I am joined by veteran Canadian broadcaster Lynda Steele to trace her four-decade journey across TV, radio, and now podcasting. Lynda recalls growing up in Hinton, Alberta, having no clear career path, and how government-funded aptitude testing unexpectedly pointed her to broadcast journalism. She shares early newsroom stories from CKVU in Vancouver and ITV/Global Edmonton, including covering major events like the 1987 Edmonton tornado and the day Wayne Gretzky was traded, and reflects on how technology—or the lack of it—shaped coverage.

Lynda contrasts the cultures of Edmonton and Vancouver, talks candidly about transitioning to talk radio at CKNW, and the intense pressure of hosting a four-hour daily show while dealing with listener backlash, especially as a woman in a male-skewing talk format. She also unpacks declining trust in media, political polarization, and how Trump-era “fake news” rhetoric bled into Canada. Finally, Lynda discusses her current podcast Change My Mind, co-hosted with Melanie Nagy, where she leans into curiosity, vulnerability, and open-minded conversations that can genuinely shift perspectives.

You can find Lynda’s podcast by searching for Change My Mind here....

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Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bryan Barletta, founder of Sounds Profitable and president of Podcast Movement, shares what to expect at this year's event.

Bryan walks me through how Sounds Profitable has grown into a trade association focused on research, education, and connecting buyers and sellers in podcasting. We also dive into how the acquisition by Podcast Movement is transforming this year’s event in New York City—with a clear focus on making it easier for creators and advertisers to actually meet and do business.

What I love about Bryan’s approach is how intentional he is about breaking away from the old “hotel lobby bar” conference model. Instead, Podcast Movement is embracing New York as a real backdrop for networking, independent meetups, and meaningful conversations. Sessions from Podcast Movement are also being made free to watch, so attending in person is all about relationships and collaboration.

You can learn more, grab Podcast Movement tickets, and take part in session voting here.

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Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Justin Jackson grew up in Sherwood Park, Alberta, with an active radio in the house largely tuned to CBC or 630 CHED. Today he owns and operates Transistor.fm, a Canadian company that is one of the leading podcast hosting companies. We discussed the evolution of podcast hosting and where the industry is headed, and he shared how he and his partner bootstrapped the company starting in 2018 with $5,000 each, growing it into a profitable business without venture capital. He explains how observing creator behaviour—rather than relying on surveys—guided product decisions like offering multiple shows for one price and building private podcast features.

Things Bandied About:

• Why Transistor allows unlimited shows per subscription and how that model reflects actual podcaster behavior
• The role of RSS feeds in podcasting's future and why younger audiences don't inherently understand their value
• How video podcasts and HLS streaming fit into the RSS ecosystem without abandoning audio-first listeners
• Apple's demographic challenge in attracting Gen Z and Gen Alpha away from YouTube and Spotify
• Why content and format matter more than pristine audio quality, using Peter Mansbridge's "The Bridge" podcast as an example.

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Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jason Rockman, former frontman of Canadian nu-metal band Slaves on Dope and Montreal radio personality, discusses his music and broadcasting journey. He recounts forming the band in the early 1990s, winning the CHOM L’Esprit competition, recording independently, and relocating to Los Angeles where Sharon Osbourne offered a record deal and the group toured. Jason reflects on industry upheaval—from label mergers to Napster—and the shift toward streaming, vinyl resurgence, and merchandise revenue. He explains how radio shaped his desire to help bands, leading to a 14-year run at CHOM and later roles at CJAD and now The Beat 92.5, plus his podcast and comic‑con work.

He shares candid personal moments about getting sober in 1992 and maintaining recovery while touring. Anecdotes include championing The Tea Party, producing live in-studio band sessions, and embracing new formats despite initial skepticism. The episode blends music history, radio culture, personal resilience, and pop‑culture enthusiasm, highlighting Jason’s passion for supporting artists, adapting to change, and connecting with devoted communities like Comic‑Con attendees and Bills fans.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Cundill and Dan Misener discuss the launch of the Bumper Dashboard, which offers a unified view of podcast metrics across platforms like Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. The Dashboard includes a new metric, the Bumper score, which measures the gap between file delivery and actual playback, helping shows understand their ad engagement. The score ranges from 0 to 200, with 100 being the median. They also touch on the limitations of download metrics and the need for better data to serve creators and advertisers. The conversation highlights the importance of accurate audience verification and the potential for new business models based on better data.

Sign up at dashboard.wearebumper.com to try out the Bumper Dashboard yourself, and get some incredible insight into your podcast's growth and metrics. It's truly an awesome tool that every podcaster can benefit from.

Create a Bumper Dashboard account or start a trial.

Add your show inside the dashboard.

Connect the data sources Bumper requests:

Your podcast host (Captivate, Art19, Megaphone, Libsyn, etc.)

Apple Podcasts Connect

Spotify for Creators

YouTube Studio (if applicable)

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I invited Nails Mahoney to unpack what it really means to be a radio presenter/personality today. We talk about how the shift from DJ and announcer to “content creator” has forced many presenters to overthink and lose their natural talent, and why formal training for content creation is almost non‑existent. Nails explains how branding—narrowing yourself to three defining words—helps you stand out, and why fear of failure can be a useful motivator if you let it sharpen your work.

We discuss practical tactics: using honesty to engage audiences on unfamiliar topics like the World Cup, moving listeners to platforms you control, and building memorable moments that make you harder to replace. We also cover the Radio Star contest and how mentorship and one focused session can accelerate talent development. If you want concrete, underthought advice to own your sound, protect your career, and start creating work that matters, this episode is for you. Listen and take notes now.

Get airchecked here.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I welcome back Rob Greenlee for a discussion about how podcasting is changing under the weight of new media, big platforms, and AI. Rob and I talk about how the real battle lines are drawn around who controls distribution and audience, as companies like YouTube and Spotify push proprietary ecosystems while RSS still quietly powers most of my downloads.

We look back at the early days of video podcasting, why big media walked away from video in RSS, and how HLS video might reconnect audio and video so listeners can move seamlessly between car, phone, and TV.

Rob and I also dig into how AI is reshaping production—from tools like Descript that automate editing and repurposing, to the emerging world of AI hosts and cloned voices. Throughout, we keep coming back to what matters most in podcasting: trust, transparency, and being clear about how we use AI with our audiences.

For a complete summary about what Rob belives in the current status of podcasting - please check out his website.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anthony McNutt is one of the best when it comes to radio imaging. He gets it. He is a senior imaging producer at Stingray Radio, managing multiple brands including Q stations, K Rocks, and The Breeze across 5 time zones.We discussed what separates exceptional imaging from average work, the evolution of production styles, and how remote work has transformed the producer's role in modern radio. Including:

- Why voice talent versatility matters more than technical perfection

- How silence and restraint have replaced zips and zaps in contemporary imaging

- The organizational systems required to manage dozens of stations and voice actors

- Why authenticity has become essential for reaching younger audiences

- How the Nova Scotia shooting of 2020 and emotion shaped McNutt's approach to production after 2020

This episode offers practical insight for producers, voice actors, and radio professionals navigating the balance between creativity and efficiency in audio storytelling.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. 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)

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. 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 Next? 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.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.