In the 6 years since we started a podcast, there has been a total of one (1) request for a transcription of an episode. That was the Natasha Gargiulo episode back in 2018, and the person asking was hearing impaired. Natasha has a very large Canadian following, and I would have been more than happy to help out one of her followers. Sadly, at the time, I was largely clueless on how to do this. Today, I am happy to report that I know a little more on the topic.At Podcast Movement last month, the Live New Media show with ToddCochrane and Rob Greenlee had Andy Bowers, Rachael King and James Cridland on as guests, and the subject of transcription came up.I have to admit that after dabbling with the offerings from Headliner, Descript, and the Microsoft offering in my subscription, I was largely underwhelmed with its efficiency and honestly questioned its necessity. After a brief Twitter exchange, I pivoted positions; providing a transcription is the right thing to do for your show. There are some SEO benefits, and it adds a nice dimension to your website content.But these questions were still burning:-Why is it the responsibility of the content creator to provide them?-Why would I want someone reading the show when I want them listening to it? (I get paid in downloads, you know.)-Why should I pay for this? It’s expensive.I think I can answer these.Companies like Amazon, Google, Spotify, and Apple all have the technology to do this. But there is nothing in it for them. In fact, all it takes is a few mis-transcribed words to launch them into a lawsuit.As for people reading the show rather than downloading it, that might happen- and if the person doing so is hearing impaired, that should make you feel good. But here’s a side marketing bonus you probably didn’t consider: Bloggers and writers can easily cut and paste quotes from you and your guests, and credit your podcast. This recently happened to one of my older episodes, and it led to a few more followers. Sometimes it’s the things that you didn’t plan for that make it all worthwhile.As for justifying the price, that’s going to have to be a personal decision. It’s more than the subscription cost- it’s also spending the time after the transcription has been made to verify spelling and oddly pronounced words. It will likely take you even longer If your podcast is about something scientific or medical, or cities in Wales. As it stands now, some transcripts refer to me as Mad Kendall which I am considering adopting as my new wrestling name. And for networks who manage podcasts, between paying the humans reviewing the shows and paying for the subscriptions, the costs add up.One of the big reasons podcasters get involved with transcription is for the SEO. However, there are some who believe that simply attaching a transcription to the bottom of the episode page on your website will result in Google judging the page to be too long for ideal consumption.My thanks to James Cridland for the suggestion of finding a sponsor to assist with the payment of the podcast transcription costs. Your podcast is more than just pre-rolls and mid-rolls.Look for newer episodes of the Sound Off Podcast to contain transcriptions of each episode via Poddin.io. We decided to partner with Poddin because of its efficiency and its downloadable player, ease of use, and now with the ability to pull from your podcast’s RSS feed.Here are some of the other services we tried and largely liked. Choose wisely.Headliner, Descript, Microsoft, AWS, Trint ------Also a thanks to our latest sponsor, The CHR Prep Service. Click to get a free trial.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There's a lot of potential to make money, or lose it, in Las Vegas. In fact, that's pretty much the whole point of the city. Most people head down there to try their hand at the slots, play a few rounds of blackjack, take in some spectacular shows, or bet it all on a high-stakes poker match. But you don't see many people betting on the city itself.Jeff Walker is an exception to that rule. A former radio personality in Calgary, Winnipeg and Edmonton, Jeff has turned his voice and experience into a podcast all about Vegas. The Jeff Does Vegas podcast gives listeners a comprehensive guide to the city he fell in love with, from trip reports to restaurant reviews and attraction recommendations. It's become his most successful venture yet, and continues to grow to this day.In this episode, I speak to Jeff about his long and illustrious radio career, during which he found himself in quite a few "interesting" situations, as well as its rather abrupt end. We also talk about how he fell in love with Vegas, why he decided to start podcasting, how he built up his show, and the effect 2 years of COVID restrictions had on his show- A show which mainly revolved around him flying from Canada to Vegas 8 times a year. Yeah, it wasn't pretty.With that being said, now that he can head back to Sin City, the podcast is back with a vengeance. You can check it out on his website, and follow Jeff on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for more updates.Click Here For A Full TranscriptAlso a thanks to our latest sponsor, The CHR Prep Service. Click to get a free trial. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've ever taken a look at the other shows we offer on the Soundoff Podcast Network, this week's guest should sound quite familiar. Mark Sutcliffe is the host of the Digging Deep podcast, one of our largest shows, where he uses the knowledge gained from his lengthy and prolific career in the broadcast industry to give some seriously gripping interviews. There's a reason I said "In the broadcast industry" there, and not just "In broadcasting." And that's because Mark has seen just about every side of the industry. I can't really sum up his career any better than the About section on his personal website, so in Mark's own words:"I've been a daily newspaper columnist, a talk-radio host, a baseball play-by-play announcer, a Sunday-morning political TV host, and more.And I’ve been a proud volunteer, activist and community leader. I am a member of the Order of Ottawa and was named the United Way’s ambassador of the year."He's also been a management consultant, entrepreneur, and executive for various companies over the years. Needless to say, he's got the experience to dig deep on just about any topic.On this episode, we dig deep into Mark himself. He shares how he started in broadcasting before even graduating from high school, how he started his own business at the age of 19 and piloted it to huge success, and much more. We also talk about some of the biggest moments in history that have happened between the early 90's and now, many of which Mark reported on in various ways. And of course, there's lots of sports talk as well- you know I can't resist when I get a fellow fan on the show.If you want to hear more of Mark, you can listen to Digging Deep on the Soundoff Network, or check out Mark's personal website.Click Here For A Full TranscriptSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're finally at the big 300, an episode years in the making. As it's tradition for podcasters to do something special for milestones like this, I thought it would be the perfect time to look back on how exactly we got here: Where we started, the mistakes we've had to correct, the ways the show has evolved since 2016, and most importantly, the people who helped us get here, and continue to help today. And yes, of course that includes all our loyal listeners as well.If you are a returning listener, consider this episode a heartfelt thank you note, and also an anniversary gift of sorts. You'll hear mention of a huge number of other podcasts and podcasting resources for you to check out- or you could go back and listen to some of the old episodes we've recorded with these honored guests.The list is exceptionally long, and if there's anyone whose name was left out, I'm sincerely sorry. Please know that we deeply appreciate everyone who's helped with the show over the years, not just those who are mentioned in this episode. With that said, here are some links to check out everyone and everything mentioned in this episode, in order of appearance:Larry Gifford: When Life Gives You Parkinson'sNLogicART19PromosuiteJessica BinstockAmanda LoganTara SandsJacobs MediaSignal Hill InsightsAmplify MediaPodnews.netBarrett Sports MediaCore Image StudiosMegatraxJamie's CHR Prep SheetBroadcast Dialogue's Newsletter Sign-upPuget Sound RadioClick Here for a full transcriptSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before starting this episode, I want you to imagine the program director of a radio station. You're probably picturing someone around my age, or maybe a bit older, depending on the station. A mature man or woman, with over a decade of experience in broadcasting, who can use that experience to run things smoothly and professionally. What you're probably not picturing is a 26-year-old Pro Tools aficionado and part-time radio host who's handling a station for the first time. But that's exactly the position Brady Kingsbury found himself in, and he nailed it.If nothing else, Brady's history in broadcasting is a testament to the value of playing to your strengths, while also doing everything you can to lengthen the list of things you can call "strengths." As he says in this episode, he's never been afraid to get tossed into the deep end. It just gives him a chance to show you how well he can swim.In this episode, I talk to Brady about how he went from working at a mall to programming Jack FM in London, Ontario in only 7 years. We dive into his love of audio editing, the process of learning Pro Tools, and the great friends he made along the way who helped jumpstart his career- including Jeff Lumby and Scott Tucker.Nowadays, you can listen to Brady on 96.7 CHYM in Kitchener, weekday mornings starting at 5am. Listen to some clips from the show here.If you want to stay caught up with Brady, you can also follow him on Twitter.Thanks to those who have supported the show!PromosuiteMegatraxClick Here For A Full TranscriptSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know Geoff Allan's voice. No, really, you do. If you've ever heard an ad for Burger King, Bud Light, or Hardee's, you've probably heard Geoff's dulcet tones announcing the return of the biggest burger you've ever seen. I've certainly heard Geoff enough to recognize that baritone anywhere- although I suppose I have an advantage. He is my second cousin, after all.As his cousin, I can tell you that Geoff has always had a fantastic voice. So, of course, it was only natural for him to finish school and get straight into... the hotel business. Yes, Geoff was a world-travelling hotel manager for most of his adult life. He'd always had a passion for radio and voiceover, but it wasn't until he was in his 50's, and in Dubai of all places, that he was able to hit the airwaves. Nowadays, he's been a professional voiceover artist for years, with training from industry veterans in L.A., Toronto, Montreal and Dubai.In this episode, we dive into Geoff's journey from suites to studios. We talk about how he found the opportunity to make such a dramatic career change, where it's taken him, where he'll go in the future, and how much he's learned from his time as a voiceover pro. We also do a hefty bit of reminiscing about the past. If nothing else, Geoff's story stands as a shining example that it's never too late to start doing what you love.For more of Geoff, or to hire him for your voiceover needs, check out his Personal Website or connect with him on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.Thanks to those who have supported the show!PromosuiteMegatraxClick Here For A Full TranscriptSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's not often that we hear a British accent on the radio in Canada. Especially outside of Toronto, or maybe Vancouver, most of our talent is home-grown. Chris Ash is a notable exception to that rule. Chris was born and raised in the UK, attending Staffordshire University and beginning his broadcasting career in Kettering, close to London. After only a few years, he made the journey to Canada, landing in Yorkton, Saskatchewan in 2016 and crushing it in Canadian broadcast ever since.But if you think Chris is just another disk jockey, you'd be wrong. We've talked a lot on this show about the evolving nature of the Broadcast industry, and how it needs to move forward with the times. Chris has been at the forefront of such evolution for his entire career. One of his main roles at Connect FM in Kettering was to manage their social media, and he did a bang-up job; their largest Facebook posts during his time at the station were reaching over 130,000 shares. Not bad for a city of only 63,000 people.While his career as a radio personality is about as successful as anyone could ask for, he hasn't been resting on his laurels. In more recent years, Chris has leveraged his penchant for internet notoriety to expand his portfolio. He now offers commissions for professional voiceover work on Fiverr, as well as continuing to advertise his background in social media and video production.In this episode, I speak to Chris about his journey from the UK to Saskatchewan, and eventually to Winnipeg, where he is now. You'll hear about his humble beginnings in Kettering, how he fell in love with broadcasting, and the way he honed his skills through years of hard work- along with a dash of pure charisma.Thanks to those who have supported the show!PromosuiteMegatraxClick Here For A Full TranscriptSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jeni Wren Stottrup is a creative. That comes with a lot of things ranging from being exquisitely detailed to sometimes scattered; thriving off a full inbox with tasks perpetually nearing completion. Jeni is the coach behind The Podcasters Forum and host of Gritty Birds on podcast and YouTube. She helps podcasters find their voice as a coach, through content marketing, speaker training, tech training and mindset coaching. She brings skills from over 20 years in the music industry as a singer, festival producer, journalist, in media sponsorship and as a content creator.Podcasting for close to a decade, she has led workshops, and stayed active as a podcaster, producer, editor, narrative radio producer and coach for the last several years. Jeni knows what it’s like to go through the ups and downs of creating a show that sticks and creating a mindset for success.Jeni Wren Stottrup has spoken nationally at conferences including Podfest and She Podcasts on mindset, content creation, production skills and branding for the last 5 years. Over the years she’s worked with a multitude of partners, including major brands like RME Audio and Mackie. She supports podcasters through coaching and courses at her company The Podcasters Forum. This spring she is relaunching Gritty Birds, focusing on creative recovery.In this episode, you will hear how and why Jeni got into podcasting. A confessed fan of public radio, she wanted to parlay her podcast work on to the airwaves. She eventually did find her way on to XRAY-Radio 91.1, a community station in Portland where she produced shows. Jeni is also a singer and performer. Thanks to those who have supported the show!PromosuiteMegatraxFor a full transcript, scroll to the bottom of this page. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben McCully has one of the most interesting portfolios I, and probably you, have ever seen: Radio host, car salesman, pro wrestler, brewery tour manager. If that combo of careers doesn't have you hooked on this episode already, I don't know what will.Clearly, Ben has worn many hats throughout his career, which is fitting because he once lived in Medicine Hat, Alberta. We talk about his philosophy degree from University of King's College, how he managed his career path, what those transitions were like, and his travels across Canada as a radio host (he's worked in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Alberta).I know it's cliché to say this, but this episode really does have something for everyone- assuming you like beer, wrestling, radio, philosophy, or just really interesting stories.Thanks to those who have supported the show!PromosuiteMegatraxNEW! We are going to make transcription a regular feature of the show. We'd like to thank Poddin for helping us to get this started.For a transcription - go to https://bit.ly/385Tbtr and scroll to the bottom of the page.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Lang is a renowned broadcaster who's worked all over Canada, often covering sports. You probably know him best from either Sportsnet Fan Radio 590, or his Toronto Argos coverage on AM 640. In this episode, we work our way through his broadcast history, from his humble beginnings as a radio intern all the way to his coverage of events like the Superbowl.If you're a sports fan, you'll love this one. Jim talks at length about the most stand-out moments of his sports career- the aftermath of Superbowl 42 and the ensuing chaos, the feeling of living in Montreal while the Canadiens were on a Stanley Cup run, and the privilege of becoming the radio voice of the Argos.This is a great episode for radio buffs as well, as Jim shares his story of moving from Halifax to Toronto and falling in love with the radio offerings the city had. He shares the exact moment he knew it was the career for him, the trepidation he felt the first time he stepped inside a big-city radio control room, and even some tips about making a voiceover sound punchier.Nowadays, Jim hosts his own morning show on 105.9 The Region. You can listen to him from Monday to Friday, 5:00am to 10:00am. Hockey fans should also check out any of his 3 books, all co-written with hockey legends:Bleeding Blue with Wendel Clark, Shift Work with Tie Domi, and Everyday Hockey Heroes with Bob Mackenzie.Get a transcription here. It's at the bottom of the page. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.