I never thought I'd be the kind of listener who preferred guest interview style podcasts over long form narrative shows like This American Life and Heavyweight. As the host and producer of my own long form storytelling podcast about family, the irony is not lost on me. However, no matter if I am listening to one of my favorite interview shows (hello - Forever35, Call Your Girlfriend, How to Own The Room, Getting Curious... and so many more!), if there is an all-over-the-place guest, a boring talker, or poor audio quality I will turn. it. off.
Even on really good shows, I've heard a lot of bad podcast guest interviews. There’s the guest who repeats the canned answers they've already shared on several other podcasts, all in the name of promoting their next big thing. There’s the good (or great!) conversations with such terrible audio quality that I had to hit stop and move right on to the next episode in my never ending queue. And then there are the podcasts where the host is trying so hard to connect to the guest and the audience becomes disconnected.
The interview shows that really grab my attention and make me connect most to the interviewee are the ones were the person in the spotlight is being their true self, sharing stories from their lives and surprising the host/interviewer in the process. When the conversation is real, and the person is passionate about what they are sharing, the interview becomes a dialogue and helps us (the listener) connect with the human behind the microphone.
While going through my backlog of podcast episodes I came across this October 2019 episode of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. It's a 30 minute interview with Terry Gross - the host of the long running radio program (and now podcast) Fresh Air. This interview is terrific on so many levels. Someone who is normally the interviewer takes the podcast guest hot seat. She speaks on the art of interviewing but also the art of being interviewed. And all the while there is a chemistry between Terry and the show’s host Linda Holmes.
I am going to pull quotes from the episode throughout the rest of this blog post. So if you'd like to listen to it first, here it is:
"And I've interviewed people who have experienced the most amazing things and they've been boring. And then I've interviewed people who are basically talking about small things, and they've made it fascinating because some people know how to speak and tell a story. " - Terry Gross on Pop Culture Happy Hour
In addition to running my own podcast and playing the role of interviewer for each family member that shares their story on Rashomon, I have been interviewed on podcasts about my life as an entrepreneur and storyteller. Straddling these worlds of narrative and interview have helped me to become an expert as both interviewer and interviewee.
For interview style shows, I think it's important to prepare for your role as the podcast guest. This type of preparation isn't about memorizing content, it's about setting yourself up to be fully present in the moment, feeling equipped to share what you want to share while staying open to surprises and spontaneity. It's also about sounding good. Your voice, your words and the (literal) quality of the audio. More on that below. With all of this in mind, I've compiled a to-do list of 6 things that will help you shine as a podcast gueat — both in the moment and once it’s landed in your listener's earbuds.
1. Know your "why".
Congratulations, you've booked a guest spot on one (or five) of your dream podcasts! Before you do any other prep for the show, it's important to identify your reason for going on each show. If you aren't already a devoted listener, make sure you spend some time listening to a few episodes. Is there a theme or focus to the content? Are the interviews more conversational or does each guest talk for long periods of time?
Once you've listened, make sure you identify your purpose for going on each individual show. Every show has a different production schedule, a different niche audience, and a different communication style. Take all of this into account.
For example, a show like The Get Paid Podcast with Claire Pelletreau has deep and candid conversations about money with each guest that comes on. So perhaps your "why" is to destigmatize talking about your salary and business model so that your audience can feel more comfortable having difficult conversations, no matter the topic. Or perhaps the “why” is to introduce you and your business to a brand new audience that already understands the cost (and profit) of your kind of business.
You can also have an internal “why” for going on a show: I am going on this podcast because I want to feel more comfortable sharing stories about myself and my work.
Or
I am really excited for this interview because I feel less nervous having one-on-one conversations and knowing it's an intimate experience for the audience since most listen with their phone and a pair of headphones.
Whether it’s an intuitive response or a multi-paragraph purpose, write down your "why's" and make sure to revisit them just before your scheduled interview.
2. Do a podcast guest pre-interview.
Often some sort of pre-interview homework will already be part of the podcast guesting deal. The show's producer and/or host might reach out to you for additional information like a host-read bio, an area of focus, or they might share the interview questions with you in advance. If a pre-interview conversation is not a part of podcast's production process, you should take the initiative and get the information that will alleviate your nerves and help you feel your best during the interview.
“One of the first times I was interviewed, somebody asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said a lyricist. And she said, ‘No, no. Tell me something interesting.’ And I thought, like, OK, you know, I wasn't going to walk out like some guests do to me, but I felt like we might as well wrap it up because honestly, if that's the kind of regard you're gonna have for the things that I actually care about, like where is this going to go?” - Terry Gross on Pop Culture Happy Hour
If you'd like the host to introduce you in a specific way, write an intro in their voice (and in first person!) and send it to them. You can say that you wanted to make things easier on them as they prep the interview. Or share that there are specific things you'd like to highlight as a next step for the listener — like an website address or Instagram handle. You can also ask how they plan to edit the interview and how long it will be. Will you have the chance during the interview to repeat or rephrase if you stumble over your words?
“You open up to people when you feel comfortable. Yeah. That you're giving your story to somebody who is going to respect it and comprehend it.” - Terry Gross on Pop Culture Happy Hour
3. Prep + practice your Origin Story
No matter what the phrasing, there is a 99% chance you will be asked a variation of the question:
How did you get to where you are now?
Make sure you have a well-crafted answer that has a beginning, middle, and end. In other words, find a story to tell. Most of us have had a far from linear path to becoming an entrepreneur, which means you'll most likely have more than one story that answers this question. So choose wisely. Find the Origin Story that makes you feel good, shows your passion for what you do, and illuminates all of the superpowers that make you you. You can read more about personal narrative and Origin Stories here and here.
4. Sound like a pro.
Check out these podcast stats updated in real time. Did you faint after seeing the sheer number of podcasts that are out there in the podiverse? I did and I've had a show since there were only 500,000 of them!
One thing that separates an knockout podcast from an excellent podcast is high quality audio on both ends of the interview.
Most podcast interviews happen remotely, meaning the interviewer is in their home studio and the interviewee is somewhere else. If your guest role is on a podcast that's been around for awhile, chances are they have studio equipment and are recording in a soundproof space. They will most likely set you up with a Skype recorded interview or they might record through Zencastr or Zoom. Even with software designed to audio record, the final product can sound tinny, choppy and distorted. Poor audio quality will distract the listener from the content of your interview, standing in the way of their chance to forge a deeper connection to you and your business. If the audio quality is low grade, podcast enthusiasts will just turn it off and move on to the next.
Ready to make the upgrade? Transom is a fantastic resource for all things radio and podcasting. Here's an article with links to the gear that will help you set up a home studio. It has equipment at all price points.
If you don't have the budget for a studio quality microphone, digital recorder, and recording interface, you can still level up your sound by recording in a closet or a quiet room. I record all of my podcast interviews and voiceover narration in a walk-in closet in my house. I've lined the walls with acoustical foam and positioned myself around my clothes to create a vocal booth on par with a professional recording studio. I also made the portable vocal booth featured in this Transom article.
Here I am recording voiceover in my friend Nicki’s closet. This was a quick track for our 2019 KCRW 24 Hour Radio Race piece. I was using a small Shure mic that plugs into an iPhone and made sure to surround myself with Nicki’s beautiful clothes for a crisp, pro sound.
There's an additional thing you can do to ensure professional grade audio for your side of a podcast interview. You can schedule a Tape Sync. This is the term for an local audio producers coming to you with their field recording equipment and recording your side of the interview at a professional level. They'll send the file off to the podcast's producer and/or host who can then sync it up with their side of the interview. Tape Syncs run between $150 and $200 and depending on the podcast's budget, you can ask them if they will cover the cost. You can find audio producers for your tape syncs through the AIR Media's Talent Directory.
5. Let it go in the moment.
“And it's like, no, we have we're having you on because you're, you. Like you don't have to pretend to be someone else.” - Terry Gross on Pop Culture Happy Hour
You've done all of the prep work you possibly can! You are set up for studio grade audio! And now it's time to do the actual podcast guest interview! Trust that you've done the work, stay present and listen.
Give yourself permission to let everything go in the moment.
This is what makes for an engaging interview. This is what makes the interview process a joy. When you let it go, you are being your true self and you'll deepen the connection between you and your audience.
6. Give thanks and follow-up.
Make sure you thank your host (and the rest of the podcast production team!) Send them an email or a card and show gratitude for the opportunity to share your story with them. Also make sure to follow-up to find out when the episode will be released and ask for ways that you can share it with your audience. A lot of shows will give you social media graphics and audiograms that you can use on your own. The more you stay connected to the show, the better chance you have of becoming a return guest!
Happy podcasting!
Looking for more blog posts related to podcasting? Check out the following:
5 Reasons to Skip Canned Podcast Interview Questions
How To Conduct Podcast Interviews That Show Your Guests' Brilliance