Your Mic Podcast: Cruising Audio With Freddy Cruz

Twenty years ago, podcasting was the infant and over-the-air radio was the parent. That relationship has gradually morphed over the last two decades. The sharpest of the radio personalities recognized that podcasting could offer them new opportunities for recognition, success, and satisfy their entrepreneurial spirit. 

Freddy Cruz is one of those radio personalities who found success in podcasting after a triumphant career in radio. Freddy’s work spans twenty-six years, three with the iconic KDWB/Minneapolis-Saint Paul and twenty-one with the legendary, two-time Marconi Award-winning KRBE/Houston.

I am happy to report that Freddy Cruz has made the transition to podcasting, where he is now an influential part of the industry, and an enthusiastic and effective advocate for independent podcasting. 

Hosted by Freddy, who is the founder of Speke Podcasting, Your Mic offers insights, tactics, and mindset strategies. Each episode features practical advice to help listeners build and grow a top 1% podcast. If you are a podcaster searching for a path to growth, join Freddy as he shares his experience and knowledge to guide you through the podcasting journey. 

One of my favorite episodes was in September with guest Michael Osborne of the Famous & Gravy podcast. Michael, who is one of my favorite people, recounts how his indie podcast caught the attention of podcast giant Wondery and is now safely ensconced inside the Amazon umbrella.

Another favorite is the October 30th show about PodFade. As Freddy says in the episode, "Podcasts rarely disappear overnight; instead, interest gradually wanes, leading to missed episodes and eventual abandonment. Recognizing that podfade is a slow process helps creators spot early warning signs and take action before it's too late."

The November 11th episode is a show that should be required listening for podcasters. The show begins, "It’s time for a no-apologies pep talk from the founder of Speke Podcasting."

In the episode, Freddy gets real about editing, perfection, and why chasing that seamless sound is overrated. If you’ve ever agonized about every “um,” “ah,” or background bark, this episode hands you permission to care about the message more than the pixel-perfect audio. He demystifies what listeners truly notice, helps you make kinder editing decisions, and reminds you to keep it real in the age of AI polish.

In addition to being a superb podcaster with his own show, Freddy Cruz is also a pre-eminent podcast producer and owner of Speke Podcasting. 

As Freddy says: "At Speke Podcasting, we want to break the status quo and show individuals, businesses, and organizations that they can take true ownership of their brand’s messaging. The company’s name pays tribute to Sparrow and Zeke. And the voiceless among us whose stories have yet to be shared with the world."

Speke Podcasting, a boutique media company in the Greater Houston area. 

​As a podcast producer, he has assisted The Rose Breast Center of Excellence and The National Museum of Funeral History with the launches of their podcasts, Let's Talk About Your Breasts and The Final Curtain Never Closes, respectively. The former landed at #8 inside the Apple Podcasts Nonprofits chart, while the latter landed at #29 in the same category.

 

Freddy is also a successful author, with his 2019 bestselling novel When America Fell Silent. Here is just one review: "The first novel by Houston radio host Freddy Cruz is thoroughly entertaining, and packed with suspense. The characters really pop, and the central themes are inherently scary as well as poignant for the times we are living in. I literally couldn't put this book down!

 The Greater Houston area has heard Freddy’s voice for more than seventeen thousand hours via weekday shows, community affairs shows and podcasts. And he has elevated world-class brands by means of over fifty-eight thousand hours worth of production elements and traditional ads. When he's not in the lab creating auditory satisfaction, you can find him nose deep in a book, snuggling with his dog Sparrow, or jogging on the trail (trying hard to not sound like a horror movie villain).

One of Freddy's recent accomplishments was  Speke Fest 2025: Night of the Living Pod, a live event to help to put an end to the zombie podcast plague. On October 10th and 11th, join podcasters, marketers, and branding professionals at the National Museum of Funeral History (NMFH) for a two-day Halloween-themed event like no other. With workshops, games, keynotes, and networking opportunities, attendees left with actionable strategies to resurrect their brand and captivate their audience.

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Check out this interview with Freddy Cruz from 2023 in Authority Magazine, written by Jason Hartman.