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We last had JC Douglas on our show 9 years ago when I got the full run down of his career highlights. JC Douglas announced his retirement on Facebook in May 2026, reflecting on his 40-year tenure at Q104, his morning run at C100, and in-between time at 89.9 The Wave. Here is JC's announcement on Facebook. He discussed the success of Q104 and C100, attributing it to loyal audiences and long-tenured talent. Douglas highlighted his pivotal moments, including interviewing Paul McCartney and covering the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting. What's Follows after JC Douglas Rocked the Atlantic? He plans to archive his extensive media collection and spend more time with his four-year-old son. Douglas emphasized the importance of radio's human connection and the impact of social media on community engagement. If you are interested in hearing more about his career up to 2016, you can listen below: And in that episode he talks about the time he brought so Big Ass Clams to David Letterman and they made more than one appearance on the show: And the recording of our episode. As usual I am only putting this here because it's great for SEO. It's at the bottom because you can choose to sit through 56 minutes of this - or get a nice refined audio version everywhere you get your podcasts. But do Hit Subscribe to my YouTube Channel. How's thay for mixed messages?

Jen Austin is the founder of Riply Media. We talked about how AI can actually strengthen local news rather than replace journalists. Jen walks me through her journey from a shy high school student in rural Nebraska to working at iconic stations like KZKX, later producing for The Dorsey Gang in Dallas, and reporting news on 9/11 with support from the CBS News network. We talk about the long, slow decline of newsrooms—layoffs, shrinking staffs, and the closure of CBS News Radio—while the public’s need for credible local information has only grown. This is what led to the creation of Riply, an AI-assisted production tool that scans trusted local sources, assembles hyper-local scripts, and frees up journalists to focus on reporting, interviews, and creativity. Jen explains how Riply is carefully constrained to avoid hallucinations, keeps sourcing transparent, and always leaves a human editor at the final gate. Your newsroom isn't AI, but there is AI in the newsroom. We also look ahead to RSS distribution, potential video, and global expansion into markets like Canada. (If your newsroom currently has zero people in it - Riply is not for you or your station) You can connect with Jen here on LinkedIn.

Rhys Waters spent over a decade making award‑winning TV and radio for the BBC in Wales before moving to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in search of a better work–life balance. In this episode, Rhys traces his path from a neurodivergent kid who struggled in traditional classrooms to a documentary filmmaker, broadcaster and eventually co‑founder of Podstarter, a podcast production company helping brands make shows with highly specific goals. Rhys explains how one client’s podcast needed only 12 listeners—and still generated over $5 million in revenue—illustrating why success isn’t always about download numbers. He talks about learning podcasting through BBC radio, the explosive growth of on‑demand audio, and the evolving role of video and short‑form clips in discovery. Rhys also dives into how his dyslexic, ADHD brain shapes his creative process and why he launched The Echo Podcast Summit, an East Coast podcast conference focused on themes like trust and community in audio. The Echo Podsummit is June 18 Towards the end of the show - we talked about the upcoming Echo Podsummit in Halifax is quickly becoming one of the most important gatherings in Canadian podcasting. Created and organized by Rhys Waters, the event brings together creators, industry leaders, brands, and media thinkers for conversations about where podcasting is headed next. This year’s summit is centered around the theme of community — exploring how podcasts build loyal audiences across audio, video, social media, newsletters, live events, and beyond. Hosted in Halifax on June 18, Echo has carved out a unique identity by focusing not just on podcast growth and monetization, but on trust, connection, and the evolving role podcasters play in modern media. Attendees can expect panels, workshops, networking opportunities, and discussions featuring some of the most influential voices in Canadian podcasting. As the industry continues to evolve, Echo Podsummit is positioning Atlantic Canada as an increasingly important hub for the future of audio storytelling and creator-driven media. You are forewarned that Matt Cundill will be there.

This week, I’m celebrating the 500th episode of the Sound Off Podcast by turning the spotlight on why so many shows underperform—and what you can do about it. Truths & Myths in Podcasting After nearly 10 years and 500 episodes, I’ve seen the same mistakes again and again, so I break down 10 big ones: blaming a vague “discovery problem” instead of doing the work of promotion, skipping a proper trailer, tolerating shit audio and lazy editing, and relying on weak interview structures that don’t respect the listener’s time. I also get into overlooked essentials like artwork that actually stands out, using metadata wisely, putting your show everywhere listeners expect podcasts, and not obsessing over video at the expense of audio. Finally, I tackle the myth that you need 10,000 downloads to monetize—reminding you that you don’t monetize a podcast, you monetize an audience. Thank You No one gets to 500 Episodes with out a little help from their friends. If I left you out, I apologize. I might have had a cocktail when writing this. The people who work on this every week including producer Evan Surminski (Who has been on board since episdoe 4), Aidan Glassey, Mary Trazie Paulo, editor Taylor MacLean, and Santiago Bedoya. The people who have worked on it in the past including Courtney Krebsbach, Lauren Siddall, Kendra Magnus, and Chloe Emond-Lane. Also Shawn Smith and Connie Thiessan from Broadcast Dialogue for their unwavering support. Jeff Vidler, the late Todd Cochrane, Rob Greenlee and the late Greg Simpson for including me in their events. Sarah Burke, at the Women In Media Network The organizations who have supported the podcast over the years including Rocco from Promosuite, Anya and Sue at NLogic, Ileana and Ron from Megatrax, and Christian at Podder. I made mention of Fred Jacobs from Jacobs Media Strategies and his released their TechSurvey for 2026 and I took a picture of the slide I liked the most. Do not waste an opportunity to make your Metadata matter. Your listeners care. Here is the Full Techsurvey event. And yes - some people like video - but all this is - is a audiogram with a bouncy line. This is a listening experience.

Kattie Laur is one of the most insightful voices in the Canadian podcasting landscape today. As a producer, audience growth specialist, and creator of the Pod the North newsletter, she sits at the intersection of content creation and strategy. Her work spans both the creative and analytical sides of podcasting—helping shows not only sound great, but actually reach and grow their audiences. Known for her candid takes and deep industry knowledge, Kattie brings a unique perspective on what’s working—and what’s not—in Canadian podcasting. In this episode, she joins us to unpack the real challenges facing the industry and explore practical solutions. This conversation explores the role of organizations like the CBC, the hesitation of brands to sponsor podcasts, and the importance of balancing production with audience growth strategies. Kattie also highlights that success shouldn’t be measured by downloads alone, but by listener engagement and consumption. We dive into discoverability, noting that it’s often less about platform limitations and more about strong podcast packaging and promotion. The rise of video podcasting is also discussed, including its higher costs and impact on creators. This episode doesn’t just diagnose the challenges—it offers a roadmap. Canadian podcasting isn’t lacking talent or ideas. What it lacks is: Funding Infrastructure Strategic alignment between creators, platforms, and brands Kattie makes it clear: The potential is there—but unlocking it requires intention, investment, and collaboration. _____________________________________________________________________________ Kattie has a very good newsletter worth paying for called Pod The North. And here is our video of the episode:

TrueFans.fm  founder Sam Sethi is forward thinking about podcasting. Sam explains how True Fans grew out of the podcasting 2.0 movement into a full creator marketplace where podcasters can host audio and video, build real fan communities, and earn through value-for-value models, including micro payments, subscriptions, and one-off episode payments. Sam Sethi walks me through how True Fans removes friction for listeners with a built-in virtual wallet, gamified SATs, and simple top-ups using Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, while handling all the complex bits in the background. On the hosting side, we dig into why downloads are a broken metric and how True Fans uses streaming and six-second packets to deliver rich consumption analytics. Sam also previews what’s coming next: live streaming, co-listening, chat, creator portals, custom domains, and AI/voice interfaces that aim to give creators more control than Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. Whether you are a creator or a podcast listener, please get involved with TrueFans.fm You can hear Sam on the Podnews Weekly Review with James Cridland. Speaking of James - it's time to fill out the Podnews Report Card - James is really good about sharing the results with some of podcasting's Big Dogs. And video is a thing when it comes Truefans.fm and video - so here is our video of the epiosde. We will do our best to get it into TrueFans.fm so we can check out our numbers.

I reconnect with multi-hyphenate broadcaster, singer, actor, and live selling expert Dawn Chubai. We start in Edmonton, where she talks about growing up, singing in backyard concerts, finding her way into PR straight out of high school, and then accidentally falling into broadcasting through her music. Dawn shares stories from her days at A-Channel/Citytv, including doing weather and traffic, musical performances, and the energy of those street-facing Jasper Avenue studios—plus a surprise visit from Paul Stanley of KISS. We follow her move to Vancouver, where she became a main host on Breakfast Television, and later to Toronto for a hugely successful run on The Shopping Channel, helping sell hundreds of millions in product. Dawn explains how that experience led to her current venture, Live Selling School, where she now teaches founders and brands how to sell confidently and authentically on live video. Here is one of Dawn's earliest TV Appearances on A-Channel in Edmonton in the later 90's. The broadcast people around her knew that they could teach her everything except how to be a personality. Towards the end of the show, Dawn shares some of the vinyl selections near her turntable. Here are the records she shared: Richie Kotzen - Nomad Keith Richards - Talk is Cheap The 1975 - Being Funny In A Foreign Language Connect with her to Bring Your Brand To Live! Here is the video recording of our conversation - the audio experience is infinitely better.

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 apartment hallway with a tape recorder, discovering the magic of hearing his own voice and the “theatre of the mind.” From there, we follow him through overnight shifts at a country station in Ajax, legendary radio pranks, and a tour of Ontario broadcasting stops that eventually leads to a high‑profile TV role in Edmonton at ITV. I don't know what it is, but PR people come with all the tools and instincts to connect podcasts to audiences. This is what makes Doug’s story especially relevant today is his pivot out of broadcasting into corporate storytelling and communications and PR. He explains how learning to think in terms of stakeholders, key messages, and outcomes reshaped the way he approaches content. That experience ultimately fed directly into his own show, Stories and Strategies, a podcast aimed squarely at PR professionals. Storytelling and Strategy Tips for Brands: Why ums and ahs can actually help audience comprehension. The importance of a clear premise and niche instead of chasing Joe Rogan‑level mass appeal. How to think about video and YouTube as discovery tools rather than the main event. Practical ways to use consumption metrics from Apple, Spotify, and YouTube to improve your show. Why taking a break from publishing over the holidays might be the worst move you can make. If you care about podcasting, PR, or just smart communication, this episode is packed with ideas you can act on immediately.

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 ever wanted to make a living from your podcast, this is the episode for you. Todd goes into every detail that allowed him to build the 10-year legacy he has today: Starting strong with a ready-made website and music focused content The slow build to monetization through long-term local sponsors and a few big clients His strategies for maintaining professional relationships His constantly evolving social and video strategy The digital tools he uses to simplify the nightmarish challenge of keeping your content on schedule Even with 10-15 years of prior radio experience, he calls The Toddcast the highlight of his career. People with a passion and drive like Todd's are what makes this industry go 'round, and if you've got that same passion, Todd is the perfect guy to show you where to direct it. Into the Toddverse If you want to keep up with Todd, you should definitely check out that stellar website of his, which he regularly updates with fresh blog posts covering news from both music and the wider media sphere. Oh, and would you look at that- it also features every episode of The Toddcast right there on the homepage. If you're hoping to follow in Todd's footsteps, give it a read and a listen (especially if you're into music) to see firsthand how he puts all his wisdom from this episode into practice. It'll leave you feeling inspired - or at least give you a damn good show to listen to.

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 like Spotify and YouTube, sharing personal and second-hand stories of lost control and opaque platform decisions. Podcast Preservation and Proliferation We speak quite a bit about one of Tony's most important personal projects, the  Nigerian Podcast Index . Built by Tony and other Nigerian industry veterans, it's an independent public directory designed to document, preserve, and make discoverable every independent podcast created in Nigeria or by Nigerians. It's a fantastic tool created to fill a critical gap in data, discovery, and monetization for African podcasters, while navigating tough challenges like language barriers, infrastructure limits, and payment restrictions. Just a quick scroll through their homepage should show you what an incredible undertaking this project really is. More Tony For Your Feed - Into The Podverse If you want to hear more from Tony (and why wouldn't you?) he's got two shows of his own that are both well worth your time. Football fans may want to dig into his long-running Arsenal fan podcast, Up Gunners! , for some insight into why folks continue to support a team that struggles as much as Arsenal historically has. I'm sure Leafs fans can relate. On the flipside, Sound Off fans and pod-heads might particularly enjoy Into the Podverse , Tony's show about the innovation, challenges, and opportunities shaping African and global podcasting. If it piques your interest, make sure you also subscribe to the newsletter on Substack.