Audio Academy

Audio producer Chris Gates shares lessons from decades spent crafting commercials, from the days of tape and physical carts through to today's digital production.

Chris talks about why great production starts before you hit record, how mic placement and real environments can transform a commercial, and why producers should always have a clear picture of what they want the listener to hear.

He also shares practical advice for young producers, the value of breaking the rules, the tools he relies on, and the Beyond Blue commercial that remains one of the pieces he's most proud of.

After more than 40 years in radio, Sean has learnt that great creative work comes down to preparation, honesty and knowing what makes you different.

In this episode of the Audio Academy, Sean reflects on a career that has taken him through more than 20 radio stations and now into his role as Content Director at Fresh 92.7. He shares how he develops young talent without micromanaging, why he believes creativity has to be effective, and how good preparation can help overcome creative blocks.

Sean also talks about giving honest feedback, the importance of finding your own “superpower”, and why radio has shifted away from the classic announcer voice towards more natural, authentic storytelling.

What makes a podcast worth coming back to?

Journalist and RMIT educator Stephanie Corsetti believes it's the three C's - Content, Chemistry and Consistency.

In this episode of Audio Academy, Steph shares what she’s learnt from a career spanning community radio, the ABC, SBS and education.

She explores the importance of consistency, chemistry and authentic content, why niche podcasts can build loyal audiences, and whether every podcast really needs video.

Steph also shares her advice for anyone thinking about starting a podcast, the value of practical experience, and why there’s still plenty of room to specialise in audio.

Eddie Bye has spent over 30 years working across radio, voiceover and commercial production, and in this episode of the Audio Academy he shares the lessons he's learnt along the way.

From building better voiceover demos and directing authentic performances to producing award-winning commercials and using AI as a creative production companion, Eddie offers practical advice for anyone looking to create commercial audio that connects with listeners.

Award-winning copywriter and voiceover Tam Heinjus believes the best radio commercials have one thing in common: they put the listener first.

In this episode of the Audio Academy, Tam shares the lessons she's learnt from more than two decades in commercial radio, from hearing the ad that inspired her to join the industry through to creating award-winning campaigns that rely on the power of theatre of the mind.

Along the way, she explains why silence can be one of the most effective creative tools, how to avoid falling into the trap of "ad speak", and why rewriting is where great copy really comes to life.

Whether you're writing commercials, recording voiceovers or looking to sharpen your creative thinking, this conversation is packed with practical advice on crafting audio that sounds more natural, connects with listeners and leaves a lasting impression.

Building a successful podcast takes more than great content. According to podcast producer Lize Ratliff, the shows that stand the test of time are those that create a genuine sense of community among their audiences.

In this episode of the Audio Academy, Lize shares her journey from Mamamia intern to podcast producer, reflects on the early days of Australian podcasting, and explains why community has become one of the biggest drivers of podcast growth. She also discusses the importance of production quality, why not every podcast needs to become a video pod, and how creators can make smarter decisions by focusing on the way their audience actually listens.

Whether you're launching your first podcast or looking to grow an existing one, this conversation is full of practical advice on creating shows people want to come back to.

In this episode of the Audio Academy, radio producer and voice actor Cass Aldridge shares what she's learnt from more than 25 years working in commercial radio. From building believable environments with subtle ambience to directing voiceovers and recording clean audio, Cass explains why getting the fundamentals right can make the biggest difference to the finished product.

She also talks about life as both a producer and a voice actor, and why experience has taught her that sometimes the simplest production choices have the greatest impact.

Whether you're producing commercials, recording voiceovers or just starting your career in audio, this conversation is packed with practical advice that will help you create audio people enjoy listening to.

For more than 30 years, Geoff Bickerton has been helping businesses create radio advertising that actually works. But after thousands of commercials, his philosophy has become remarkably simple:

Stop writing for the client and start writing for the customer.

In this episode of Audio Academy, Geoff shares why so many ads miss the mark - not because they're badly written, but because they're focused on the wrong audience. Rather than filling 30 seconds with everything a business wants to say, Geoff believes the best advertising starts by asking one question: What does the customer actually want to hear?

Throughout the conversation, Geoff explains why advertisers often talk about the wrong things, how to avoid turning commercials into shopping lists, and why the most effective campaigns focus on one person, one message and one clear outcome. He also shares practical advice on handling difficult briefs, working directly with clients, using humour effectively, and the simple writing principles that have guided his career.

The hard-sell announcer voiceovers that once dominated radio and television ads have gradually been replaced by something much more conversational. Today, audiences don't want to feel like they're being sold to - they want to feel like someone's talking directly to them.

After more than two decades behind the microphone, Anna has voiced everything from national ad campaigns to corporate narration and educational content. Along the way, she's seen trends come and go, technology transform the industry, and home studios become the norm.

We caught up with Anna to talk about what makes a voiceover sound authentic, how she approaches every script, the biggest mistakes new voice actors make, and why she believes human connection will always have a place - even in the age of AI.

If you've spent any time around radio advertising, podcast advertising, or commercial audio production, you've probably come across Ralph van Dijk.

As the founder of Eardrum, Ralph has spent more than three decades helping brands create audio that captures attention, changes behaviour, and drives results.

We sat down with Ralph to talk about listener psychology, copywriting, voice casting, sonic branding, and why so many audio ads are forgotten the moment they finish.