Norma Jean Belenky is the host of the Podbiz, and we didn't get a chance to finish our conversation we started at the Podcast Show in London - so we did so on a podcast. We also didn't have time to talk about everything in London, given her experience living in seven countries. Ideally all of her pod-merch should have "Where's the Money?" emblazoned on every t-shirt and mug; it is the question everyone asks.

We explored her life before PodBiz, from teaching English in South Korea to creating music and working at Podbean, which ultimately led her to launch her own podcast focused on how creators can make money in this evolving medium.

We did our best to look beyond simple download numbers, discussing the importance of niche audiences and creating genuine value for listeners. Norma Jean and her co-host John Kiernan are committed to showing us that there are other podcast revenue strategies, including sponsorships, subscriptions, and strategic content creation. We discussed emerging trends like video podcasting and community building, offering listeners a comprehensive look at the exciting potential of the podcasting industry.

Check out Podbiz here. And ESPECIALLY this episode with Danielle which we referenced a few times.

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Both the Sound Off Podcast and The Podcast Superfriends are apart of 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.

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

Paul Ferguson, VP of Programming and Operations at Starboard Communications in Belleville, Ontario discusses radio in a very unique market. Belleville is free from corporate ownership. Paul and I talk about how they keep radio relevant by focusing on local content, like the “Good News in Quinte” newsletter and a robust news website that keeps listeners informed and engaged. We discuss the challenges of adapting to new radio regulations, misguided internet laws like Bill C-11, the antidote which is Inquinte.ca and why it’s crucial to own our digital platforms to stay connected with our audience. Paul shares the administrative hurdles of Canadian content rules and how technology could make things easier. We also explore the evolution of radio, balancing live and voice-tracked shows, and the podcast journey with “Babes of Quinte.”

This episode is about the importance of localism, innovation, and community-driven content in today's challenging radio space.

The listener survey can be found here. Complete it and I'll share with you, my Top 10 Podcast Hacks for 2025.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the things you never knew what you were missing in your life.

Both the Sound Off Podcast and The Podcast Superfriends are apart of 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.

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

Gordon Firemark is the podcast lawyer. I first had a chance to meet him at Podcast Movement in the late 10's. In 2022 I might have had a few cocktails when I asked him about hoe to manoeuvre cross-broder conflicts between podcasters. In this episode I ask the rest of the questions I had.

We discuss the importance of clear agreements between co-hosts and why you need a guest release forms. We then tackle the complexities of using music in podcasts due to copyright laws. Gordon explains the differences between copyright, trademark, and patent law, and how to protect podcast brand names and segments through trademark registration. But wait! There's more! There's sponsorship agreements, the importance of proper disclosure, and the challenges posed by international regulations, particularly for Canadian podcasters. Gordon also shares a few real-life anecdotes that illustrate the potential pitfalls of not having written agreements or proper permissions, such as costly legal disputes and misunderstandings with sponsors. (This one is jaw dropping)

Practical advice: Get everything in writing, understand your rights, and always prioritize clear communication to avoid legal entanglements in podcasting.

We spoke about having a guest release form to ensure that podcasters don't encounter any misunderstandings between them and their guests. You can access Gordon's free release form here.

You can get all the details about where Gordon will be next on his website.

See Gordon at Vidfest in Atlanta - August 21

See Gordon at Podcast Movement in Dallas - August 22-24

Gordon will be doing a live interactive game-show TwoTruths and a Lie: Podcasting Legal & Business Myths Busted.

And a presentation called Your Podcast Legal Toolkit: Copyrights, Trademarks, and Contracts Made Simple.

The listener survey can be found here. Complete it and I'll share with you, my Top 10 Podcast Hacks for 2025.

Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. Full of all the things you never knew what you were missing in your life.

Both the Sound Off Podcast and The Podcast Superfriends are apart of 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.

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