personal brands, grow audiences, and tell stories that matter.
In just five years, FAME has grown into more than a class—it’s become a launchpad for the next generation of storytellers. From producing short films and fast-paced Instagram news shows to launching original podcasts and digital content, Rick’s students are learning to use media as a powerful tool for communication, connection, and change.
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Chief Programming Officer
Dr. Greg Walkup is a passionate A/V Broadcast & Film educator who has transformed classrooms into studios and students into storytellers. With a rich background spanning K–12 education and a doctorate in Teacher Leadership, Greg now leads one of Georgia’s most innovative middle school student media programs. Through student-led broadcasting, podcasting, and film production, he empowers the next generation to find their voice, lead with purpose, and create with confidence. His mission: amplify student voice through real-world media—and help young creators tell the stories that matter most.
You can follow Dr. Walkup more at
https://oms.forsyth.k12.ga.us/academics/connections/av-broadcast-film
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Director of Audio Production
Shannon Chatmon is a middle school educator. She is also founder of Black Panache, LLC, a podcast production company under which she has produced, edited, and sometimes hosted several professional independent podcasts. Her Blacktivities podcast is in the top 5% of podcasts and has been featured on Apple Podcasts’ New and Noteworthy List.
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Amanda Triplett Baughman is an award-winning educator, speaker, and Executive Director of the National Podcast Project, which she founded in 2020 after launching a regional K–12 podcast competition. With more than 20 years of experience teaching high school and college English and five years teaching podcasting at both levels, she is passionate about using audio storytelling to strengthen literacy, critical thinking, and student voice. Her students have earned multiple Top 10 placements in the NPR Student Podcast Challenge, and she has completed professional training at Syracuse University's nationally recognized journalism program. Amanda has presented podcasting as the missing literacy link at state and national conferences and has led professional development for school districts across Georgia, from Dalton to Atlanta. A McCarthey Dressman Fellow (2023–2025) and Georgia Educational Technology Consortium Rising Star, she is dedicated to helping students and educators alike find their voices, become stronger listeners, and tell stories that make an impact.
Contact Us:
Dr. Greg Walkup
walkup@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Forsyth County Georgia