The Sound Off Podcast is a weekly podcast about podcasting, radio, broadcasting, voiceover, and the people shaping the modern audio industry.
Hosted by veteran broadcaster and voice artist Matt Cundill, The Sound Off Podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of audio with in-depth conversations featuring podcast creators, radio professionals, producers, programmers, voiceover talent, media executives, and industry innovators. Drawing on decades of experience in radio and podcasting, Matt brings context, credibility, and curiosity to every episode.
Each episode explores the craft, business, and culture of audio, covering topics such as podcast growth, audience development, monetization, advertising, sponsorship, dynamic ad insertion, analytics, distribution platforms, audio branding, and emerging trends in on-demand audio. From legacy radio to independent podcasts and branded content, the show examines how audio continues to evolve — creatively, technologically, and commercially.
The Sound Off Podcast is known for thoughtful, candid interviews that go beyond surface-level talking points. Guests include radio legends, podcast pioneers, seasoned producers, voiceover artists, and leaders working across podcast networks, media companies, and technology platforms. Conversations focus on real-world experience: what works, what doesn’t, and what creators and companies need to understand to succeed in today’s audio landscape.
Whether you work in podcasting, radio, voiceover, broadcasting, or digital media — or you’re simply fascinated by how audio storytelling works — The Sound Off Podcast delivers insider perspectives, practical insights, and honest discussions about the future of sound.
With a balance of industry expertise and accessible conversation, The Sound Off Podcast is designed for professionals, creators, and listeners who want a deeper understanding of how audio connects audiences, builds brands, and drives culture.
New episodes are released weekly.
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After nearly 10 years, Todd Hancock is back. As only a select few may remember, Todd's last Sound Off appearance was on our second-ever episode. At the time, he had just been let go by CFOX in Vancouver, and was in the process of launching The Toddcast , his own podcast endeavor. With a great website and some excellent audio, there's no doubt he had about as strong of a start as one can possibly have... And now, a decade later, we're both still here. If you've ever wanted to make a living from y...
Nigerian podcaster Tony Doe shares insights on audio's unique intimacy, contrasting it with the pitfalls of video and proprietary platforms. He details the importance of open RSS feeds and warns creators about walled gardens like Spotify and YouTube that limit control. Tony also explains his mission with the Nigerian Podcast Index, an independent directory combating data scarcity, discovery issues, and monetization barriers for African podcasters.
I spoke with Andrea about her career in radio and her transition to voiceover. I met Andrea back in 2006 whe she was just fnishing up her tenure working promotions for Power 97 in Winnipeg. She went on to become a prominent figure in the Winnipeg and later Montreal and Toronto radio markets. She highlights her roles at Curve 94.3 (Remember that?) in Winnipeg, Virgin Radio, CTV, and iHeartRadio, and her shift to voiceover after being laid off in 2018. If you are going to listen to one valuable pa...
This week's episode is about the artisanship and business of podcast editing with veteran editor Bryan Entzminger. Bryan shares how he began podcasting in 2014, inspired by John Lee Dumas’ formulaic approach to Entrepreneurs On Fire and how that era of entrepreneurship-focused shows shaped early podcasting. We unpack why many podcasts have naturally “run their course” after five or six years, how the pandemic boom has cooled, and why Bryan has deliberately avoided rebuilding a client roster too ...
I reconnect with Buzz Knight to explore the evolution of Buzz’s podcasting journey and his growing audio network. Buzz traces the roots of his “Takin a Walk” podcast from its original in-person, outdoor concept—where he literally walked and talked with guests—through the practical challenges of weather and audio quality, to its current virtual format with a strong focus on music-centered storytelling. Leveraging his radio experience both on air and in programming, Buzz explains how classic broad...
Kristi Lee is the host of Canadian True Crime, a show that has eclipsed 75 million downloads over 200 episodes. I spoke with Kristi about her path that ultimately led her into podcasting. Kristi told me about how a family move and her husband’s love of hockey brought them to Toronto, where she eventually turned her obsession with true crime shows like Casefile and They Walk Among Us into her own podcast in 2016. She tells me about those early days, working late at night after her kids went to be...
Julian Nieh is Julian on the Radio,and traces his radio career that’s from Washington, DC to major markets like Chicago, Seattle, Las Vegas, and the future. He recalls falling into radio through an internship, doing everything from promotions and street stunts to last‑minute board‑opping that led to his first on‑air shifts. Matt and Julian geek out on the magic of 90s radio and MTV, the emotional pull of that era’s music, and the power of creating anticipation and memorable moments for listeners...
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 Direct...
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 ra...
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 per...
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), vi...
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 an...
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 call...
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 platform...
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, includi...
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 journalis...
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 i...
The 2025 Canadian Radio Awards were hosted by Connie Thiessan (Broadcast Dialogue) and Matt Cundill (The Sound Off Podcast) on Friday November 28, 2025. You can watch the whole show on the Broadcast Dialogue YouTube and Linked In Pages. A full list of winners can be found here. By station, Stingray Radio’s boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM) Toronto won three awards, including Program Director of the Year for Troy McCallum , On-Air (solo) Host of the Year for morning man Stu Jeffries , and Music Director of the...
Jennifer Moroz is the host of the new podcast Furball Confidential . We went back to the early days of her journalism career to discuss her start in from anthropology and segue to journalism, including her time at the Philadelphia Inquirer and the CBC. She highlights her role in rebranding the CBC show "Q" after the departure of Jian Ghomeshi. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of leadership, team support, and professional development. She shares insights on podcasting, including the challenges ...
Jessica Rhodes is the founder of Interview Connections and joins me to discuss the evolution of the podcast guest industry. The first time I heard about this side of the podcast business in 2016, I didn't even think it was a thing. Jessica emphasizes the importance of being a podcast guest for business owners to reach new audiences and explains the benefits of niche podcasts over large, broad ones. If you are unsure if you should start your own podcast, being a guest is a great way to start gett...
Adam McNeil is a senior vice president at Adopter Media, about podcast advertising. Adam went from an e-commerce startup, to becoming a podcast ad expert, revealing insights into the industry's inner workings. We discussed how brands can effectively match with podcasts, using a five-step vetting framework that considers renewal history, demographics, engagement, and ad efficacy. McNeil highlights the challenges in podcast advertising, including the difference between downloads and actual listens...
I attended PodSummit YYC in Calgary back in September—a creator-driven event reminiscent of the early days of Podcast Movement. Supported by Amazon / Art 19 and highlighted by an outstanding keynote from Jesse Lipscomb, the event buzzed with meaningful conversation about podcast discoverability and monetization.The hoser factor was high for this event. It was great meeting Alex Patterson from YouTube Canada, who offered great insights on integrating podcasts into YouTube and stressing sound qual...
I'm leaving Winnipeg. So it seems only fitting that I interview the man responsible for bringing me here 19 years ago. Garth Buchko was the General Manager at CJOB/Power 97 when we met in July 2006. "Butch" shares his journey from a young radio enthusiast to becoming a successful general manager at Corus Entertainment He discusses the competitive Winnipeg radio market, highlighting the importance of relationships, hard work, and innovative sales strategies. The conversation covers Garth's experi...
Alan Zweig's new podcast is called "Tubby". It's a unique show that explores conversations about weight, body image, and self-esteem, and not a typical self-help podcast. Together with Alan Black, (Left Of Dial Media) the show approaches the topic with authenticity and humour, focusing on storytelling rather than providing solutions. They've intentionally kept the podcast audio-first, while still considering video; for marketing purposes naturally. Their goal is to create something that feels li...
There are a few Instagram accounts that operate anonymously. Now comes a podcast that is somewhat anonymous. A 15 year radio pro dubbed "Radio Girl" reveals enough about herself to tell us why she has embarked on this project, and also showing us that while the podcast's artwork is AI, she definitely is a real person. She shares candid insights about the challenges of working in radio, including toxic workplace dynamics, sexual harassment, and the the dysfunctional relationships. She explains he...
Anna Zee has been with Q104 in Halifax for nearly 38 years. Her first radio foray was in 1981 at Queens University's. She transitioned through various stations including Rock 103 (Now C-103) in Moncton before landing at the legendary Q104 in Halifax, where she became a daytime fixture. Throughout her career, she's witnessed significant changes in radio, from physical record deliveries to digital platforms and social media integration. While the technology has changed, her passion for music has n...
Paul Jacobs has the same advice he had in 2019 when he came on this show and said, " Stop Selling Radio . " In 2025, it's stop selling radio and start selling solutions. With revenue trending flat to down, the radio must innovate or risk falling further behind digital platforms that promise instant results and granular analytics. Paul and I explored how radio’s real strength lies in local content, strong communities, and brand reach. We talked about public radio navigating loss of traditional fu...
Professor Michael Geist is someone I think about often. It could be from the writings on his blog or his words from his podcast, Law Bytes . With the CRTC spending its valuable time these days discussing with Canadian Radio, what qualifies and should qualify as Canadian Content, I thought now would be a good time to have him on the show to discuss some of the inner workings of their policy making. We explored the evolving landscape of Canadian media regulation and the challenges facing policymak...
Damian Rickards is a second generation broadcaster who has spent over 25 years navigating his way across the country through broadcasting. From his early days at Mix 99 to pioneering urban radio at Flow 93.5 in Toronto and Vibe 98.5 in Calgary, Rickards shares insider stories of radio's evolution. He discusses his journey through multiple markets, including Toronto, Calgary, and Ottawa, while highlighting the challenges of syndication and maintaining local relevance. Mr. D Radio also brings us i...
Todd Cochrane passed away September 8, 2025. Here is his obituary as it appeared in Podnews. Yesterday I spent the day listening to our discussions about podcasting from past episodes of this show. Here are the parts I highlighted and re-shared from Todd, in his own words. He also took the time to appear on other programs that I enjoy including the Stuph File with Peter Anthony Holder , and Audio Branding with Jodi Krangle . There are many other tributes and posts that will provide a bigger pict...
