The Podcaster's Guide to a Visible Voice

Mary Chan
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  • How To
  • Updated Biweekly

How do you, as a podcaster, make an emotional connection with your listeners to create a place where they feel like they belong? This podcast about how to podcast for underrepresented podcasters doing good in the world, who want to build a community of belonging. You'll discover what it takes to be a powerful podcaster and support your listeners to feel like they belong. Go on your podcasting journey to reclaim and redefine what a successful podcast means to you, by thriving on your own terms, with Mary Chan as your host. As a Voice-Over Artist and former radio producer for almost 20 years, she'll share with you what she's learned from creating, recording, and editing, hundreds of thousands of voices; from newbie clients who had to read their very first script to seasoned professionals voicing the very same commercials you hear on the radio and TV. They all have one thing in common with you – they made an emotional connection to a listener, not by the words they use, but by how they use their voice. Now as a Podcast Strategist and founder of Organized Sound Productions, you'll gain the insights to keep you podcasting and have fun while you're at it! How do you want your listener to feel? Learn all the secrets at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com and to work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca.

  1. 1d ago

    The Habits That Keep You Podcasting (and the Ones That Don't)

    What sort of podcasting traps do you fall into? When’s the last time you were scrambling as an episode date drew near? Maybe a rambling recording took hours to review, the next one was still sitting in that batch-edit stack, or you hadn’t even settled on a topic 24 hours before the scheduled drop. Podcasting is a lot of work—that’s no secret—but the right mindset can keep you feeling excited for your show, not stressed and resentful, and keep it from fading out. Drawing from her own podcast missteps and numerous client experiences, Mary walks you through three concepts to ponder when you need a boost to keep creating. The world, or at least your audience, deserves to hear your voice and perspective. Don’t let perfectionism, a murky distinction between urgent and important, or a distaste for marketing turn your passionate idea into a hard drive of unedited recordings that never see the light of day. Take inventory and meet yourself where you’re at to build a show that sticks: How to build a note-taking habit that makes your episode ideas always accessible;Time-blocking approaches that prevent putting off your production to-dos;Reframing your take on where promotion falls on the important/urgent scale;Why embracing imperfection might be the secret to a wonderful, long-lived podcast. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Episode 27, Sustainable Podcasting: https://www.organizedsound.ca/sustainable-podcasting-summer-break-episode-27/Episode 9, Starting a Perfectly Imperfect Podcast: https://www.organizedsound.ca/starting-a-perfectly-imperfect-podcast-episode-9/Episode 108, Pause, Plan, Publish: A Podcaster’s Blueprint for Slowing Down: https://www.organizedsound.ca/pause-plan-publish-a-podcasters-blueprint-for-slowing-down-episode-108/ Support the Show! Love what you're hearing? Support the show by donating to the tip jar! http://visiblevoicepodcast.com/support Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.comGet the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.comRead up on more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletterTo learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.caLink up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsoundEngage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions Show Credits: Podcast audio design, engineering, and editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound ProductionsShow notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words StudioPost-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VAPodcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co

    The Habits That Keep You Podcasting (and the Ones That Don't)

  2. Oct 5

    When to Ask for Help Building Your Podcast with Paul Rosenblum

    What if a bit of help could take your show from pipe dream to passion project? When you think about your reason for podcasting, maybe your mind jumps straight to listener and download numbers, guest appearances, and episodes in the bank. But even more is the “why” of creating your show in the first place. For Paul Rosenblum, the host of “The (Not Boring) Boring Small Business Bookkeeping and Accounting Podcast”, the foundational reason is a desire to keep teaching the younger generation of business owners about accounting and all the other essential financial details that are so hard to find. When his initial podcasting assistant fell through in 2022, just 10 episodes in, Paul had to decide whether to shutter his fledgling show or keep pushing through. When he stumbled upon Stephanie Fuccio, a friend, former guest of the pod, and fellow podcast producer, it felt like kismet. Backed by Paul’s innate ability to keep listeners engaged and Stephanie’s ongoing insights and assistance, the show has celebrated 100 episodes and gives no sign of slowing down. Some day, Paul won’t be a bookkeeper and podcast host anymore, but his lighthearted and informational teachings will persist as the helpful legacy he envisioned from the start. Take a deeper look at your own podcasting why and how: The impetus that takes you from vague idea to pressing record;How an outside perspective can take a show from dull to delightful;Why your “why” could be the tipping point when you get in a rut;A crash course in teaching tricks that make any subject matter utterly engaging. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Find out more about Paul: https://bookkeepermensch.comListen to The (Not Boring) Boring Small Business Bookkeeping and Accounting Podcast: https://bookkeepermensch.com/podcast-latest-episodesConnect with Stephanie Fuccio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstephfuccioRead Steph's Substack "Get more listeners with older episodes": https://podcaststeph.substack.comRead Frank Racioppi’s article about Paul’s podcast “Why An Indie Accounting/Bookkeeping Podcast is Not Boring!”: https://medium.com/ear-worthy/why-an-indie-accounting-bookkeeping-podcast-is-not-boring-54af22479005Listen to 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-104Listen to Steph’s episode on the pod, episode 51, “Honing Your Podcast Voice Through Second Language Learning”: https://www.organizedsound.ca/honing-your-podcast-voice-through-second-language-learning-with-stephanie-fuccio-episode-51Listen to Mary's previous podcast "the Homestay Kitchen": http://homestaykitchen.com Support the Show! Love what you're hearing? Support the show by donating to the tip jar! http://visiblevoicepodcast.com/support Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.comGet the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.comRead up on more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletterTo learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.caLink up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsoundEngage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions Show Credits: Podcast audio design, engineering, and editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound ProductionsShow notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words StudioPost-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VAPodcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co

    When to Ask for Help Building Your Podcast with Paul Rosenblum

  3. Sep 21

    Choosing the Best Podcasting Events for Your Time and Budget

    How do you weigh conference pros and cons when there are so many options? Industry events are happening constantly in this age of global connection, and podcasting is certainly no exception. But when budget, travel, and work and family responsibilities all factor into our available time, how do we narrow down which conferences are worth it? Live events are exciting. Meeting in real life the people you’ve heard in your ears for so long is invigorating and comforting—so how do you possibly narrow it down? To help you curb the FOMO, Mary walks you through her process for selecting yearly events: where, who, and how much are all essential considerations. From weighing the data to confirming the details, this episode provides a checklist to help you pare down the possibilities, so you get the most out of the educational and networking opportunities, without draining your bank account or your energy. Start planning your podcast conference experience: Why location drives so much of the decision-making;Figure out what you want to get out of your excursions;Why it’s important to double-check the details for events you’re excited about;The benefits of attending an online event. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Discover conferences in your area and ballpark: https://podnews.net/eventsGet notified when One Stone Creative’s 2026 State of Business Podcasting Report drops: https://onestonecreative.net/ReportCheck out Calgary’s PodSummit: https://www.podsummit.comAttend the Podcast Show in London: https://www.thepodcastshowlondon.comExplore the Asia Podcast Festival: https://www.asiapodcastfestival.comLearn about Radiodays Asia: https://radiodaysasia.com/Listen to 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 Support the Show! Love what you're hearing? Support the show by donating to the tip jar! http://visiblevoicepodcast.com/support Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.comGet the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.comRead up on more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletterTo learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.caLink up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsoundEngage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions Show Credits: Podcast audio design, engineering, and editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound ProductionsShow notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words StudioPost-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VAPodcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.

    Choosing the Best Podcasting Events for Your Time and Budget

  4. Jun 29

    When Do I Stop? Existential Questions for the Hobby Podcaster

    How do I figure out if my show is still working for me? Summer is a great time to take a break and reflect on your podcast so far. When that reflection leads to questioning whether it's time to stop producing your show or go on hiatus, a lot of tough queries and existential dread can surface. In the final episode of the season, Mary guides you in a thought exercise to help clarify this decision for you. Especially when you're working on a passion project—something that developed from a hobby or avocation—it can be difficult to balance the capacity and financial demand of prepping, recording, producing, and publishing with the rest of your life. By identifying stand-out episodes and any shifts in the deeper why behind your project since it launched, you can design a future that fits. Whether you decide to stop cold turkey, continue as usual, or take a more manageable, stripped-down approach, this episode is required listening for all podcasters wondering whether to shutter their show or stay the course. Reflect on these existential podcasting questions: Why it pays to look back at your favourite episode; The middle ground between the parts of production you love and the parts you don't; Identifying the legacy you want to leave behind; The reality of bankrolling a passion project. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Episode 117 - How Your Podcast Can Help Dismantle the "Minority" Narrative with Jerry Won: https://www.organizedsound.ca/how-your-podcast-can-help-dismantle-the-minority-narrative-with-jerry-won-episode-117/ 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.

    When Do I Stop? Existential Questions for the Hobby Podcaster

  5. Jun 15

    How Your Podcast Can Help Dismantle the "Minority" Narrative with Jerry Won

    Why is it so important for Asian Americans to keep loudly sharing their stories? Jerry Won launched Dear Asian Americans, an interview-style podcast, in 2020. He used this growing permissions-free platform to highlight the often overlooked and "unmarketable" stories of Americans from a vast range of backgrounds. Jerry's deliberate volume-based approach—producing 100 episodes in the first year—aimed to get as close to "sufficient coverage" of Asian American experiences as possible and led to cross-country work as a speaker and presenter. It's impossible to tell every story, Jerry acknowledges in his conversation with Mary, since new ones are being created every day and everyone not featured on his show is just as worthy of sharing their life's account. His overarching goal reflects the significance many Asian cultures place on their ancestors, with a future-focused twist: by speaking up, he strives to be the kind of ancestor his kids will be proud to remember. Six years ago, Asian Americans faced backlash from the pandemic's supposed origins. Today, the tear down of DEI in the western world is another source of stifling. That's why Jerry encourages "minority" storytellers to get loud and not stop, "especially on days when the world is trying to silence you." Raise your voice to tell as many diverse stories as possible: How permission-based media built barriers against diverse storytelling; The math behind the miscalculation of Asian American audiences; How Jerry wound up live-interviewing Vice President Kamala Harris; Navigating traditional familial expectations on an untraditional job path. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Mary's interview on Dear Asian Americans: https://www.justlikemedia.com/show/dear-asian-americans/079-mary-chan-podcast-strategist-coach-and-host-organized-sound-productions-finding-her-voice/ Engage with Jerry: Listen to Dear Asian Americans: https://www.justlikemedia.com/show/dear-asian-americans/ Learn more about Jerry's work: https://www.jerrywon.com/ Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrywon/ 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 Your Podcast Can Help Dismantle the "Minority" Narrative with Jerry Won

  6. Jun 1

    Filler Words: Authentically Human or Unprofessional?

    How do you decide which um's and er's to keep and which to cut? You probably grew up hearing that too many "um"s and "like"s when you speak means you aren't educated or eloquent enough. The truth is, these filler words have an important job to do in our speech and conversation: they contribute to emotional impact and authenticity, and generally don't detract from authority at all. Despite the research supporting this, the past decade or so has seen a push by some podcasters and platforms to eradicate filler words from published episodes. Today, there are even one-click AI-driven options that claim to cleanly pull selected "er"s and "uh"s from your recordings. Spoiler alert: they aren't very good at it. All this serves to reinforce the narrative that filler words are "bad," but Mary pushes back on that erroneous assumption. In this episode, she discusses the disconnect between speaker and listener that comes from over-editing. Striking a balance between a stilted monologue that distracts your audience and authentic human connection isn't always easy, but it's always worth the effort. Fight for the right to keep your conversations natural: Why identifying your ideal listener is key to filler word frequency; The reason letting AI edit out your filler words is bound to fail (aka: the context cue imperative); How eavesdropping at your local coffee shop can improve your editing; What the filler word controversy can reveal to you about your own speech patterns. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Episode 18, Why Filler Words Like "Like" Are Powerful with Alexandra D'Arcy: https://www.organizedsound.ca/why-filler-words-like-like-are-powerful-with-alexandra-darcy-episode-18/ 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.

    Filler Words: Authentically Human or Unprofessional?

  7. May 18

    What Publishing 2000+ Episodes Will Teach You with Dave Campbell

    What keeps you podcasting in the margins of your days? For Dave Campbell, the answer to this question is, "having nine regular shows, including one that puts out daily episodes." As a podcaster, you probably have other responsibilities—a full-time job, kids, the continuous task list of being an adult. But when building connection or, as Dave says, "collecting people" is your calling, your podcast is an uplifting and resonant platform for exploring your interests, learning from brilliant and engaging guests, and fine-tuning skills that will serve you on and off the mic. Dave has published more than 2000 episodes across his shows, and he's become something of an expert at squeezing podcasting into the margins. He self-identifies as "curious and improperly supervised," and the results are inspiring: he's building a community of interesting and interested people everywhere he goes. In their conversation, Dave and Mary talk about the experiences and impacts that come with passionate podcasting. Whether you're brand new to hosting or decades in, this consummate storyteller and enthusiastic host will remind you why you launched your show in the first place. Reignite or reaffirm your enthusiasm for podcasting: The many ways to build community when the industry feels lonely; Why getting feedback is paramount to your show's success; Why you should hit record even when your motivating flags; What experimentation can teach you about your audience. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Listen to Mary's interview on Dave's show, The How to Podcast Series: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1HF819gdIDf7zl9xtelZuC 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/ Engage with Dave Campbell: Listen to Dave's shows: https://truemediasolutions.ca/our-podcasts Follow Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-campbell-podcaster/ Get The Canadian Podcaster Magazine: https://truemediasolutions.ca/canadian-podcaster 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 Publishing 2000+ Episodes Will Teach You with Dave Campbell

  8. May 4

    Headphones are Non-Negotiable in Podcasting

    How important is it, really, to wear headphones when you record your show? These days, people immediately associate a person with a mic and headphones with podcasting. And yet, some hosts still push back against the idea—after all, their laptop speakers work just fine for video chats, right? If Mary can convince you of anything this season, it will be to start wearing headphones when podcasting. In this episode, she acknowledges all the reasons you might be hesitant to pop on a pair before you hit record. But when you learn about echoes, feedback, voice monitoring, and the problem with Bluetooth, you'll probably come around. As it turns out, this particular piece of audio gear is so much more than just visual branding for your medium. Turn up the volume on your headset (but not too loud) to find out: The ins and outs of noise suppression settings on recording software; Why you need to be mindful of your headphone volume; Why you need to listen to yourself in your headphones (even if it feels cringey); The question of comfort: how to work around irritating headsets. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Setting up professional audio for Zoom Meetings - https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0059985 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.

    Headphones are Non-Negotiable in Podcasting
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How do you, as a podcaster, make an emotional connection with your listeners to create a place where they feel like they belong? This podcast about how to podcast for underrepresented podcasters doing good in the world, who want to build a community of belonging. You'll discover what it takes to be a powerful podcaster and support your listeners to feel like they belong. Go on your podcasting journey to reclaim and redefine what a successful podcast means to you, by thriving on your own terms, with Mary Chan as your host. As a Voice-Over Artist and former radio producer for almost 20 years, she'll share with you what she's learned from creating, recording, and editing, hundreds of thousands of voices; from newbie clients who had to read their very first script to seasoned professionals voicing the very same commercials you hear on the radio and TV. They all have one thing in common with you – they made an emotional connection to a listener, not by the words they use, but by how they use their voice. Now as a Podcast Strategist and founder of Organized Sound Productions, you'll gain the insights to keep you podcasting and have fun while you're at it! How do you want your listener to feel? Learn all the secrets at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com and to work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca.

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