Sonic branding misfires, ScotRail AI voice row and 25+ links on sound and storytelling
Plus: It's Written So Let's Hear It!
Last week I explored how written content can be transformed into audio - and then I heard a perfect example in the wild. One of my go-to listens, Media Storm, had to skip their planned episode due to a technical glitch. Instead of rushing something out or leaving a gap, host Mathilda Mallinson read their weekly column from Byline Times aloud. Just her voice and the copy. 11 minutes of clear, thoughtful journalism.
It worked beautifully. The piece ("Is the media responsible for the rise of Reform?") was sharp, timely, and totally on brand for the podcast. I hadn’t known Media Storm supplied a regular column to Byline Times, so it’s unlikely I would have read the column. But I did listen. And now I know to look out for their work in print too. It was a “needs must” solution that ended up doing exactly what good repurposing should - bring smart content to new ears without extra effort.
🎧 Listen to Media Storm’s episode on Spotify
Also, a quick note from me: if you're listening to the Stop Rewind Play podcast episodes via the Substack app, you may have noticed the audio sounds… off. It's not your ears, the original file is clean, levelled, and mastered to spec (-16 LUFS stereo MP3), but the app’s processing seems to be introducing some distortion. On Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it sounds fine. I'm digging into this and will report back, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear from you. Can you hear the difference?
Smart links for sound people - this week we Rewind on what publishers can learn from premium audio, sonic identity crises, and how AI is reshaping voice and rights…
🎧 #Podcasting
Marc Maron announces the end of WTF after 15 years, marking the close of a podcasting era | Variety
The Guardian launches Missing in the Amazon, a new podcast investigating the disappearance of a journalist and Indigenous defender | The Guardian
BBC Sounds launches Radical with Amol Rajan, exploring bold ideas shaping the future | BBC
Pros share how to turn podcasting into profit — from sponsorships to smart audience growth strategies | Forbes
Candle & Bell hires co-creator of Doctor Who: Redacted podcast to expand its original audio slate | Prolific North
Authenticity in podcasting: secret sauce or staged performance? DW Akademie explores whether being 'real' is what truly connects with listeners | DW Akademie
Premium podcasts: The new luxury in storytelling | Luxury Lifestyle Magazine
Balancing gritty podcast content with advertiser concerns | Marketing Brew
Sounding your best isn’t optional - it’s essential for building podcast habits, says Audacity’s head, who shares 5 key tips for beginners | MusicRadar
iHeart exec talks audio marketing and audience loyalty on The Audience Connection podcast | LBBOnline
Turn articles into audio: how publishers can repurpose content into podcasts | Big Tent Media
🎶 #SoundDesign
Thrumm launches a new library of music cues crafted specifically to elevate narrative storytelling in podcasts and audio projects | Thrumm Audio
Hans Zimmer helps shape Vox Cinemas’ new sonic identity | BroadcastPro ME
Everything you think you know about sonic branding is bollocks — why most brands are getting sound all wrong | Creative Bloq
MusicGrid launches new website reflecting growth of sonic branding in the Gulf | Campaign Middle East
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park debuts SoundScapes, an immersive audio experience blending art and sound | CityBeat
80 years in audio: Sennheiser celebrates eight decades of emotion, innovation and passion for sound | SVG Europe
How the sound design in Flow turned lemurs, cats, and more into expressive characters—without dialogue | IndieWire **I appreciate this link is from Nov 24 and generally the links in Rewind are pretty current BUT Flow has just been made available on Amazon Prime in the UK and having watched it at the weekend, I had to find out more about the sound design behind it. This film is the antithesis to talking Disney animals. I thoroughly recommend you watch (and listen) to it.**
🔮 #AudioFutures
Gayanne Potter challenges AI’s use of her voice, spotlighting urgent questions around voice likeness rights | RadioToday
Immersive whale watching brought to life with spatial audio | ETNow
Designing sound-friendly spaces by amplifying nature and reducing noise | The Conversation
ElevenLabs builds full-stack conversational AI to shape next-gen voice interfaces | Opus Research
Next-gen immersive audio storytelling heads to London’s Science Museum | IBC
A retro drink returns with a futuristic twist: Slice relaunches with its own AI-powered radio station | Inside Radio
Best AI voice generators compared - from ElevenLabs to Murf and beyond - in this comprehensive 2025 roundup | Geeky Gadgets
Why Gen Z in India is ditching dating apps for the world’s first voice-AI matchmaker | Borok Times
US Chief of Staff deepfake sparks global security alert over AI audio manipulation risks | LBC
In the latest episode of the Stop Rewind Play podcast…
🎧 The Smart Way to Repurpose Written Work into a Podcast
If your team’s already writing newsletters, columns, or explainers, you might be sitting on your next podcast episode without even realising it!
This episode breaks down how to translate written content into audio that connects, without launching a whole new show or stretching your team. From finding the right content to picking the right format, I share practical tips to help you test the waters fast - no overthinking, just one mic and a smart idea.
If you missed it, here are the takeaways:
🧠 You don’t need new content, you need to reframe what you’ve got
🎙 A voiced column or newsletter intro can become a powerful short episode
📱 Audio builds connection in a way text alone often can’t
▶️ Hit play on the 9 minute episode here 👇