Tag: planning podcast interviews

Planning an interview-style Podcast? Advice for Newbies

Are you planning to do interviews on your podcast?

Are you wondering how to get the best from your guest so that they tell you things they haven’t said in other interviews and you really form a connection in the limited time you have? 

You have two choices: 

  1. Do a Pre-Interview
  2. Send questions in  advance 

Pre – Interview 

This is a scheduled call separate from the actual interview, you chat with your potential guest to see if the conversation flows. Are they as good as they look on paper?

Can you draw them out to give more than the standard answers? 

The pre-interview is not you testing your guest, you also have to do your part to probe into the info they gave you. Then you can decide which way you take the interview. 

I love pre-interviews and have gotten some fantastic stories out of my guests which with permission have made their way into the podcast.

 

Pre-interviews allow you to delve into childhoods, memories, and the stuff that never makes it into a bio. 

Shameless promo.

Did you know I have a podcast? Pick an episode to listen to here

So what are the PROS and CONS of doing a pre-interview?

  • You get to know more about your guest 
  • You can create a warmer connection before your real interview 
  • It can help put nervous guests at ease 
  • Guests can ask all the questions they want and not eat in to interview time 
  • A chance to remind them to wear headphones (wink, wink) 
  • Get to know more who they are more than what they do.
  • Pre-interviews take some planning 
  • Some guests can think it takes too long 

Sending Questions in Advance 

Before the interview, you send your guest a list of the questions you want to  ask or an outline of the episode with the general topics you want to cover. Please note there is no right or wrong way it is about what suits you. 

So what are the PROS and CONS of doing a pre-interview? 

  • Your guest will know what to expect 
  • The guest can be better prepared 
  • Saves a lot of time 
  • Guests can get to the point quickly (not always a good thing!)
  • Guest can sound so rehearsed that it a bit robotic 
  • The interview can sound exactly the same as the last interview your guest did 

So which should you choose? 

Whichever suits your podcast best. My podcast is a conversation I’m learning about each individual and their lives, so I like doing a pre-interview it puts my guests at ease and we speak so easily when we do the interview.

The pre-interview suits the tone of my show. 

Tell me which you prefer? Do you do either or do you just jump in?

Leave a comment below. 

Squadcast – A Review

Are you wondering how to record your podcast remotely, with good clear audio and with an easy process for your guest? Squadcast might be what you are looking for. A lot of people are starting podcasts especially since we are all distancing ourselves. 

There are a lot of ways to record your podcast remotely and this week I tried Squadcast. 

This will be a walk through of the software for a newbie podcaster and then I will list some of the pros and consider.

To use Squadcast you have to register for it. 

You’ll get a 7-day free trial then you can choose which tier you want to subscribe to. Prices for a monthly subscription start at $10. 

When you first sign up you will be led through a virtual walk-through of the platform. Even if you are familiar with lots of apps and normally work things out yourself, don’t skip this it will save you time in the long run. 

The App will request access to your mic and camera,  you can give permission for both or just your microphone.  

Creating a recording session is easy and straightforward.

Give your session a title and enter your guests’ details – as soon as you do this an email will be sent to them.

Screenshot of scheduling page in Squadcast.
Scheduling a session in Squadcast is easy.

The email they receive has the details of how to connect to the call and best practices for an interview.

When your guest(s) follows the link, they will first go into a” green room”. This is a sort of virtual waiting room where they get a last chance to check that both their microphone and headphones are connected properly – then they need to click on an icon to join your session. 

The host starts the session.  

You need to press ‘record’ at the start of the interview – this is important as you will be able to speak to each other before the session starts recording.

Picture of the recording interface in Squadcast.
Don’t forget to press record!!

At the top of the screen you will see a timer which shows how much time from your chosen plan you have left. 

After the interview is done your guest can disconnect and Squadcast will then turn each person’s recoring into a separate audio file. 

Pros and Cons

So why Squadcast? As a Podcast Editor the easiest files to work with and “polish” are WAV files. Squadcast delivers your files in this format. You can also choose to have your recorded file in the MP3 format.

Pros

  • Instructions sent in the guest e-mail are very easy to follow, even for first-time users. If they can use Zoom they can use Squadcast
  • Once you have recorded your interview Squadcast can combine the two files into one for you.
  • The final files are available in either an MP3 or WAV format.
  • Very clear audio.
  • You get to use all the features during the trial period.
  • If you are about to run over your recording time limit Squadcast sends you a message asking you if you want to buy additional time for $5. Only you see this message – your guest does not.

Cons

  • If your guest isn’t used to any online conference platforms it can be frustrating when the app doesn’t connect to the right mic or headphones. 
  • Some people might find the cost prohibitive.
  • You have to use it in Google Chrome.

Final thoughts, I found Squadcast easy to use and good value for money. Do make up your own mind and test it making use of the free 7-day trial. 

If you’d like to try out Squadcast please use my AFFILIATE LINK below (not shouting just wanted to be upfront).

https://squadcast.fm/?ref=patriciaqhobelajenkins1

Have you tried Squadcast as a presenter or guest? What was your experience like? Share in the comments

I’m finally launching my podcast

Finally. It is happening!! I am recording my podcast!!  It’s all shiny and brand new!!  Hang out the bunting and bake a cake!!!

This week I have spoken to four amazing women about:  how they created their businesses, lessons they have learnt, fears they struggle with and what advice they can give to someone in the first 1-3 years of their business.

Podcast Interviews
Finally recording for my podcast

 

What fears hold you back when you think about creating your podcast?

Are you secretly struggling? What do you want to ask? Who would you love me to interview?

From the research I have done it seems that people are waiting from a year to 18 months before finally biting the bullet and starting their podcast. 

Is that you? 

I can tell you that it was me, I was happy to edit and advise but I was too scared to put myself out there.

I listen to a whole bunch of podcasts, but I felt that sometimes a route wasn’t followed or a conversation was at a surface level or that some people make freelancing and or owning your own business sound like a walk in the park.

Hint: It’s not.

So I have questions I want answered, I want to create a community that asks the questions that I do and is looking for support.  The goal is to add value for the listener to be a resource.

 

When I speak to women who want to start their podcasts, the question I get a lot is “do you think it’s a good idea”?

 

My answer is almost always yes, as I know how scary it can be to put yourself out there, to be seen, to make your opinions known.  So how can you grow your confidence muscles?  I love affirmations. (There are some great podcasts to get you started if you can’t come up with your own). What I’m working on is a short course for you to crush negative thoughts and dig deep into your idea for a podcast. Do you know who you want to talk to? What you want to talk about and why you want to podcast?  My 10day Podcast Inspo course will help you get there.

 

That’s what I have been working on here at Maven HQ (aka my desk)

I promise there will be a link soon. Keep checking back.

Have a great weekend.

How to be a great podcast guest: Give away the good stuff

You will get the chance to tell people about who you are and what you do. Then make sure before the interview that you have one place to send them where they can find out what they want to know about you. If it’s your website great. No website yet? A landing page will do. Also make sure that you have some sort of “gift” offer for listeners.

Make sure it’s not fluff, if it’s a download make sure it is something that saves people time, teaches them something and that they might have been prepared to pay for.

Remember you want to create value!! Also your links will live in the show notes as well so make sure you have suitable working links.

Most hosts will also link to your social links in the shownotes as well. So make sure these are set up.

Be a great podcast guest – Read the Notes

If you are invited on a show and the interviewer sends you notes to read.Please read them.  If they have sent  some material to help you prepare please look at. A lot of work goes on in the background and it really helps if you are prepared. Read the notes

You may have done a number of interviews in the past but each experience should be different; because no -one wants to listen to you give a carbon copy speech on 10 different shows. Please read the notes. 

Perfect Podcast Pitch-Work Your Way Up!

Work your way up

Hi. Thanks for following these posts about how to start getting interviewed on podcasts.

If you are wondering why podcasts? The quick answers are:

Do yur research and identify relevant shows

It’s a low barrier way to be seen as an authority in your field.
It puts you right in front of your ideal audience/client

 

 

How do you start pitching yourself to podcasts?

This will take a little longer, you need to do your research.

Which shows do you already listen to?
Do these shows interview people in your field?

Start by making a list of 10 relevant shows you listen to regularly 20 might be better, but you can start with 10.

 

What do I mean “Work your way up”?

 

Choose shows that are relevant to what you do and that you can make a valid contribution too.
Start with “smaller” niche shows and have a plan in place.