Brittany Grunig, whose journey through Canadian country radio perfectly illustrates why one should bel bullish on radio’s future. Brittany shares how growing up in small-town Nova Scotia, studying marketing at Holland College, and stumbling into a radio internship led to gigs at Ocean 100, K-Rock, and CFCY, before a chance interview booking helped her leap to New Country 94 in Ottawa.

We talk about her rapid evolution from on-air host to Music Director and eventually Regional Program Director at Bell, navigating competitive markets, the infamous hit/non-hit regulations in Ottawa, and how she used creativity, artist relationships, and a passion for Canadian country to build compelling stations and shows.

Brittany then explains why she moved on from corporate radio, how motherhood reshaped her priorities, and why she’s now energized by working with My Broadcast Corporation in Kingston. Her optimism about fiercely local, community-first radio will make you rethink what’s possible for the next 10 years of audio.

I mentioned during the show that I once had country superstar Meghan Patrick on a podcast. Did you know she is a leading member of the Buffalo Bills Mafia? 

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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

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

Brion O'Brion is the radio in Lansing, Michigan on Power 96.5. A true veteran in urban and hip hop radio, Brion shared his radio story—from growing up in Virginia and spending time overseas, to discovering his love for radio with the legendary “Rap Attack” show on WRAP. We talked about the mentors who shaped his path, the competitive radio scenes in Orlando and St. Louis, and how setbacks taught him resilience and the importance of adaptability.

Brion opened up about the changing landscape of radio, the impact of social media, and why connecting with audiences—both on air and online—is the key to radio's future as an influencer medium. (Yes I wrote that).He also gave candid advice to aspiring radio personalities while reflecting on his own family’s legacy of perseverance. Brion’s passion and honesty remind me why I love doing this show, and how much I miss radio events like the Conclave.

Oh wait... did you know there is one more Conclave?

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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

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

I am joined by my longtime friend and media personality Nat Lauzon. Nat does weekends on 92.5 The Beat and shares her experience launching her new podcast called Feedbag. In an honest and lighthearted conversation, (Lighthearted because we talk about farts) Nat opens up about facing big life changes, including navigating midlife, finding creative freedom, and her recent health challenges with stage zero breast cancer.

Nat is successful because she prepares for, and embraces change, balancing personal and professional passions, and turning challenges into opportunities for growth. You will enjoy stories about building a podcast from the ground up, the importance of technical support, and the joy of sharing the mic with loved ones. With moments of humor, vulnerability, and practical advice, this 30 plus minutes with Nat is a solid must-listen for anyone interested in creativity, storytelling, and charting your own path, instead of having other people decide it for you.

Subscribe to Feedbag with Nat Lauzon 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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data Solutions

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

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

Traci DeForge is the founder of Produce Your Podcast and co‑founder of the Podcast Professionals Association—and unpacks her journey from radio prodigy to podcast entrepreneur. Traci shares how rapid consolidation in radio, a burnout moment in 2004, and a leap into business strategy led her to launch a broadcast‑quality podcast in 2016 that grew into a full‑service production agency. She said so before the recording started but she is audio first. Audio remains powerful (theater of the mind), video is useful for discovery but shouldn’t replace audio, and podcast SEO—especially detailed show descriptions—drives discoverability. Traci also stresses monetization through host‑led promotions, the value of guest appearances for visibility, and the legitimacy of archiving a show when its purpose has run its course. For podcasters seeking practical wins: update your show description, prioritize audio quality, and consider guest booking to amplify reach. Listen to the episode to the end and get all the excellent tips.

Twice in this episode we mentioned the late Todd Cochrane. I put together a highlight of some of the great things he said on this show - in an episode I titled One Last Listen.

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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data Solutions

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

Podderapp: Where podcasters can get access to their advanced data dashboard here.

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

Kendall Breitman is the Community Manager at Riverside.fm and discusses her transition from political journalism to podcasting, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and storytelling. She highlights Riverside's tools, including the CO-creator (nicknamed Coco) for marketing materials and Magic Audio for audio enhancement. Riverside's new hosting feature integrates recording, editing, and publishing, simplifying workflows. Kendall also mentions the potential for in-person recording and the benefits of live streaming on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. She stresses the importance of community support and ease of use in podcasting, aiming to make content creation more accessible for all.

If you would like to try out Riverside.fm - you can do so here and there may be a nice discount in there for you.

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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data Solutions

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

Podderapp: Where podcasters can get access to their advanced data dashboard here.

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

The annual Christmas Chat with my good friend Terry Dimonte. This is the first time we recorded this together. My wife and I recently bought a home in Quebec about 10 minutes away from Terry's place - so now we can record these together. There's no video of us as I still need to rework parts of the studio.

I made mention of a couple of articles from Fred Jacobs and Dave Beasing contrasting podcasting and radio... you can read those here. Also the episode regarding tourism was from a podcast called Forward Motion which I produce. The episode is 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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data Solutions

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

Podderapp: Where podcasters can get access to their advanced data dashboard here.

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

Ivar Hamilton discusses the history and impact of CFNY, a Toronto radio station known for its free-form programming and support of new wave and punk music in the late 70's through to 1988. Ivar explains the station's evolution, its early support of artists like U2 and The Cocteau Twins, and its eventual shift to a more commercial format in 1988. We also covered Ivar's career transition to Polygram and later Universal, his role in promoting acts, and the challenges of adapting to digital platforms. Additionally, Matt mentions the upcoming documentary on CFNY, featuring interviews with key figures and artists. Ivar also mentioned his involvement in various radio shows, including a guest spot on "The Edge Time Machine" and hosting alternative Christmas music shows on stations like NYTheSpirit and The Bridge..

The Sound Off Podcast Network has been assisting Ivar and Scot Turner launch their podcast, Music Milestones YYZ, which documents music history in Toronto. The podcast covers significant events, releases, and cultural references, often incorporating personal anecdotes from Ivar's 10 years at CFNY and 35 years at a major record label. Upcoming episodes will feature guests and discussions on notable musicians and events, such as the 45th anniversary of John Lennon's murder and the tours of Canadian classic rock bands in 2026.

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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data Solutions

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

Podderapp: Where podcasters can get access to their advanced data dashboard here.

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

Corey Dylan is in transition again. Back in 2019, we had her on the show to talk about the need to be resilient when looking for work. She was looking for work for two and a half years. The less resilient of us would have given up.

This time she returns to talk about her transition from radio to full-time content creation, with a focus on talking to the audience as if they were over 40. Corey shares her experience of being unemployed for 2.5 years and her strategies for staying relevant, including consistent content creation and leveraging LinkedIn. Corey, muuch like Jessica Rhodes a few weeks ago, underlines the importance of positive social media presence and the challenges of adapting to new platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Corey also highlights the role of AI in content creation and the need for high-quality audio and video equipment.

Of note - Corey has started a five part series called "Off Mic" that is running on Barrett Media detailing life off mic. 

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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data Solutions

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

Podderapp: Where podcasters can get access to their advanced data dashboard here.

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

In a media move that Matt Cundill describes as... "Yeah that makes sense", The Walrus has acquired Lead Podcasting, bringing together two powerhouses of Canadian journalism and podcast production. Led by Jennifer Hollett, The Walrus—a respected long-form journalism publication turned digital media organization—sees podcasting as a critical avenue for storytelling and audience engagement. Amanda Cupido, founder of Lead Podcasting, brings a team of skilled podcast producers with a strong journalistic background.

The acquisition represents more than a business transaction; it's a strategic alignment of values centered on fact-based storytelling and community connection. Both organizations share a commitment to high-quality, trustworthy content and see podcasting as an intimate medium for exploring ideas. The partnership will operate under The Walrus Lab, leveraging Lead Podcasting's production expertise to expand their podcast offerings while maintaining their core mission of sparking meaningful conversations about Canadian stories.

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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data Solutions

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

Podderapp: Where podcasters can get access to their advanced data dashboard here.

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

Sue Haas is back to share what she know about the evolution of media measurement, focusing on Nlogic's innovations and the launch of their cross-media national data set, VAM (Video Audience Measurement), which covers 95% of Canadian video platforms. Haas highlights the integration of first-party data from global streamers and ad tech companies, aiming to provide comprehensive video viewership insights. They also touch on the challenges of attributing viewership on platforms like TikTok and the importance of Canadian-specific data.

We also talked about the integration of TV data into the Audience Project by February 2026 and the relaunch of Echo Intelligence, a radio data service with expanded survey respondents.

And because it's topical and current - we got into some of the data surrounding the World Series.

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.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Nlogic - TV & Radio Audience Data Solutions

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

Podderapp: Where podcasters can get access to their advanced data dashboard here.

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