H2. Introducing Amy Schlueter and Voices of Leadership
As an entrepreneur with a dynamic career spanning multiple industries, Amy Schlueter has found her passion in podcasting — both behind the scenes as a producer and in front of the mic as a host.
Now the CEO of Bespoke Productions Hub, one of Canada’s fastest-growing independent podcast networks, Amy is dedicated to supporting and amplifying the voices of independent podcasters.
Her podcast, Voices of Leadership, now in its second season, is a platform for conversations with women who are “redefining success and thriving on the edge of change.” From tech executives launching second careers to startup founders breaking barriers in healthcare, her interviews uncover the real stories behind the LinkedIn profiles.
With the belief that leadership exists at every stage of business, Voices of Leadership champions the idea that making a lasting impact matters more than a title. As Amy puts it, "Leadership isn't just about titles; it's about making a lasting impact."
The foundation of a great podcast
Tackling the technical side
For Amy, stepping into podcasting meant taking on the technical side of audio, something she hadn’t expected. “One of the most surprising skills I had to learn was all the behind-the-scenes technical side of podcasting—things like setting up and conducting remote interviews, uploading podcasts to all the platforms, and editing.”
Editing, in particular, became one of the most critical aspects of her process. “I realized that editing is the key. It can refine a story, keep it focused, and keep listeners engaged. When an interview goes well, a little editing polishes it just that much more. And if a conversation doesn’t flow smoothly—if it jumps around or a question doesn’t land—editing can help make sure the story is still compelling.”
Preparation is key
Amy also shares that preparation isn’t just about logistics; it’s about respect. She advises podcasters: “You can't just turn on the microphone and record—especially if you're doing an interview podcast."
Taking the time to research a guest, understand their background, and craft thoughtful questions shows them that their story matters. It also helps set the stage for a better, more natural conversation.
Good preparation also ensures guests feel comfortable. Amy notes, "As hosts, we record all the time, but for some guests, this might be their first time on a podcast, or even their first time recording remotely." That’s why Amy prioritizes setting them up for success. This includes:
- Sending questions in advance so guests feel prepared
- Providing recording tips (like wearing headphones and choosing a quiet space)
- Sending multiple reminders to ensure they’re ready
Selecting the right guests
As a podcast producer, Amy always advises her hosts to keep a wish list of dream guests, even those who seem impossible to book. “As the podcast grows, you revisit the list, and suddenly those once-unreachable guests don’t seem so unattainable anymore,” she says.
Turning to her list, Amy’s dream guests would reflect her deep love of Canadian history, the Olympics, and women who break barriers. If she could interview anyone from the past, it would be The Famous Five — the women behind the Persons Case (1928-1929).
For a guest still making history today, Amy would love to sit down with Hayley Wickenheiser. A six-time Olympian, Wickenheiser not only transformed women’s hockey — playing on boys' teams and paving the way for future generations — but also became a doctor and now serves as a leader within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
Amy’s approach to podcast marketing
For Voices of Leadership and the other shows in her network, Amy takes a practical, accessible approach to marketing—one that focuses on free, organic channels like LinkedIn and Instagram.
One of the biggest challenges? The unpredictability of engagement. "We’ve been experimenting with LinkedIn videos, but the metrics don’t give us clear answers," she explains. "One post will get 200 views, while another from Voices of Leadership has over 295,000. There’s no magic formula." Despite this inconsistency, Amy remains committed to testing different content types and analyzing engagement to refine her strategy.
To help combat the uncertainty, Amy has been trying new platforms – like YouTube. "My mindset is to just try," she says. To push herself, she set a personal challenge: posting 30 YouTube Shorts in 30 days and tracking what resonates with audiences.
Don’t sweat the downloads
Now 5 years into podcasting, one of the key lessons Amy’s learned is that “downloads don’t matter” as much as you’d think. She argues: “It’s about the quality of engagement, not just the quantity of downloads."
Instead of solely focusing on download numbers, Amy prefers to track metrics like consumption rate and unique listeners, noting that "this is much more meaningful than just the one-time download number."
Amy is also a fan of CoHost's pet ownership metric, which gives insights into whether listeners are dog or cat owners. "I love this metric," she says. "It might sound quirky, but it's a great example of how detailed insights can lead to surprising opportunities. It shows how deeply you can understand your audience."
How Amy uses CoHost
As Amy’s podcast network, Bespoke Productions, grows, she relies heavily on CoHost’s robust analytics and flexible network management options. She emphasizes the importance of retaining independence for creators within her network, which is a core philosophy at Bespoke.
"We want our creators to have control over their own shows, and CoHost allows us to do that while still providing the support they need. The flexibility combined with the in-depth analytics makes CoHost a great platform for supporting our independent podcasters," she explains.
Amy’s favorite shows for your playlist
When we asked for Amy’s favorite podcasts, here’s what she had to say: "I have to mention Curious Conversations, a podcast for kids by kids, hosted by a set of 14-year-old twins who started when they were just 11. It was the very first podcast I ever produced, and watching my kids evolve from being nervous to interview guests to now engaging in real conversations has been incredible."
She also enjoys Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell. "This past summer, he did a season about Hitler's Olympics in 1936, and he took a really unique look at that period in history, telling the stories of people I’d never heard of. I found that so engaging."
She’s also a fan of Lassoing Leadership, an independent podcast that looks at leadership philosophies from the show Ted Lasso and applies them to leadership and innovation in education.
Keeping up with Amy Schlueter
To learn more about her network of independent podcasters, please visit the Bespoke Productions Hub website. You can also tune into Voices of Leadership wherever you get your podcasts.
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