It’s officially summer vibes in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s almost time for the world to watch “the beautiful game,” or the World Cup. ⚽️

Soccer, or more appropriately, football, is one of the ways that I connected with my immigrant father growing up. He took me to practices and games from elementary school to high school. A vivid memory I have is spending a Saturday at my middle school’s soccer field practicing penalty kicks with him. He’d take off his shoes, bare feet touching the grass and exhibiting strength to pass or kick without protection, and give me pointers.

There is still a lot I feel like I don’t know about my dad, but one thing I do know is that he is happiest and funniest when speaking his mother tongue and returning to where he grew up.

I often think that those who villify immigrants don’t realize what they give up, but I love that for just a time, billions of us will put aside cultural differences to be part of a global fandom.

June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and it also happens to be Caribbean Heritage Month (relevant to me on my mom’s side). For these two cultural months, I’m excited to have on #AudioForAction Live an entrepreneur who is building a company sharing immigrant perspectives.

And for the kid that hopefully still lives inside of us, for the parents, and for the caregivers, I look forward to having my first conversation with a kids podcasting team.

Read on to learn more about what’s coming up this month!

Leave a comment

🗓️ June 9th

Tuesday, June 9th, from 1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT, I will be in conversation with Saadia Khan, the founder of Immigrantly Media. We will be discussing what it has been like to building a company focused on sharing immigrant narratives, as well as entrepreneurship in the current media landscape.

Get Reminder

🗓️ June 16th

Tuesday, June 16th, from 10-11 am ET / 3-4 pm BST (British Summer Time), I’ll be speaking with Andy Smith, Artistic Director of Made by Mortals – the production company for Armchair Adventures, Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, Marketing Consultant for Armchair Adventures & Founder, MIC Media.

Armchair Adventures is a fun-packed, adventure-filled podcast for kids aged 6-8. In each episode you can act, sing and move-along as you embark on a brand-new adventure. You’ll visit magical places, meet extraordinary people and understand the world around you a little better.

We'll cover creating podcasts for kids, the show's intergenerational approach, and building audience engagement.

Get Reminder

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 things we discussed include:

• How they got into audio and impact

• Radio Workshop’s approach to storytelling

• The South African just transition

• What an impact campaign is

• How they built the campaign for “Just Enough Light”

Have you ever created an impact campaign? Chime in about your experience in the comments. And if you have questions about how to build one, let us know!

Leave a comment

More Resources:

• Power to Change: Learning Brief (“Just Enough Light” impact campaign case study)

• How to host a “Listening Party”

• Radio Workshop (FREE) tools and guides

• Climate Story Fund

• Impact Production Guide

And, as Dhashen mentioned, Radio Workshop is partnering with Resonate Podcast Festival to host a festival in Cape Town, February 19-20, 2027. Tickets go on sale July 1st. Learn more about the Resonate Podcast Festival in Cape Town.

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• Thursday, June 9th, 1-1:45 pm EST / 10-10:45 am PST Founder & CEO / Host Saadia Khan on building Immigrantly Media.

Get Reminder

• Thursday, June 16, 10-11 am EST / 3-4 pm GMT+1 Andy Smith, Artistic Director of Made by Mortals (creator of Armchair Adventures) and Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, Marketing Consultant for Armchair Adventures & Founder, MIC media on creativity in kids podcasting.

Get Reminder

Welcome to Sounds Like Impact!

On Monday, I interviewed Radio Workshop’s Dhashen Moodley and Clémence Petit-Perrot about the impact campaign they created for the podcast episode “Just Enough Light.” I will publish that recording next week.

On that note, I can’t believe June is almost here! We are finished with this month’s Substack Lives, but they will return in June. The following are currently scheduled:

• Thursday, June 9th, 1-1:45 pm EST / 10-10:45 am PST Founder & CEO / Host Saadia Khan on building Immigrantly Media.

Get Reminder

• Thursday, June 16, 10-11 am EST / 3-4 pm GMT+1 Andy Smith, Artistic Director of Made by Mortals (creator of Armchair Adventures) and Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, Marketing Consultant for Armchair Adventures & Founder, MIC media on creativity in kids podcasting.

Get Reminder

We hope you will join these conversations. As always, please submit questions you have for the guests.

Leave a comment

Read on to look back on some of the conversations we have had to date (questions and comments are still welcome!) and to learn about Cystic Fibrosis from the podcast CForYourself.

🖥️ #AudioForAction Lives (To Date)

So far I’ve hosted 11 #AudioForAction interviews! If you missed any of them, I hope you will go back and listen.

Please note: We also had an #AudioForAction Live with Lisa Koolhoven and Kristen Hayford about the podcast Beb & Bob. Unfortunately, Substack glitched, and cut the recorded interview in half (it picks up from the second half). I will be working with Lisa and Kristen to answer some questions in a written follow-up interview to come at a later date.

📣 Spotlight

In each episode of CForYourself, host Lucy Baxter has a (virtual) cup of tea and a chat with experts and others in the cystic fibrosis community. They talk openly and honestly about a whole range of topics, from exercise and employment to parenting and mental health.

CForYourself is all about sharing honest insights into life with cystic fibrosis, the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Listen to CForYourself

Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the only UK-wide charity dedicated to uniting for a life unlimited for everyone affected by cystic fibrosis. The Trust funds cutting-edge research, provides confidential advice, support, and information on any aspect of cystic fibrosis, including help with financial support.

Visit www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk to find out more about cystic fibrosis, the work of the Trust, and how you can help.

This month is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in the United States. You can learn more about CF in the United States through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

We discussed:

• The current state of climate and environmental podcasts

• How they each chose to approach climate storytelling

• Challenges facing environmental journalism and podcasting more broadly, and

• Opportunities for climate/environmental shows

We would love to know your thoughts! And if you have more questions, please ask!

Leave a comment

Keep up with Andrea:

• Name & Fame, with Andrea Learned: https://www.andrealearned.com/tag/name-fame-podcast/

• Living Change (2023) podcast archive: https://www.andrealearned.com/tag/living-change-2023/

• Newsletter/Site: https://www.andrealearned.com/

• Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/AndreaLearned

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/andrealearned.bsky.social

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrealearned/

Keep up with Jordan:

• “Hazard NJ,” a production of NJ Spotlight News/NJ PBS: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/podcasts/hazard-nj/

• “Hazard NYC,” in collaboration with THE CITY: https://projects.thecity.nyc/hazard-nyc/

• Hazard Podcasts website: https://hazardpodcast.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgasspoore/

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jgasspoore.hazardpodcast.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordangasspoore/

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• TOMORROW | Tuesday, May 19th, 9:30-10:30 am EST / 3:30-4:30 pm SAST Radio Workshop’s Clémence Petit-Perrot and Dhashen Moodley on the impact campaign for Just Enough Light. Sign up for a reminder.

• Thursday, June 9th, 1-1:45 pm EST / 10-10:45 am PST Founder & CEO / Host Saadia Khan on building Immigrantly Media.

I’m back to announce the next #AudioForAction Live! Hopefully you had the chance to join our live yesterday with Jordan Gass-Poore’ and Andrea Learned about the current challenges and opportunities facing climate and environmental podcasts. That conversation will be posted on Monday.

Read on to see what is coming up, and to see an update from a former guest!

-Ayo Oti

Publisher Sounds Like Impact & Host of #AudioForAction Live

🗓️ Tuesday, May 19th

Tuesday, May 19th, from 9:30-10:30 am EST / 3:30-4:30 pm SAST I will be in conversation with Radio Workshop’s Clémence Petit-Perrot and Dhashen Moodley about the impact campaign for Radio Workshop’s podcast episode, Just Enough Light (more below).

Get Reminder

In advance of our conversation, I recommend you listen to the episode and check out their previous posts on social media about the campaign’s activities ( LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook). If you are keen, you can also watch their December webinar about the campaign here.

About Just Enough Light

For the past year, Siphesihle Magagula has been going door-to-door selling solar power. He convinced nearly all of his neighbours to buy a basic solar kit, bringing lights to about 400 homes for the first time. His neighborhood, Nomzamo, never had electricity before — despite being close to South Africa’s biggest coal mines and power stations. But some of his clients are disappointed. Their solar kits don’t have enough power to run fridges or TVs. Nomzamo is just one example of South Africa’s attempt at a transition away from coal but will it bring justice to the 1.6 million homes that aren’t connected to the power grid?

About Radio Workshop

Forget the Africa you think you know. This is Radio Workshop. With real stories about young Africans. From Freetown to Cape Town, hear the world’s youngest population. One story at a time.

#SLICommunity

• Rekha Murthy, our second #AudioForAction Live guest, has a new show that is an Official Tribeca Audio Selection! She led the show development, story editing, and strategy. Tickets to their June 8 Tribeca event are here. And if you are a funder or distributor, or know funders and/or distributors, please share as they are seeking support to get the show over the finish line! Contact Rekha at rmurthy@rmurthy.com if you have leads.

  • Parasites & Power tells the stories of two doctors, one Black and one white, who rise the ranks in the British colonial administration until racism casts one out. Both made remarkable contributions to tropical medicine, and set in motion the global health system we have today. Yes, the same system that is currently experiencing a seismic shock from the withdrawal of U.S. and other aid.

Listen to the trailer

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

Can you believe it is already May? Lately it’s been feeling like every time I blink, I open my eyes to a new day. Fortunately, there are some great conversations to look forward to this month, one already scheduled, and another in the works.

Last month was Earth month, but conversations about environmental storytelling aren’t stopping any time soon. Read on to learn about the next #AudioForAction Live that’s coming up here on Substack. And if you missed the live about Environmental Storytelling with USC Storymakers Fellowship, what are you waiting for? Go listen!

-Ayo Oti

Publisher Sounds Like Impact & Host of #AudioForAction Live

🗓️ Monday, May 11th

Monday, May 11th, from 1:00-2:00 pm ET / 10:00-11:00 am PT I will be in conversation with Jordan Gass-Poore’ and Andrea Learned about the current challenges and opportunities facing climate and environmental podcasts. In advance of our conversation, I recommend you read “Where have all the climate podcasts gone?” written by Jordan for Good Tape magazine.

Get Reminder

Jordan Gass-Poore’ is the creator and host of the award-winning climate podcasts, Hazard NJ and Hazard NYC. Andrea Learned is a climate influence strategist and the host of Name & Fame podcast.

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

Where to find Jordan:

• Twitter & Instagram: @jgasspoore

• jgasspoore.com

• LinkedIn

Where to find Andrea:

• Subscribe to her Climate Influence Newsletter

• https://linktr.ee/AndreaLearned

• Bluesky

• LinkedIn

About Hazard NJ

They’re the most polluted places in the country, and no state has more than New Jersey.

There are 114 toxic Superfund sites scattered across the Garden State, and that number is growing. As cleanup efforts drag on for those sites, in some cases for nearly 40 years, climate change is reshaping the ways in which their pollution may threaten people living nearby.

Hazard NJ is a podcast that digs through the muck of each contaminated site to give a clearer picture of what the threat is and what it will take to clean it up before it’s too late.

About Name & Fame

Most of what you see online right now is naming and shaming. Andrea Learned is doing the opposite. Name & Fame is a podcast about the leaders, places, and projects building a genuinely better future — and about what actually fuels them. Spoiler: it's usually joy. Andrea has spent years as a climate influence strategist watching a specific kind of person: the mid-career professional who has quietly lost track of their own values and their own energy, who is sitting on more potential influence than they realize, and who just needs to see someone doing the thing before they believe it's possible. That's what this show is for.

Half interviews with remarkable people you probably haven't heard of yet — mayors, organizers, founders, candidates — and half solo episodes where Andrea shares what she's seeing that the noise is drowning out. If you believe that countering the culture is more powerful than complaining about it, and that visible, values-aligned leadership is the most subversive move available right now — this one's for you. Andrea Learned. Climate influence catalyst. Hype woman. Your permission slip.

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

🌎 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 three 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!

Leave a comment

🗓️ 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!

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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