The Podcaster's Guide to a Visible Voice

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 are you creating impactful transcripts for your show? You've probably seen a bad podcast transcript. Maybe the creator was lazy in their transcription, maybe the AI was flummoxed by the proper nouns, punctuation, or audio labels—whatever the reason, such sub-par writing begs the question: is there even a point to having transcripts if they aren't very good? That's one of the queries Mary poses to podcast producer and consultant Jess Schmidt. It turns out Jess isn't just an expert in the industry, she's also a font of historical transcript knowledge, thanks in part to her past career generating closed captions for live television. Jess and Mary get into the importance of timestamps, SEO, and accessibility. They tackle the many issues facing platforms and creators alike as automated transcripts take centre stage and the continued importance of human eyes when it comes to rendering written versions of human speech. If you're not already a transcript nerd, you will be after this episode! Learn about the future of transcripts from the industry's storied past: The limitations of and issues with AI-generated transcripts on hosting platforms; How closed captioning is similar and different from transcripts; The fascinating history of YouTube's AI-generated "craptions"; Jess's hopeful daydream for the future of podcast transcription. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Read Jess's op-ed, "Podcasting's Money Problem": https://podthenorth.substack.com/p/op-ed-podcastings-money-problem WIRED, "The Problem with YouTube's Terrible Closed 'Craptions'": https://www.wired.com/story/problem-with-youtubes-terrible-closed-craptions/ The origin of automatic captioning on YouTube: https://research.google/blog/automatic-captioning-in-youtube/ Episode 69, "Intangible Values of a Podcast": https://www.organizedsound.ca/intangible-values-of-a-podcast-what-it-means-for-stats-metrics-and-monetization-episode-69/ Episode 88, "Accessibility in Podcasting for Hard-of-Hearing Listeners with Kellina Powell": https://www.organizedsound.ca/accessibility-in-podcasting-for-hard-of-hearing-listeners-with-kellina-powell-episode-88/ Episode 106, "Accessibility and Ethics in Podcasting with Meg Wilcox": https://www.organizedsound.ca/accessibility-and-ethics-in-podcasting-with-meg-wilcox-episode-106 Engage with Jess Schmidt: Learn more about her work: https://www.jessdoespodcasting.com/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessschmidt/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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.