Doug Downs: Strategic Storytelling for Brands
From The Sound Off Podcast by Matt Cundill
March 31, 2026 · 48 min · Episode 496
About this episode
Doug Downs discusses his journey in audio and storytelling, sharing insights on podcasting and public relations.
Doug Downs joined me to trace his journey from a tape-recorder-obsessed kid in Scarborough to radio, TV, corporate communications, and ultimately podcasting. Doug shared how overnights at a country station, brutal newbie pranks, and a move through Ajax, St. Thomas, London, Kirkland Lake, Sudbury, and eventually Edmonton shaped his love of audio and storytelling. We reminisced about the ITV / CFRN days, that micro-fame of local TV, and why he ultimately pivoted into PR at Epcor , learning to think in terms of stakeholders, key messages, and strategy. We dug into why ums and ahs can actually help comprehension, how PR thinking makes for sharper podcast positioning, and why your premise and target audience matter more than trying to be Joe Rogan. Doug broke down the real role of video and YouTube (discovery, not depth), how to use consumption metrics from Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, and why podcasters should not disappear over the holidays . Connect with Doug and launch your podcast. Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show. Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free…
People in this episode
Host: Matt Cundill
Guest: Doug Downs
Topics covered
- storytelling
- podcasting
- public relations
- audio production
- media career
Keywords
- storytelling
- podcasting
- public relations
- audio
- media career
- metrics
- video
Sponsors
Megatrax
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Epcor, ITV, CFRN
Places: Scarborough, Ajax, St. Thomas, London, Kirkland Lake, Sudbury, Edmonton
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