How many different hats do you wear as host and producer of your own podcast? If you actually wrote out everything you do for your podcast besides speaking into the microphone, the list would be extensive. Podcasters often get asked what it means to be a podcast producer. As Emma Krebs explains, that's because "producer" is an umbrella term that encompasses a ton of different roles.

Emma is a seasoned podcast and YouTube producer who currently produces celebrity doctor Mark Hyman's show. While she's lucky enough today to have a robust team and suite of tools at her disposal, she remembers what it was like to fly solo. In this episode, she breaks down what her current role looks like and which of the many, many steps every hybrid host–producer should prioritize.

From heavy guest research to tracking spreadsheets to really perfecting that intro, Emma's tips and tricks will help you position your podcast as a meaningful contributor to the medium and to positive change across the industry.

Dust off the countless hats of a solo showrunner:

• How spending more time on show prep will save you time later;
• The ongoing inequality and hopeful future of women in podcasting;
• Why you need to think about your intros long before post-production;
• Why jumping on the video podcast bandwagon might be the wrong move.

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Episode 110, "Start Strong with a Purposeful Intro": https://www.organizedsound.ca/start-strong-with-a-purposeful-intro-episode-110/
• USC Annenberg, "Inequality in Popular Podcasts? An Examination of Gender & Race/Ethnicity": https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-inequality-Podcasts-2025-11-06.pdf

Engage with Emma:

• Learn more about her work: https://www.emmakrebs.com/
• Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byemmakrebs/
• Listen to the Dr. Hyman Show, produced by Emma: https://drhyman.com/blogs/content/tagged/podcast

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 do you draw in your listener, right from the very beginning? Don't lose your listener before you even have them. An overly lengthy, unintentional, or boring introduction at the top of an episode is a great way to do just that. Much like in radio and newspaper, the lede is your opportunity to seize and delight your audience, so it's important not to squander it.

Mary knows the pain of sitting through a dry, repetitive podcast intro. In this episode, she brings you the details you need to avoid that pitfall. There's a difference between show and episode intros, and all too many pods air what should actually be a stand-alone trailer at the top, every time. Discover the ingredients that deliver an impactful and purposeful lede and the factors that should guide your intro style choice. Now, the question is: what will you tweak or try in your next episode to land your listener right away?

Avoid boring beginnings with Mary's quick, high-impact tips:

• The difference between show and episode intros and trailers;
• The five building blocks of a show intro;
• How your show's goal and ideal listener guide your lead-in.

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Episode 15, "Identifying Your Audience for Podcast Growth": https://www.organizedsound.ca/identifying-your-audience-for-podcast-growth-episode-15/
• Episode 105, "Simplify Your Podcast Production with a Show Map": https://www.organizedsound.ca/simplify-your-podcast-production-with-a-show-map-episode-105/

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 do you make your podcasting hours really count? You know the feeling—you plan to sit down and record your episode, and before you know it, that day has completely gotten away from you. There's a plan to make, research to conduct, and stretch breaks to squeeze in. It usually takes longer than expected to record, and afterwards, there's editing, marketing, design…if you don't have a robust team behind you, it's one heck of a job!

Inspired by the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse, full of intense energy and rapid transformation, Mary welcomes 2026 with a call to action for every podcaster: Slow down! Sure, you can create a podcast episode quickly—you can use the ever-transforming generative AI to write, record, and edit. You can blurt out whatever pops into your head as it comes. But a show that really lands with the target audience needs to be intentional.

This year, take the time to pause, strategize, and make meaningful decisions. The likely result? A rock-star show worthy of all the fiery passion you put into it.

Slow down and consider what you want out of your podcast:

• How new technologies and breakthroughs are changing and challenging the industry;
• Why you should time your whole podcast procedure;
• The difference between a quick episode and a short episode.

Links worth mentioning from the episode:

• Subscribe to the Culture Study newsletter: https://annehelen.substack.com/
• Follow the Culture Study podcast: https://culturestudypod.substack.com/
• Listen to episode 95, "Generative AI: Understanding the Future of Podcasting with Amanda Cupido": https://www.organizedsound.ca/generative-ai-understanding-the-future-of-podcasting-with-amanda-cupido-episode-95/

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'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.

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.

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.

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.