I reconnect with Buzz Knight to explore the evolution of Buzz’s podcasting journey and his growing audio network. Buzz traces the roots of his “Takin a Walk” podcast from its original in-person, outdoor concept—where he literally walked and talked with guests—through the practical challenges of weather and audio quality, to its current virtual format with a strong focus on music-centered storytelling.

Leveraging his radio experience both on air and in programming, Buzz explains how classic broadcast skills—crafting narrative, building anticipation, and smart promotion—translate directly into podcasting. He describes his partnership with iHeart, crediting executive Julie Talbot for championing the show and helping amplify it across the company’s powerful marketing and sales infrastructure.

Buzz also details the expansion of his network under Buzz Knight Media Productions, including “Music Saved Me” with Lynn Hoffman and its spin-off “Comedy Saved Me.” He talks about “Taking a Walk Nashville” with Sarah Harrelson as an embedded local host, citing Nashville’s unique creative energy and her drive, coachability, and self-starter mentality.

Throughout, Buzz emphasizes the joy of music discovery—spotlighting independent artists and unexpected career pivots—and reflects on the significant but rewarding workload of running multiple shows. Looking ahead, he teases a new concept at the intersection of music and true crime, while stressing the need to grow thoughtfully rather than endlessly add more podcasts.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kristi Lee is the host of Canadian True Crime, a show that has eclipsed 75 million downloads over 200 episodes. I spoke with Kristi about her path that ultimately led her into podcasting. Kristi told me about how a family move and her husband’s love of hockey brought them to Toronto, where she eventually turned her obsession with true crime shows like Casefile and They Walk Among Us into her own podcast in 2016.

She tells me about those early days, working late at night after her kids went to bed, teaching herself Audacity and spending a full week crafting her first episode on the Paul Bernardo case. We covered how storytelling has evolved through cases like Cody Legebokoff and Victoria Stafford, and the powerful moment she heard from a victim’s father who appreciated her work.

We also got real about monetizing a podcast in Canada, why she chose ACast and dynamic ad insertion to fill a small bucket, and how she’s built a small but trusted team while staying very hands-on. Kristi closes by sharing her plans to tackle complex topics like human trafficking, emphasizing trauma-informed, ethical storytelling and a strong sense of responsibility to victims and communities.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Julian Nieh is Julian on the Radio,and traces his radio career that’s from Washington, DC to major markets like Chicago, Seattle, Las Vegas, and the future. He recalls falling into radio through an internship, doing everything from promotions and street stunts to last‑minute board‑opping that led to his first on‑air shifts. Matt and Julian geek out on the magic of 90s radio and MTV, the emotional pull of that era’s music, and the power of creating anticipation and memorable moments for listeners.

Julian reflects on influences like Elliot in the Morning, Donnie Simpson, and his time at B96 Chicago, where supportive local leadership let him take creative risks and win industry awards. The conversation digs into culture vs. corporate realities, the loneliness of modern radio, and why curiosity, empathy, and connection still matter more than polish. Matt & Julien also talked about the shifting impact of social media, podcasting, and sales acumen, and Julian’s search for a role that truly aligns. Check out his demo here.

Also I mentioned that I would suggest a few conferences radio people could check out if they wanted to expand their horizons. I was going to just mention a couple but I forgot about a few of the obvious ones:

Podcast Movement at SXSW: (FREE) Now has a presence there thanks to Bryan Barletta and Tom Webster's direction.

VidCon: Video Creators galore.

Twitchcon: You're gonna love Rotterdam

Social Media Marketing World: You'll learn how to make prettier posts.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.

Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.

Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:

Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.