The Sound Off Podcast

Romina Hakim is the owner of Red Lips Media. She is one of those creators who scores a hattrick in audio creation as her work extends from radio, to voiceover and to podcasting. We talked all three with the Argentinian, from successful radio host and podcast coach to her voiceover work as a Spanish voice for big brands. She highlights her move from Argentina to Barcelona, where she faced challenges adapting to the Castilia...

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dave Sturgeon, a true veteran of the radio industry. With over 40 years of experience, Dave shared his journey from starting on-air in small-town Ontario to managing stations across North America and eventually running his own agency. We discussed his unique path—transitioning from rock radio to talk, then into sales and management, and finally agency ownership. Dave offered candid insig...

For the last month we have been surveying listeners to the show.. and anyone else who clicked on our links. In all, the feedback was largely positive; as I expect it would be when you are asking high users of the product. Overall, we learned that a lot of our audience does not listen to every episode. We kind of knew that because of how different the audiences are between broadcast and podcast. We also found that you like ...

It was announced at Podcast Movement last year that Paul Riismandel would be taking over as President of Signal Hill Insights and Jeff Vidler would be stepping back from day-to-day duties, and segueing towards retirement. The same way a musician never stops being a musician, and a writer never stops being a writer; researchers may stop doing working for research companies, but their minds never stop asking questions. I've ...

Norma Jean Belenky is the host of the Podbiz, and we didn't get a chance to finish our conversation we started at the Podcast Show in London - so we did so on a podcast. We also didn't have time to talk about everything in London, given her experience living in seven countries. Ideally all of her pod-merch should have "Where's the Money?" emblazoned on every t-shirt and mug; it is the question everyone asks.

We explored her...

Paul Ferguson, VP of Programming and Operations at Starboard Communications in Belleville, Ontario discusses radio in a very unique market. Belleville is free from corporate ownership. Paul and I talk about how they keep radio relevant by focusing on local content, like the “Good News in Quinte” newsletter and a robust news website that keeps listeners informed and engaged. We discuss the challenges of adapting to new radi...

Gordon Firemark is the podcast lawyer. I first had a chance to meet him at Podcast Movement in the late 10's. In 2022 I might have had a few cocktails when I asked him about hoe to manoeuvre cross-broder conflicts between podcasters. In this episode I ask the rest of the questions I had.

We discuss the importance of clear agreements between co-hosts and why you need a guest release forms. We then tackle the complexities of ...

Rachel Gilbert and I connected over microphones to discuss her perpetual reinvention in the world of audio.

We reminisced about her early days at Fanshawe College, her leap into radio, and the magic that made the Dave and Rachel Show such a staple for so many years. Hearing Rachel describe the camaraderie, the hustle, and even the heartbreak of industry layoffs is a tale told all too often. Her honesty about the challenges—...

I reconnect with Alix Michaels, tracing her journey from Winnipeg’s radio scene in the early 90s to her adventures across the US and back home again. We reminisce about the Winnipeg Radio Reunion, the unique energy of the city’s broadcast community, and the memorable personalities who shaped our careers. Alix shares candid stories about breaking into radio, working overnight shifts in the early 90's at 92 CITI-FM, and the ...

Jen Moss and Roger Nairn, co-founders of Jar Audio, a company that rebranded as Jar Podcast Solutions in July 2025. They are a Vancouver-based podcast company specializing in branded content. Jen and Roger discuss their backgrounds in radio and advertising, and how those experiences shaped their approach to podcasting for brands and nonprofits. The conversation explores the challenges of making branded podcasts that are au...

This week’s episode marks nine years of the Sound Off Podcast, and it’s a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come—and where we’re going. From upgrading our sound and socials, bringing on sponsors, to adding video in a world that now scrolls for connection, our show has evolved alongside the media landscape.

In this episode, I dig into what’s broken in radio: a system that stretches talent like Stretch Armstrong—asking for m...

I've known Neil Veglio from his ongoing posts on LinkedIn, but I thought it would be fun to just say hello in a line up at the Podcast Show in London last month. Neal is the founder of PodKnows, a podcast production and coaching company out of the UK. He agreed to come on the show to share his journey from radio to podcasting, and why it is important to create value-driven content rather than focusing solely on monetizatio...

What is a podcast in 2025? We called in Rob Greenlee to provide insights into the evolving landscape of podcasting, focusing on the rise of video podcasting. He discusses how platforms like YouTube and Spotify are reshaping the industry, challenging traditional RSS-based distribution. We tried to land on the definition of a podcast, emphasizing content over distribution method.

We talked metrics, monetization, and content c...

I get back together with Terry Evans, the morning host at Edmonton's K97, to discuss life family and his new podcast Reluctantly. I warn you, we don't spend a ton of time talking about radio; more about radio life and family. Terry shares insights into his family's remarkable achievements: his son Riley, a drummer who has played at major international venues like Lollapalooza and Coachella, and his daughter Katie, who was ...

Steve Jones is the president of Stingray Radio. If you have been following him on Linked In, (and you should) you have been presented with many wild examples of what qualifies as Canadian content on the radio. We all have our favourites. Mine are the collection of songs circa 1991 like Rod Stewart's Rhythm of my Heart and Bonnie Riatt's Something to Talk About qualifying as Cancon, while the entire album of Bryan Adams' Wa...

It's been 8 and a half years since Fred has been on the show. He's not being ignored. I see him every year on various trips to Toronto. This year, I missed my spring trip so I thought we'd just record our usual call. We talked about Fred shares his transition from mornings at Edge 102 to afternoons at Q107, discussing the challenges of radio, mental health, and other crazy industry transitions. He reflects on mentors like ...

Michael Osborne is the co-host of the podcast Famous and Gravy - a podcast that explores the lives of deceased celebrities, going beyond typical obituaries to uncover lesser-known aspects of their stories. Co-created with Ahmed Kapoor during the COVID-19 lockdown, the podcast aims to understand celebrities as symbolic representations of societal dreams and fears. As the bio says on their website, they are "close friends an...

Valerie Geller is back with an updated edition of Beyond Powerful Radio, a must-have guide for today’s audio communicators navigating podcasting, social media, storytelling, and AI. Six years in the making, the book will continue to act as a companion for any content creator.

Staying true to her core principles—tell the truth, never be boring, and make it matter—Valerie urges content creators to focus on authenticity, liste...

Jordan Blair first fell in love with the storytelling in podcasts. Then she started a bedtime story podcast called Dreamful Bedtime Stories; initially for her children, but unexpectedly evolving to attract a diverse audience of adults seeking relaxing content. Her podcasting journey involved extensive research like listener surveya and using Buzzsprout's resources and community. She experimented with monetization strategie...