Meet the 2026 soundwave summit speakers

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Soundwave Summit Curator

Amanda Cupido is a podcast consultant, speaker, author and post-exit entrepreneur. She is the Executive Podcast Advisor at The Walrus, which acquired her podcast production company Lead Podcasting. Her books, Let’s Talk Podcasting: The Essential Guide to Doing it Right and Let’s Talk Podcasting for Kids are Amazon bestsellers and have inspired people around the world to embrace the medium for close to a decade. 

As an adjunct professor at Seneca Polytechnic and Toronto Metropolitan University, Amanda is passionate about empowering the next generation of storytellers. Previously, Amanda worked as a radio producer, reporter and news anchor. Most notably, she was the first woman to be a program director at a talk radio station in Toronto.

Soundwave Summit Curator

 Sherley Joseph is a Toronto-based digital strategist, podcast host, community builder, and co-organizer. She is the Founder of Black Canadian Creators (BCC) and The Chonilla Network, platforms focused on storytelling, visibility, and sustainable growth for content creators and podcasters. With a background in radio broadcasting and experience across podcast production, content strategy, editorial media, and event curation, Sherley is known for building platforms and shaping conversations that help creators grow with more clarity, connection, and intention. 

Soundwave Summit Curator 

Sarah Burke is the Founder and Executive Producer of the Women in Media Network, the host of the Women in Media Podcast, and co-host / producer of The Jann Arden Podcast. A leader in Canada’s podcasting space, she is dedicated to amplifying women and underrepresented voices in audio. As a seasoned producer, strategist, and on-air host, Sarah has developed a slate of acclaimed podcasts featuring impressive Canadian voices while creating opportunities, mentorship, and infrastructure for the next generation of creators. 

Soundwave Summit Curator

  Tony Wang is the Director of Growth at Canadaland, leading strategies to expand the reach and impact of one of Canada’s most influential independent media outlets. A former freelance documentary filmmaker and Creative Director at the non-profit agency  My Media Creative, he has built a career at the intersection of storytelling, social impact, and audience growth. Based in Toronto, Tony is passionate about using media to inform, inspire, and connect communities. 

Jasmine Coleman is a podcast producer and journalist based in Toronto. She is the production manager at The Walrus and the host of the award-winning Add This To Your Playlist podcast. Before joining The Walrus, she led business development and oversaw production at Lead Podcasting. Jasmine holds a master’s degree in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University and an honours bachelor’s degree in English literature and sexual diversity studies from the University of Toronto.   

June Findlay is the strategy and writing powerhouse behind Little Kernel Communications. Known for her focus on "knowing your worth," June helps creators move past the noise and build intentional systems that drive real results. She specializes in turning complex ideas into clear strategies that empower independent voices. With a background rooted in high-impact communication, June is all about helping you own your platform and your value. When she’s not busy building systems for success, you can find her sharing gems on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

 Maggie John is the host of HERE with Maggie John, a podcast about life stories and lessons learned. She is also an accomplished radio and TV host, producer and journalist. She is currently the Executive Director of The  Baby Depot, a charity in Hamilton, Ont., which she founded with a group of friends back in 2013. The Baby Depot clothes hundreds of babies in Hamilton each year with a year’s worth of free clothing. Maggie’s passion for families in her city stems from a commitment to justice and a calling to help when you see a need.  

Over his sixteen years of crunching numbers, Matt Hird has very nearly filled his BINGO card for types of media companies he has worked for, but podcasts remain his passion, both professionally and as his go-to source of entertainment. Believing that good insights can only come from good data, ensuring the quality of survey responses is something of his personal crusade. Fun Fact: Matt could have had a career in the NHL if not for his size, inability to skate, and complete lack of interest in sports. 

 Mary Chan is a Podcast Strategist, Voice Coach, and Voice-Over Artist who believes in empowering underrepresented humans to build a community of belonging through podcasting. Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Canada to immigrant parents, Mary was told to stay quiet. Today, Mary gives historically marginalized communities the self-confidence with their voice because she felt that she didn’t have one growing up. After working in radio for 20 years, she struck out on her own and founded Organized Sound Productions, a podcast production and consulting company. 

Mike Anderson is a lawyer for creatives, innovators, and do-gooders. He provides forward-looking legal services to record labels, musicians, festival promoters, podcasters, podcast networks, digital creators, pro sports teams, and more. In 2021, Mike launched Lagom, an online platform built to give creative entrepreneurs quick, accessible, and (gasp) actually affordable legal help. He was named one of Hamilton’s 40 Under 40 in 2024—just sneaking in before aging out—and before law, he worked at MTV Canada as a Researcher, Producer, and Political Correspondent. 

Noor Azrieh is a journalist, producer, and award-winning host of Canadaland Politics, known for her sharp wit, blunt questions, and instinct for calling out political BS. She has produced long-form documentaries for Commons and reported on complex international investigations like The Copernic Affair. She also, occasionally, talks shit about the news on Canadaland’s media criticism show. Noor is a graduate of Carleton University’s journalism program and was born in Lebanon and raised in Qatar. 

Alex Nursall is a writer, audio and casting director, illustrator, and occasional bassist based in Toronto. She is the co-creator/writer and director of the award-winning horror audiodrama Parkdale Haunt and the noir-inspired vampire detective audiodrama Woodbine. In her day to day, she is the Head of Casting at Pirate Sound. As a writer and illustrator, her work has previously appeared in FLARE, The Toast, Slackjaw, TSN’s BarDown, Jezebel, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency,and CANADALAND, among others. She also does voice work, but mostly by accident, although you can hear her on The Silt Verses, Super Suits, and A Fool's Errand. 

Cherise Seucharan is a journalist and podcaster with a passion for investigative and longform stories in creative formats. Currently, she is a deputy editor at TorontoToday and a freelance podcast producer. She co-hosted Ratf*ker: Confessions of a Dirty Tricks Operative and Thunder Bay: Postmortem, in addition to dozens of standalone episodes as a reporter for Canadaland's flagship show. She was also a reporter at CBC, Star Vancouver, and the Globe and Mail, and has been published in The Tyee, VICE News and The Guardian. Cherise is an organizer with Canadian Journalists of Colour and is based in Toronto.

 Arlene Bynon is an veteran award winning Canadian broadcast journalist , host, producer of the Cbc Uncover true crime podcast ,Calls from a Killer and host of The Arlene Bynon Show daily on Siriusxm 167 , 10 to noon  featuring analytical, high-level Canadian and international news coverage with a focus on politics . Known for engaging in-depth interviews Arlene has won 17 International Radio Festival awards and was also nominated for a Gemini award for her past tv show , BYNON on Global Television  .  Arlene was also a columnist at the original National Post plus served as VP Current Affairs  at Rogers Broadcasting .  

Matt Cundill is the owner of the founder of The Sound Off Media Company, where he and his team develop original and branded audio content. He brings decades of industry experience to storytelling that connects with audiences across radio, podcasting, and digital platforms. For the last ten years, he has hosted The Sound Off Podcast, a show featuring conversations with media professionals, creators, and industry leaders. 

Shereen Simon is the founder of Perspective Studio Productions in Downtown Whitby, a creative studio and strategy hub that helps entrepreneurs, creators, and businesses align content with growth. With over 20 years oflau experience in digital, marketing, eCommerce, and product management, she brings a strong strategic lens to podcasting, video storytelling, and branded content—helping clients turn creative ideas into business-driven results.