The Sound Off Podcast

JJ Kincaid does mornings at New Country 101.5 in Atlanta. He's been in radio since the 90's, making his mark at CHR stations across America, including KDWB in Minneapolis and Z100 in New York. I've been fortunate to meet JJ and get to know him over cocktails, but I also made sure his show was a stop back when I would wake up and listen to morning radio. (The pandemic has meant I do a little less now)In this episode, you will hear all about JJ growing up in his house where radio was more than in the home. He's wanted to be on the air since he was 5. You will hear some incredible stories about getting a call from Kid Kelly, getting hired at Z100, putting together a morning show in Denver, and what he did after his time in Denver came to an end.There's always more on the show notes page. Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Terry DiMonte takes a break from taking a break from social media and joined me to talk about his summer live from my dining.room. Since his "retirement" from CHOM last May, he's enjoyed sleeping in and visiting with friends. I am very honoured to be his friends and a stop on the Winnipeg tour. Terry has long roots in Winnipeg that extend back to his days at 92 CITI-FM and working in the same building as the legendary Don Percy who acted as a mentor. We recorded this episode on the 4th anniversary of the passing of his friend Kenny Shields from Streetheart.Thanks to everyone who participated in the episode with Q&A's, and if you want to be apart of these in the future, just subscribe to the podcast page on YouTube and Facebook.You can see the video exchange here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Researching for podcast episodes is different in the pandemic. I often have met the person long before I interview them. Perhaps we shared a coffee or drink, maybe we worked together or I saw them speak at a conference. Perhaps I grew up listening to them, worked in the same market or interviewed them for a job. The pandemic has turned some of episodes into radio Lava-Life dates. That's what happened with this episode with Lena Shulman from Vancouver's Jack-FM.In this episode, I spent a fair amount of time asking her the questions on her online profile, but the real gold was in the after dinner drinks where I found her her family emigrated from the former Soviet Union and later Israel on their way to Canada. As we spoke it was apparent that Lena also knew multiple languages. Her broadcast career started on campus at the University of Toronto where she was studying history. From there she opted for a producer position at Corus Radio Toronto and made her way across Canada to Lloydminster, Saskatoon, Niagara and then back to Vancouver's Jack 96.9 FM where she co-hosts the morning show with Drex and Bob Addison, aka No Fun Bobby.Lena made mention of a book by Roy Williams called Pendulum. You can order a copy of it here. You can find out more about Lena and see some of great stuff she is up to on our episode page.Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yes it has been five years since we had Jessica Rhodes from Interview connections on the podcast. Since then Jessica has grown the business to a six and now 7 figure business. How did she do it? Small steps and "grind and grit". In this episode I reconnect with Jessica , 5 years in between episodes and ask her about some of the business moves she has made like getting a physical office space, partnering with Margy Feldhuhn, and working with female business coaches like Kelly Roach and Ali Brown. Jessica also notes there's a difference between scaling to 7 figures as opposed to 8; it's a different set of strategies to get to 8.Both Jessica (president) and Margy (CEO) have their own podcasts. You can find Jessica's "Monetize the Mic" here - and Margy's "We Get It, Your Dad Died" here. There was so much I didn't know about building a company in the podcast space when I first started back in 2016, but simply following Jessica and paying attention to how she operates, I learned a lot. There are about 7 people who I follow like that. It's not unlike listening to your favourite radio performer to hear their show every day - and learn how they connect.If you are in radio and wondering why you should listen to the show:(1) Because Jessica got to the top by not worrying about the copy cat competition.(2) Because you don't have a podcast and should consider guesting on podcasts if you aren't going to podcast.(3) Even if you have a podcast, learning to be a guest will help you become a better interviewer.Follow Jessica and everyone at Interview Connections on the Facebook Group Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Mamola is the program director of WDAE, the sports station in Tampa Bay. We had him on the show back in December of 2019 and his life sounded busy. With the arrival of COVID, the sports world got turned upside down. For many stations, the arrival of COVID meant a decrease in workload - but not in Tampa Bay. The city really started to stir with arrival of Tom Brady in March of 2002. From that point on, the dynamic of the sports market began to change. Since then the baseball Rays have gone to the World Series, the NFL Buccaneers won the Super Bowl and the NHL Lightning have won two Stanley Cups in a 9 month period. Crazy.So how does the program director of a radio station with 7 sports properties cope?That's what we found out in this episode. I spoke to John about everything that has gone on since we last spoke in December 2019. A once passive sports market with a lot activity has gone into hyperdrive.Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are a lot of things that come to mind when you hear the name Stu Schwartz. The Ottawa morning host has been a radio staple in the market since the mid-90's, first making a name for himself as Stuntman Stu, then as a sports fixture on Team 1200 AND in-house announcer at the Ottawa Senators hockey games, and now overall radio powerhouse at Move 100. He's not ready to put himself in the category of the Max Keeping's and Ken "The General" Grant who ruled the broadcast airwaves in Ottawa in the 20th Century, but this century his is one of the first names that comes up when you say "radio" in Ottawa.Throughout the years, Stu has been able to build his following, one community appearance at a time. In 2016, he was diagnosed with cancer and talks about how being public about it has helped him channel strength.Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paige Nienaber knows radio promotions and marketing. He's been involved with some really big ones - and one that I definitely remember because I saw it play out on CNN. (Wild's infamous Haircut on the Bridge). In this episode, I ask Paige all about what makes a radio promotion successful, and how they changed over the course of the pandemic.In this episode, you'll hear a conversation about radio promotions that I have been planning since I first met Paige in 2016. We discuss the anatomy of a great radio promotion and touch on a few of the famous ones that have taken place over the years, including Mancow Muller's Bay Bridge Haircut, and a lottery contest that didn't pass the legal test. One thing is evident: The same elements that made promotions successful in the 80's, still exist today. Paige also touched on the success of the Secret Sound contest which is on air now at 99.7 Now in San Francisco. If your station would like to bolster its promotions game, Reach out to Paige on this website. http://www.cpr-promotions.com/ or call him at +1 651 247 4056.Of note - this episode was recorded using Squadcast and this is the first episode with their new Dolby Voice feature. Use the promo code soundoff for up to a free month off of the Indie audio plan ($20 of value) in addition to the free 7-day trial.Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christian Zyp is a host on Edmonton's CJSR's Moving Radio. But you're not listening to this episode for that. The story of our friendship begins on the radio in 1995 with the release of Van Halen's Balance CD. Back then radio stations were given advance copies and a "World Album Premiere". The special we ran only featured 9/11 songs on the CD. Where we the other two. Two drunk guys started calling me and asking why we had left two of the songs off and I said, "If you have some beer in the fridge I'll bring the CD over and we'll listen to it."What's a few brews between Van Halen fans?From there on, Garth Thatchuk and Christian Zyp became lifelong friends.Zyp started his radio career in 1998 as the host of the venerable Moving Radio on CJSR. But he is better known as a teacher, movie buff, music lover, soccer teammate, and overall great guy. The last time I saw him was in Edmonton in 2015. Life changed for him and his wife Trina 4 months later.You just skip over listening to the podcast and head straight to the blog page to read about Zyp's incredible story of battling back from the brink of death from contracting meningitis. This episode is dedicated to my good friend who reminds me to be thankful everyday and a reminder of the many ways radio creates friendships and bonds across the airwaves and beyond. Zyp and Trina are also responsible for kicking my ass and telling me to get going with a podcast back in November 2015.This episode does not have any discussion of breaks, bits, PPM numbers, digital anything, or workforce reductions. This is is the story community, friendship and gratitude.If you do get the chance, take the time to call someone you met along your radio journey, and see how they are doing. They would love to hear from you.Also check out Zyp's Facebook support group for ongoing updates. Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometime back in 2008, Vinny Barrucco made the call to (then) Mix 96 to see if his skills acquired at community juggernaut K103 Kahnawake would translate into the Montreal mainstream. We know today that that answer is yes. The Montreal morning host has done most of the day parts on Montreal radio at the two of the biggest English FM's in the city, Virgin Radio and 92.5 The Beat. Today, he is a host on the former along with Shannon King and Adam Greenberg.In this episode, you will hear how Vinny nearly left Montreal on a few occasions, only to have circumstance keep home in his hometown. We also took the time to share our passion and love for Montreal and everything it has offer. Apologies if it gets a little inside with words such as "Dep", "Habs", "Bill 101", "Anglo", "Franco" and an in-depth discussion about how the Quebec star-system towers over Canada's. No apologies offered for the three or four times we randomly started talking about the Montreal Canadiens. (Bruins and Leafs fans might want to skip over this episode and listen in July)I had the chance to meet Vinny in 2019 where we chatted about the world of podcast and I really love how he started one with his wife Tina called, "Marriage in the Fast Lane", documenting their transition from single, to newlyweds, to parents.Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steve Goldstein and I had a chat for this special bonus episode about how many podcasts there are. REALLY. Steve is the Founder/CEO of Amplifi Media, an audio innovation firm that offers counsel, production, and marketing of voice-first, podcast, and branded audio. Well-known as a thought leader in audio programming, marketing, and management, Steve often speaks about the future of audio at major conferences. He lends his extensive knowledge to the podcast, and illuminates some of the misconceptions about the number of podcasts that really do exist. Click here to watch the livestream of this episode. Click here to read Steve's blog that covers this topic in great depth. There is a lot of great info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.