The Podcaster's Guide to a Visible Voice

When's the last time you replayed your old episodes and really listened? It's the end of another year of podcasting, and that means looking back on how far you've come and planning the next steps. Whether you're taking some time off for the holiday or plugging away between the eggnog and the family time, Mary has one non-negotiable for you: you need to start listening back to your old episodes—and not just at 2X speed. For a medium that celebrates the voice, podcasters are way too lax about auditing their primary instrument. Yes, it's awkward, and chances are you'll sound weird to yourself. You might even get a hint of that imposter syndrome you thought you quashed. But trust Mary: give yourself the gift of perspective and growth this year by running some personal airchecks. It really does get easier the more you do it, and you'll unlock so much potential for your show in 2026 and beyond. Put aside the mic and queue up some past episodes. Discover: How focusing on feelings helps you develop a discerning ear; Efficiency hacks for reducing the cringe factor of listening to your own voice; Reflection questions to consider as you review old episodes. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Try Smitten Kitchen's Brownie Roll-Out Cookies: https://smittenkitchen.com/2008/04/brownie-roll-out-cookies/ Listen to Episode 15, Identifying Your Audience for Podcast Growth: https://www.organizedsound.ca/identifying-your-audience-for-podcast-growth-episode-15/ Listen to Episode 50, Stop Thinking About Yourself: https://www.organizedsound.ca/stop-thinking-about-yourself-episode-50/ Listen to Episode 105, How to Keep Fear From Overpowering Your Voice with Kat Stewart and Kevin Ribble: https://www.organizedsound.ca/how-to-keep-fear-from-overpowering-your-voice-with-kat-stewart-and-kevin-ribble-episode-102/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.

What assumptions are holding you back from creating a more accessible show? If you knew more about your listener's accessibility needs, how would that change your show? Podcasting borrows so much of its policy and practice from more traditional forms of media, and while that's given us a great place to start, it's also slowed down innovation in this unique medium. Meg Wilcox is a journalist and professor at Mount Royal University. Her research focuses on where podcasting could improve in terms of accessibility and ethics. In this episode, she shares how her experience producing an audio memoir for a woman with vision impairment prompted her to reconsider how we approach everything from recording and publishing to promoting our shows. You'll learn about the ethics of copyright ownership, the slow adoption of accessibility tools, and the ongoing barriers that, if dismantled, would give anyone with a podcasting dream the tools to make it come true. Reframe how you think about your show's accessibility and availability: The power of accessibility upgrades to make podcasting better for everyone; The importance of understanding your audience and what they need; What's still missing in the wider world of media accessibility; Our flawed expectations around what's "professional" in audio. Links worth mentioning from the episode: USC Annenberg, "Inequality in Popular Podcasts? An Examination of Gender & Race/Ethnicity": https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-inequality-Podcasts-2025-11-06.pdf PodNews, "25 Podcasts Announced as Eligible for Golden Globes": https://podnews.net/press-release/golden-globes-eligible-podcasts-26 Episode 99, "Canadian Identity in the Indie Podcasting Ecosystem with Kattie Laur": https://www.organizedsound.ca/canadian-identity-in-the-indie-podcasting-ecosystem-with-kattie-laur-episode-99/ Engage with Meg Wilcox: Listen to Static: A Party Girl's Memoir: https://www.megwilcox.com/2024/11/08/static-a-party-girls-memoir/ Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megwilcox/ Learn more about Meg's work: https://www.megwilcox.com/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.

How can a solid structure make your podcast process easier? Your podcast starts with a great idea—a topic that fires you up, that you can passionately go on about at length. That's a great place to begin a show, but without some structure, producing episode after episode can become tedious and stressful. That's why Mary advocates for building a show map. Think of it as Google Maps directions that help guide both you and your listener on a journey that's just predictable enough to make it feel comfortable and familiar. If the thought of "structure" makes you think of strict rules for every episode, think again! Mary explains how to create a show map that guides you from intro to outro with lots of wiggle room and just enough direction to prevent decision fatigue. You'll keep your options open and speak with confidence because you know just where you need to go. With tips for identifying your existing structure and drawing on the expertise (or mistakes) of other shows, this episode is a must-listen for new and established podcast hosts alike. Map out your show to simplify your process: Find your flow by setting some gentle boundaries for your podcast; Use the structure you already have to fine-tune your show map; Experiment to discover new components that keep it entertaining, for you and your listener. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Episode 104, "The Perks of Being (or Having) a Co-Host with Darren Dukes and Jamie Weiss" - https://www.organizedsound.ca/the-perks-of-being-or-having-a-co-host-with-darren-dukes-and-jamie-weiss-episode-104/ Episode 60, "Planning, Structure, and Mindset Before You Hit Record: a Sample Workflow for Recording Your Episodes" - https://www.organizedsound.ca/planning-structure-and-mindset-before-you-hit-record-a-sample-workflow-for-recording-your-episodes-episode-60/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.

How do you find the perfect podcast host to share airtime with? If a podcast is your passion project but you don't have a technical background, an audio-savvy partner could help make your dream a reality. That's what Darren Dukes, a Vancouver Island physiotherapist and running enthusiast, discovered when he convinced fellow runner and former radio broadcaster Jamie Weiss to be his co-host. Darren's vision and Jamie's recording prowess have resulted in a podcast that's drawing in avid runners and jogging-curious listeners alike. Darren and Jamie chat with Mary about podcast partnerships, the importance of strong show structure, and the challenges and skill-building opportunities they've already encountered as they forge a new touchpoint for the vibrant West Coast running community. Keep your show—and your motivation—running smoothly: The benefits of a local focus: a strong start without limiting your potential for growth; Maintaining positive momentum through feedback; The unexpected wins of shared airtime; How strong audio cues and a consistent structure help your audience keep up. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Listen to Island Miles Episode 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jFuseQLPK5ia5KM9jhg4t Engage with Jamie and Darren: Follow Island Miles on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandmilespodcast/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.

What's the worst piece of feedback you've received about your podcast? We all have one—that cringe-inducing review or comment that fires up our impostor syndrome. The one that makes us question our hosting skills, our topic selection, and our whole show. And yet, feedback, even the negative kind, doesn't have to get you down. In this episode, Mary takes on trolls and seasoned listeners alike to suggest a very different relationship between host and reviewer: one of thoughtful collaboration. Find out how to filter and process your feedback in a way that improves its production value and boosts your confidence—in your show and your unique voice. Convert your podcast comments into actionable intel: The track-and-tag system that helps you make the most of your feedback; Why email feedback is the cream of the crop; The real impact of platform reviews and ratings; Why new shows shouldn't ask for reviews. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Episode 102, How to Keep Fear From Overpowering Your Voice with Kat Stewart and Kevin Ribble: https://www.organizedsound.ca/how-to-keep-fear-from-overpowering-your-voice-with-kat-stewart-and-kevin-ribble-episode-102/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.

What are you afraid of when you're recording your podcast? Training your voice doesn't start with what comes out of your mouth—it starts with what's going on in your head. Mary learned this 25 years ago from her radio school instructors, Kat Stewart and Kevin Ribble. In this episode, her former teachers take the mic to talk about finding your charisma and confidence as a podcaster and the vocal impact of fear and judgment. Kat and Kevin want to make the world a better place, one confident, impactful podcast host at a time. Their insights stem from decades of experience and will have you reflecting on your podcast's ability to inspire change. It's time to go back to school and learn: Why dealing with your fear of death is an essential foundation of voice work; The impact of tension and the nervous system on how you sound; Why you should channel your bestie when you're recording; The power of podcasting to make a difference in the world. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Episode 50, Stop Thinking About Yourself: https://www.organizedsound.ca/stop-thinking-about-yourself-episode-50/ Engage with Kat and Kevin: Listen to Ignite My Voice; Becoming Unstoppable at https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ignite-my-voice-becoming-unstoppable/id1827041495 Connect with Kat: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-stewart-77155316/ Connect with Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-ribble/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.

How do you make your personality shine through as soon as you hit record? The podcast world is always evolving—that's what happens when a baby industry grows up! For better or worse, audio-first media is changing constantly, and the latest shift involves Amazon's decision to shut down the Wondery podcast studio. This kicks off a move away from those shows heavy on the music, sound effects, and research, toward more personality-driven podcasts. Like yours! This is great news, because that special kind of pod that people tune in to for the host (which recent research shows is the listener's favourite part) will get more space on their app. It also means you'll have to work even harder to make sure your on-air personality is unique and your show stands out from the crowd. With that in mind, Mary shares three tips for getting your voice ready to resonate. Get your #1 instrument prepped to steal the show: Why you need to settle into your current state of mind before you start; What your warmup should include, beyond lip trills and humming. The memory trick that'll let you hit record with confidence. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Read Sounds Profitable's The Podcast Landscape 2025 report: https://soundsprofitable.com/article/maturity-growth-next/ Learn more about PodSummit 2025 YYC: https://www.podsummit.com/ Listen to Episode 100, Finding Joy in the Serious Work of Podcasting: https://www.organizedsound.ca/finding-joy-in-the-serious-work-of-podcasting-episode-100/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.

How can reflecting on your podcast journey spark delight in your success? The process of podcasting is serious business. You have to be laser-focused on all the pieces of the spiral—from brainstorming topics to marketing the published episode to starting the next one—and sometimes the subject matter gets dark, especially in the daunting uncertainty of our modern world. But at the end of the day, if you don't enjoy what you're creating, the overwhelm that will come up eventually is going to keep you from coming back. That's why Mary is dedicating her 100th episode (woo-hoo!) to reflecting on the genuine joy of podcasting and inspiring you to do the same. It's time, once again, to check in with that big, overarching Why. Turn up the gratitude for all the opportunities your show has afforded you, the connections you've cultivated, and the support of the people who listen in. Let this episode be your reminder to take the time—look back, laugh out loud, and bask a bit in the joy of your creation. Consider the journey so far with storytelling and reflection prompts: Where to look for joy when you're tempted to back-burner your show The benefits and unexpected bonus points of having a podcast A guided walk down memory lane to see how far you've come Links worth mentioning from the episode: Episode 69, Intangible Values of a Podcast: What It Means For Stats, Metrics, and Monetization: https://www.organizedsound.ca/intangible-values-of-a-podcast-what-it-means-for-stats-metrics-and-monetization-episode-69 Episode 95, Generative AI: Understanding the Future of Podcasting with Amanda Cupido: https://www.organizedsound.ca/generative-ai-understanding-the-future-of-podcasting-with-amanda-cupido-episode-95/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. Transcript with Audio Description: [MUSIC IN - GHOSTHOOD FEATURING SARA AZRIEL "LET'S GO" BEGINS] MARY: Podcasting is serious work. Sure, most of the time we're just having a conversation with someone or hearing stories, and yet when it comes to the making of podcasts, you know, the tasks that take you from an idea to actually publishing the episode, right, the recording, the editing, and then the promoting when it's all done, it's not always rainbows and unicorns. And even in some cases where podcasts are talking about very serious topics, I've worked on episodes that talk about food insecurity, war torn countries, child abuse, trauma, relationship issues, there still can be joy, when you're talking about serious issues and creating your show. The light and the joy that actually comes from sometimes being in these really dark spaces can brighten even more. I mean, to the lack of a whole cliche thing, you really need to be in the dark and to be in that seriousness, to really enjoy and know what it means to be appreciative of being in that light. So, podcasting is serious work. But like I always say, podcasting is meant to be fun. So as we celebrate 100 episodes of this very show, I want us both to reflect on how much work podcasting really is. Through the struggle to complete and publish episodes. That struggle is real, and yet how there's actually so much joy that it can bring. Podcasting is serious work, yes, but it's also fun. So, this is episode number 100, oh yeah! On the Podcaster's Guide to a Visible Voice. > Here we are, episode number 100. This is where you throw that, bah bah bah bah [HORN NOISE MADE WITH VOICE], celebrating horns confetti, right? [MUSIC ENDS] I don't know. I'm not usually that type of a person. And numbers are just numbers. I mean, yes, 100 is a milestone, but I decided for this episode that I just want to be very grateful. Grateful that I've created this many episodes for this particular show, but that you are here with me today and finding a bit of joy in whatever you've been up to so far and also by choosing to listen to this episode. So, first of all, thank you. Thank you for being here. [MUSIC IN] As I said on the top of the show, creating a podcast is not easy. And if you have a detailed checklist like I do, you can also see how much work it actually takes to get from idea to publish and even more work after that with the premiering and then planning for the next episode. It's a never ending spiral of stuff to do. One of the things I wanted to focus on for this episode was actually reflecting back on our whys. Why? Why are we doing this? So if you're not familiar. You'll always hear me talk about your why. That's the point of your podcast. Why do you want to create one? Because, like I said, it's a lot of work, so you have to know why it should exist in your world. It's not a matter of if, but when you'll be overwhelmed or when you'll be burnt out. So knowing your why will bring you back to your joy and the joy of creating a podcast. [MUSIC ENDS] I actually had this very conversation with a potential podcaster the other day. I was asking them about their goals for the podcast, and usually this is where I figure out if we're in alignment in how they think, what they want their podcast to do, and if I'm a good partner for that. And they talked about how they wanted to build a community, and I'm like, yep, bang on. Okay, this is it. It's not going to be about the numbers, right? It's not going to be about growing your listenership, which comes with it anyway, but, she wanted to build a community. But the thing was, she works in the beauty industry, and usually all the beauty stuff, it's your typical physical side of things, right? Looking perfect. So all those stereotypes of the beauty industry, she wanted to showcase how the work she does is actually outside of all these stereotypes. What she does is really transformational and also restorative because it's about the confidence, the confidence within. I know, it's such a cliche, right? And in this case, it does kind of work, because her work can also deal with cancer patients losing their hair and the struggle of not only dealing with the cancer diagnosis, but then also the journey of going through all the therapies and all of that. But in amongst that, all beauty comes into play, right? What happens when you no longer have hair and you lose that part of you? So, long story short, it's not about the beauty. So her podcast isn't really about that either. She has another why for her podcast and the work she does. [MUSIC IN] As for myself, I've had these moments of overwhelm, too. You know, we're celebrating episode 100, so I'm walking down that memory lane, and I'm always glad that I have my breaks to set up what I do for this podcast and the joy it brings. So I know this is my last episode before my summer break. That was the plan. And actually it just lucked out that it was episode 100. That was all serendipity right there. I can't wait to do all the summer adventures that we have lined up as a family. But to reflect on the past 100 episodes, I've had a very busy first part of the year this year with work, new clients, lots of podcasts to listen to. There was voice coaching clients as well. And then also now setting up for the remainder of my year having some speaking gigs. And there's lots of personal things too, right? Like, work and personal stuff intertwines. You can't really separate the two. So I was caring for my mom. I was away from home and my family for a bit, but then also coming back and being with my kiddo with her very first events, like her first track meet, and for me to volunteer with her. I was so grateful to be able to do that. So with all of these responsibilities, there was always time to put the podcast on the back burner, right? You don't have to create the podcast in all the things that you have to do, podcasting isn't high on that priority list that I was just talking about. But I want to keep it going because in knowing my joy and my why, it's because A, I know it's going to grow my business, right? It's a long term marketing plan. And B, it's just really fun to do. And again, I only do things if it's fun, right? So if it stops being fun, I'm going to stop doing it. So we need to take a look at this reflection and to find our joy in podcasting. [MUSIC ENDS] In creating a podcast, not just for me, but I see this in the clients that I work with too. We get to use our podcast platform to also work things out that I've been chatting with, you know, the people in my lives, whether that is my clients, or maybe it's my clients chatting with their clients. So it really is, we are chatting with our listeners, right? We're trying to figure out what their challenges are so that on the podcast we can actually work out some of these strategies and tips or even playing through the ideas I have for an upcoming talk or workshop that I'll be facilitating. This can all be done through episodes of your podcast. And then there's also, if you have interviews, connecting with a larger community in podcasting and hearing from others, right? I interview other podcasters, so I'm creating that network and really getting a new perspective from other people. And then another reason that my podcast exists is that I get to share very specific episodes with people who might need that support for a specific topic, right? Like I've had a client who's like, I don't know if I should be doing this or that. And honestly, she's so busy she doesn't listen to every single episode of my podcast, right? Even though she's my client. So I was like, hey, listen to this episode. It's a solo, it's short, it's got some prompt questions for you. And you know what, it worked for her. So, I love that they get to come back with this gratitude on what they learned and what they'll implement. So the podcast for me is more about connecting with my listener on a different level. And outside of my work, my business personally. They also solidify friendships in my personal world who say they listen to some episodes and actually learn more about themselves and their voice. Which was really surprising to me because I don't ever expect any of my friends or family to listen to my episodes. Yes, they're out in the public. Yes, anybody can get them. But I don't know, I was like, if it's, I didn't make it for them, right? You have your ideal listener, and my friends and family were not my ideal listeners. So it's just bonus points that they listen to it and they actually tell me that they like it and they tell me why. So I know that they've actually listened to it because they'll mention something about the episode, right? So, that's just bonus points right there. So all in all to say that podcasting can, yeah, take up a lot of time, but that time is worth it because it goes beyond the podcast itself or your business, if you have one attached. [MUSIC IN] So what I want to do today with episode 100 to celebrate is that reflection piece. I've got some journal prompts for you if you are a journaling type like I am. Just walk through a few questions. And if you aren't a journaling type, let's just reflect quickly. You can just jot some notes down if you want to or not. But I just want you to start contemplating on some of these questions to help reflect and integrate the work that you do to make your podcast a success, whatever you define as success. Alright, so here are my five questions to contemplate and journal on to really solidify what you've done with your podcast success so far. One. What is your first memory when you were surprised someone mentioned your podcast? You know, it could be what I was mentioning before, where one of my friends, she listened to it and learned a lot, even though she works in forensics with the police department. Far from what my ideal listener is, but she listened and she is still always a highlight for me as that first memory and really surprised to hear that she listens to the podcast. It could also be like when I get discovery calls with potential clients and they say they listened to the most recent episode and love XYZ about it. And I was like, yes, that's exactly one of the reasons why I have the podcast. It's working. Yes. So for you, think about that first memory, what comes to mind? So make note of that. Two. What was recent and recent could be last week, monthly, or even the last year or two, depending on how many episodes you release in a year. What was some recent positive feedback you received? This could be tied to the first question and probably be the same answer, but I challenge you to think of a different scenario. Feedback, of course, doesn't have to mean a review that you got online. It could be a private message, it could be from someone you know. It could be a dm, maybe an email you got, or maybe a comment from a group that you're in. Or maybe you just had a coffee or tea with someone and they mentioned it to you in person. You know, real people in the moment, all novel these days, right? Real life people feedback. So take those all into consideration and figure out what was the most recent positive feedback that you received? Three. What have you done to celebrate your success? And I highlight the word celebrate because, I know I am not one to celebrate. And I tend to go from task to task without recognizing all the hard work that goes into the projects, right? Sometimes it's like, yay, I did it. And then you move on and you do the next task. So yay, I did it. But in this question, it's time to do something. And for me, what I'm going to do is during my vacation next week, I'm going to make sure I buy myself, I might give my family, my daughter, especially a bite, a slice of cake from a local bakery. Now, I'm calling this a celebration because it's something I normally don't do, right? So a celebration is something that is outside your comfort zone. I normally don't buy cake at a bakery and I'm not talking about like grocery store bakery. I'm like a bakery bakery. Okay. We love baking in our house. So we like to bake non fancy cake, usually a single layer, no frosting, lots of yumminess. So my version of that for celebrating is to take that cake idea but bring in that celebrating layer by one, by one, buying cake from a real like, bakery, bakery. And two, making sure it's a fancy looking one, right? Probably more than one layer. See, it doesn't have to be complicated to celebrate, but it's about that intentional choice that you make. So what have you done to celebrate your success? Number four, we are talking about those intentional choices. What decision did you recently make about your podcast again? Recently can mean last week or even last year or two. That was a game changer. It could be something as simple as I stopped posting on social media and focused on my newsletter. Or something even bigger, like I revamped my whole branding and recreated all my intros and outros and audio assets. Remember, I'm not judging you here. Whatever works for you to make your show more simplified and fulfilling and, yes, fun for you to create, right? It doesn't matter what that is. What was that intentional choice that you made? I had a client once say to me, it was as simple as just hiring you. I'm like, I love that. Yes, I can make things simpler for you. Creating that blueprint, doing the editing, it doesn't matter. It could also just be, you know, having someone on your team to help you out with your process, right? So whatever works for your capacity to make this podcast experience more joyful and fun. So what was that intentional decision you made that you love? And finally, question number five of all the episodes that you created, and if you have way too many to narrow down, maybe the episodes you just created within this past year, or if you do a series, maybe just this last series that you did, which one really lit you up? Like, the one that lights you up the most thinking about it right now. It could be because it was so easy to edit, or that it was so personal for you, or that you just got so much feedback that you plan to make more episodes around that topic. Really, it could be anything, right? What was it that lit you up about that episode and brings you joy? [MUSIC ENDS] So that's my little walk down memory lane I wanted to do with you. I know we get so busy creating each and every episode, so especially if you have a weekly show, that overwhelm comes in, right? But we need to take that step back because if you just keep churning out the episodes, it almost seems like it's never ending. So thank you so much for taking the time with me today to reflect on the work that you've done with your podcast. These reflections really bring out the joy in the work that we do in podcasting, and it also helps you to keep going. It's a little incentive to dream a little bigger, to wonder when, not if, you'll feel those reactions again for the future episodes that you create. To remember that podcasting is fun, even if you touch on very simple, serious subjects. It's not about the subject matter, but how you present it. So, yeah, you can be very, very serious, but we can also bring the light and the joy. And through that process, you'll be able to speak with spirit, as I always say, and then create the feeling that you want your listener to feel. And since this actually is the last episode before my summer break, as I said, as part of question number five, I did review my last few episodes. So the series I did from the beginning of this year in 2025 until now, episodes 90 through 99, nine episodes to review. And the one that really stuck out in my mind, like that first thing that you look through it and you're like, ooh, that one. Episode 95 with Amanda Cupido, it really brought me a lot of joy because she brought me out of my comfort zone. You know, I was into this, AI is scary feeling. What is it going to do? But we really are in a time and place where companies are gathering a lot of information to train these AI platforms. And her idea that using AI to train voices that are more like you and me. So use AI. Use it so they can train from your voice, your perspective, and not like the stereotypes and all the patriarchal stuff that we already see in our everyday, but more reflective of the greater population, right? Of everybody else that has a voice. So I was sharing this with a client as well, and she was also like, wow, I never even thought about it that way. You're right. The conversations I have are the conversations that AI needs to know about, that AI needs to be trained on, because they are more intentional, they are more loving and with care, and that is something we need more in the world. So Amanda really not only changed my perspective, but hopefully your perspective as well when you listen to the episode. So, I love that episode because of that, but also a personal joy as well. Like I said, you can't really separate the two. The work and the personal stuff. Amanda is just such a nice person. She also sent a book to my daughter, you know, it's the kids version of her Let's Talk Podcasting book. And she got a glimpse, more of a glimpse into what I do for a living. So I love that she will always remind me about the joy that she brought to my daughter. [MUSIC IN] So that's it for this episode. Thank you again for celebrating episode 100 with me. Send me your notes from those five reflection questions. I would love to hear them. I want to celebrate together with you. So send me a voice note as usual, go to my website, VisibleVoicePodcast.com you got the Send Voicemail purple button, click on that and share your voice and speak with Spirit. Email always works as well too. VisibleVoicePodcast@gmail.com and we'll get ready for episode 101 after I take my summer break, right? I don't have any plans yet for the rest of the year. I don't know what I'm going to be talking about when I come back in September, but that's why I have the summer. I am going to be figuring that out. I already have some, some things that I'm working with. But you know, on that note about sharing your voice, send me a separate voice note on that too. What do you want to know? It could be something personal about me. It could be about my podcasting process. Tech stuff, mics, recordings, voice stuff, anything. Let me know what you want to hear on the show. So yeah, voice note, send me an email. All those links will be in the show notes. So have a lovely summer break from me. Or if you are in the Southern hemisphere, have a lovely winter break and I'll talk to you again in September. [MUSIC ENDS] > MARY: Thank you so much for listening to the Podcaster's Guide to a Visible Voice. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you'd share it with a podcasting friend. And to reveal more voicing and podcasting tips, click on over to VisibleVoicePodcast.com. Until next time. > [MUSIC ENDS]

What differentiates Canadian podcasters from their American counterparts, eh? If you think about the first podcast that comes to mind, there's a pretty good chance it's American. That's because podcasting tends to feel—and in many ways actually is—pretty U.S.-centric. But that certainly doesn't mean there aren't a ton of fantastic, groundbreaking Canadian podcasters in the industry. From the struggle to identify Canada-specific resources to the future of marketing metrics, join Mary for a must-listen episode for every podcaster seeking to set their show apart. Listen to fellow Canuck Kattie Laur as they dig into all things Canadiana and pods. Kattie is an award-winning podcast producer and the editor of Pod the North, a popular newsletter that keeps subscribers in the know about everything happening in our country's podcast ecosystem. Kattie takes a refreshingly optimistic perspective on creating and marketing shows in Canada. She and Mary explore the unique Canadian culture built around celebrating difference and how traits like this truly set them apart from American showmakers. Make your podcast stand out, in Canada and beyond. Find out: What makes Canadian podcasters unique Why it's so hard to make a living as a podcast creator in this country How to share the Canadian perspective in our podcasts without overdoing it How to facilitate community interaction as an indie podcaster Links worth mentioning from the episode: Bumper: "Spotify Plays are One More Nail in the Download's Coffin" - https://wearebumper.com/blog/spotify-plays-are-one-more-nail-in-the-downloads-coffin Hear more about the podcast monetizing landscape in Episode 97, Embrace Curiosity to Grow a Vibrant Podcast Community with Chidinma Azubuike - https://www.organizedsound.ca/embrace-curiosity-to-grow-a-vibrant-podcast-community-with-chidinma-azubuike-episode-97/ Meet Mary at PodSummit YYC 2025 - https://www.podsummit.com/speakers25 Engage with Kattie: Learn more about her projects and services - https://www.kattielaur.com/ Listen to the Canardian podcast - https://www.kattielaur.com/canardian Subscribe to the Pod the North newsletter - https://podthenorth.substack.com/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. Transcript with Audio Description:

What kinds of questions do you ask your podcast guests? The most engaging podcast episodes—the ones that make for the best conversations and the best listening—are the ones that contain great stories. As the host, you're always aiming to draw all those details and deep disclosures from your guest. So why does getting the full picture sometimes feel like pulling teeth? Mary recently taught her nine-year-old daughter how asking more specific questions will get her the answers she wants, and that conversation prompted this episode's exploration. An open-ended question—the kind that requires a more thorough answer than "yes," "no," or some other short word or phrase—is always going to elicit a stronger response. In return, you as the host don't have to work as hard; your guest's fascinating story, the whole reason they're chatting with you, stands a much better chance of tumbling out of them with the passion every podcaster (and podcast listener) is looking for. Ask yourself these impactful interview-question questions: What are the best W5 question prompts to ask in your interview? How can you utilize storytelling statements to deliver more engaging episodes? What should you look for in past episodes to start asking better questions in the future? Links worth mentioning from the episode: Episode 32, "Bad Interviewing Habits" - https://www.organizedsound.ca/bad-interviewing-habits-episode-32/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com 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 editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co. Transcript with Audio Description: [MUSIC IN - GHOSTHOOD FEATURING SARA AZRIEL "LET'S GO" BEGINS] MARY: How do you ask questions? I guess specifically on your podcast, maybe when you do interviews, how are those questions being asked? I know it's still quite a broad question, but have you ever gone back to your episodes, listen to them again to review how you have been asking questions? And if you want to get even more specific, I'm actually talking about open ended questions versus close ended questions. So today I'm going to explore those types of questions with you and show you how open ended questions can make your interviews and your podcast more enjoyable. Not just for you as a host, but maybe as a guest as well if you're on someone else's show, but more importantly for your listener. This episode actually stemmed from my conversation with my daughter. So, you know, lots of real life experience can come onto the podcast as well. And this idea of what it's like to pull stories from someone by asking them the different types of questions. So, how does your curiosity with these open ended questions play a significant role in your interviews? So there you go. The next generation of podcasters, through my daughter, is already teaching me about something that I can share with you on this very podcast. This is episode number 98 on the Podcaster's Guide to a Visible Voice. > MARY: Hey, welcome to the show. And yeah, things in real life this happens in radio all the time. It's just called show prep. [MUSIC ENDS] What's happening in your life as you go about your day that can help impact what you do on air. So in this case behind the mic on your podcast. And there are some real life situations that go on in my life that go behind the scenes on this podcast which you might not always know about, but this one I'm gonna share very much all the details of how I realized that this conversation that I had with my daughter is, I'm going to translate here on this episode today about open ended questions for you to ask during an interview with your guest. And in fact I talked a lot about bad interviewing habits actually, that was episode 32 if you have not listened to that one. So definitely go back to that episode. It is a great companion to this one. Lots of details there on episode 32, bad interviewing habits. But briefly for this episode, a close ended question essentially closes the conversation very quickly. This type of question will either get a yes or no type of answer and if you don't want to elaborate more, you don't have to. It's really quite the conversation killer. But I know, when people come on a podcast, they're actually here to share stories. So even if you do ask those close ended questions, they will elaborate a bit more. However, it will be more enjoyable if you have open ended questions. But back to the close ended questions. As an example, do you like chocolate? It's going to be a yes or no answer. Yep, chocolate's good. Or maybe a little bit more expanded, right? You don't have to go into details but you're like, maybe, it depends, I don't like milk chocolate, I like a dark chocolate. But then that's, that's really it until you come up with a follow up question. And there's a lot more interview techniques to go into this. However, if you start with an open ended question, you don't have to do as much of the hard work, you're already asking for more, all in that one question. So the guests can't just say yes or no. What kind of chocolate do you like? What are your favorite chocolate bars? Why is that your favorite chocolate bar, right? These type of questions are very specific and they can help the listener jog in their mind a story they want to share. And it makes your job just that much easier. [MUSIC IN] So as I alluded at the start of the show, my nine year old daughter sparked this idea for the episode. And if you've got some young ones in your life, like most kids, you might know that they do ask a lot of questions. And most of these questions are close ended aside from the ones that always ask, but why, but why, but why? Those kids already are on the uh, open ended question train. However, my daughter does ask a lot of questions and not always the and why. Sometimes they are just emulating the adults in their lives, right? So for example, sometimes I'll say to her, did you have fun at school today? Or she doesn't always eat her lunch. So I'm like, did you finish eating your lunch today? Did you play with so and so, or who did you play with? And they'll just list off a bunch of names, right? So these are very much close ended questions and it gives a very short answer or one word answer. So what parents or you as a podcaster, you know, what you want are actually stories, not short answers. In this audio format, you need the stories to shine. So for them to share in conversation, whether that is your guest, or your child, or a young one in your life. For them to share, and also so that it's not so hard getting those kids to talk to you, right? So like I said, this whole thing started when my daughter asked me actually about specifically working at a petting farm in my teens. Now think of my daughter in this story, in this scenario I'm going to share with you as the podcast host and me as the guest to help you relate. Okay? So I'm going to share this little conversation that from my memory, what I remember she said, it kind of goes something like this. My daughter says to me, do you have any stories from when you worked at the petting farm? Yes, yes, I have lots. And then she'll say, okay, tell me. I'm like, oh, which one? As I guest I'm like, wow, I got so many. Which one do I pull from? I can't just think of a story off the top of my head. So I ask her, what are you actually curious about? What do you want to know? And she's like, did you do anything gross or did the animals do anything gross? I'm like, well, yeah, I scooped poop for a living when I worked at the petting farm. And I kind of just ended it at that. I'm like, yeah, of course, of course there was lots of gross stuff. And I didn't really elaborate on that more either. So, she got a little frustrated with me. But do you see what's going on here? She wasn't getting any stories. She was wondering why she had to keep asking questions. She just wanted me to tell a story. But I was just answering her questions and her questions were close ended. I mean, I could have easily picked a story, right? I'm a storyteller. That's not hard for me to do. But I'm always of the mind about what does my listener actually want to hear or, or learn? How do they want to feel with the story that I share? And I kind of go through that with my daughter to show her, hey, if you ask those questions in a different way, you'll actually get the response that you want. So I taught her about being curious, being very specific, and the art of open ended questions. [MUSIC ENDS] So if you actually listen back to that little story that I just shared, they were all close ended questions. They always started with did, did you this or did you that? Another version could be like do, do you this, do you that, right? They would be yes or no or very, very short answers. So I asked my daughter what type of stories was she actually hoping to hear and if she could re-ask the question starting with either a what, when, or why, or sometimes even how. This comes from my radio days where I learned about W5. Maybe this was even like English class days in high schools, probably, but it really was like a journalism thing. In radio, W5 stands for who, what, when, where and why, and I say and sometimes how. Because in the interview process, how is also very crucial. However, in this scenario, in the interviews, I usually only like to pick three of the W5 because of the specificity of storytelling. I want to know more about the what, where and why so that you can paint a picture of the scene. Who usually just gets a one word answer, right? Like my previous question to my daughter, who did you play with today? And then she just lists off a couple names. So not very specific in terms of getting a story out of you. Back to my daughter's original follow up question. She wanted to know more about gross things and very specifically when I was like, what do you mean? Poop, of course, right? What 9 year old doesn't like talking about poop? So I asked her, okay, you want to know about poop when I worked at the petting farm. So I asked her to rephrase it with an open ended question using that W3 method. What, where, and why? Pick one of those three and ask me an open ended question. So she thought about it for a second and then came back to me with something like she wanted to say, when did she. When did you get pooped on? But then she was like, well, you didn't say when, so what was the time that you got pooped on? Because I guess she was sure that I would have been pooped on working at the farm, right? But that question alone sparked a story in me. It was just like, like, bam, aha. I know, ooh. And I went off. But that's a totally different topic when discussion for another time. But if you want to know about how a turkey pooped on me, you'll just have to email me or leave me a voice note to find out that whole story. Okay? But back to podcasting. The point is the very specific question that was asked got a much better, very specific story out of me and the passion out of me. When I was sharing that stor. It wasn't something that I was just going to regurgitate, but it was something that I was like, oh, oh, you're gonna love this one. And that's when you really get the energy and the engagement and the listener is gonna love that story and you as the host will love that story as well. So now my daughter is always asking me open ended questions or storytelling statements. [MUSIC IN] Storytelling statements are something like tell me a time when, or paint a picture when, right? These statements are very direct and they're meant to tell and share a story. And so my dinner table these days with a nine year old are actually quite fun. She's always saying to me, tell me about and then blankety blank, fill in the blanks, right? Mostly it's, tell me about your day. And then we go around the table asking each other about their day. It's quite fun. We get to share stories and I get to practice my podcast interviewing skills without them even knowing it. And I get to actually hear about her day, which is a plus in the parenting world. [MUSIC ENDS] So that really sums up the episode. What has your experience been when asking questions in an interview with your guests? I dare you to go back, maybe just to your most recent interview episode, review it, listen to it again, or also, this is where transcript can come in handy. When you look through that transcript, take a look at how you asked your questions. Are there patterns that you're seeing? What are they? What are those patterns? Are you using the same words you know, are you using the W5? Are you using the W3? Perhaps there is also a pattern in your guest answers. Are they usually answering with yes as their first words out of their mouth? I've heard a lot of interviews done that way where they always just say yes, yes, yes. And then they get on with their thing, but it's only because the interviewer had asked a close ended question. So if you don't want your guests to also sound repetitive, always ask an open ended question. And you know what, with this episode, if nothing else, tell me about your day is what my daughter always asks me. Also works really well. If you need to test your microphone or recording levels with your guest, you know they're there, they just showed up to the recording studio room online and you can just ask them about their day to see if their mic is working and check their recording levels. So tell me about your day. [MUSIC IN] So there you go. If you want, you can tell me about your day by dropping me an email at VisibleVoicePodcast@gmail.com or as always, a voice note would be lovely. I'd love to hear from you. Go to my website, VisibleVoicePodcast.com and there is a purple button that says send voicemail. You drop me a voice note there and don't forget that you can pull from that curiosity piece that I lightly touched on. When you're curious, the best follow up questions can come from, from that. And when you make them open ended questions, your conversations are really going to fly. [MUSIC ENDS] So on the next episode. This is actually going to be my last guest episode of this series before my summer break. And it is of course leading up to Canada Day. Being Canadian, I'm going to bring on from the Pod the North newsletter, Kattie Laur. Pod the north is a great podcasting resource. So if you don't know about Kattie, she is hyper focused on Canadian content in podcasting, which is so rare in this space. Actually in the industry, when another Canadian sees another Canadian, well, at least for me, I always get surprised and delighted when I meet or see another Canadian podcaster. So I know we're all out there. But I think it's because we're so homogenized being North American that it feels like we get lumped into America as a whole. And at least it does for me because I grew up in Vancouver, being so close to Seattle, everything was very U.S. Centric. And the podcasting landscape is also very U.S. Centric, especially here in North America. So, whenever I can highlight a fellow Canadian, I will do it. And since it is leading up to Canada Day, Kattie will share her experience not only with Pod the North, but also with her very Canadian podcast, Canardian, gossiping about Canadian hometowns. I love her show, actually. So we'll be talking about how being hyper niche works in podcasting and why Canadians should stand up proud to differentiate themselves in this media landscape. We'll chat with you then. > MARY: Thank you so much for listening to the Podcaster's Guide to a Visible Voice. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you'd share it with a podcasting friend. And to reveal more voicing and podcasting tips, click on over to VisibleVoicePodcast.com. Until next time. > [MUSIC ENDS]