

The Sound Off Podcast
Matt Cundill
Hosted by veteran broadcaster and voice artist Matt Cundill, The Sound Off Podcast takes you behind the mic for conversations with the people shaping the world of audio. From radio legends and podcast pioneers to producers, programmers, voiceover talent, and top-tier creators. Each episode dives deep into the craft, business, and culture of sound.Matt brings his decades of industry experience—and tall-tale stories—to the table, creating a space where creators and listeners alike can explore how audio connects, entertains, and evolves.Whether you're in the industry or just fascinated by it, The Sound Off Podcast delivers insider perspectives, valuable insights, and plenty of personality.New episodes weekly.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 23, 2017 • 31min
The Millennials - Georgia Beasley, Beasley Media Group
Georgia Beasley has penned 2 articles for Radio Ink magazine called, "My Life as a Radio Millennial". The podcast was in the midst of assembling an episode on the Millennials coming of age now that they occupy a whole key ad-buying demo to themselves. (Adults 25-34) We speak to Georgia Beasley, Digital Sales Director for Beasley Media Group. Other contributions from Matt Abra who attended #NAB2017 in LasVegas in April, and Rebecca Henderson who provided us with a review of the new Radio Player Canada App.
This episode is brought to you by NLogic and their new cloud based application Lens for radio. http://go.nlogic.ca/l/130651/2017-04-26/m2xt4
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 20, 2017 • 44min
Broadway Bill Lee - Coast to Coast, Post to Post
Broadway Bill Lee is one of the reasons I fell in love with radio. In the late 80's I would watch Vuolo Video airchecks and Bill stood out amongst the crowd. Fast forward to the digital era and Bill is still entertaining people on multiple social media platforms with his unique song intros that make him one of a kind. His afternoon show on the legendary WCBS-FM is top rated because of the hard work he puts into the show, and the great programming team at the station. Yes, it's a trip down memory lane at times, but if you want to work for 5 decades in radio, you had better be able to rebrand yourself. (We talk about that)The podcast is brought to you by Promosuite and their new cloud based paperless studio. We wanted to have Rocco from Promosuite on the show to talk about his time with Bill Lee at Hot 97, but alas... he had laryngitis. Visit the website - it will make him feel better. http://www.promosuite.com/soundoffSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 12, 2017 • 38min
Pat Holiday's Great Case for Radio
Pat Holiday has spent 9 years away from work inside a physical radi station. In that time he has seen that its issues remain the same and there is both good and bad in that. He moderated the Broadcast Leadership panel "Like a Boss" at Canadian Music Week and did not serve up any softballs, but he did admit to leaving a few fast balls on the table. From his iconic beginnings at the Big 8 at CKLW in Detroit, to working in three Canadian cities in management, Pat has a knack for taking a market's temperature and reflecting it in the radio station he champions. He readily admits that radio has changed but things are not as bad as they seem, and radio is perhaps fixing the product at the wrong end. Update 2021: Pat has started a Program Director's course. Subscribe to it here on Youtube! It is really good. My thanks to Karen Steele at Virgin Radio in Kitchener for the show idea. Other notable credits include Matt Abra from Red River College who edited the episode, and Lauren Siddall who heads up the Social Media and Digital side of things here at the podcast. If you enjoy this episode, please take a moment to rate and review it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 26, 2017 • 34min
David Phillips' Data Perspectives
David Phillips is the President and COO of NLogic, His discussions on data and surveys have been well received at media conferences, which spurned my interest in bringing David onto the podcast last fall. The timing was right this spring with the recent upgrades to the Lens product. His perspective is unique and refreshing; it will leave radio people wondering why we behave and think the way we do. I have spent nearly 30 years in radio through 100+ rating books and will be look at data differently after my conversation with David. You will too. His company just unveiled some program additions to NLogic's Lens, which has always been about what clients need, not what they thought the clients needed. If you would like to use Lens, you can click here. http://go.nlogic.ca/l/130651/2017-04-26/m2xt4 This episode is brought to you by Promosuite and the new cloud based Promosuite Next. Try it for yourself at http://www.promosuite.com/soundoff Finally, it is budget time at many stations. One way you can support the podcast is to consider using the services of one of our clients on your station. Maybe it's showprep with http://www.radiopepperprep.com Radio Imaging with Core Image studios https://99designs-56d0bb796dae6.jimdo.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 22, 2017 • 26min
Jesse Modz - Young Broadcaster of the Year
A few weeks ago, we had J.J. Johnston on the podcast to give us the story and background behind Steve Young and the Alan Waters Young Broadcaster Award. This year the award goes to Jesse Modz from CJAY 92 in Calgary. In this episode, you will get to know Jesse and what it takes to win this award. He is already wise enough to realize that one will always do better with more creativity (and more creative people) around you. Jesse also gives the early picks on who might win the award next year. This week's episode is brought to you by NLogic - http://bit.ly/2oLHQmQThis episode is also brought to you by Promosuite and the new cloud based software Promosuite Next. http://www.promosuite.com/soundoffSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 10, 2017 • 37min
The Wild & Crazy Radio Life of J.C. Douglas
It takes a whole conversation with J.C. Douglas to realize that the journey lies somewhere between the Grateful Dead's "Truckin'" (What a Long Strange Trip it's been...) and Motley Crue's Wild Side. From the early days at Q104, to nearly 30 years at the station - and now at long-time rival C100. His durability on air is a result of hard work, learning and knowing the brand of your station. I know that sounds hoaky but if you're gonna rock, you had better rock; if you want to attract females on a heritage morning show, you need to make a few subtle changes. I have always loved Halifax and full disclousre, I worked in Nova Scotia for 4 years and spent many afternoons listening to JC Douglas and Andrew Gillis on the Mighty Q. Recently I took a trip back and heard JC Douglas on C100 - and thought there is no better person to tell Haligonian Radio Tales than JC. (I think I should trademark that) This episode is brought to you by Promosuite and the new cloud based software Promosuite Next. http://www.promosuite.com/soundoffSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 1, 2017 • 27min
Ronnie Stanton Goes South
Ronnie Stanton emigrated from Australia to Canada in 2008 after a successful stint as a morning show host and programmer on the Sunshine Coast. His 5 years at Astral Media's 95 Crave then Virgin Radio, morphed into a difficult decision to cross the street to Corus Radio's CFOX and Rock 101. His latest career move has him heading south to Alpha Media where he is VP/Programming and residing in San Jose. We spend our time discussing the rise of the classic hits format, and discussing life under the divisive Trump presidency. This week's episode is brought to you by NLogic - get your free trial of LENS here - http://bit.ly/2oLHQmQSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 28, 2017 • 36min
Chuck McCoy on Audio, Technology and Talent
Chuck McCoy has been in radio for 52 years. But he won't tell you he has worked in radio - but in audio. He is forward thinking enough to recognize that he has been an audio business all along. You might think that when we bring someone onto this podcast who has had a long and storied career, that we would talk about the past. Instead he wanted to talk about the NOW and the future. Chuck also provides a great advice on how to stay sharp.
Chuck's brother Jeff Vidler appeared in Episode 33 of this podcast series. They will both be at Canadian Music Week in April to honour their brother Gary Russell who will be receiving a lifetime achievement award posthumously.
This week's episode is brought to you by Promosuite. http://www.promosuite.com/soundoff
Also take our audience survey here - http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=c-pwg3hNJ1tz&ver=standard
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 26, 2017 • 1h 3min
Eric Samuels Goes from Astounding Radio to Astonishing Acts
Eric Samuels hired me to do evenings at 100.3 the Bear in Edmonton in 1994. Although Eric would move on to Vancouver a few years later, the two years I worked under him set the tone for how I would broadcast and program radio for years to follow. The best way I could describe his approach is that it is okay to broadcast outside the lines of the unwritten rules of radio. (And by that, I don't mean vulgarity or profanity - those are the written rules of radio)
A few months ago, Eric reached out to me and asked about doing a series about life after radio. That theme comes up often on this podcast with Todd Hancock, John "Milkman" Milke, Humble & Fred and others. (All of who are actually doing radio; just not for radio stations) The Sound Off Podcast is an audio record of radio stories told by the people who were there. In last week's episode, TJ Connors spoke of his dad Scruff and his return to 97.7 HTZ-FM in Saint Catherines; those two elements return again and serve as a continuation of sorts. Eric was program director from the station's inception through to 1992, then he and Scruff and a cast of characters went to Edmonton and started 100.3 The Bear.
In the years that ensued, we spoke about being at the forefront of ratings success at Z95 in Vancouver and becoming the head of programming for Standard Radio nationally - and knowing when it was time to step away.
This week's episode is brought to you by NLogic - get your free trial of LENS here - http://go.nlogic.ca/l/130651/2017-02-02/khtd2
Also take our audience survey here - http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=c-pwg3hNJ1tz&ver=standard
People mentioned on the podcast and the Episodes they appeared in:
Jeff Woods - 2
Marty Forbes - 16
Terry Evans - 22
J.J. Johnston - 39
TJ Connors / Scruff Connors - 40
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 18, 2017 • 36min
TJ Connors Elected to the White House of Rock
TJ Connors has come full circle. The station he grew up around is now his afternoon home. His father, the legendary Scruff Connors, was the morning man at 97.7 HTZ-FM in St. Catherines during the height of rock radio's mass appeal phase in the early 90's. A quarter century later, the Connors name is back on HTZ-FM. I hired TJ to do mornings at Power in 2012, and had a chance to work with him as a consultant to his Country 103 station in Kamloops, where he was morning man and program director. We spoke about the advantages and disadvantages of following his dad on a station he helped make famous, and what makes HTZ-FM so legendary in the Niagara region. SPONSORED BY PROMOSUITE: http://www.promosuite.com/soundoff Also on the show, Edison research released their annual "Infinite Dial" update. Jason Barrett of Barrett Sports Media was kind enough to lend me 9 minutes of his take on the podcast portion of the report. All of which I agree with. (You know those boring infomercials and bad radio shows used to fill weekend slots on sports radio and news/talk? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.