The Sound Off Podcast

Podcast Pioneer Rob Greenlee is a podcast Hall of Famer (Class 2017), host of the New Media Show (along with Todd Cochrane), Podcast Tips, Trust Factor, Spoken Life Show and Behind the EV Wheel. That's a lot of shows. Over the course of his career Rob has worked on the Zune Marketplace, where he helped develop and grow podcasting on the Zune platform. The first time I met him, he was at Spreaker and Voxnest where served as VP of Content and Partnerships, contributing to the development of tools and services for podcasters. (Spreaker was all about going Live back in the day) He also had a stint at PodcastOne as a VP, focusing on podcast content and monetization.Rob continues to be an advocate for podcasters, frequently speaking at industry events, hosting panels, and educating others on podcasting trends, best practices, and technology.As mentioned above, he co-hosts this popular podcast with Todd Cochrane. He was kind enough to ask me to guest-host the program while Todd was on assignment. Rob Greenlee’s long-standing presence and contributions have made him a respected voice in the podcasting community, particularly for his focus on innovation and advocacy.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Annalise Nielsen is the head of podcast strategy and development at Lower Street. We talked about the college years at Queen's University and how her professor was an early podfader in an attempt to create lecture podcasts. We also spent some time discussing her work at a Television station and later, Rogers and Pacific Content. She emphasized the importance of newsletters and targeted social media for podcast promotion. Nielsen also discussed the shift from video-heavy podcasts to clips and the potential for independent creators to thrive in the future.Lower Street is a leading podcast production company and makes award winning branded podcasts.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thanks to our group sponsors: Rogers, Pattison Media, Corus Entertainment, iHeartRadio, Stingray, Vista Broadcasting, Harvard Media. The Following summary of winners is from Broadcast Dialogue. Pattison Media’s 102.3 NOW! Radio (CKNO-FM) Edmonton is among the multiple winners at the 2024 Canadian Radio Awards.NOW! won Major Market Station of the Year, and Best On-Air Promotion (Major Market) for its “Swiftie-oke” contest, while Program Director Jay Stone captured Program Director of the Year (Major Market). The station was also the catalyst behind Best Community Service Initiative winner Alberta Day of Caring for Jasper, which saw the province’s radio stations come together to raise more than $1.5M to support those impacted by this summer’s wildfire.Evanov Communications’ stations in Winnipeg won in multiple categories. Evanov Winnipeg’s Adam West captured Program Director of the Year (Medium Market), while the Energy 106 (CHWE-FM) morning show, Wheeler in the Morning, won Best On-Air Team (Music) (Medium Market). Energy 106 and Z103.5 (CIDC-FM) Toronto also won Best Imaging Production (Large Market), while their joint entry for HOT 100.5 (CFJL-FM) Winnipeg and LITE 92.1 (CKPC-FM) Brantford won in the Medium Market category.Rogers Sports & Media’s CHEZ 106 Ottawa also captured two awards, including Station of the Year (Medium Market) and Best Community Service Initiative (Medium Market) for its DEEDS promotion.In the small market categories, Fort St. John, BC independent station 100.1 Moose FM (CKFU-FM) picked up two awards. Program Director Chris Walker won Program Director of the Year (Small Market), while the station also won Best Podcast (Small Market) for Before the Peace, focused on telling the stories of the Indigenous and Métis peoples of B.C.’s Peace Region.Kahnawake, Que. community station K1037 The Monster (CKRK-FM) also claimed two awards. Paul Graiff won Best Anchor/Reporter (Small Market), while Mitch Craig captured Best Imaging Voice (Small Market).By network, Rogers Sports & Media led wins with 14, followed by Pattison Media with eight, while Evanov picked up a total of five wins. Bell Media won in four categories, with Corus Radio and Harvard Media each earning three awards. Vista Radio won two.Find a full list of this year’s winners below. To listen to their award-winning audio and view this year’s runners-up, head to CanadianRadioAwards.com.Best Anchor or Reporter – Sponsored by Burli Major MarketRichard Southern, 680 NewsRadio, (CFTR), Rogers Sports & Media, TorontoMedium MarketRichard Duggan, VOCM-AM, (VOCM), Stingray, St. John’s, Newfoundland and LabradorSmall MarketPaul Graif, K103.7 The Monster, (CKRK), Mohawk Radio, KahnawakeBest Canadian Multi-Market Network ProgramMajor MarketFearless Fred, Q107 / Power 97 / Edge / Big 101, (CILQ / CFQC / CJKR / CIQB ), CorusMedium MarketSam McDaid – Country Nights, (CKQC / CJOK / CKXC / CKBY / CIKZ / CJQM / CKAT / CJDL), Rogers Sports & MediaSmall MarketNick Liard – Regional Midday Show, (CJRQ / CJQQ / CKFX ), Rogers Sports & MediaBest On-Air Team or Host (News/Talk/Sports)Major MarketAndrea Montgomery / Kelly Turner / Logan Stein / Tanya Blakeney / Phil Wood / Lauryn Heintz – Calgary Morning Show, 660 NewsRadio (CFFR), Rogers Sports & Media, Calgary, AlbertaMedium MarketBrett Megarry / Greg Mackling – The Start, 680 CJOB (CJOB), Corus, Winnipeg, ManitobaBest On-Air Team or Host (Music)Major MarketThe Roz & Mocha Show, KiSS 92.5 (CKIS), Rogers Sports & Media, Toronto, OntarioMedium MarketWheeler in the Morning, Energy 106 (CHWE), Evanov Communications, Winnipeg, ManitobaSmall MarketJason McCoy / Carey Moran, Pure Country 106 (CICX), Bell Media, Orillia, OntarioBest On-Air Solo Host (Music)Major MarketLauren Hunter, Sonic 102.9 (CHDI), Rogers Sports & Media, Edmonton, AlbertaMedium MarketKatherine Dines, MOVE 100 (CJMJ), Bell Media, Ottawa, OntarioSmall MarketRobyn Thomson, KiSS 99.3 (CKGB), Rogers Sports & Media, TimminsMusic Director of the YearMajor MarketKatie Stanners, KiSS 91.7 (CHBN), Rogers Sports & Media, Edmonton, AlbertaMedium MarketIan Sharek, Rogers Rock Radio, Rogers Sports & Media, Multiple MarketsSmall MarketCourtney Rae, 106.1 The Goat (CKLM), Vista Radio, Lloydminster, Alberta Program Director of the Year – Sponsored by Momentum Media Major MarketJay Stone, 102.3 NOW! Radio (CKNO), UP! 99.3 (CIUP), Pattison Media, Edmonton, AlbertaMedium MarketAdam West, Energy 106 (CHWE), HOT 100.5 (CFJL), Evanov Communications, Winnipeg, ManitobaSmall MarketChris Walker, 100.1 Moose FM (CKFU), Moose Media, Fort St John, British ColumbiaStation of The Year – Sponsored by David Kaye / Kayeman Productions Major Market102.3 NOW! Radio (CKNO), Pattison Media, Edmonton, AlbertaMedium MarketCHEZ 106 (CHEZ), Rogers Sports & Media, Ottawa, OntarioSmall Market100.5 Cruz FM (CHFT), Harvard Media, Fort McMurray, AlbertaSound of Success – Sponsored by Validate Audio AttributionMajor MarketWhat’s In A Name / Booster Juice, Rogers Sports & Media, National Campaign, Canada-wideSmall MarketGo Rock Campaign (CFLB), Novacast Media, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Best Achievement in Engineering – Sponsored by leanStream All MarketsDaryll Donais, Hot Country 103, (CKHZ), Acadia Broadcasting, Halifax, Nova ScotiaBest Community or Campus Station – Sponsored by Community Radio Fund of Canada Major MarketVIBE 105 (CHRY), Canadian Centre for Civic Media and Arts Development Inc., Toronto, OntarioSmall Market100.1 BayFM (CKVB), Bay of Islands Radio Inc. , Corner Brook, Newfoundland and LabradorBest Community Service Initiative – Sponsored By Broadcast Dialogue Major MarketAlberta Day Of Caring For Jasper, 102.3 NOW! (CKNO), UP! 99.3 (CIUP), Pattison Media, Edmonton, AlbertaMedium MarketDEEDS, 106.1 CHEZ (CHEZ), Rogers Sports & Media, Ottawa, OntarioSmall MarketSpirit Day, 101.3 the River (CKKN), 99.3 REWIND Radio (CKDV), Pattison Media, Prince George, British ColumbiaBest Imaging Production – Sponsored by Benztown Major MarketZ103.5, (CIDC), Energy 106, (CHWE), Evanov Communications, Toronto, Ontario / Winnipeg, ManitobaMedium MarketLITE 92.1, (CKPC), HOT 100.5, (CFJL), Evanov Communications, Brantford, Ontario / Winnipeg, ManitobaSmall MarketPure Country 105, (CKQM), Bell Media, Peterborough, OntarioBest Imaging VoiceMajor MarketCorri English / Allan Peck / Jeff McKnight, STAR 95.9, (CHFM), Rogers Sports & Media, Calgary, AlbertaMedium MarketDavid Kaye, 104.9 The Wolf, (CFWF), Harvard Media, Regina, SaskatchewanSmall MarketMitch Craig, K1037, The Monster, (CKRK), Mohawk Radio, KahnawakeBest Performance in a CommercialMajor MarketBob Johnstone, Amore Pasta – Love Pasta Again, The Eagle, (CKLR), Pattison Media, Courtenay, British ColumbiaMedium MarketDave Hiltz, FoCheezy, 107.5 Dave Rocks. (CJDV), Corus, Kitchener, OntarioSmall MarketBrian Viggiani, Georgian Bay Storage, LITE 99.3, (CJGB), Evanov Communications, Meaford, Ontario Best CommercialMajor MarketOodle / Noodle – Improve Your Noodle, Play 107, (CKPW), Harvard Media, Edmonton, AlbertaMedium MarketHealthy Smiles / The Tooth Is Out There, BIG105 FM, (CHUB), Pattison Media, Red Deer, AlbertaSmall MarketFouillard Carpets, POWER99, (CFMM), Pattison Media, Prince Albert, SaskatchewanBest On-Air Promotion – Sponsored by vcreative Major Market102.3 NOW! Radio, (CKNO), Pattison Media, Edmonton, Alberta  Medium Market103.7 Virgin Radio, (CHBE), Bell Media, Victoria, British ColumbiaSmall Market94.1 CJOC, (CJOC), Vista Radio, Lethbridge, AlbertaBest PodcastMajor MarketSweethearts: Island Crime, Season 6, Rogers Frequency NetworkMedium MarketRadio des Petits Hiboux, U Multicultural, U RadioSmall MarketBefore The Peace, 100.1 Moose FM, (CKFU), Fort St. John, British ColumbiaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We love having Fred Jacobs from Jacobs Media on the show to discuss things like Tech Survey and the AQ Study. What do listeners come to radio for? Well since 2018 it has been for personalities first, then music. I'm not sure what you are being told from your program director, but depending on the market or format, they could be working off some old thinking. We also spoke about the lack of women in various radio roles including on air and the need for more female program directors. We also discussed the disconnect between AI and innovation, and some of the perceptions that "podcasting is taking over" when in fact, most radio P1 listeners are not that interested in the medium. One of the more successful formats is Christian Radio when has all the things commercial radio strives for... an emotional connection with listeners. We also discussed the financial struggles of public radio.If your radio station is interested in participating in the Tech Survey Study for 2025, click here. Deadline is December 19.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ian March, Program Director of Indy 88 in Toronto, discussed his 25-year radio career. He started at Sports Radio 1200 in Ottawa, then moved to Kingston for K Rock 1057. Ian became APD for Magic 100 and Bob FM in Ottawa, and later PD for New Country 94. He highlighted the impact of Gord Downie's death on K Rock, leading to a week of Tragically Hip music. Ian joined Indy 88, focusing on digital integration and targeting a broader audience. He noted the recent ownership change to Local Radio Lab and the challenges posed by CRTC approval delays. Ian emphasized the importance of consistency in ratings and the evolving nature of radio programming.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lisa Brandt's career in radio and voiceover is a testament to the power of versatility, resilience, and a willingness to embrace change. From her early days in small-town radio to her time at some of Toronto's most iconic stations, Brandt's story is one of navigating the evolving landscape of the industry with determination.One of the most striking aspects of Lisa's journey is her ability to keep it young. Whether it was cueing records and producing commercials in the analog era, or pivoting to voice work when her radio career took an unexpected turn, Brandt has consistently demonstrated a knack for reinventing herself. Her openness to trying new things, from blogging to painting, has allowed her to maintain a creative spark and avoid the stagnation that can sometimes plague long-term media professionals.Lisa's emphasis on the importance of community and support is also noteworthy. Her experiences working with talented programmers and personalities like Marty Forbes, Pat Holiday, and Erin Davis have underscored the value of surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals who can provide guidance, encouragement, and a sounding board. Perhaps most significantly, her approach to managing the constant influx of news and information is a lesson in self-care of her mental health. She is selective in her news consumption and to prioritize her own well-being over obsessing over current events is a refreshing perspective in an era where anxiety and burnout are all too common.Lisa has an excellent podcast with Erin Davis (who was on our show earlier this year), called Gracefully and Frankly. Follow that show if you know what is good for you. By the way, if you want to know why we titled the episode the way we did - checkout the video of this episode.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Legendary radio broadcaster John Leslie, shared his journey from building a three-watt transmitter in his bedroom to becoming a program director at WEIR in Weirton, West Virginia. He discussed his service in the Marine Corps, his early radio roles, and his transition to television. Leslie highlighted his significant achievements, including a 38 share in Binghamton, a 27 share in Des Moines, and a 22 share in Albany. He recounted his historic trip to the Soviet Union to broadcast uncensored, marking a pivotal moment in media history. Leslie also detailed his transition to podcasting and the success of his hypnotherapy seminars with John Morgan.Connect with John's podcast Talking About Radio here. There are a lot of great episodes in here! Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We dive deep into the importance of audio promos for podcasts. Steve Goldstein, returns to make a compelling case for why every podcast needs a well-crafted audio promo.Steve told us that as the podcast landscape becomes increasingly crowded, using owned media to promote your show is essential. However, he notes that promos are often overlooked, sitting low on the priority list for many podcasters. This is a missed opportunity, as an effective promo can hook listeners and drive them to tune in.The key, Steve says, is to take a "right-brain" approach focused on storytelling and emotion, rather than just listing facts about the show. He advises against the common pitfall of creating a promo that is dry and overly logical. Instead, the goal should be to craft a short, attention-grabbing piece that piques the listener's curiosity.Steve also emphasizes the importance of frequency, encouraging podcasters to "burn in" their promos rather than worrying about overexposure. He cites research showing the value of repetition in audio marketing. By investing the time to create compelling, story-driven promos, podcasters can better distinguish their shows and drive meaningful engagement with their audience.If you are going to listen to one thing in the show - check out the his critique of our podcast promo. All to say, we will need a new one.Check out the full blog with the 7 things you need to think about when making a promo. Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our Quarterly Feed Drop. This is where we play an episode from another awesome podcast. You might remember a few week's back we had Jeff Umbro on the show. His show is called Podcast Perspectives and you should give it follow.The podcast world is growing rapidly, and podcasters can fall behind without a glimpse of the future. Predictive analytics have become vital for podcasts to survive and thrive.In this episode of Podcast Perspectives, Jeff Umbro, host and The Podglomerate’s CEO and Founder, talks with Sean Howard, the founder and CEO of Flightpath, a predictive analytics platform for podcasting. Sean is also the founder of Fable and Folly, which is a network of fiction podcasts.Sean and Jeff chat about his predictive dashboard, the data that goes into Flightpath, stories from Sean's past, and hints about the podcast industry's future.You can listen to other Podcast Perspectives episodes hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mary Anne Ivison was laid off in 2021. Ivison discusses the difficult transition and mental health challenges she faced after losing her job, but how she eventually found success in voiceover work and launching her own podcast "Let's Take This Outside".We covered the ups and downs of building a voiceover business, including the challenges of working with agents and the impact of AI on the industry. Ivison shares her perspective that while AI may take over some lower-end voiceover work, the level of direction and variation required for many commercial projects still requires human talent. We also touched on the state of the podcast industry, acknowledging the difficulties of monetization and the shift towards more VC-backed companies. However, they emphasize the importance of finding a niche and building a loyal audience, rather than chasing download numbers.Mary Anne is candid about the mental toll of the freelance lifestyle and the need to manage expectations, and that entering these creative fields requires a realistic understanding of the hard work and persistence required for long-term success.Another honest episode providing an insightful look at the realities of navigating a career transition and building a sustainable creative business in the modern media landscape.A video and transcript of the episode can be found on the network website.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donna Reed, a former radio host, podcast creator, and voiceover talent discusses her dcareer in radio, including her times at WQDR and WRDU in Raleigh, NC; then to KLOL and KODA in Houston, Texas and WCXR in Washington, DC. where she enjoyed the freedom of night shifts. She transitioned to voice acting after a car commercial opportunity and has since worked on audiobooks, commercials, and transit announcements. Reed also curated the "Leopard Print Lounge Chair" channel for AccuRadio during COVID-19, blending eclectic music for a relaxed atmosphere. She reflects on the challenges and joys of podcasting, emphasizing the need for consistency and creativity. Reed looks forward to more interviews and episodes in 2025. Give her show a follow here. A video and transcript of the episode can be found on the network website.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tony Garcia's journey through the radio industry over the past four decades provides a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of syndicated content and the changing landscape of the medium. From his early days as an intern at the iconic WNBC in New York during the 1980s, Tony's enthusiasm for radio was palpable, as he recounted the excitement of being part of the station's shift from album rock to the burgeoning new wave scene.This passion led Tony to create his own syndicated show, "Wave Breaker," while at WNYU. Through sheer determination and a willingness to learn on the job, he navigated the complexities of distribution, leveraging techniques like bulk-erasing tapes to get the show into the hands of eager college radio stations across the country, and in Europe. This laid the foundation for Tony's deep understanding of the syndication business, which he would go on to apply in roles at companies like Progressive Radio Network and the Wall Street Journal Report.Tony's insights into the strategies employed by media giants like Dow Jones, who adeptly repurposed content across their various platforms, underscores the importance of adaptability in an ever-changing industry. The transition from vinyl to CDs, and eventually digital distribution, further highlights Tony's ability to evolve with the times, always seeking to provide the most efficient and cost-effective solutions for his clients.The story of Tony's involvement with the Bob & Sheri show, from the initial challenges to the eventual triumph, exemplifies his knack for identifying and nurturing talent. By enabling ownership of their IP and digital presence, Tony demonstrated a keen understanding of the value of intellectual property in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.As Tony looks ahead to the future, his enthusiasm for the potential of hyper-local podcasts and the continued expansion of Bob & Sheri, and publishing ventures reflects a visionary mindset.A video and transcript of the episode can be found on the network website.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You likely know Steve Pratt's name from his days as founder of Pacific Content. The company that created stories about brands set the bar for branded podcasts in the late 2010's. The company was later sold to Rogers in 2019 and just recently sold to Lower Street in the UK. Unlike our interview with (former Pacific Content Director of Audience developement) Dan Misener, we are going to ask Steve about his thoughts when it was announced Rogers would be mothballing the company he started. In this episode, we discussed Steve's career evolution from television to podcasting. He highlighted his work at YTV where he was in charge of "The Zone", CBC Radio 3, and later Pacific Content, emphasizing the importance of creating unique, audience-focused content. Steve shared insights on the challenges and successes of branded podcasts, such as Slack's "Customer Success Podcast", Charles Schwab's "Choiceology" and Red Hat's "Open Source," which avoided direct brand promotion. He also discussed the impact of AI on content creation and the need for high-quality, differentiated content.Steve's new book, "Earn It: Unconventional Strategies for Brave Marketers" offers strategies for earning audience engagement through creative storytelling.A video and transcript of the episode can be found on the network website.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in 2016, Leslie was the PD for 107.7 The End in Seattle, driving the station to huge success in the millennial market. Since then, she's taken on a few more stations, been elevated to overseeing programming of Audacy's exclusive streaming-only channels... And like so many people in radio, been restructured out of a job. Their loss. We discuss where Leslie's currently at both life and career wise, but mainly this is a time for us to catch up and learn how Leslie's thoughts and predictions from 2016 have aged.For the most part, Leslie's values remain the same: Radio and digital should be friends, not enemies; Radio stations need to focus on curating personalities above all else; and the youngest generation is a giant well of untapped potential listeners who should be catered to. However, interestingly, Leslie is no longer a part of that youngest generation. She once was a sort of "Millennial Whisperer" in the radio industry, but Gen Z is a whole different beast, which we discuss at length. 7 years doesn't sound like a long time, but it really is, especially in an industry that's been scrambling so hard to keep up with the youth, and Leslie has a lot of thoughts about the way things have changed.We also discuss women's progress in the radio industry, or rather, its stagnation in recent years. Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media published his AQ6 survey earlier this year, which you can read about here. It showed that women's representation in radio hasn't really improved since 2019. Being both a woman herself and serving on the board of directors for mentoring and inspiring women in radio, Leslie shares some interesting insights into why that might be.If you haven't heard our original interview with Leslie, and you'd like to compare for yourself, you can listen to it here. If nothing else, it's an interesting time capsule to a world before TikTok.A Transcript and video version of the episode is available on the network page.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jordan Heath Rawlings, host of the Big Story Podcast, returns to discuss the evolution of daily news podcasts over the past five years. We first had Jordan on the show in 2019 after year one on the show. Since then, he noted the increased competition and the shift to virtual interviews post-pandemic. There's simply more choice with outlets having rushed into the space after the success of the The Daily and The Big Story.The Big Story has evolved into video, releasing episodes on two YouTube channels, reaching 100,000 views, despite minimal video content. Some of the original challenges of balancing geographic and subject matter diversity, aiming for a balanced news diet. The Big Story remains majority Apple-listened, with Spotify growing. Notable guests over the last year include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Peter Mansbridge.A Transcript and video version of the episode is available on the network page.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over a year after Matt recorded a Summer of Discontent - he looks back on a second summer of discontent which feature more radio stations closures on AM, small FM size stations and one FM station in Canada's #4 market. Also layoffs in Kingston and London, and across iHeart in the USA. Matt also wonders why no one in radio seems to talk much about the audience... Matt reaffirms that the Sound Off Podcast is about audience building and teases a few episodes in the works with Steve Pratt, Valerie Geller, and others. Sign up for Matt's Newsletter called Sounding Off Books mentioned: Tom Webster's Book - The Audience is Listening. Steve Pratt's Earn It. Valerie Geller's new book is coming soon. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jeff Umbro, is the founder of The Podglomerate, an award-winning podcast services firm specialized in production, marketing, and monetization of outstanding content.In this episode, we discussed his transition from book publicist to podcasting, highlighting the company's evolution since 2017. He emphasized the importance of podcast promotion, noting that cross-promos are effective but should not be the sole strategy. Jeff also shared his insights on video's role in podcasting, noting its potential for discovery and engagement. He also addressed the complexities of monetizing podcasts, including the challenges of dynamic ad insertion and the need for fair CPMs. Our conversation concludes with Jeff's plans to develop a dashboard for better data tracking and his ongoing client projects, including "Master Plan" and "A Fine Mess."Rather unintentional, but we discussed a promo swap we did back in 2019 between the Podglomerate's Storybound and Sound Off's Writing Class Radio, and what the ROI was.A Transcript and video version of the episode is available on the network page.Jeff also has a podcast called "Podcasting Perspectives" which goes even deeper into podcasting than this one does. And yes - he does video on Spotify and YouTube. Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharon Taylor, Senior Vice President of Podcast Strategy and Product Operations at Triton, discusses her career journey from hospitality management to podcasting. She joined Omny Studio in 2016, initially on a contract basis, and later becoming CEO. Sharon highlights the evolution of Omny Studio from a radio tool to a comprehensive podcast platform, and its acquisition by Triton. She emphasizes the importance of brand safety and suitability in podcast advertising, and introduces Sounder, a tool developed by Triton to enhance contextual analysis and ad targeting. Sharon also touches on the challenges and opportunities for Canadian podcasters, noting the need for a unified approach and diverse revenue streams.We also spent some time discussing the power of mobility; she has moved on multiple occasions across numerous time zones. She's currently living in my hometown of Montreal where the food is the best in Canada. Her favourite restaurant? Nyk's Bistro on Bleury. (Not to be confused with the landmark Chez Nick's on Greene Avenue in Westmount) Take a date to Nyk's, take your mother to Nick's) Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blubrry's CEO Todd Cochrane is back once again this week, and this time he's got a new toy he's eager to share: The Thrive bundle, Blubrry's first major foray into AI integration for podcasters. We begin by going over what exactly the Thrive bundle offers its users, including various AI-powered tools to help podcasters with tasks like episode planning, production, social media clips, and email.For those who fear AI will run the world someday, worry not. Anyone who's used the current suite of online AI tools certainly knows they're not a replacement for human input by any means, and the Thrive bundle isn't trying to be. Todd explains that the AI tools are simply designed to streamline the podcast production workflow, giving users a jumping-off point to help create show notes, descriptions, and other metadata quickly. We do, however, touch on the valid concern that people may attempt to create fully AI-generated podcasts using voice data, or replace sections of their podcasts with AI voiceover and pretend they didn't. The Thrive bundle doesn't provide these tools to begin with, but Todd also emphasizes the importance of full disclosure to the audience whenever AI tools are integrated in any form, a sentiment we at The Sound Off Media Company fully agree with.We also discuss Blubrry's competition in the AI field, and what makes the Thrive bundle stand apart in a sea of rushed-to-market AI tools, from its price to its comprehensive toolkit. If you, like me, are growing tired of paying for 6 different AI assistants and using maybe 20% of each one, the Thrive bundle may be the option for you.We take a slightly different direction in the latter half of the episode, moving to the topic of podcast discovery. Google's AI integration for its search engine is already making it trickier to find correct information quickly (see the "put glue on your pizza" incident), and Todd believes having a rich suite of metadata and SEO skills will continue to grow ever more important as time goes on.PROTIP: One of the podcasts Todd listens to on a regular basis to stay on top of AI is The Artificial Intelligence Show. A Transcript and video version of the episode is available on the network page.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You likely know Dan Misener for his work in Podcasting - but I managed to trace his roots back to radio. Specifically, to CBC and shows like DNTO (Definitely Not the Opera) and Spark with Nora Young. His radio days actually stretch back a little further than that to campus radio at Dalhousie's CKDU in Halifax. But it was his time at Pacific Content where Dan began to explore audience development in the podcast space. Yes, he could have continued on making great sounding shows at places like the CBC, but what's the point if you aren't getting everyone to listen, right?In this episode we will discuss those early radio days and the natural transition to podcasting, the experimenting at the CBC with Spark, and the creation of a feedback loop for the show. We also spoke about the importance of the packaging of your podcast and how it appears in podcast catalogues and on a dashboard display in a vehicle. We also talked about some of the cool blogs that Dan has written, the very helpful Podcast XRay that was released earlier this year which helps you find out things about show's like release days, enclosure tags and the brand new analytics Dashboard from Bumper presents another look at podcast metrics focusing in consumption and verified listens to a show. Yes downloads are cool but have you ever appreciated the Time Spent Listening (TSL) to your show?Dan has given us a look into new Bumper Dashboard for their clients and we make a few observations about the Sound Off Podcast. Some we knew; some we did not.We also touched on some other lingering podcast questions like, does it matter what day of the week you release an episode, and what's the role in video for your show. The answer to both is... YES!I did not ask Dan about his feelings about Rogers (mis)handling the attempted shuttling of Pacific Content, nor the ensuing sale to Lower Street... there were podcast marketing strategies to pursue after all.A Transcript and video version of the episode is available on the network page.Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the verbal diarrhea you never knew what you were missing in your life.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data SolutionsMary Anne Ivison at Ivison Voice. - Make her the female voice of your radio station.Matt Fogarty Voiceovers - It's great to have Matt back for 2024 supporting our show. Make him the imaging voice for your radio station by contacting him through his website.Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.