Podcast and Audio Production

Audio has become one of the most intimate and effective ways to reach an audience. A well-produced podcast puts your voice directly into someone's commute, their kitchen, their evening walk. But producing audio that people actually want to listen to requires more than a microphone and a quiet room. It requires editorial thinking, technical skill, and a clear understanding of what makes a story worth hearing.

At Mymspgoat, we bring a journalist's sensibility to every audio project. Our team has produced content for broadcast and independent distribution, from single investigative episodes to multi-part narrative series. We work out of a dedicated 12-square-metre edit suite in downtown Ottawa, equipped for both audio and video post-production, and we carry a portable field kit with broadcast-grade microphones and 4K video capability for on-location recording. Whether you need a complete production partnership or simply expert editing on material you have already recorded, we approach every project with the same commitment to clarity, accuracy, and storytelling craft.

Our Production Process

1. Concept and research. Every episode begins with a question worth answering. We work with you to define the editorial angle, identify the right guests or subjects, and build a research foundation that ensures informed, substantive conversations. For series projects, this phase includes developing the overarching narrative arc and mapping out individual episode themes.
2. Recording. We record in our Ottawa edit suite or on location using our portable field kit. For remote guests, we coordinate high-quality recording setups and provide technical guidance to ensure consistent audio across all participants. Every session is managed by a producer who monitors levels, pacing, and content in real time.
3. Editing and mixing. Raw recordings are shaped into polished episodes through careful editing, sound design, and mixing. We remove false starts and digressions, balance audio levels, add music beds or transitions where appropriate, and ensure the final product meets broadcast-grade standards. Each episode goes through two rounds of revision with your feedback.
4. Delivery and distribution. We deliver finished files in the format your hosting platform requires, along with show notes, timestamps, and full or partial transcripts. If you need help selecting a hosting provider or submitting to directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts, we guide you through the process.

Journalistic Podcast Production

What separates a journalistic podcast from a casual conversation is preparation, structure, and accountability. Our production process is modeled on the standards of professional newsrooms. We fact-check claims, verify sources, and build episodes around clear editorial questions rather than meandering discussions. The result is content that audiences trust and return to, because every episode delivers substance rather than filler.

This approach is particularly valuable for organizations that want their audio content to reflect credibility and authority. If you are a nonprofit telling the story of your impact, a professional association exploring industry trends, or a business sharing expertise with your community, journalistic production elevates your content above the noise of the millions of podcasts competing for attention.

Episode Formats

Not every story fits the same mold. We produce several distinct episode formats, and we help clients choose the one that best serves their content and audience. Interview episodes pair a host with a knowledgeable guest for a focused conversation. Narrative episodes weave together interviews, archival audio, field recordings, and narration into a produced story. Solo commentary episodes feature a single voice delivering analysis or reflection on a topic. Panel discussions bring together multiple perspectives on a shared question.

Each format has different production requirements and costs. A straightforward interview episode can be recorded and edited in a single day. A narrative episode may require weeks of research, multiple recording sessions, and layered sound design. During our initial consultation, we help you determine which format will best serve your goals and budget.

Interview Preparation

A great interview does not happen by accident. Before any recording session, our team researches the guest, reviews their previous public statements, identifies the most productive lines of questioning, and prepares a detailed question guide. This preparation serves two purposes: it ensures the conversation covers the ground your audience cares about, and it puts the guest at ease by demonstrating that the interviewer has done their homework.

We also brief guests on the format, expected duration, and general topic areas in advance. For guests who are not experienced with audio interviews, we offer a short pre-session orientation that covers microphone technique, pacing, and how to rephrase an answer if they feel they have misspoken. This preparation is invisible to the listener but makes a significant difference in the quality of the final product.

Recording: Studio and Field

Our edit suite at 247 Elgin Street provides a controlled acoustic environment ideal for host narration, voiceover work, and in-person interviews. The room is treated for sound isolation and equipped with professional condenser microphones, a multi-channel mixer, and monitoring headphones. For guests who cannot travel to Ottawa, we use remote recording platforms that capture each participant's audio locally, avoiding the compression artifacts of a standard video call.

Field recording is where many of our projects come alive. Capturing the sound of a place, the ambient noise of a factory floor, the murmur of a community meeting, or the quiet of a rural landscape adds texture and authenticity that studio recording alone cannot achieve. Our portable field kit includes broadcast-grade wireless microphones, a handheld recorder with backup channels, and windscreens for outdoor work. David Lavoie, our documentary videographer, often accompanies audio field sessions to capture complementary 4K footage for multimedia projects.

Sound Design and Mixing

Sound design is the invisible architecture of a podcast episode. It encompasses everything the listener hears beyond the spoken word: music beds that set emotional tone, transition sounds that signal a shift in topic, ambient textures that place the listener in a specific environment, and the careful management of silence, which is often the most powerful tool in an audio producer's kit.

Our approach to sound design is restrained and purposeful. We do not bury episodes in music or effects. Every sonic element serves the story. Mixing balances the levels of all these components so that the final product sounds consistent whether the listener is wearing headphones on a train or playing the episode through a car speaker. We deliver masters that meet loudness standards for major podcast platforms, ensuring your episodes sound as intended regardless of how they are consumed.

Show Notes and Transcripts

Every episode we produce comes with detailed show notes that include a summary, timestamps for key segments, links to sources mentioned in the episode, and guest biographies. Show notes serve double duty: they help listeners navigate the content and they improve the discoverability of your podcast through search engines.

We also provide full or partial transcripts depending on your package. Transcripts make your content accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, improve SEO, and give you a text-based asset that can be repurposed for blog posts, social media quotes, or newsletter content. All transcripts are reviewed for accuracy before delivery, not simply auto-generated and left uncorrected.

Series Development

A podcast series is more than a collection of individual episodes. It is a sustained narrative commitment to your audience, and it requires planning that goes beyond individual episode production. Our series development work begins with defining the overarching question or theme that will hold the series together across multiple installments. We then map out individual episodes, identify recurring segments or structural elements, and establish an editorial calendar that balances ambition with the practical realities of production schedules.

Our six-episode series package is designed for organizations or individuals who want to launch a podcast with enough material to build an audience from the start. Releasing six episodes provides a critical mass of content that gives new listeners a reason to subscribe and platforms a reason to recommend your show. We handle research, guest coordination, recording, editing, and delivery for all six episodes, maintaining consistent quality and pacing throughout the run.

Our Edit Suite and Equipment

Our 12-square-metre edit suite is purpose-built for audio and video post-production. The room features acoustic treatment panels, a dedicated workstation with professional editing software, reference monitors calibrated for both headphone and speaker listening, and a recording booth area suitable for voiceover and narration work. It is compact by design: a controlled, focused space that eliminates the variables that degrade audio quality in larger, untreated rooms.

For field work, we maintain a portable kit that travels in a single case. The kit includes two broadcast-grade wireless lavalier systems, a shotgun microphone for ambient capture, a portable multi-track recorder, headphones, and all necessary cables and adapters. This setup allows us to produce broadcast-quality recordings in conference rooms, offices, outdoor locations, and event spaces across Canada without depending on venue-provided equipment.

What You Need to Get Started

• A podcast concept or topic area that you want to explore through audio
• A defined target audience and an understanding of why they would listen
• A preferred episode frequency, whether weekly, biweekly, monthly, or a limited series
• Distribution plans or preferences for hosting platforms and podcast directories
• Branding requirements such as intro music, a show name, or specific tone guidelines
• A guest list or subject list, if applicable, or willingness to collaborate on guest research

Pricing

All prices in Canadian dollars. A 30% deposit is required to begin production. Free cancellation is available up to 14 days before the scheduled start date. Each project includes two rounds of revisions on edited material. A kill fee of 50% applies to cancelled projects after the cancellation window. Full copyright of all produced material transfers to the client upon final payment. Minimum engagement: 500 CAD. B2B clients may qualify for Net 30 payment terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have podcast experience to work with you?

Not at all. Many of our clients come to us with a topic and an audience in mind but no previous experience producing audio. We handle the technical and editorial side of production and walk you through every decision, from episode format to hosting platform. Our goal is to make the process straightforward so you can focus on your content and your message.

Can I record at your studio, or do you come to me?

Both options are available. Our edit suite at 247 Elgin Street in downtown Ottawa is equipped for professional recording and is available by appointment. For on-location recording anywhere in Canada, we bring our portable field kit, which produces broadcast-grade audio in virtually any environment. For remote guests, we coordinate high-quality recording setups so that all participants sound consistent in the final mix.

What is included in the series package?

The six-episode series package covers research and pre-production for each episode, guest coordination and interview preparation, recording sessions (studio or field), full editing and mixing, sound design, show notes with timestamps, and delivery of mastered files ready for upload to your hosting platform. Transcripts can be added for an additional fee. The package price assumes episodes of approximately 30 to 45 minutes in finished length.

How long does it take to produce a single episode?

A typical single episode takes two to three weeks from kickoff to delivery. This includes research and guest preparation in the first week, recording in the second week, and editing, mixing, and revisions in the third. Timelines can be compressed for urgent projects, though rush fees may apply. The series package follows a rolling production schedule that we establish together during the planning phase.

Can you edit audio I have already recorded myself?

Yes. Our audio editing service is available on an hourly basis at 135 CAD per hour (plus HST). We work with recordings in all common formats. The quality of the final product depends on the quality of the source material, so we offer a free assessment of your raw files before quoting a project. If the recordings need significant repair work due to background noise or equipment issues, we will let you know upfront what is achievable.

Do you help with podcast distribution and promotion?

We guide you through the technical steps of submitting your podcast to major directories, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. We also provide show notes optimized for search and can advise on promotional strategies. However, we are a production company, not a marketing agency. For sustained promotional campaigns, we recommend working with a dedicated marketing partner alongside our production services.

Related Resource

Read our guide: Working with an Independent Journalist, which covers the collaborative process behind our editorial projects including podcasts and audio series.