Jude Kampfner
Journalist, Audio Producer, and Podcaster
Jude (Judith) Kampfner has produced, narrated, written, and directed audio on three continents and from four cities: Sydney (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), London (BBC Radio 2, 3, 4, 5 and World Service), Chicago (WBEZ, NPR, and BBC), and New York (WNYC, Condé Nast Traveler). She established Corporation for Independent Media – her production company – in 2005.
From 2022 to 2025, Jude produced Women Who Travel at Condé Nast Entertainment. It consistently held a 4.5 rating on Apple podcasts and was a female-focused exploration of travel featuring diverse voices from experts, adventurers, solo travelers, and dispatches from listeners who had transformative journeys.
In 2026, the show won Best Travel Podcast at the iHeart Podcast Awards at SXSW.
Jude is currently a podcast developer and coach.
She’s judged Radio Festivals and the Ambies (Podcast Academy).
She’s an approved Executive Producer for independent producers for BBC Audio.
Her awards include a Gracie (Alliance for Women In Media) a Sarah (Sarah Lawrence International Award for Audio Fiction) a Sony for BBC Music Feature, BBC Audio Drama Award (Best Use of Sound), New York Press Club Best Feature and multiple Gold awards for documentaries at the New York Festivals.
Women Who Travel won Best Travel Podcast at the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards, announced March 16 at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Reviews & Feedback
“I’m so grateful to have been able to work with you. It’s been a huge pleasure to watch you drive Women Who Travel to reach its full potential. Thank you for being such a good shepherd!” Chris Bannon, Head of Conde Nast Global Audio
“Capturing a scoop on tape as it’s actually unfolding is every reporter’s dream. Judith Kampfner succeeded in doing just that in The French Ball. She was in the New York Public Library, patiently watching the Chekhovian historian and translator Peter Constantine leaf through piles of old magazines, looking for untranslated short stories by the great Russian author….” The Guardian
“Kampfner gave a strong sense of purpose as she searched out stories of maids’ lives for her two programmes. None of this material was easy to listen but Kampfner’s voice, an unusual sensual treat, blending soft, confident and just a tiny bit hesitant, was alluring. That, and journalism in its most admirable mode.” The Guardian
” In his two-part interview with Judith Kampfner on Radio 2, Randy Newman used his piano to answer some of her questions. He sang. His voice – always creaky, almost crackling now – is more direct when solo. I was in bits. Kampfner was respectful, well researched and knew when to stop talking. I’ve saved listening to part two for the weekend as a treat.” The Observer
“Extraordinarily powerful radio. At its heart it had a terrific story to tell: the reconciliation of Paul Erasmus, a former member of the South African secret police and Roger Lucey, a musician banned and persecuted under the regime. Kampfner’s excellent programme highlighted the tremendous generosity of forgiveness.” The Guardian
“The effect of Mike Walker’s adaptation was heightened by stunning sound design, meriting a special mention for producer Judith Kampfner… Once or twice the sound was so realistic that it made me want to tear off my headphones – the aural equivalent of hiding behind the sofa.” BBC Pick of the Year
“Breakthrough! I’d been sitting on a massive collection of tape and a percolating story idea for many years. My very first conversation with Jude was smart and encouraging…I’m pitching major distributors… She’s a dream come true for this reporter”.
Laurie Stern. St Paul MN
Sony/Somethin’Else produced Laurie’s 10-episode documentary Defining Diego. Kampfner was an Executive Producer.
“Jude offered inspirational and practical support to help make my audio investigative history podcast project. She knew the perfect questions to get me thinking critically and constantly improve. Working with Jude is genuinely exciting.”
Joseph Eden Hawthorne. Audio Editor and Producer, Brooklyn.
“Judith has been a fantastic regular guest lecturer for over six years at Canterbury Christ Church, she has taken part and delivered seminars, lectures and workshop classes to BA students in Film, Radio and Television. Judith is able to draw on fitting examples from her vast archive of documentary work to keep the session fresh and engaging.” Magz Hall, Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, Dept of Film Radio and TV, Canterbury, Kent, UK
Slideshow images of BBC work include audio drama rehearsals with Tracy Letts and Steppenwolf Theatre, an interview with author Delia Sherman, Indonesian domestic servants in my documentary ‘Maids: The Untold Story’, and the cast of ‘String Music’ that I adapted from a George Pelecanos story.