The Sound Off Podcast

Matt Cundill

The Sound Off Podcast is a series of interviews and discussions about Broadcasting, podcasting and New Media. Matt Cundill is a 20 year veteran of radio and has worked on air, and as a program director. Matt has worked with podcasters since 2016 to increase their audience and the amount of time engaged on their audio.

⚡️mattcundill@getalby.com


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Ian Leonard: Canadian Export, Chief Meteorologist Fox 9 Minneapolis
Yesterday
Ian Leonard: Canadian Export, Chief Meteorologist Fox 9 Minneapolis
Ian Leonard is the Chief Meteorologist at Fox 9 in Minneapolis. Sadly, this is a channel that I do not get in Winnipeg. Ian and I worked together on Stony Plain Road in Edmonton back in the 90's. What I didn't know is that he is a second generation broadcaster, grew up around the TV station and there was a moment in 2002 when he and his wife Christy decided to take a chance and head south.In this episode you will hear about Ian growing up in Edmonton and being apart of television at an early age. We share a few stories from 90's, weather related ones too including the Pine Lake tornado which I had completely forgotten about until we walked that part of memory lane. We also discuss how Ian has made pivots and transitions in how he presents the weather and what social media tool are most important to him now.There is also a lot we did not discuss including his battle with cancer and the extensive role he plays working with the Special Olympics. This one could have gone another hour.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Blurve: A great way to help you prep your Show. NLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.For transcript of this episode click here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Rob Creighton: On Air and Online in Sedalia
Mar 13 2023
Rob Creighton: On Air and Online in Sedalia
This week, we've got another long-time radio industry veteran, Rob Creighton. You might not know his name up here in Canada, but down in the States, he's been running shows from Lubbock, Texas to Chicago, Illinois for the last few decades.Nowadays, Rob has moved away from the stations and back to his home state of Missouri to work with Townsquare Media. They're a name you might recognize if you've followed the show for a while- we've had a few guests who worked with them, like Melz on the Mic, and that's partially because I just really like how Townsquare does things. Companies that make radio ads are dime-a-dozen, but Townsquare tailors to the digital side too. If you've listened to the show at all before today, you'll know exactly how important that is to me and why, and if you're curious about how they do it, you can check out some of their service offerings here.Rob and I dive into his history on the radio and in the program director's chair, as well as what prompted his move off the airwaves and into Townsquare's office in Sedalia, Missouri. As I said earlier, Missouri is his home state, and Rob couldn't be happier to be back, especially working for a company that lets him find a balance he's always craved.If you want to work with Townsquare, you can check out their main website here. You can also conenct with Rob directly on LinkedIn.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.NLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.For a Transcription of this episode, click here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dean Molberg: Barn Burner
Mar 6 2023
Dean Molberg: Barn Burner
This week's guest is Manitoba local, Flames Nation legend, and recent podcast convert Dean "Boomer" Molberg.Dean hosts the Barn Burner podcast, a show dedicated to everything Calgary Flames-related, along with his long-time cohost/friend Ryan Pindler and former Flames player Rhett Warrener. But much like many of our guests, Dean has a long and storied history in radio. He's been in the industry for decades at this point, but you're most likely to know him from his tenure on the morning show at FAN 960 in Calgary.Dean and I talk about fan interactions, interviewing pros before they went pro, why his team felt the switch to podcasting was a necessary one, and most importantly, hockey. Dean's full of stories you won't want to miss, from both junior hockey teams like the legendary Wheat Kings and NHL teams like the Flames. Dean also spoke at length about his team at CKX in Brandon, Manitoba. If you want to see what they looked like working together, click here for a flashback to the early 90's!If you're a Flames fan, or just a hockey fan in general, check out the Barn Burner podcast on Amazon or Apple Podcasts. You can also follow Dean at all the usual places: Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.NLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.A Transcript of the episode is available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Marie: The Radio Fam
Feb 28 2023
Marie: The Radio Fam
If you've ever wondered what our show might look like if it was built by a millennial, look no further than The Radio Fam. It's a YouTube-first podcast that's not unlike this one, and today's guest is its owner and creator, Marie.The Radio Fam's mission statement is to break the mold of mainstream radio stations' crappy social media integration. All the way back in 2009, Marie was aware that most stations weren't doing enough to build their brands through the internet, which was where the idea for The Radio Fam began. It didn't come to fruition until 2017, but thankfully for Marie (and unfortunately for the rest of the industry), most radio stations were still just as behind then as they were 8 years before.Nowadays, it's a place for people to connect with one another, and in their own words from TheRadioFam.com, it's "a resource for those that are looking to the future of radio," which is no doubt something more people in the radio business need to do.In this episode, Marie tells us about her lifelong passion for radio, from growing up listening to the stations in and around Seattle, to volunteering for their street teams in her free time, and eventually landing proper paid roles in marketing and promotions. She also talks to us about her eventual shift to podcasting, and goes deeper on what inspired her to start The Radio Fam.If you like what you hear from Marie in this episode, you should definitely check out The Radio Fam on YouTube, as well as dropping them a follow on all the usual social media, which can be found at the bottom of their website.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.NLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.A Transcript of the episode is available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dave Beasing: Sound That Brands
Feb 22 2023
Dave Beasing: Sound That Brands
This week's guest is Dave Beasing. Dave is the CEO of Sound That BRANDS, an audio production and consultation company with a focus on creating brand-affiliated podcasts.We talk with Dave about his career in media branding, the philosophy behind Sound That BRANDS, and what makes a good branded podcast compared to a lazy one. Of course, we also dig into all the services the company offers, such as free consultation, full documentaries, and the big one: end-to-end production. Sound That BRANDS will help establish a branding strategy, find you guests, and handle writing, editing, sound design and distribution. They're the full package, and Dave unpacks it with us in this episode.They also have a blog to keep you up-to-date on all the biggest and freshest branded podcast news. Even if you're an independent podcaster, or just someone who's interested in the industry, it's still a great read- and totally free! Check it out here.If you'd like to work with Dave and the team at Sound That BRANDS, visit their website here. You can also connect with Dave on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.A Transcript of the episode is available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dean Blundell: Crier Media
Feb 6 2023
Dean Blundell: Crier Media
This week we're joined by Dean Blundell to talk about his newest venture: Crier Media. It's the best way to find all the blog and podcast content you love from Dean's network, all in one place, but it's also a lot more than that. It's a cooperative of podcasters, writers, bloggers, and all kinds of folks from the radio industry who got sick of seeing big radio companies prioritize the wrong things. The Sound Off Media Company partnered with Dean a few years ago and manage the podcast side of their business and collaborate on marketing.Crier Media wants to shift the focus back to the talent, and give them a springboard to do whatever they want with their own content. We talk with Dean about why he started Crier, as well as how it ties into his storied and controversial history with radio and his podcast. He calls it being a responsible citizen- no guidelines for what can and can't be covered, no fear of taking risks because some corporate bigwig is afraid of losing profits, just digging as deep as you need to on stories that need to be told.This discussion inevitably leads us to talking about Caryma Sa'd, who works with Dean regularly and who we both agree is awesome. The best place to follow her is on Twitter, but you can also check out her website, carymarules.com. And hey, you can find her posts on Crier, too!And, of course, it wouldn't be a Sound Off Podcast episode with a former radio personality without copious discussion about the inevitable death of radio. But we're not just ragging on it needlessly- a lot of Dean's reasons for starting Crier are tightly tied into the problems radio is facing. From personalities taking the backseat to radio stations broadly sucking wind when it comes to transitioning to podcasts, we talk about all the things that made Dean sick enough to start his own place for the lost and forgotten souls of radio to feel at home again.It should go without saying that you should check out Crier Media, but that goes double if you're a broadcast industry vet looking to start doing your own thing. Head to their website, Crier.co, or shoot an email to info@crier.co and they'll see what they can do for you. You should also follow Dean in all the usual places: DeanBlundell.com, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Here is a transcription if you need one.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Paul Jacobs: What Happened at CES?
Jan 31 2023
Paul Jacobs: What Happened at CES?
Paul and Fred Jacobs start off every year by going to Consumer electronics Show in Las Vegas. It invigorates and really sets the table for the year. The show takes place the first week of January when many are still in their Christmas and New Year's stupor when many are unaware of what day it is.In this episode, I ask Paul about what he saw at CES and discuss the dash, AI, the future of AM radio, and the future of Public Radio. We also get into the three R's which include radio, retail and recession. Paul has a very steadfast answer for that third one and I can tell you based on what I have seen with travel and the number of houses being renovated on my street - he's right.Please take the time to check out this webinar from Jacobs Media about what Fred and Paul saw at CES. It'd one hour and 7 minutes and it is designed to show radio people where we may be headed in the future. It will cost you only your email address and you will be rewarded with a daily blog which is also useful.I also was unaware that Sheri Lynch went to CES for the first time and she is a truly forward thinking broadcaster and shared her thoughts about what she saw.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Here is a transcription if you need one. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Introducing: Takin' A Walk
Jan 19 2023
Introducing: Takin' A Walk
Buzz Knight should be a familiar name to anyone who's followed us for a while. He's been on the podcast twice before, and we've talked at length about his show, Takin' A Walk: Music History On Foot. This week, we're doing a full-on feed swap!If you're somehow unaware of Buzz and the concept behind Takin' A Walk, it's a show designed around the simple pleasure of a refreshing walk and a good conversation. Buzz speaks to music legends from different genres, hoping to catch them in their element by taking them for a walk around areas that mean something special to them. And he definitely succeeds! He's found that people tend to tell some really interesting stories (and have an easier time getting comfortable) when they're out getting fresh air in places they've made memories.Buzz is also a great example of something more podcasters should take advantage of: niche-ing down. We've talked about this concept on our episodes with Buzz and Evo Terra, but in summary, to "niche down" your show means to focus exclusively on a particular type of content. Sounds simple, right? And yet so many podcasts seem to be about everything. One episode they'll talk about their personal lives, the next episode they'll interview an athlete, then they'll talk politics, et cetera, et cetera, ad infinitum. If you've got a great personality, or an established fanbase, that can work fine. But let's be honest- most of us don't. By focusing on a particular niche, like music history in Buzz's case, and trimming the rest of the fat, you open the door to becoming the go-to show for anyone interested in that niche. It's worked quite well for Buzz, if you couldn't tell by looking at his guest list: Brian Johnson of AC/DC, Paula Abdul, and many more.If you want more music history goodness, check out Takin' A Walk wherever you get your podcasts, or head straight to the source at takinawalk.com.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - 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.
Randi Chase: Keeping it Real
Jan 3 2023
Randi Chase: Keeping it Real
Randi Chase is back for another round on the show. The last time we had her on in 2018, we talked about her adventures up and down the radio dial in 7 Canadian markets- she was certainly living a "WKRP in Cincinnati" lifestyle. She's remained at the same station since 2018, but a few changes have taken place. Firstly, she moved to Red Deer, and her morning show with Vinny Taylor is now simulcast across stations in the Stingray radio group. And yes, you can still find her doing mornings at Real Country 95.5.In this episode, Randi and I talk about how Alberta has changed since the first time we both moved there. We also explore the project she was working on with Sarah Edmondson, which is a name you might remember from the collection of stories about the NXIVM sex cult stories that came out of Albany, NY. If you want to hear more about that, check out Sarah's podcast, A Little Bit Culty. If you want to hear Randi live, but you're not local to the Red Deer area, you can still tune in on their website. You can also find Randi on Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn if you'd like to keep up with her.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.A transcription will be forthcoming.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Seventh Very Terry Christmas
Dec 25 2022
The Seventh Very Terry Christmas
It's that time of year again. Chestnuts are roasting on open fires, homes are lit up like the Las Vegas strip, presents are under trees, and I'm sitting down with my good friend Terry DiMonte for the 7th annual Very Terry Christmas.It's our favourite tradition, especially since we no longer live close enough to each other to go out for drinks together. Although if I'm honest, the theme of this episode is less Christmassy and more grumpy. What begins as nostalgia for the good old days- Christmas in Montreal, great food, great friends, and great radio- slowly turns into wondering what happened to all that great stuff. I don't know if age turns everyone into a Scrooge, but I think it's starting to have that effect on Terry and I. Especially when it comes to the food. We talk a lot about food. We even spend a bit of time talking about the weather. I know.But don't get the wrong idea, because there are still some incredibly funny and interesting stories tucked away in here. Guys with Terry's experience in broadcasting have no shortage of those. That's why I bring him back every year- well, that and the fact that he's one of the best friends I've got. And clearly age hasn't slowed him down too much, because he's still doing his annual discussions with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which you can listen to here.I hope you enjoy the seventh edition of A Very Terry Christmas, and from everyone here at the Soundoff Podcast Network, we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Click here for a transcript of this episodeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Rob Greenlee: No Podcast Predictions, Just A Look Forward
Dec 20 2022
Rob Greenlee: No Podcast Predictions, Just A Look Forward
Rob Greenlee returns to the show. He last appeared back in 2017 just after we did a panel on podcasting at the Conclave in Minneapolis. Rob is someone I hear from every week as he co-hosts the New Media Show with Todd Cochrane. So even though he has not appeared on this show I feel as though I he from him every week.Rob has a new position as SVP of Content and Partnerships. He had been with Libsyn the last three years and with Voxnest and Spreaker before that. The Podcasting Hall of Famer joins me to talk about many of the challenges podcasters are contemplating these days, including getting heads around a video strategy for their podcasts and Podcasting 2.0 which Rob and I tackle in the second half of the show. We also had an interesting discussion about the role podcasting can play when it comes to Live and local. Can Podcasting take that from radio?As of recently, Rob also made a departure from Podbean in favour of focusing more energy on being a full-time content creator. You can read his full statement in this Tweet.If you can't get enough of what we are talking about on the show - you can get a weekly delivery of this on the New Media Show where you can get a PhD in Podcasting.If you wanted to check out those podcasting tip sheets from YouTube, you can download them here.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Click here for a transcript of this episodeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dani Stover: It's Her coming Through the Speakers
Dec 13 2022
Dani Stover: It's Her coming Through the Speakers
The last time we had Dani Stover on the show, she was between opportunities and wondering what her relationship with radio should be shaped like. It turns out that she has answered that question and the answer is a new role in the evenings on 640 Toronto. Over the last while she has been producing alongside daytime host Kelly Cutrara and now Dani takes control of 7-10pm in the region on 640 Toronto, 900 CHML Hamilton and 980 CFPL in London.In this episode, Dani and I dive into what we expect to hear in the evenings in Toronto, why this position is the best one for her right now and what we can expect when she launches the new 640 Toronto Podcast in the coming weeks or months. We also dug into the silliness of social media and what constitutes the right amount of usage for her needs.Shoutout to Larry Gifford who is the lead of News/Talk content at Corus. His When Life gives You Parkinsons Podcast deserve your attention and I would like to personally thank him for inspiring me to do the Sound Off Podcast. His Radio Stuff podcast came before this one and encouraged me to start this. ~MattA thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Click here for a transcript of this episodeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bryn Griffiths: Over 100 Minutes of Stories
Dec 7 2022
Bryn Griffiths: Over 100 Minutes of Stories
If you've listened to sports radio in Alberta anytime in the last three decades, you probably know Bryn Griffiths. He's been positively prolific in covering the NHL and CFL teams in the area since the 90's- which is around when I met him.Bryn joins us from Edmonton this week to talk about his lifelong passion for sports and broadcasting, and fair warning, this episode is a big one. We begin by exploring why he got into radio, and my jealousy over the fact that different time zones allowed Bryn to catch Monday Night Football as a kid without staying up past his bedtime. We continue into stories about his career in radio, his favourite interviews, the usual sports talk, and of course, a long chat about the current state of sports radio (and radio in general).As you might expect from someone who's been the rockstar of Albertan sports radio for the last 30-odd years, Bryn also drops a metric ton of broadcasting wisdom throughout this episode. From how to tell a story, to what makes certain radio and TV shows feel special, and much, much more. Quite honestly, this is a tricky one to summarize, because we just talk about so much- but it's all worth hearing, I promise. Bryn is an endless font of wisdom for any aspiring radio star.If you don't believe me, listen to the kind words of "The Wiz" and two-time guest on this podcast, Marty Forbes:"We built something that I think the industry needs, and that is what we call one stop podcasting. And what I hear from everybody is, 'Geez, I really would like to do one of these things. I don't have the time and I don't have the wherewithal,' but they have the knowledge... Well, Bryn has all the parts that you need, and all he needs is knowledge. So he's built... a complimentary service so that guys can use podcasting for pure commercial intent and backgrounding for their businesses. So he's very good at it... It's a neat template that's rather unique, and (he) has built this template to be really profitable and meaningful in his life, that he's now doing something he really enjoys. He's a great guy to talk to."Nowadays, Bryn is the Director of Podcast and Audio Production at Road 55, a production house in Edmonton that works with you every step of the way to help you create the best version of whatever content you want to make. If that sounds appealing, you can check out their website here.For another interesting little tidbit, check out this YouTube channel belonging to Mark Summers. He's saved all the air checks from a ton of Edmonton radio stations, and they're definitely a fun listen.If you'd like to keep up with Bryn, you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Click here for a transcript of this episodeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Wendy Mesley: Freedom 65
Nov 30 2022
Wendy Mesley: Freedom 65
If you're a Canadian audience member who's tuned in to a CBC News broadcast anytime in the last 20 or so years, this week's guest should look very familiar. We're joined by Wendy Mesley, the longtime Sunday host of CBC's The National, among several other shows in CBC's repertoire.In this episode, you will hear about Wendy's early years as a reporter at CFCF in Montreal, her time in radio in Toronto, and her years at the CBC. Wendy officially retired from the CBC in July 2021, but she hasn't been sitting idly by since then. She's currently hosting a wildly successful podcast, Women of Ill Repute, with her good friend and fellow CBC alum Maureen Holloway. In its first week, the show hit #1 on Apple Podcasts in Canada- and it just so happens to be produced by our network. If you haven't yet, you can give it a listen here.Of course, Wendy shares lots of details about the podcast and how it's come together over the past few months, but we also talk about her time in radio and TV news- specifically the way the landscape of journalism has changed in the 40 years she's been doing it. And for those of you familiar with Wendy, yes, we do touch on a certain controversy you might have heard about when she left the CBC.For more of Wendy, check out Women Of Ill Repute on the Soundoff Podcast Network, give her a follow on Twitter, or check out her weekly newsletter on Substack.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Click here for a transcript of this episodeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
David Phillips: The Thing is Not The Thing
Nov 22 2022
David Phillips: The Thing is Not The Thing
NLogic has been a supporter of our podcast since 2017. In that time, we've had NLogic's President and COO David Phillips on the show to discuss the radio industry's relationship with audience data. In the current day and age, we have more audience data than ever before, and often we can't see what is relevant in the moment. I saw David at a panel at Canadian Music Week not too long ago, and had some questions I needed to ask him. That, paired with the fact that he's leaving NLogic in the next few weeks, meant I just had to get him back for another chat.In this episode, we speak to David about how he manages to take in all that data, and what the evaluation process looks like. We also talk about what radio stations can do to enhance their monetization opportunities, since it's become a bit of a trend that radio companies don't want to innovate. Listener be warned: this chat gets very technical, so hopefully you're a radio nerd like us.The other aspect we explore is television- what's the business model of the future? Is it subscription/streaming services? Is it completely free? And most importantly for us, how does that play into potential business strategies for radio? The two might seem unrelated, but I promise they're more closely intertwined than you might think.If you want to connect with David, or hear more of his thoughts, you can drop him a follow on LinkedIn.A thanks to the people who support the show each week and allow it arrive on your phones for free.Matt Fogarty VoiceoversNLogic: TV & radio advertising and audience data solutionsMegatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.Click here for a transcript of this episodeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.