🌎 Happy Earth Day!🌍

This is the perfect day to drop the recording of the interview I had last week with Liz Neeley, Founding Partner at Liminal and co-creator of the USC Storymakers Fellowship, and John Asante, Founder and Creative Director of JKB Wash and Dry Productions, as well as audio instructor for the USC Storymakers Fellowship. More about our guests here.

Some topics we discussed include:

• How the USC Storymakers Fellowship runs

• The challenges facing scientists and faculty interested in creative work

• Misconceptions about public trust in science

• How the fellowship approaches audio storytelling

• Tips for scientists and administrators on how to embrace storytelling

It’s a great conversation, and as you can see from the thumbnail, there’s laughter! Let us know what you think.

Leave a comment

Coming Up from our Guests

• John is teaching a Radio Bootcamp Class on creating an interview podcast in June.

• Liz and the team at Unbreaking publish a weekly newsletter.

  • “Unbreaking is a sensemaking project. We exhaustively follow and fact-check emerging news to build timelines of events. Then we cross-reference and compare our own understandings with in-depth reports and analyses to explain what seems to be happening and why.”

USC Storymakers Program Participant Projects to Check Out

• Dr. Scott Taylor’s podcast ‘Okay, But...Birds’

• Ambika Kamath’s book Feminism in the Wild

• Merritt Turetsky’s book Boglands, which is coming out this fall

• Sue Pierre discussed Critical Ecology Lab on Ologies w/Alie Ward

• Bill Deverell’s podcast Western Edition

• Ben Halpern’s book Blue Gold. The book doesn’t have a web presence yet, but you can learn about his work on Ologies w/ Alie Ward.

• Lisa Graumlich’s Substack Thin Places

Thin Places

Where climate science and moral courage meet

By Lisa Graumlich

• Nyeema Harris’s episode of PBS Wild Hope - “Learning to Coexist with Detroit’s Urban Wildlife”

Looking for more content for Earth Day, check out last week’s newsletter:

Welcome to Sounds Like Impact!

I know it’s been a minute, but I have some podcast recommendations for you! But first, a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, April 17th, from 12:30-1:30 pm ET / 9:30-10:30 am PT, I will be in conversation with and about environmental storytelling through podcasts. More details at the link!

Now, for those unfamiliar with my background which I’ve shared at various points in this newsletter’s history, I studied International Environmental Public Health and Human Ecology in undergrad. I love our planet, and wish we didn’t take it for granted with the extractive and exploitative choices we make to fuel our economy and excess consumption.

Last month when I was in Europe for film festivals, I had the pleasure of learning about Sami Indigenous culture at a Reindeer farm. Sami reindeer herders are confronting our changing climate on a daily basis. Inconsistent weather and shrinking grazing land due to development and icy conditions are making things harder. On that visit to Norway I also saw the Northern Lights during an excursion to Finland because it was raining in Norway (also uncharacteristic for that time). The lights were truly like seeing something extraterrestrial, and yet a reminder that our world has incredible beauty. Let’s help preserve the beautiful, while taking care of each other and other life forms that we share the planet with.

Sounds Like Impact started in April of 2023; this month we are four years old, baby! And I can’t think of a better anniversary month than Earth Month to be honest. And so, to honor where we’ve been, and where things are now, I’m pulling up the archive and also sharing some newer environmental / climate media that you should check out.

What’s Happening Now?

• A People’s Climate podcast has been nominated for a Webby! Voting ends TODAY (4/16), so if you can, suppport with your vote!

  • Unfamiliar with the show? Check out this guest curation host Shilpi Chhotray put together for Sounds Like Impact last year.

• is launching a new show called Green Frequency, launching Earth Day 2026. Green Frequency is an environmental science podcast exploring the research, stories, and decisions shaping our planet.

  • Check out Pine Forest Media founder, Clark Marchese’s recommendations for dealing with climate anxiety in the guest curation from last year.

• A Fighting Chance podcast from Northern California Public Media launches on Earth Day as well! The host is Emmy-award winning filmmaker Charles Loi and the podcast will be a companion to his documentary Climate California. The show is available in video and audio format. Check out the teaser now!

• The Virginia Queer Film Festival (VAQFF) is proud to announce an open call for submissions for Queer Ear, its inaugural audio storytelling program debuting at the 2026 festival. In response to the growing cultural demand for more equitable and accessible forms of media storytelling, Queer Ear invites creators to submit sonically rich works that center LGBTQ+ experiences. Early deadline: May 1, Regular: June 1.
  More details about requirements and submission link: https://filmfreeway.com/VirginiaQueerFilmFestival

  • Thanks for the tip , host of the All-American Ruins Podcast and former SLI interviewee!

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🎧 More Earth Month Recommendations 📚

New & New-ish

📖 , co-editor of the climate anthology All We Can Save, and co-founder of the All We Can Save Project, has just released a book called Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves & the Planet We Call Home. Learn more about the book and grab it! Also, there is a book tour, so see if it is coming to a city near you :-)

🎙️

Compost, Cotton & Cornrows is the sauce and spice of sustainability discourse. Across industries and interests, we center Black vanguards from around the globe at every intersection of the diaspora as leading experts in environmental justice, regenerative practices, climate wellbeing, circular economics, community care, cultural healing, and ethical business design.

🎙️ The Joy Report from

The Joy Report is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice, grounded in intersectionality and optimism.

🎙️ , EIC of one of my favorite environmental publications, now has a podcast!

Heated is a podcast for those pissed off about the climate crisis.

What’s Old is New (to most of you)

And before I go…

On the heels of the Ticketmaster-Live Nation monopoloy decision, we must continue to call out monopolistic ambitions and recognize the harm they cause to democracy. And did I mention that CBS, part of Paramount, dismantled its climate coverage? Yeah…it’s all connected. #BlockTheMerger.

I join hundreds of actors, directors, producers, writers, comedians, filmmakers, and industry professionals to oppose the WBD-Paramount merger. I refuse to stay silent, as big media corporations seek to hurt our industry and consumers. Join me in our effort to Block the Merger at BlockTheMerger.com. #BlockTheMerger

The first April #AudioForAction live recording is coming up! Read on to find out more. Also, I’m working on confirming a second conversation this month, so stay tuned for an announcement about that.

I also want to share a roundup of climate and environmental podcasts to check out in honor of Earth Month. If you have any recommendations, feel free to drop in the chat or leave a comment.

Leave a comment

🗓️ Friday, April 17th

Friday, April 17th, from 12:30-1:30 pm ET / 9:30-10:30 am PT I will be in conversation with Liz Neeley and John Asante about the USC Wrigley Storymakers Fellowship, a weeklong intensive that trains full-time, established researchers in the art of environmental storytelling. Over the past five years, the program, co-founded by Liz alongside Victoria Fine, has helped scientists from various disciplines translate their research into various media, including podcasts. That’s where podcast expert John Asante comes in.

Learn more about the duo below, and join us for a great conversation!

Liz Neeley is the founding partner of Liminal. She began her career in ocean conservation, where she learned the hard way that the data don’t speak for themselves. Ever since, she has focused on helping scientists find the courage and language they need to create change within themselves, their institutions, and the world. Liz is also a co-founder of Unbreaking (2025), SolvingFor (2022), and the creator and co-lead of the USC Storymakers fellowship. She is an advisory board member for the Institute for Diversity Sciences at UMass Amherst and the new Bay Area alt-weekly COYOTE. Find her on Bluesky @LizNeeley.

John Asante is the Founder and Creative Director of JKB Wash & Dry Productions. During his 15+ year career as a podcast showrunner, producer, and consultant, he’s focused on crafting compelling stories that amplify the voices of stories that amplify Black, brown, LGBTQ+ folks, and other marginalized communities. To date, John has worked on more than 30 podcasts for major outlets such as Audible, HBO, Netflix, Spotify, and Imagine Entertainment. Before going independent to create his company, John was a showrunner and producer for various outlets, including Pineapple Street Studios, Stitcher, WNYC, and NPR. He’s a member of the Association of Independents In Radio and The Podcast Academy, and teaches aspiring podcasters through Radio Boot Camp and the USC Storymakers fellowship.

Get Reminder

We look forward to you joining us for this session! But if you can’t make it live, no problem. Lives are recorded and available for watching afterward. However, if you would like to ask questions—whether for the live or because you can’t attend—please submit in advance by commenting.

Leave a comment

Last week, I spoke with Steph Colbourn, Founder & CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, Co-Founder & CEO of Hueman Group Media, about building mission-driven audio companies.

Some of the topics we discussed:

• How They Both Got Started in Audio

• Building a Business Around Values

• The Reality of Running a Social Impact Media Company

• Creating a Mission-Aligned Work Culture

• The Future of Podcasting: Video, Discovery, and Creative Reinvention

Our conversation was the perfect way to end the official Women’s History Month. I hope you’ll check out my conversation with these impactful business leaders!

Curious about running a podcast company, especially one that is mission-driven? Submit questions below!

Leave a comment

ICYMI: Back in November, I moderated a panel featuring Camille and Joni Deutsch, SVP of Marketing & Audience Development at Podglomerate, about The State of Social Impact Podcasting. There are some great insights and resources, and the conversation is free to access when you sign up for SoundPath. Unfortunately, Regina Larko could not make the recording but shared some helpful resources.

From Hueman Group Media:

Check out the latest video podcast from Hueman Group Media!

Are you searching for good vibes on the go? Bad news slowing you down? Take a trip with us on the Feel Good Fastlane— your quick ride to a world that doesn’t suck. Join hosts Eliot Schiaparelli and JoiAshanti Watkis as they deliver smile-worthy stories from around the globe. Each episode will leave you feeling good, and knowing good news fast.

From editaudio:

Well…Adjusting was recently featured on Apple Podcasts. Learn more and check out the show!

Join author, actor, and funny lady Robin Hopkins as she helps guests manage stress, set some boundaries, find a new apartment, and save a dime or two. And that’s important because social security is probably gonna be gone by the time you get there. Robin’s disarming, connected, and forthcoming style allows her guests to open up about what’s really behind all that self-sabotaging. Well…Adjusting is not NPR. It’s not credentialed. But it is honest talk about real problems Gen Z’ers and Millennials face today. And did we mention it’s funny?

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Save the dates for April Lives!

• 4/17, time TBC - Turning Science Research into Podcast Media with Liz Neeley, Founder of Liminal and co-founder of Unbreaking, and John Asante, Founder and Creative Director of JKB Wash & Dry Productions

• TBC - Podcasting to Save the Planet

Hi!

I cannot believe it’s the end of March. Before we head into April, I wanted to share a couple of updates.

1. #AudioForAction Live Tech Issue: Unfortunately, today I was unable to publish the #AudioForAction Live with and Lisa Koolhoven, the creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage. In what was a first since I’ve done Substack Lives, the recording was corrupted and is missing the first portion of our interview. I sent a notice to Substack, and hopefully, there will be a resolution soon that involves fully restoring the interview.

   Today, March 31st, is the anniversary of the Allied bombing of Rotterdam, the event discussed in the podcast. Please check out the podcast and learn more about the event on the Beb & Bob website. And if you have a NYT subscription, you can read about the 1993 commemoration, here.

   

2. Paid Subscriptions/Donations Going Forward: Today, I will be ending paid subscriptions for Sounds Like Impact. This was always a free, or reader-supported, newsletter but I’ve made the difficult decision to turn off the option to become a paid subscriber. The costs of managing the newsletter exceed any revenue brought in from subscriptions or donations. In an effort to reduce the costs to myself, I’ve decided the best ways to support are to:

   1. Share this newsletter! Let’s grow this community.

      Share Sounds Like Impact

   2. Hire me for speaking engagements focused on social impact podcasting, or narrative change.

   3. Invite me as a guest on your show or newsletter.

   4. Sponsor this newsletter.

   5. Hire me for content strategy, event programming, impact strategy, and program operations.

      Reach out to soundslikeimpact@unofficialsocialchair.com to get in touch about sponsorships, invitations, and speaking gigs. Visit my website to learn more about freelancing / consulting.

3. Coming Up: While I haven’t scheduled the next #AudioForAction Lives, things are in the works! You can expect some conversations around using podcasting as a science communication tool and creating climate / environmental podcasts. I won’t be as active in April due to my role with the ReelAbilities Film Festival, happening in New York April 23-30. Maybe I’ll see some of you there!

Thank you as always for supporting this newsletter, and thank you to everyone who has donated over the years. Next month will be the 4th year of this newsletter. I want it to continue to grow and evolve, so please support this journey however you can.

Sincerely,

Ayo

Publisher, Sounds Like Impact & Host, #AudioForAction Live

It’s been a few weeks, but we are back with the remaining March Substack Lives happening this week and next. I couldn’t think of a better way to close out Women’s History Month than with these incredible, mission-driven storytellers and entrepreneurs. Learn more about the upcoming convos below!

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🗓️ March 25th

Wednesday, March 25th, from 3-3:45 pm ET / 8-8:45 pm CET, I will be in conversation with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, the creators and hosts of Beb & Bob: Collateral Damage. Outside of the podcast, Kristen is the Director of Partnerships and Marketing for The Other Westcoast Productions, and Lisa is a Dutch historian and storyteller for social impact. We’ll talk about how Beb & Bob came together and what impact they are hoping for with their story.

You can listen to the trailer below and find the episode they created, here (available in Dutch and English).

🗓️ March 31st

Tuesday, March 31st, from 3-4 pm ET / 12-1 pm PT, I’ll be speaking with Camille Laurente, CEO & Co-Founder of Hueman Group Media, and Steph Colbourn, CEO & Founder of editaudio. Both audio companies are mission-driven, and we’ll talk about what that means and how they are navigating today’s audio and journalism landscape.

We look forward to you joining us for these sessions! But if you can’t make it live, no problem. The lives will be recorded and available for watching afterward. However, if you would like to ask questions—whether for the live or because you can’t attend—please submit in advance by commenting.

Leave a comment

Some of the topics we discussed:

• The growing ecosystem of conferences, communities, and initiatives dedicated to podcasting in higher education.

• How professors are integrating podcasts into classrooms.

• The role alumni can play in supporting podcasting at institutions.

• How student podcast opportunities are helping the next generation learn journalism, storytelling, and civic engagement.

• Why podcasting might play a unique role in strengthening democracy in the modern media landscape.

Do you have any higher education-affiliated podcasts to recommend? Are you using podcasts as a teaching tool? Do you think podcasts can help save democracy?

Leave a comment

📑 Resources

Check below to explore the projects, programs, and communities mentioned in this conversation:

• Democracy Works – A podcast from The McCourtney Institute for Democracy exploring how democracy functions and how it can be strengthened, featuring scholars, practitioners, and reformers.

  • Jenna was previously interviewed for Sounds Like Impact about the podcast, When the People Decide, a series also affiliated with The McCourtney Institute. Check it out!

• The Democracy Group – A collaborative network of podcasts focused on civic dialogue and democratic engagement across different perspectives. They are also now on Substack!

  The Democracy Group

  The Democracy Group is a network that creates educational content about democracy. We aim to provide content that can increase curiosity and empathy and use our platform to share the good work of those taking action to strengthen democracy.

• Higher Ed PodCon – A gathering focused on how universities use podcasts for education, outreach, research translation, and alumni engagement.

• H-Net – A scholarly network that hosts conferences and discussions on academic and scholarly podcasting.

• PBS Student Reporting Labs – A national program that trains high school students in journalism and storytelling.

• Democracy Group Student Fellows Program – A mentorship program where high school and college students learn podcasting and produce their own shows about democracy.

• Podcast Brunch Club – A global community that organizes podcast listening groups, similar to a book club for podcasts.

🚨Community News

CALLING ALL PODCASTERS: There is still time to register your podcast for Podcasthon! Podcasthon takes place March 14-20, 2026, and is the perfect opportunity to use podcasting to help a nonprofit and the cause(s) you care about.

Watch a short video about the initiative from co-founder Jeremie Mani in our previous newsletter.

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Save the dates for some of our March lives!

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

• 3/31, time TBC - Building Mission-Driven Podcast Companies with Steph Colbourn, CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, CEO of Hueman Group Media

• Why searching Google is one of the worst ways to find grants (and what to do instead).

• How to rethink your identity as a creator to qualify for far more grants.

• The times of year when funders are most eager to give away money — and how to position yourself to take advantage.

• Steps you can take to find grants and apply.

What has been your experience with grants? Do you have questions? Watch the video and tell us your thoughts!

Leave a comment

🚨Community News

CALLING ALL PODCASTERS: Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to hold a Substack Live with Jeremie Mani, the co-founder of Podcasthon. However, he recorded a short video (~9 minutes) to share about Podcasthon, a fundraising initiative bringing together podcasters and nonprofits.

Podcasthon takes place March 14-20, 2026.

Watch the video to learn more and then participate! https://podcasthon.org/

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🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Save the dates for some of our March lives!

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

• 3/31, time TBC - Building Mission-Driven Podcast Companies with Steph Colbourn, CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, CEO of Hueman Group Media

• What Marketing Really Means in Podcasting

• Aligning Promotion With Impact Goals

• Why Social Media Isn’t For Growing Audiences

• Buzz-Building, Podcast Swaps & Live Events

• Budgeting for Promotion (Even If You Have $0)

Do you have marketing questions or insights to share?

Leave a comment

To keep up with Will and Andreea:

• Will Coley | Website - LinkedIn

• Andreea Coscai | Website - LinkedIn

You may also want to check out our friends at and follow for other great advice.

🌟ICYMI

My conversation with on finding funding and making a game plan for grants will also publish this week. Make sure to subscribe to get notified, and share with a friend who has a project that they want to realize!

Subscribe now

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🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Save the dates for some of our March lives!

• 3/5, 1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT - Podcasting in Higher Education, with Jenna Spinelle, Host and Producer of Democracy Works Podcast

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

• 3/31, time TBC - Building Mission-Driven Podcast Companies with Steph Colbourn, CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, CEO of Hueman Group Media

• Karen’s career in public radio and podcasting

• What ethical storytelling is and how Karen does it

• Her new show What Takes Root

• …and more!

From Karen

• Karen wrote about Ethical Journalism in her newsletter, Narrative Beat

• Karen shared this Search Engine episode about Trigger Warnings

Other Resources

• Global Center for Journalism and Trauma

• Trans Journalist Association Styleguide

• Solutions Journalism

• Society for Professional Journalists: Reporting Safely and Ethically

Listen to the trailer for What Takes Root: Stories of Resistance and Reclamation and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

And keep up with Karen’s work: LinkedIn | Website

Watch our conversation and let us know what you think!

Do you have any questions or tips related to ethical storytelling? Is there a show you think has done this well?

Leave a comment

🌟ICYMI

Today (2/26), I spoke with Danielle Desir Corbett, podcaster and publisher of about finding and applying to grants. The conversation will be available next week.

🎙️Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• 3/3, 4:30-5 pm ET / 1:30-2 pm PT - Using Podcasts to Fundraise for Nonprofits, with Jeremie Mani, Co-Founder of Podcasthon

• 3/5, 1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT - Podcasting in Higher Education, with Jenna Spinelle, Host and Producer of Democracy Works Podcast

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

• 3/31, time TBC - Building Mission-Driven Podcast Companies with Steph Colbourn, CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, CEO of Hueman Group Media

First, thank you to all the new subscribers who have joined this community. I am grateful for every subscription type and hope you are finding value in the content that is delivered here. Please feel free to introduce yourselves in the comments or via DM, and share what you’d like to see!

Leave a comment

Hopefully, you had the chance to tune in to yesterday’s #AudioForAction with and about podcast marketing. That recording will be posted next week.

Tomorrow, I’ll be in conversation with about finding money for your creative projects.

That said, next week is a new month, so check out what’s coming up below:

🎙️Week of March 2nd: Substack Lives

Tuesday, March 3rd, from 4:30-5 pm ET / 1:30-2 pm PT, I will be in conversation with Jeremie Mani, Co-Founder of Podcasthon, about using podcasts to fundraise for nonprofits. If you are at a nonprofit or are a podcaster, you definitely want to listen.

Podcasthon takes place March 14th - 20th. Please visit the website to learn more. https://podcasthon.org/

Also, if you are enjoying the newsletter, consider Buying Me a Coffee (donation).

Thursday, March 5th, from 1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT, I’m speaking with Jenna Spinelle, a host and producer of Democracy Works Podcast, which is affiliated with The McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State. The podcast is also a member of The Democracy Group.

Jenna and I’s conversation will focus on podcasting in higher education and The Democracy Group.

We look forward to you joining us for these sessions! But if you can’t make it live, no problem. The live will be recorded and available for watching afterward. However, if you would like to ask questions—whether for the live or because you can’t attend—please submit in advance by commenting.

Leave a comment

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

• 3/31, time TBC - Building Mission-Driven Podcast Companies with Steph Colbourn, CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, CEO of Hueman Group Media

Some topics we cover in our conversation:

• When a podcast is (and isn’t) the right fit for a nonprofit organization.

• How mission-driven organizations can integrate podcasting into their core programming rather than treating it as a marketing add-on.

• What it takes—financially, operationally, and creatively—to launch and sustain a high-quality nonprofit podcast.

• The behind-the-scenes process of developing a show concept, shaping seasons, and evolving the format over time.

• Real-world lessons on audience growth, paid promotion, partnerships, and stakeholder buy-in.

Looking for more insights? Emily put together a case study about her work with Disrupting Peace. Feel free to reach out to Emily or leave comments with questions.

Have you worked on a nonprofit podcast or are you thinking of starting one? Let us know your thoughts or questions!

Leave a comment

The next season of Disrupting Peace is now publishing!

Season 4 Trailer: Dismantling Misinformation to Get to Peace

Also, check out this episode from the previous season, which was referenced in our conversation: US: Fighting for Academic Freedom in Higher Education.

🌟ICYMI

Today (2/24), I spoke with PodVision Co-Founder Andreea Coscai and Strategist & Producer Will Coley about marketing for social impact podcasts. The conversation will be posted next week!

🎙️Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• 2/26, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Danielle Desir Corbett: Fund Your Media

• 3/3, 4:30-5 pm ET / 1:30-2 pm PT - Using Podcasts to Fundraise for Nonprofits, with Jeremie Mani, Co-Founder of Podcasthon

• 3/5, 1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT - Podcasting in Higher Education, with Jenna Spinelle, Host and Producer of Democracy Works Podcast

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

I can’t believe we are nearing the end of February already. Famously, the shortest month in the year, it still takes me by surprise how quickly the month goes.

Hopefully, you had the chance to tune in to the #AudioForAction Lives this week, which focused on nonprofit podcasting and ethical storytelling. If not, those recordings will be posted next week.

Speaking of next week, more live conversations! Continue reading below to see what’s coming up, including a sneak peek of some of the March conversations that are scheduled.

🎙️Week of February 23rd: Substack Lives

Tuesday, February 24th, from 1:30-2:30 pm EST / 10:30-11:30 am PST, I’ll be joined by PodVision Co-Founder Andreea Coscai and Strategist & Producer Will Coley.

Will and Andreea will talk about how to market social impact podcasts and engage audiences. Check out more about their work below:

• Will Coley | Website - LinkedIn

• Andreea Coscai | Website - LinkedIn. Andreea also publishes the newsletter , which features podcasts produced in Europe.

Thursday, February 26th, from 3:00-3:45 pm EST / 12:00-12:45 pm PST, I’ll be joined by Publisher and Podcaster, Danielle Desir Corbett.

Danielle and I will discuss how to find and apply for funding for your social impact media projects.

Learn more about Danielle’s work on her website or LinkedIn.

We look forward to you joining us for these sessions! But if you can’t make it live, no problem. The live will be recorded and available for watching afterward. However, if you would like to ask questions—whether for the live or because you can’t attend—please submit in advance by commenting.

Leave a comment

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Links to come, but save the dates for some of our March lives!

• 3/3, 4:30-5 pm ET / 1:30-2 pm PT - Using Podcasts to Fundraise for Nonprofits, with Jeremie Mani, Co-Founder of Podcastathon

• 3/5, 1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT - Podcasting in Higher Education, with Jenna Spinelle, Host and Producer of Democracy Works Podcast

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

Some topics we cover in our conversation:

• The definition of mission-driven podcasts

• The leaner and more competitive ecosystem in which podcasters are operating

• The Biggest Challenges: Money, Discoverability, and Support

• How the ROI for social impact shows is different

• The new funding pathways that are emerging

Rekha also shares a bit about a current project she is working on to help mission-driven creators, so you will definitely want to listen for more details.

To follow Rekha’s work, you can visit her website and LinkedIn. Also, if you want to know more about Rekha’s endeavor, Creator Slate, feel free to reach out to her via email at rmurthy@rmurthy.com.

Watch our conversation and let us know what you think!

What are you seeing in the social impact podcast space? What’s been your experience? What support do you think these types of shows need?

Leave a comment

🌟ICYMI

Today (2/17), I spoke with podcast producer Emily Shaw and Bridget Conley, host of Disrupting Peace, about developing podcasts for nonprofits. The conversation will be posted next week!

🎙️Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Links to come, but save the dates for our February lives!

• TOMORROW | 2/18/26 - Karen Given: Ethical Storytelling

• 2/24/26 - Will Coley & Andreea Coscai: Social Impact Podcast Marketing

• 2/26/26 - Danielle Desir Corbett: Fund Your Media

Hopefully, you were able to join today’s #AudioForAction Live with Rekha Murthy, who talked about the mission-driven podcast funding landscape. If not, that interview will be published next week!

Also, next week, there will be not one but two #AudioForAction Lives for you to join!

More details below. Look out for the links in your inbox or join by visiting the Sounds Like Impact Substack during the date and time of the sessions.

🎙️Week of February 16th: Substack Lives

Tuesday, February 17th, from 1:30-2:30 pm EST / 10:30-11:30 am PST, I’ll be joined by Podcast Producer, Emily Shaw, and the Host of Disrupting Peace, Bridget Conley.

Disrupting Peace explores why peace hasn’t worked, and how it still could. In each episode, Bridget Conley, research director at the World Peace Foundation, speaks with a researcher specializing in one obstacle to peace, and an activist who’s changing systems from the ground up. Together they explore what worked, what didn’t, and why we shouldn’t give up.

Follow Disrupting Peace on Instagram and visit the World Peace Foundation website.

The World Peace Foundation tapped podcast producer and production company owner Emily Shaw to develop the show. Our conversation will cover why the World Peace Foundation chose to create a podcast, how Emily and Bridget co-developed the show, their production process, and what success looks like for their nonprofit podcast.

Bridget and Emily previously curated for Sounds Like Impact. You can find that curation below:

Wednesday, February 18th, from 3:00-3:45 pm EST / 12:00-12:45 pm PST, I’ll be joined by Audio Storyteller and Podcast Consultant, Karen Given. You may know Karen from her incredibly useful newsletter, Narrative Beat, or you may even have taken a Narrative Beat workshop in the past.

Karen and I will discuss her approach to ethical storytelling and her upcoming project. You won’t want to miss it!

Keep up with Karen’s work on her website or LinkedIn.

We look forward to you joining us for these sessions! But if you can’t make it live, no problem. The live will be recorded and available for watching afterward. However, if you would like to ask questions—whether for the live or because you can’t attend—please submit in advance by commenting.

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🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Links to come, but save the dates for our remaining February lives!

• 2/24/26 - Will Coley & Andreea Coscai: Social Impact Podcast Marketing

• 2/26/26 - Danielle Desir Corbett: Fund Your Media

We will be joined by Podcast Strategist + Editor, Rekha Murthy. We will discuss the current funding landscape for social impact shows amid the broader socio-political landscape. Rekha will talk about her efforts to support podcasters creating innovative and impactful shows. You don’t want to miss this!

Rekha was Sound Like Impact’s second interview back in 2023. I recommend reading our interview to learn more about her background.

To follow her work, you can visit her website and LinkedIn.

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We look forward to you joining us on Thursday! But if you can’t make it live, no problem. The live will be recorded and available for watching afterward. However, if you would like to ask questions—whether for the live or because you can’t attend—please submit in advance by commenting.

Leave a comment

I spoke with Wave Maker Media Founder, Adriana Cargill, host of the recently released The Palisades Fire: A Sandcastles Special.

Listen to the trailer and follow wherever you get your podcasts!

You can also follow Wave Maker Media on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/wavemaker_media

🎙️Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Links to come, but save the dates for our February lives!

• 2/12/26 - Rekha Murthy: Pitching Social Issue Shows

• 2/17/26 - Emily Shaw: Developing Shows for Nonprofits, featuring Bridget Conley - Host of Disrupting Peace

• 2/18/26 - Karen Given: Ethical Storytelling

• 2/24/26 - Will Coley & Andreea Coscai: Social Impact Podcast Marketing

• 2/26/26 - Danielle Desir Corbett: Fund Your Media

The time has finally come for the third annual #SoundsLikeImpact “Best of Impactful Podcasts!”

As mentioned in previous editions (2024 | 2023), the point of this list is to celebrate podcasts that highlight a societal issue–or issues–in a meaningful, thoughtful, and compelling way. I look for shows that tell stories that are solutions-oriented, or that have the potential to inspire social change.

Wherever you are coming from, these are universal stories that have takeaways. That said, this year, I am also highlighting two things: where these shows were produced and the geographic area (country) they are focused on.

I want to ensure transparency, since this is a global platform (though mostly serving an English-language audience), and to encourage folks to submit more narrative podcasts from wherever they find them! Try as I might, I cannot spot all the narrative social impact shows that come out globally, so I need your help.

As a reminder, the basic qualifying criteria are as follows:

• Narrative (story-driven)

• Launched in 2025

• A mini-series / a complete season / limited series

• All episodes were available by year-end.

Navigating this list:

1. Trailers are embedded when available, and should play regardless of whether you have an Apple account.

2. The hyperlinked “About” text links to the show website, when available, and the text that follows is the show description, aka not my words.

3. “Best of” List Contents (NEW! Alphabetized by category/theme)

   1. Arts and Activism | Performing the Revolution

   2. Climate | Sabotage

   3. Criminal Legal System | Breakdown: Three Days in May

   4. Democracy | Democracy After Disaster

   5. Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion | Made For Us: What’s In a Name?

   6. Education | Where the Schools Went

   7. Human Rights

      1. Trans Lives Matter | Afterlives: Marsha P. Johnson

      2. Surveillance and Persecution | Click Here: Erased

   8. Inequality | Ireland Said Yes

   9. Nonprofits with Narratives | Underfoot

   10. Public Health | Untold: Toxic Legacy

   11. Reproductive Health | The Birth Keepers

   12. Reproductive Justice | Liberty Lost

   13. Society | The Reality Of

4. Under some entries, there is a recommendation for another show with a similar theme or style.

🌟 The List 🌟

Performing the Revolution

Category: Arts and Activism

• Released: October 2025 | Episodes: 3

• Publisher: Bad Coolie Productions / Radical Evolution

• Produced In: USA

• Main Geographical Focus: India, Palestine, USA

About: Performing the Revolution is a limited-series podcast that knits these powerful stories together to create a global narrative featuring artists who put everything on the line in the struggle for justice. The series starts in New Delhi, India following Jana Natya Manch (Janam), a 50-year-old street theatre company that performs for India’s working class. It then moves to The Freedom Theatre in The West Bank – where kids fight to define who they are and what they dream about amidst a decades-long occupation – and on to El Teatro Campesino’s legacy of agitating during the historic California grape strikes.

• Why It’s Impactful: Time and time again, the arts are essential to social change movements. For this reason, authoritarian, anti-democratic, and oppositional forces try to suppress artists and prevent audiences from engaging with their work. What is great about Performing the Revolution, bringing these stories together, is what many people often forget: all oppression is connected, and therefore all liberation efforts must be, too.

Listen to Performing the Revolution

Similarly themed work to listen to: Our Common Nature

Sabotage

Category: Climate

• Released: March 2025 | Episodes: 9

• Publisher: Good Luck Media / Yellow Dot Studios

• Produced In: USA

• Main Geographical Focus: UK

About: In the first season of Sabotage, join reporters Alessandra Ram and Samantha Oltman as they quit their jobs to report on a group of controversial climate activists that much of the world have written off as “crazy.” But are they? This 9-part investigative series takes these two reporters inside a shocking and elusive world… to Hollywood… all the way across the pond to Trafalgar Square… into jail cells… and back again to an American oil heiress with a complicated family legacy. Do these ordinary people, turned extraordinary rebels, have what it takes to save the planet – before it’s too late?

• Why It’s Impactful: It is incredible that the Sabotage team got to embed with Just Stop Oil to give us insight into a world not commonly explored (mostly for safety) and to help us understand it. This would not happened without trust. While everyone may not agree about whether we are in a climate emergency or what is the best way to alert people about this crisis, there is a lot more at stake than when speech is suppressed.

Listen to Sabotage

Similarly themed work to listen to: Drilled – Drilled has so many mini-series (I definitely recommend “Carbon Bros”!), but for their investigation into the criminalization of protest, listen to “The Real Free Speech Threat”.

Breakdown: Three Days in May

Category: Criminal Legal System

• Released: July 2025 | Episodes: 6

• Publisher: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• Produced In: USA

• Main Geographical Focus: USA

About: In their 20s and in love, Georgia military couple Ashley and Albert Debelbot are overjoyed to welcome their baby girl, McKenzy. After a 15-hour labor, she arrives. The couple take her home and settle in for the night only to be awakened by a disturbing sound. Ashley and Albert then make a startling discovery…kicking off a series of events that will turn into a living nightmare.

• Why It’s Impactful: Even after a wrongful conviction, can justice ever exist for those who had years stolen by the system due to prejudice and incompetence? That’s certainly one takeaway I had, but perhaps the biggest one is that because our system has so many biases baked in, capital punishment cannot stand. This isn’t the argument Breakdown explicitly makes, of course, but it becomes clear as you hear this story where a judge strikes jurors of the same race as the defendant, where English is a defendant’s second language so they don’t pick up on the nuances (or arguably traps) in questioning, where a lack of money weakens the defense received and financially devastates defendant’s families…I could go on. But you’ll just have to listen for yourself.

Listen to Breakdown: Three Days in May

Similarly themed work to listen to: Corruption Uncovered

Democracy After Disaster

Category: Democracy

• Released: October 2025 | Episodes: 9

• Publisher: Story Ground

• Produced In: Australia

• Main Geographical Focus: Australia

About: Natural disasters rip away our collective sense of control, so it’s critical that the road of recovery is paved with community voice and agency. With disasters increasing year on year we need new ideas for how governments and communities can work together when everything has been destroyed.

Democracy After Disasters is a nine part narrative documentary podcast series that explores how we can re-build democracy on the road of recovery. We’ll talk to people from Macedon to Mallacoota, to experts in history, philosophy and political science. And we’ll uncover ideas that can dramatically improve the path of community recovery.

• Why It’s Impactful: The framing of Democracy After Disasters is smart. How can communities reclaim agency after they lose control? This podcast explores philosophical ideas while examining real-world efforts. All too often, disasters are sensationalized, and we’d do well to pay just as much attention to what comes next. “We need new ideas of how governments share power, how communities can be strengthened, and how democracy works in the face of disaster.” I couldn’t agree more.

Listen to Democracy After Disaster

Similarly themed work to listen to: Sandcastles + The Palisades Fire: A Sandcastles Special

Made For Us: What’s In a Name?

Category: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Released: December 2025 | Episodes: 3

• Publisher: Made For Us

• Produced In: UK

• Main Geographical Focus: UK, Global

About: Across the world, millions of people’s names are treated as errors by our devices. In the UK alone, 41% of baby names are flagged as “incorrect.”

In a new mini-series, we’ll meet the people pushing tech companies to do better and explore what autocorrect reveals about how - and for whom - technology gets built.

• Why It’s Impactful: Perhaps my bias, but as someone who could never find their name on a keychain and has had their name autocorrected a lot, this podcast resonated. But it’s not about me. It’s about parents who used their skills to address tech’s algorithmic bias against non-Anglo names. “Who decides what is a typo?” is a question we can even strip back to “Who decides?” when we are looking at technology and design. Made for Us’ mini-series is a sound reminder that inclusion matters and that we can all take action by using the resources we have and by working together.

Listen to Made for Us

Where the Schools Went

Category: Education

• Released: August 2025 | Episodes: 5

• Publisher: The Branch / The 74

• Produced In: USA

• Main Geographical Focus: USA

About: August 2025 marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina altered New Orleans forever. Much has been written about the storm’s destruction and the city’s long road to recovery. But tucked behind those headlines is another story. One that shaped the lives of thousands of children.

From The Branch in partnership with The 74 and MeidasTouch, Where the Schools Went is a five-part documentary series about what happened to the city’s schools after the levees broke, and how it led to the most radical education experiment in modern American history.

• Why It’s Impactful: Hurricane Katrina stands out as one of the biggest disasters the U.S. has witnessed. At the time, I was in high school and befriended two transplants from Louisiana who relocated to my hometown in Florida. But it wasn’t until I listened to Where the Schools Went that I ever stopped to consider how important schools are to community culture and pride. This series shows that this facet of schools cannot be separated from rebuilding efforts when school systems are devastated by disaster.

Listen to Where the Schools Went

Similarly themed work to listen to: Not a podcast, but a documentary film: Katrina Babies

Afterlives: Marsha P. Johnson

Category: Human Rights - Trans Lives Matter

• Released: June 2025 | Episodes: 8

• Publisher: Outspoken / iHeart

• Produced In: USA

• Main Geographical Focus: USA

About: Marsha P. Johnson is THE icon of the LGBTQ+ movement and a mother of the fight for trans rights. Today, you can buy T-shirts emblazoned with her face or walk through a park named in her honor. This season on Afterlives, we hear from Marsha in her own words. 

• Why It’s Impactful: Some of the best podcasts are the ones where the host is invested in getting the story right because they have just as much at stake. Raquel Willis’ is an icon in her own right for her tireless advocacy for trans people, and the respect and care she pays to her elder Marsha P. Johnson is moving. Afterlives: Marsha P. Johnson, is an expansive telling of an advocate, a mother, a creative, a person who struggled with mental health, a friend, and above all, a human being. This podcast shows that there is more to the myth and merch, and that, by just being herself, Marsha could inspire those who knew her and those who would come after her.

Listen to Afterlives: Marsha P. Johnson

Similarly themed work to listen to: Afterlives: The Layleen Polanco Story

Click Here: ERASED

Category: Human Rights - Surveillance & Persecution

• Released: August 2025 | Episodes: 4

• Publisher: Recorded Future News / PRX

• Produced In: USA

• Main Geographical Focus: China

About: ERASED is a four-part investigation into how China is wiping Uyghur culture from existence — one law, one app, one person, one website at a time. From shuttered schools to vanishing websites, ERASED uncovers an authoritarian regime’s campaign to delete a culture — and the unlikely rebels racing to stop it.

• Why It’s Impactful: ERASED tells the story of people resisting extraordinary levels of surveillance that attempt to subjugate them and strip away their culture. This miniseries affirms the existence of the Uyghur people and reminds us that documenting resistance is essential.

Listen to ERASED

Similarly themed work to listen to: 12 Years That Shook the World

Ireland Said Yes

Category: Inequality

• Released: May 2025 | Episodes: 4

• Publisher: Onic Originals

• Produced In: Ireland

• Main Geographical Focus: Ireland

About: Comedian Shane Daniel Byrne celebrate 10 years of marriage equality in ‘Ireland Said Yes’. He’ll take you on an emotional journey exploring the decades-long fight for same-sex marriage. From the deeply personal stories of LGBTQIA activism and resistance, Shane explores the cultural changes that eventually made the historic 2015 referendum possible. Shane interviews the key players and unsung heroes of the Yes campaign, including drag royalty Panti Bliss, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese and TV presenter Brendan Courtney among many others. The series includes Shane’s personal reflections and standup live from his sell-out run at Vicar Street in Dublin, as he revisits a time that reshaped his life and transformed Ireland completely.

• Why It’s Impactful: Want to tell a story about civil rights? Perhaps add a dose of humor! Ireland Said Yes host, comedian Shane Daniel Byrne, did an excellent job walking us through the history of marriage equality in Ireland. In telling this story, the show highlights the tricky nature of referendums and the impact of gender and religion on voter decision-making in human rights votes. The series is four parts long, but it also includes bonus episodes featuring more from those affected by the marriage equality referendum.

Listen to Ireland Said Yes

Underfoot

Category: Nonprofits with Narratives

• Released: November 2025 | Episodes: 6

• Publisher: Flatbush Cats

• Produced In: USA

• Main Geographical Focus: USA

About: Underfoot is a new podcast about the hidden cat crisis in NYC and what we can do to solve it.

In this podcast, we go beyond rescue stories to reveal the systems that created this problem in the first place, and ask the question:

What would it take to build a city where no cat is left behind?

• Why It’s Impactful: Not every nonprofit can make a narrative show, and not all that can will do so well. Underfoot, from Flatbush Cats, is a masterclass for issue-focused nonprofits. Make no mistake: you do hear about the organization's efforts, but when you do, they are framed within the context of the issues that underpin them, and those issues are very much foregrounded. Private equity, unaffordability, inequality, underfunding, public policy, band-aid solutions, this podcast discusses it all. And by the end of the listening, it will become clear that the best case a nonprofit can make to support them is that they are part of systemic change to sunset some of their initiatives, or the organization altogether.

Listen to Underfoot

*Disclosure: A decade ago, I fostered for Flabush Cats.

Untold: Toxic Legacy

Category: Public Health

• Released: October 2025 | Episodes: 3

• Publisher: Financial Times

• Produced In: UK

• Main Geographical Focus: UK - Wales

About: Introducing Toxic Legacy, a new season of Untold from the Financial Times. Host Laura Hughes uncovers a lead poisoning epidemic across the UK. You might be living with lead and not know it: the toxin is often invisible to the human eye, but wreaks havoc on our bodies once we’re exposed.

• Why It’s Impactful: It must be stated unequivocally that consuming lead is dangerous, especially for children. I studied environmental public health, but you don’t have to just take my word for it. Untold: Toxic Legacy is shocking in its revelation that lead poisoning is pervasive throughout the UK, given what we have known about it for decades. In a short series, host Laura Hughes raises awareness of the issue and highlights parents and advocates coming together to address it.

Listen to Untold: Toxic Legacy

The Birth Keepers

Category: Reproductive Health

• Released: December 2025 | Episodes: 6

• Publisher: The Guardian

• Produced In: UK / USA

• Main Geographical Focus: USA

About: The Birth Keepers is a new six-episode audio investigation, exposing how two influencers radicalised pregnant women around the world and the tragedies that ensued.

• Why It’s Impactful: Podcasts can certainly have an impact on people, and as we’ve become particularly aware here in the U.S., on elections, too. But what happens when a podcast creator builds what is essentially a cult that endangers pregnant people by shaming their birth plans? Tragedy. The Birth Keepers is on this year’s list because it is thought-provoking. How does the disinformation and misinformation disseminated online continue impact health outcomes? What does it say about trust in our medical establishments if people are choosing to avoid licensed providers because they’ve listened to uncredentialed influencers? It is a lot to unpack, but this show can be a conversation starter.

Listen to The Birth Keepers

Similarly themed work to listen to: Long Shadow - Breaking the Internet

Liberty Lost

Category: Reproductive Justice

• Released: June 2025 | Episodes: 7

• Publisher: Audible / Wondery

• Produced In: USA

• Main Geographical Focus: USA

About: When Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known facility for pregnant teens on the campus of Liberty University. The Home says it helps girls decide what comes next – whether that’s parenting their babies or placing them for adoption. But inside the facility, the girls hear a different message: God wants their babies to go to more “deserving” mothers. 

From Wondery, host T.J. Raphael tells a startling true story of young love, motherhood, coercion, and the growing reach of maternity homes in post-Roe America.

• Why It’s Impactful: Liberty Lost is not an easy listen, nor should it be. Teenage pregnancy, religion, and adoption are all complex issues. However, host T.J. Raphael, who has worked steadily in reproductive health reporting, navigates with care and rigorous investigation as she pieces together a story that is, in the end, about the business of adoption in the U.S. Episode 7, which focuses on what we can potentially do about this issue, is one that doesn’t leave you with easy answers, but will make you think about the tough truths associated with adoption as it is currently practice in the U.S.

Listen to Liberty Lost

Check out the guest curation from show host, T.J. Raphael in the link below:

The Reality Of

Category: Society

• Released: September 2025 | Episodes: 8

• Publisher: Headline Sutios

• Produced In: Australia

• Main Geographical Focus: Australia

About: How is internet pornography impacting our society? Kids are first seeing porn, on average, by the time they’re 13. With the growth of AI and the pervasiveness of social media, it’s nearly impossible to miss. Is it changing our sex lives or is the algorithm just responding to our desires? What’s this billion dollar industry really like for the creators making content? Is violence increasing? Are young people at the forefront of an unprecedented social experiment? Will regulation solve this or will it amplify a darker reality? Investigative journalist, Liz Keen spoke with experts around the world to find answers.

• Why It’s Impactful: The Reality Of is an important listen, and not just for people with kids. We are all impacted by tech regulations that result from lawmakers grappling with how to protect young people. Even further, this particular issue spills into other areas of our lives when it comes to potential links to violence/abuse, as well as the creator and sex worker livelihoods.

Listen to The Reality Of

What social impact podcast series were you loving last year?

Have you listened to any of the shows above?

Please share your thoughts in the comments or subscriber chat.

Leave a comment

This live will coincide with the release of the 2025 Best of Impactful Podcasts list. You can check out previous years by clicking on the following years: 2024 | 2023

We will be joined by Wave Maker Media Founder, Adriana Cargill, host of the recently released The Palisades Fire: A Sandcastles Special.

Sandcastles, the series that precedes the 2026 special, appeared on the 2023 Best of Impactful Podcasts list. Adriana will share about making the podcast special, themes covered on the show, and most importantly, IMPACT. You do not need to be impacted by wildfires to have takeaways, so join us!

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Learn more about The Palisades Fire: A Sandcastles Special at the following link: https://www.wavemakermedia.org/palisades-fire.

Listen to the trailer and follow wherever you get your podcasts!

You can also follow Wave Maker Media on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/wavemaker_media

Adriana was also one of Sound Like Impact’s earliest interviews back in 2023 when Sandcastles was released. I recommend reading our interview and listening to the original show, though neither is required to hear our discussion about the latest special, which focuses specifically on the Palisades Fire of 2025.

We look forward to you joining us tomorrow! But if you can’t make it live, no problem. The live will be recorded and available for watching afterward. However, if you would like to ask questions—whether for the live or because you can’t attend—please submit in advance by commenting.

Leave a comment

Happy New Year!

And hello to all of the new subscribers who have joined since the last newsletter. You are joining at an exciting time, but also a time of change for this newsletter.

This past year, I took a brief hiatus and have spent the last few months reflecting on how best to serve the social impact audio community. Many of you are podcast creators or social impact strategists and communications professionals who recognize that our field is at a crossroads.

So, where does that leave us, the storytellers who want to make a difference with our reporting or gain support for the issue areas our organizations are working hard to solve?

After learning that one of AIR’s most popular panels last year was the one I pitched and moderated, “The State of Social Impact Podcasting,” I knew there was a real appetite for guidance on how to create content that matters as we navigate our present moment in audio and the polycrisis.

My primary reason for starting Sounds Like Impact was to help podcasters scale the impact of their content by providing an outlet for their work tied to social change. In the years I have run this newsletter and interacted with podcasters through interviews, guest curation, and surveys, I understand how under-resourced this type of podcasting is.

So, to double down on my initial mission, I will need to let go to make room for resources I believe can help.

Effective immediately, Sounds Like Impact will no longer curate podcast lists. However, we have partnered with EarBuds Podcast Collective founder Arielle Nissenblatt to promote social impact-themed curations published on the EarBuds platform in this newsletter.

If you aren’t already familiar with EarBuds Podcast Collective or Arielle, get familiar! EarBuds is a weekly podcast recommendation newsletter that was founded in 2017 by Arielle. Each issue contains five episodes on a theme, and each week is curated by a different person. There are over 450 lists to scroll through for podcast recs on topics ranging from game theory and science for kids to rural life and cultural identity.

• Here is the form to submit your curation to EarBuds Sounds Like Impact.

• Please note: EarBuds also has other topical lists, including Kids, True Crime, History, and Sports. If you feel that the other lists are more aligned, feel free to submit to those via the dropdown menu.

• When there is an upcoming issue of Sounds Like Impact, we will include a mention of all the relevant curations from EarBuds in this newsletter.

• Pitched to EarBuds before this change? You can also submit your curation for promotion here. Email the link to soundslikeimpact@unofficialsocialchair.com.

Next update: Beginning in February, Sounds Like Impact will launch the #AudioForAction series on Substack Live. These will be conversations with podcasters (case studies/panel discussions) covering topics such as developing social impact shows, securing funding, building mission-driven audio businesses, creating an impact strategy, using podcasts as educational tools, and more!

You will receive notifications when a Live is scheduled, and recordings will be available on the newsletter if you can’t attend. However, the benefit of attending live is that you can engage!

And while these are big changes, one thing remains the same: Sounds Like Impact will remain free / donation-based (subscriptions or BuyMeACoffee).

So that’s the news, and I hope you will stick around! From time to time, I will also share what I’m listening to, ads for new shows, and news from community members. You’ll still have an opportunity learn about incredible shows and audiomakers, but now, with more impact :-)

Sincerely,

Ayo | Editor-in-Chief, Sounds Like Impact

P.S. If you are still wondering about the Best of Impactful Podcasts 2025 list, it’s still coming! Though it may be more scaled down this year. An unexpected illness late last year through the beginning of this year reduced my bandwidth, but it will happen.