The Podcaster's Guide to a Visible Voice

How can activating your beginner's mind help you facilitate an authentic podcast experience? For many podcast hosts, the draw of creating a show is two-fold: we are eager to engage with and educate our listeners on topics we're passionate about, and we look forward to the personal learning and professional development our interviews and solo episodes can foster.

Beth Cougler Blom is a facilitator, learning designer, and author crafting impactful learning experiences for organizations making a difference in the world. She also funnels her passion for transformational learning into her own podcast, Facilitating on Purpose. In this episode, she and Mary discuss the challenges, joys, and vast potential of kicking "Instagram Perfect" to the curb and creating an authentic podcast.

Explore how your podcast facilitates learning for yourself and your community:

• Facing down the fear of reaching out to potential guests
• The benefits of receiving (and giving) listener feedback
• Balancing vulnerability and professionalism in your episodes
• Prioritizing the pursuit of greater inclusivity on your podcast

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Fill out the 2024 Listener Survey - https://www.organizedsound.ca/offers/
• Episode 79, Making Accessibility Possible in Podcasting - https://www.organizedsound.ca/making-accessibility-possible-in-podcasting-with-joel-mckinnon-episode-79/
• SessionLab State of Facilitation 2024 Report - https://www.sessionlab.com/state-of-facilitation/
• Listen to "Facilitating on Purpose" - https://bcblearning.com/podcast/
• Mary's 12-week 1:1 Launch Experience program - https://www.organizedsound.ca/launch-a-podcast/

Engage with Beth:

• Read Beth's book "Design to Engage" - https://bcblearning.com/book/
• Connect on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethcouglerblom/
• Work with Beth - https://bcblearning.com/

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Get the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• Read up on more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions

Show Credits:

• Podcast audio design, engineering, and edited by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions
• Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.
• Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio
• Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA

How has being a podcaster changed how you listen? There are plenty of ways AI can make podcasters' lives easier, but there's one human ability Mary firmly believes AI will never be able to replicate (or at least not for a very long time): true listening. We humans have the incredible potential to distill the emotional impact underlying the words a person speaks. Artificial intelligence bots, on the other hand, can only record the words themselves and "react" with whatever follow-up is programmed into their databanks.

As podcasters, we learn to hear and listen differently than other people. We hone in on the nuances in our guests' voices, which enables us to strengthen that shared connection in our interviews. We also pick up on background sounds that wiggle in around our recorded words, affecting the quality of our episodes in a big way. So, when you're podcasting—what are you listening for?

Explore the emotional nuances of the human voice:

• The significant difference between listening and hearing
• What's behind the "zoom-quality sound" fatigue we all experience
• How deep and supportive listening can make you healthier

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Episode 77, Why We Need To Highlight Our Humanity In Podcasting with Erin Moon - https://www.organizedsound.ca/why-we-need-to-highlight-our-humanity-in-podcasting-with-erin-moon-episode-77/
• JAMA Network Open study "Association of Social Support With Brain Volume and Cognition" - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783042

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Get the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• Read up on more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions

Show Credits:

• Podcast audio design, engineering, and edited by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions
• Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.
• Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio
• Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA

How can we make sure your podcast is accessible to everyone? Everyone in the podcasting world is talking about accessibility these days, as more and more platforms release improved transcription services aimed at making the process easier for creators and meeting growing expectations around equitable access. Of course, AI tools are leading this charge, and simply publishing whatever that tool spits out—misspelled guest names, garbled industry terms, and all—just doesn't cut it.

Joel McKinnon is a podcaster and an accessibility engineer—the ideal expert to discuss the future of podcasting accessibility. The creator of two podcasts and a rock opera, Joel turns his expertise to exploring the future role of AI in all things podcasting and websites. He has an inspiring take on striking a balance between making the most of robot efficiency and maintaining that essential humanity.

Gaze off into the fantastic future of podcasting and explore:

• The quickly changing accessibility landscape of podcasting
• How to incorporate equitable access into every layer of your podcast
• How to efficiently and effectively manage the extensive podcast-creation workflow

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Listen to Joel's podcast, "Seldon Crisis" - https://www.seldoncrisis.net/
• Discover the "Planet and Sky" rock opera and podcast - https://www.planetandsky.com/
• Episode 78, "Podcast Transcripts and the Future of Accessible Audio" - https://www.organizedsound.ca/podcast-transcripts-and-the-future-of-accessible-audio-episode-78/
• Check out Joel's Fanfare transcription of this very episode! https://www.withfanfare.com/p/the-podcaster-s-guide-to-a-visible-voice/making-accessibility-possible-in-podcasting-with-joel-mckinnon

Engage with Joel:

• His company, "New Worlds Inclusive Design" - https://new-worlds.org/
• IndieWeb - https://indieweb.social/@seldoncrisis
• BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/seldoncrisis.bsky.social
• Seldon Crisis on X - https://twitter.com/SeldonCrisisPod

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Get the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• Read up on more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions

Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. https://www.artiodesignco.com

How can transcripts positively impact your podcast? Podcasts have always had an audio-first following, but as-is, audio isn't accessible for everyone. In the wake of Apple Podcasts' announcement to begin including transcripts with their latest update, it seems likely other platforms will begin to follow suit. This raises an important question for podcast creators: is it worth preparing transcripts for each of your episodes?

After two years of exploring transcripts for her and her clients' productions, Mary dives into their potential to transform both creator and listener experiences. You'll hear (or read!) about everything from SEO (search engine optimization) and AI to the proven benefits of many other accessibility initiatives. If you've been considering taking the leap and creating text alternatives for your episodes, or you want tips on fine-tuning your transcript process, add this episode to your queue.

Get a better grasp on how transcripts can impact your show:

• Why are platforms making the move to include transcripts?
• How can transcripts improve the podcast experience for both creators and listeners?
• What are the professionals doing to make sure their transcripts perform?

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Web Accessibility Laws and Policies - https://www.w3.org/WAI/policies/
• This American Life transcripts case study - https://www.3playmedia.com/why-3play/case-studies/this-american-life/
• T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Transcription Style Guide - https://www.laseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/OH-Transcription-Guidelines.pdf
• "2.5 Million Podcast Episodes Now Have Transcripts" - https://podstandards.org/2024/04/15/2-5-million-podcast-episodes-now-have-transcripts/
• Newsroom report: "Apple introduces transcripts for Apple Podcasts" - https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2024/03/apple-introduces-transcripts-for-apple-podcasts/

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions
• Learn more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• Learn more secrets and the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca

Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. https://www.artiodesignco.com

How do you bring your humanity to your podcast? Sharing your voice isn't always easy. Factor in the painstaking writing of your script or copy, all those edits and revisions, and some nerves about speaking into the mic, and even the most heartfelt story can wind up either flat and unemotional or encased in that "reporter voice" from the dawn of radio.

Unlock some podcasting inspiration through this conversation with Erin Moon, a classically trained actor who has narrated more than 450 audiobooks. To deliver the sincere and evocative narration for which she's known, Erin centers her humanity in every character she adopts, embracing both the muse that first inspired the author and the physical reactions—the literal human responses—the writing evokes. Because connecting to the text means connecting to the listener and, as Erin says, "we don't exist without each other."

Align your true self with Erin's thought-provoking insights:

• Why it's vital to bring your humanity even when you're reading off the page
• How to avoid "just reading" as a podcast host or audiobook narrator
• What the explosion of podcast popularity says about our need for connection
• What we risk losing if we let AI voice our stories and write our scripts

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Episode 76, "Audiobook Inspiration to Master Your Microphone" - https://www.organizedsound.ca/audiobook-inspiration-to-master-your-microphone-episode-76/
• Listen to "Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe: Four Weeks That Shaped a Pandemic", co-narrated by Erin - https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780735243019-be-kind-be-calm-be-safe
• This American Life with Ira Glass - https://www.thisamericanlife.org/
• "The Body Keeps The Score" by Bessel van der Kolk - https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score
• The Secret Life of Canada Podcast - https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/203-the-secret-life-of-canada

Engage with Erin:

• Erin's Website - https://www.erinmoonactor.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mooneybooks/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mooneybooks
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-moon/
• X - https://twitter.com/mooneybooks
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mooneybooks

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions
• Learn more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• Learn more secrets and the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca

Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. https://www.artiodesignco.com

What's the connection between audiobooks and podcasts? You already know the right tone and voice is essential for building a connection with your listeners. It just makes sense, then, that you can turn to different kinds of audio media for inspiration when looking to further hone your skills behind the mic. Take, for example, audiobooks.

Especially in the last year or so, the connection between audiobooks and podcasts has expanded beyond the shared audio medium. Platforms like Spotify are putting a lot of their chips on audiobooks, and podcasters need to start considering this angle more closely from a marketing perspective. Luckily, plenty of the takeaways Mary has gleaned over years of working in the biz of spoken audio apply to both podcast and audiobook narration, and in this episode, she's sharing her tips.

Uncover the secrets to speaking more engagingly no matter which spoken audio platform you use:

• The importance of nailing down your tone and style
• Why recording an audiobook isn't just "reading your own words"
• How to make your audio listeners feel as seen as your print audience
• Why you don't have to read your book word-for-word

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Audio Publishers Association Sales and Consumer Data - https://www.audiopub.org/surveys
• The ACX audio submission requirements - https://help.acx.com/s/article/acx-audio-submission-requirements
• Audible Audiobooks - https://www.audible.ca/
• The Libby App - https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby
• Libro.FM for Audiobooks - https://libro.fm/

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions
• Learn more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• Learn more secrets and the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca

Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. https://www.artiodesignco.com

How do you create the written content for your podcast? You've probably heard actors say that they can't bring themselves to watch their own films. As a podcast host, maybe you relate to the cringe factor that comes from listening to your episodes after you've recorded them, but if you've decided to write episode-accompanying blog posts and show notes yourself, you don't have that luxury—you have to tune back in. And if you don't consider yourself A Writer, this process can feel a bit overwhelming.

Shannon Kirk is the writer behind the blogs and show notes for the podcasts Mary produces. She shares what goes into crafting the written portion of a podcast episode. From engaging in active listening while taking notes to preserving the parts of speech that are essential to your authentic voice, she and Mary discuss professional writer tricks and tips to help you create captivating blogs and show notes that add a readable and search-friendly layer to your audio offerings.

Build confidence in your podcast's written components:

• Why you need to listen to your episodes from a listener's perspective
• The benefits of a set template and process to guide your posts
• Why you shouldn't edit the charming "you-isms" out of your written words
• How to hook your reader in your show notes

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Ologies Malacology (Snails & Slugs) episode - https://www.alieward.com/ologies/malacology

Connect with Shannon:

• Check out her website - https://www.shannonkirk.ca/
• Follow Shannon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-kirk-17429680/

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions
• Learn more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• Learn more secrets and the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca

Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. https://www.artiodesignco.com

How do you write for your podcast when you're "not a writer"? A lot of podcast hosts are drawn to the audio medium because they have always felt they can express themselves better and more easily through speaking than through writing. In this episode, Mary shares how a lackluster introduction to writing in her youth spurred her into radio—she wanted to speak instead of write! Then, she discovered that radio and podcasting still call for a fair bit of writing.

Facing that demon created the a-ha moment that led Mary to fine-tune a writing-for-speaking approach that works and doesn't leave you dreading every keystroke. Your podcast writing doesn't have to be clunky, like grammatically correct prose so often sounds when read aloud. If you use your awesome speaking skills to craft your written words, then the writing you need to do for audio projects can elevate your creation and enable you to speak with spirit.

Let Mary talk you through these podcast writing insights:

• Why using both sides of your brain results in your most authentic podcast writing
• How intentional brain dumps and organization can relieve that writing stress
• One word you should always use to captivate your target audience
• Why writing for your podcast is freeing rather than restricting

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions
• Learn more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• Learn more secrets and the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca

Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. https://www.artiodesignco.com

How does branding tie into your podcast? As a podcast host, figuring out how to communicate why your episodes are worth listening to is one of your most important tasks. Downloads are nice and all, but it's the strength of your brand—and really nailing down how you want your listener to feel—that encourages them to earmark some of their extremely valuable time for listening to your show. This is what truly sets you apart from the competition.

Dr. Brigitte Bojkowszky is a brand strategist and educator with more than 20 years of experience in her field, and she's also a podcast host herself! She joins Mary to chat all things branding, marketing, and the audio experience. They cover everything from what the potential podcaster needs to consider before pressing record to the importance of consistency and accessibility across every iteration of your brand voice.

Discover Brigitte's secret sauce for successful brand integration:

• Why knowing your values is essential to building your brand and your podcast
• When a podcast isn't the right move for your business
• What to ask yourself before you launch your show
• How the interplay between your podcast and AI is like music

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Download your Branding Starter Checklist

Engage with Brigitte:

• Brigitte's website - https://bridgetbrands.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/?originalSubdomain=at
• Brigitte's book Significant Women - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0927YG1FH
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BridgetBrands
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brigitte.bojkowszky
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/BridgetBrands
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions
• Learn more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• Learn more secrets and the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca

Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. https://www.artiodesignco.com

The 2024 podcasting season is gearing up to be an exciting one, with lots of changes on the horizon. New ventures like YouTube integration have raised this huge existential question—what is a podcast? And while this fresh take brings up questions of video components, RSS feeds, and more—at the end of the day, the road forward for podcasting is still paved with audio-first emotional connection.

In this episode, Mary ties her year-end 2023 values into the exciting future of this innovative medium, underscoring the power and necessity of remaining authentic and captivating as we use our voices to share our unique stories with the world.

Discover practical tips and the nuances of creating a captivating podcast:

• How video integration continues to blur the lines around podcasting
• The importance of uncovering the full potential of your heart voice
• Why you should embrace (and not edit out) the filler words you speak aloud

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Research: Sound You Can See: Podcasting's Video Dilemma - https://soundsprofitable.com/research/sound-you-can-see/
• Build your own Agendio agenda - http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com/offers
• YouTube integration: read step-by-step instructions to submit your RSS feed - https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/13973017
• YouTube integration: follow this video to submit your RSS feed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrb327agiDE&t=106s
• Mary's Sound Sorceresses article: Unleashing Your Authentic Voice in Podcasting - https://soundsorceresses.substack.com/p/magazine-414
• The Sound Sorceress substack - https://soundsorceresses.substack.com/
• Creators of standard voices and accents, "General American English" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_American_English#History_and_modern_definition
• Permission to Speak by Samara Bay - https://bookshop.org/p/books/permission-to-speak-how-to-change-what-power-sounds-like-starting-with-you-samara-bay/18485502
• Episode 63, Permission to Speak to Redefine the Sound of Power with Samara Bay - https://www.organizedsound.ca/permission-to-speak-to-redefine-the-sound-of-power-with-samara-bay-episode-63/
• Episode 18, Why Filler Words Like "Like" Are Powerful with Alexandra D'Arcy - https://www.organizedsound.ca/why-filler-words-like-like-are-powerful-with-alexandra-darcy-episode-18/

Connect with Mary!

• Leave a voicemail with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected]
• Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/
• Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions
• Learn more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter
• Learn more secrets and the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com
• To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca

Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. https://www.artiodesignco.com