An interview podcast is one of the most favored podcast formats primarily because of the value that your audience gets from the presence of an expert.
But interviews can be tricky too especially when it is about getting the best out of your guest.
In this episode which is part-1 on a series about starting and running an interview podcast, where we will talk about the process and preparation that goes into a Podcast interview, you will learn about some initial planning and some expectations you need to start off with, so that you are able to get the most out of your interviews.
There are no two thoughts that an interview format podcast is one of the most favored formats.
Niches spanning from inspiration to knowledge and from sports to business all have guests coming on the shows to talk about specific topics and experiences.
And as a matter of fact, that gives a unique perspective to the information you are sharing on the show which otherwise a single host monologue wouldn’t have been able to bring out.
Probably that is one of the reasons why podcasters prefer the interview format podcast.
While we can argue about the pros and cons of a monologue and an interview podcast, there is no denying the fact that the interview format increases the range of a show.
But, creating and running an interview podcast can be quite a difficult and overwhelming experience just because of the many things involved in it.
And it can start right from finding that perfect guest for your show.
Now, every one of us wants that amazing guest to come to our show.
But how do we bring them onto the show?
Why would they want to come to your show?
And what value is it that you are going to bring out of them, that your audience will love listening to them?
These are all aspects that need to be planned well in order to be successful with your interviews.
We will be covering these in multiple parts where we will touch upon some best practices, the process involved, the tools, etc., and help you with how to ensure that you are doing it right.
So in this episode, we are going to talk about 2 aspects – the initial planning required for an interview podcast and also some basic expectations so that you start with the right mindset.
Do listen to the episode to learn a nifty little trick that I recommend using in order to get even more out of your interviews while ensuring that you are more regular and giving more value to your audience.
Preparing for an Interview Format – 6 Things to keep in mind
It pays to prepare a little before you get into something rather than regretting missed opportunities. First, let us talk about the preparation.
If you are planning to start a podcast in the interview format, then keep in mind the following –
Time commitment
You will need to plan your schedules in such a way that you are able to accommodate the interview schedules. If you and your guest are in different time zones, then adjusting to the respective time zones can also be a challenge.
So be prepared to record your interviews at odd times of the day or, night. While this can be a little uncomfortable, the reward is worth it, so it makes sense to plan for it.
Equipment
If you want a good quality, listenable recording of the interview, you will need some basic equipment at both your and your guest’s end.
You will need a decent microphone paired with a good recording software and a headset and your guest will need a bare minimum headset with a mouthpiece.
Some guests tend to use the microphone on their computers which can destroy the entire audio. There are other guests who use smartphones, which again is a big no-no.
While I am not an advocate of studio quality for individual podcasters like us, there still needs to be some quality for the audio which isn’t possible on a smartphone video call. So avoid doing that.
Recording software
I recommend using a good recording software like that Zencastr, Riverside, or, Squadcast. Zoom calls aren’t the best recordings and you should avoid using Zoom for your interviews.
Zencastr is free of cost, is easy to use, and can give you excellent sounding audio.
They are software designing for recording interviews. Why not use them?
I hear a lot of podcasters saying that Zoom is easy to use and hence they prefer using it. Zencasts isn’t difficult either but you will find it easy to use only if you use it.
And the decision between easy with poor quality Vs learning something for good quality is a decision you need to make.
Editing time
Interview podcasts take longer than monologues to edit.
It is primarily because they are longer in comparison to monologues. Interviews can be anywhere from 60 minutes to a few hours whereas monologues usually are around 20-25 minutes or, even lesser.
Hence editing in the case of interviews could take longer and with the mixing, sniping, etc., it can take up to about 3 times the duration of the interview.
I follow a faster method of editing, which is something I will be discussing on my YouTube channel about 2 weeks from now.
You can subscribe to the channel.
This faster editing method helps me get the editing done in about 1.5 times the duration of the interview.
Show Notes
Your show notes need to capture a little about your guest.
This should include their profile, their works, their contact details if the audience wants to reach out to them, etc.
To make it compelling enough for your audience to listen to the guest, you need to promote the guest and their works in the show notes.
Consistency issues
Podcast interviews can be tricky.
In fact, if you don’t plan well, you might end up with consistency issues.
Plan a calendar and approach multiple guests at the same time. You wouldn’t know how many of them would agree or if all of them reject your outreach.
If you are planning on releasing episodes consistently, you will need at least 3-4 episodes in stock always.
Starting with the Right Mindset – Basic Expectations
One of the biggest reasons for failing at something is starting with incorrect expectations. It is hence that I always emphasize starting with the right mindset.
You need to be sure of what is in store for you if you are to get into what you are planning on getting into. You need to know the worst-case scenario as well and not just the best that is in store for you.
When planning to start an interview podcast, you need to know that there are certain downsides to it and be prepared for them.
Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind when starting an interview format podcast.
Your show is yours, don’t let the guest steal it
A lot of podcasters fail to control conversations because they are either in awe of the guest on the show or, are overwhelmed with the guest’s personality. You are the host of your show. Guide the conversation and control your show.
People come for the guest but stay for the host
Your show needs to reflect your personality. Your audience will come for the guests that you bring on the show but will stay for who you are as a host.
So, ensure that you are confident in your conversations and you bring out the best from your guest.
Your guests might or, might not share your episode.
One of the expectations in running an interview podcast is that the guest coming on the show will share the episode with their followers thereby generating traffic and listenership for your podcast.
But this might necessarily not happen. It could be because of different reasons like the guest is too busy or, isn’t very active on social media. Either way, you need to be prepared for that.
Don’t expect a YES or, even a response from every guest you reach out to.
Guests need not always respond to your outreach requests. They might also reject your requests. You need to be ready for such experiences.
While dealing with rejection can be difficult, keep in mind that it is part and parcel of the game. I did an episode on handling outreach rejections, some time back. You might want to listen to it.
Remember that your guests aren’t rejecting you as a person.
Guests have all the right in the world to reject you. But know that they are not rejecting you as a person. They are rejecting somebody that they have no information about or, who they feel wouldn’t add any value to them.
They probably do not find your podcast relevant to their brand or, maybe you don’t have enough social proof to show them that it is.
Irrespective of the reason, don’t hold a grudge against them.
Your show is dependent upon your guests if you solely rely on guests.
One of the downsides to an interview podcast is that releasing an episode depends upon you being able to get an interview done.
If for some reason, you are unable to get a guest and record an interview then there is a high probability that you might miss on your publishing schedule.
Listen to the episode where I share a nifty little trick to manage such disruptions while giving value to your audience and building credibility.
Over to You
Starting right is important to stay in the long run and succeed. While an interview format podcast is one of the best formats, it has its own challenges.
Prepare yourself for what lies ahead.
Don’t miss on tuning in to the show the next week where I will discuss some best practices and recommended tools for an interview podcast.
Resources Recommended for Interview Podcasts
Here are some of the resources that I recommend for an interview podcast. These are tools and resources I use and can vouch for. It is hence that I am recommending them.
- Acast Podcast hosting – Acast is my recommended podcast host because of multiple reasons. I simply love their support, simplicity, and their monetization feature. You can start for FREE!
- Behringer Audio Interface – You will need an audio interface if you are using an XLR microphone. This is my recommended audio interface.
- Zencastr – Zencastr is the easiest option to record interviews, both audio-only and audio+video. This is a must for an interview podcast.
- Audacity – This is the best and the most feature-rich free audio editing software. It gives you a lot of options while editing your interviews.
- Blue Yeti USB Microphone – My recommended microphone
Thank you for joining me
I hope you enjoyed this episode on starting an interview format podcast. Join me for part-2 the next week.
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