The Podcaster's Guide to a Visible Voice

Reduce Impostor Syndrome By Listening Back to Your Voice - EP 107

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.

Accessibility and Ethics in Podcasting with Meg Wilcox - EP 106

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.

Simplify Your Podcast Production with a Show Map - EP 105

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.

The Perks of Being (or Having) a Co-Host with Darren Dukes and Jamie Weiss - EP 104

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.

How to Handle Listener Feedback - EP 103

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.