EPISODES

I reconnect with Doug Downs, whose career has criss-crossed radio, television, corporate communications, and now podcasting in a way that feels almost tailor‑made for the medium. In the 90's we worked in Edmonton and grew very familar with one another's work in traditional media. Today I learn about his trek into the world of podcasting. Doug takes me back to the time before we knew one antoher - to being a three‑year‑old kid in Scarborough, Ontario, running up and down an a

After nearly 10 years, Todd Hancock is back. As only a select few may remember, Todd's last Sound Off appearance was on our second-ever episode. At the time, he had just been let go by CFOX in Vancouver and was in the process of launching The Toddcast , his own podcast endeavor. With a great website and some excellent audio, there's no doubt he had about as strong of a start as one can possibly have... And now, a decade later, we're both still here. Build-A-Brand If you've ev

Let's go to Lagos! Tony Doe is one of the most thoughtful voices in Nigeria, and he's here to provide some excellent insights into the past, present and future of podcasting. As a former Nigerian radio broadcaster turned podcaster, Tony reflects on the lost intimacy of radio as studios chase visual appeal and social media reactions, and explains why he rejects the idea that video is the “next phase” of podcasting. He warns creators about building shows inside walled gardens l

Back in 2006, the first time I met Andrea, she was just finishing up her tenure working promotions for Power 97 in Winnipeg. Little did I know just how far she'd go. Over the following 14 years, Andrea made herself into a prominent radio figure in Winnipeg, Montreal and Toronto. She spent time on air at major stations like Curve 94.3 in Winnipeg, Virgin Radio, CTV, and iHeartRadio, all the way up until 2018 when she was laid off (as is the case for many radio employees). But

If you’ve ever wondered what actually  goes into making a podcast sound polished and professional, this episode delivers a candid look at both the craft and the business of editing. Bryan Entzminger’s path into podcasting began in 2014—but not before two years of hesitation. Like many creators, he wrestled with perfectionism before finally hitting publish. Inspired by John Lee Dumas and the tight, repeatable format of Entrepreneurs on Fire, Bryan leaned on his music backgroun

I reconnect with Buzz Knight to explore the evolution of Buzz’s podcasting journey and his growing audio network. Buzz traces the roots of his “Takin a Walk” podcast from its original in-person, outdoor concept—where he literally walked and talked with guests—through the practical challenges of weather and audio quality, to its current virtual format with a strong focus on music-centered storytelling. Leveraging his radio experience both on air and in programming, Buzz expla

Kristi Lee has quietly become one of the most trusted voices in true crime – and in this episode of the Sound Off Podcast, we dig into how and why. As the host of Canadian True Crime, Kristi has eclipsed **75 million downloads** over more than **200 episodes**, including milestone instalment **“Robert Picton – The Final Chapter”** for episode 200. Born in New Zealand, raised and educated in Australia, and now based in Toronto, Kristi’s path to podcasting wasn’t linear. A fam

When I first heard about “Julian on the Radio”, I knew the résumé: big markets, big stations, big moments. What I didn’t fully appreciate was just how much of that career was built on curiosity, risk, and a stubborn love for people. Julian takes me back to his start at Z104 in Washington, DC—the intern who never left the building, ran street stunts, answered phones, and was simply there the day the board op didn’t show up. From there, we trace his journey through Chicago’s B9

Brittany Grunig , whose journey through Canadian country radio perfectly illustrates why one should bel bullish on radio’s future. Brittany shares how growing up in small-town Nova Scotia, studying marketing at Holland College, and stumbling into a radio internship led to gigs at Ocean 100 , K-Rock , and CFCY , before a chance interview booking helped her leap to New Country 94 in Ottawa . We talk about her rapid evolution from on-air host to Music Director and eventually Re

Brion O'Brion is the radio in Lansing, Michigan on Power 96.5. A true veteran in urban and hip hop radio, Brion shared his radio story—from growing up in Virginia and spending time overseas, to discovering his love for radio with the legendary “Rap Attack” show on WRAP. We talked about the mentors who shaped his path, the competitive radio scenes in Orlando and St. Louis, and how setbacks taught him resilience and the importance of adaptability. Brion opened up about the chan

I am joined by my longtime friend and media personality Nat Lauzon. Nat does weekends on 92.5 The Beat in Montreal and shares her experience launching her new podcast called Feedbag. In an honest and lighthearted conversation, (Lighthearted because we talk about farts) Nat opens up about facing big life changes, including navigating midlife, finding creative freedom, and her recent health challenges with stage zero breast cancer. Nat is successful because she prepares for, an

Traci DeForge is the founder of Produce Your Podcast and co‑founder of the Podcast Professionals Association —and unpacks her journey from radio prodigy to podcast entrepreneur. Traci shares how rapid consolidation in radio, a burnout moment in 2004, and a leap into business strategy led her to launch a broadcast‑quality podcast in 2016 that grew into a full‑service production agency. She said so before the recording started but she is audio first. Audio remains powerful (th

Kendall Breitman is the community manager at Riverside.fm, and shares her journey from political journalism at Bloomberg and NBC to spearheading community management at Riverside, revealing how her passion for people and storytelling fuels her work. We got into the hurdles podcasters face—from choosing recording platforms to tackling complex workflows. Kendall highlights Riverside’s innovative approach, introducing tools like the CO Creator AI, which streamlines everything fr

For ten years now, I have saved the Christmas morning episode for my good friend Terry Dimonte. The 10th anniversary of gathering around the mic to talk about life, radio, and the small pleasures that keep us sane. Terry and I wandered through the evolution of podcasting—how it’s gone from niche experiment to a wonderully busy and democratic landscape where sound quality and human connection still cut through the noise. We talked about YouTube being the go-to discovery engine

Ivar Hamilton discusses the history and impact of CFNY, a Toronto radio station known for its free-form programming and support of new wave and punk music in the late 70's through to 1988.

Corey Dylan sheds light on the challenges and opportunities facing professionals over 40 looking to reinvent themselves. As Corey prepares to wrap up her radio career at Z90 in San Diego by the end of 2025, she's diving headfirst into full-time content creation. Her journey is a testament to resilience – having weathered multiple periods of unemployment, including a challenging two-and-a-half-year stretch between 2016 and 2019. What struck me most was her approach to staying

In a landmark media move, The Walrus has acquired Lead Podcasting, bringing together two powerhouses of Canadian journalism and podcast production. Led by Jennifer Hollett, The Walrus—a respected long-form journalism publication turned digital media organization—sees podcasting as a critical avenue for storytelling and audience engagement. Amanda Cupido, founder of Lead Podcasting, brings a team of skilled podcast producers with a strong journalistic background. The acquisiti

In an age of fragmented media consumption, tracking how Canadians watch content has become increasingly complex. Our latest episode reveals the fascinating world of media attribution through the eyes of Sue Haas from Nlogic. (And yes... attribution is fascinating... don't @me) Sue is currently holding the position of Chief Growth Officer at Numeris and explains the relationship between the two entities and why the relationship is going to solid for broadcasters. The launch of

Jennifer Moroz tells her story of what led her to creating Furball Confidential. Her career is a masterclass of storytelling, programming audio and working with talent.

Jessica Rhodes is the founder of Interview Connections and joins me to discuss the evolution of the podcast guest industry. The first time I heard about this side of the podcast business in 2016, I didn't even think it was a thing. Jessica emphasizes the importance of being a podcast guest for business owners to reach new audiences and explains the benefits of niche podcasts over large, broad ones. If you are unsure if you should start your own podcast, being a guest is a gre