Francine Toscano is the founder and creative force behind KidsCast, Australia’s first school podcasting initiative empowering students to share their voices and stories through professional-quality audio.

Her passion for audio storytelling began while working at an audio post-production house in Los Angeles. In this fast-paced creative environment, she developed strong skills in sound production, audio editing, mixing, and creative sound design, learning how carefully crafted audio can bring stories to life and create powerful connections with listeners.

Working alongside experienced engineers and producers, Francine gained hands-on experience in the technical and creative aspects of audio production, from shaping sound and refining recordings to building compelling audio narratives.

In 2017, Francine launched her own podcast production company, 17th Street Audio, where she combined her technical expertise with a love of storytelling. Through producing podcasts for creators, brands, and educators, she continued to refine her skills in podcast production, audio storytelling, and sound design, while seeing firsthand how powerful audio can be for building confidence, connection, and communication skills.

Her work in podcast production has also received international recognition. In 2022, Francine won a Gold Signal Award for Sound Design and Production for the documentary podcast Artifactual, recognising excellence in audio storytelling.

Inspired to bring these opportunities to young people, Francine founded KidsCast to give students access to professional-quality podcasting tools and guidance within the school environment.

Today, her mission is simple: to empower the next generation to be heard, to create, and to share their stories.

Since its inception, KidsCast has become more than a communications tool for schools. It is a platform where young voices are celebrated, community connections are strengthened, and learning is transformed into an exciting, hands-on creative experience.