About Shaping Culture

Where Storytelling Meets Strategy

At the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and sound, Shaping Culture stands as a leader in podcast production—delivering deeply human, high-quality narratives that transform how organizations communicate, engage, and lead.

Founded by award-winning journalist and veteran podcaster Ted Canova, Shaping Culture has grown from a humble home recording setup into a full-service production company with global reach and cross-industry influence. What began as one man with a microphone has evolved into a team of seasoned producers, editors, and creative professionals dedicated to shaping the way organizations connect—with their employees, customers, and the world.

With a firm belief that great podcasts aren’t just about what’s said—but how and why it’s said—Shaping Culture brings unmatched editorial discipline, creative craftsmanship, and strategic alignment to every episode it produces.

From Guest Bedroom to Global Impact: The Story Behind the Brand

The origins of Shaping Culture trace back to 2010, when Ted Canova, already a nationally respected broadcast journalist, launched his first podcast series. At the time, the format was still emerging, and few had tapped into its power as a vehicle for authentic communication. Working from a guest bedroom, Ted built the series from the ground up—developing workflows, honing his audio editing techniques, coaching talent, and most importantly, discovering the untapped potential of podcasts to humanize organizations and create lasting emotional connections.

Those early years became a laboratory for innovation. Without a roadmap, Ted created his own best practices—balancing structure with spontaneity, guiding guests with empathy, and shaping episodes that didn’t just inform, but moved audiences.

It was this pioneering spirit and journalistic rigor that laid the foundation for Shaping Culture, officially established as a podcast production company dedicated to helping organizations harness the power of podcasting for business, branding, and culture.

A Trusted Partner Across Industries

Today, Shaping Culture partners with a wide range of organizations—from healthcare systems to multinational corporations—to create custom podcast series that align with strategic communication goals. Whether internal or external in focus, each series is designed to amplify brand voice, build trust, and spark meaningful engagement.

Healthcare: Giving Voice to Care

Shaping Culture has earned the trust of some of the most respected names in healthcare, including:

• Kaiser Permanente

• Henry Ford Health

• Hopkins Medical Group

• Aetna Medicare

• Genentech

• Texas Oncology

• Global Healthy Living Foundation

These partnerships often center on topics such as:

• Elevating patient and provider voices.

• Communicating internal initiatives with clarity.

• Showcasing innovation in treatment and research.

• Educating public audiences on wellness and prevention.

With a deep understanding of the sensitivities and complexities of healthcare communication, Shaping Culture produces content that is empathetic, accurate, and accessible.

Beyond Healthcare: Diverse Industries, Universal Impact

While healthcare has been a core vertical, the company’s reach extends across automotive, technology, distribution, construction, and more, working with a diverse portfolio of clients such as:

• Acura

• Tyler Technologies

• Minerals Technologies

• CP Kelco

• Parksite

• New England Development

• McCarthy Construction

These partnerships reflect the universal appeal of podcasting as a business communication tool—one that’s equally suited to explain complex software systems, celebrate team culture on a job site, or drive thought leadership in a competitive market.

No matter the industry, Shaping Culture ensures every series delivers clarity, personality, and strategic value.

Journalism at the Core: What Sets Shaping Culture Apart

What distinguishes Shaping Culture isn’t just its production quality or professional polish—it’s the journalistic backbone that informs every decision.

Ted Canova brings to the table more than 25 years of experience as a national correspondent, host, and newsroom leader. He’s led major-market newsrooms, interviewed thousands of people from all walks of life, and has received numerous accolades, including:

• Multiple Emmy Awards

• The Edward R. Murrow Award, one of journalism’s most prestigious honors

That background influences every aspect of Shaping Culture’s approach:

• Storytelling over scripting: Conversations feel natural, but are guided with purpose.

• Interviewing with intention: Guests are at ease, their voices authentic, and their stories impactful.

• Structure with soul: Episodes are editorially tight but emotionally rich.

This journalistic ethos is infused into the company’s DNA—upholding high standards, ethical storytelling, and a commitment to creating content that informs, inspires, and endures.

Meet the Team: Award-Winning Storytellers, Editors, and Strategists

Behind the scenes, Shaping Culture is powered by a handpicked team of audio professionals, each bringing specialized expertise to every production. The team includes:

• Producers with backgrounds in journalism, radio, and longform storytelling.

• Audio engineers and editors who obsess over sound quality and pacing.

• Scriptwriters who bring narrative clarity and editorial polish.

• Project managers who ensure every timeline and task stays on track.

This interdisciplinary team operates as an extension of the client’s own communications department—collaborative, reliable, and laser-focused on results.

The Shaping Culture Process: Hands-On Leadership at Every Step

At the center of every project is Ted Canova, who personally oversees all facets of client engagement and podcast development. As Executive Producer, he remains involved in every step of the process—from the earliest idea to the final upload.

Clients work directly with Ted as he leads:

• Podcast Strategy Workshops

• Onboarding and discovery sessions

• Editorial calendar planning

• Scripting and guest coordination

• Host and guest coaching

• Recording (remote or on-location)

• Approval, feedback, and sign-off

• Post-production supervision

• Platform integration, marketing, and analytics review

His leadership ensures not only creative integrity but operational excellence, with every detail thoughtfully managed and aligned to your goals.

More Than Production: Strategic Communications with Lasting Impact

Shaping Culture doesn’t just create podcasts—it helps organizations use podcasts as strategic tools to drive culture, engagement, and growth.

Clients come to Shaping Culture for a range of objectives, such as:

• Communicating leadership messages with authenticity.

• Bridging communication gaps across global teams.

• Showcasing employee stories to strengthen culture.

• Educating audiences on complex topics in accessible ways.

• Supporting change management and DEI initiatives.

• Expanding brand presence through thought leadership.

Each podcast series is custom-built around your audience, your objectives, and your organizational voice—designed to feel like an organic part of your broader communication ecosystem.

The Shaping Culture Philosophy: Podcasting with Purpose

Every episode Shaping Culture produces is grounded in a few key beliefs:

• Stories matter. They are how humans connect, learn, and remember.

• Voice builds trust. The spoken word is one of the most powerful tools leaders can use to inspire action.

• Simplicity wins. Podcasts should be clear, conversational, and easy to access.

• Culture is shaped by communication. And podcasts offer a unique, intimate way to shape that culture intentionally.

With that in mind, Shaping Culture doesn’t just aim to entertain—it strives to spark dialogue, build trust, and create lasting change inside and outside of organizations.

Looking Ahead: Scaling Podcasting in a Changing World

As workforces become more distributed, attention spans more fragmented, and messaging more critical, podcasting is emerging as a core component of enterprise communication strategy.

Shaping Culture is at the forefront of this shift—helping organizations not only launch successful podcast series but sustain them over time, measuring impact and evolving content to meet new needs.

With an agile, scalable model and a reputation for editorial excellence, Shaping Culture is poised to continue guiding organizations through a changing communication landscape—one voice, one story, one episode at a time.

Let’s Shape Culture, Together

If your organization is looking to elevate how it communicates, engages, and leads—Shaping Culture is ready to help you harness the power of podcasting.

With a proven track record, industry versatility, and a deep commitment to quality storytelling, we’re more than producers—we’re partners in shaping the stories that define your culture.

Let’s create something your audience will want to listen to—and something your organization will be proud to share.