TPU38 – The Magic of Researching your Guests with Mahathi from The Maharani Talks

Episode38

[00:00:00] Dilip: Hi, Mahathi. Welcome to the podcasting university. It's a pleasure having you on the show and talking to you about your journey. So welcome and I'm sure the audience is going to enjoy this one.

[00:00:22] Mahathi: Hi Dilip, Thank You so much it's truly my pleasure to be on your podcast. And I have as much to learn from you. I'm sure.

[00:00:31] Dilip: Right. So before we start off Mahathi. So, we, we would like to know more about Maharani talks and more about you in terms of what is it that you do in addition to podcasting, How did you get into podcasting? How was this beginning of Maharani Talks and you know, pretty much everything about how it all started.

[00:00:50] Mahathi: So. So, yes, I'm a journalist. Though I studied engineering and I realized it wasn't really up my alley. So I did a course in [00:01:00] journalism and then I switched over and I started my career with times of India. And then later on I freelanced for a couple of magazines and then eventually you know, I was a senior correspondent with a business magazine. So this is basic jist of my work. And so I have two kids and when my first kid came along, I decided to, take a break.

[00:01:21] And so, so yeah, and then, things got crazy with my, after my second kid came and you know how it is. So yeah. But I always had this to go, you know, this need to go back and do what I loved to talk to people from different walks of life and, interview them

[00:01:38] and that was something that I always wanted to go back, but, you know, I, I thought something on my own terms. So and so I was wondering what to do, and I think out of nowhere from, I mean, I wasn't even at that point.

[00:01:51] really listening to podcasts. So I don't know how the entire idea of to start a podcast came, you know, it was just one fine day. [00:02:00] Something told me, you know, what a podcast, because, you know, I like the fact that because of technology, thanks to technology, we are not constrained

[00:02:07] by geography. Right. You know, you could speak to anyone or what your work that you do in one part of the country. You know, people from across the world can listen to it. And that's what I liked about podcast. Which, if say if you were publishing a magazine or something, it's very heavily bound by where you can circulate it. Yeah. So thanks for technology and social media, you get that unlimited access. So I thought, okay, you know, why not start a podcast?

[00:02:35] And since I was a business journalist, So, initially I thought maybe my podcast could be about that, about business and talking to CEOs and entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, because that was something I thoroughly, enjoyed. And it was totally something. That I found having such conversations very interesting and very invigorating but I've also, worked as [00:03:00] a Metro.

[00:03:00] I have done a Metro bead and I also worked as did a bit for some time as a lifestyle journalist, which I didn't really enjoy. And I did work as a features journalist, which was interesting because you get to meet amazing set of people and then I did my business, so I thought, okay, why

[00:03:18] restrict Myself just to business when, you know, I really enjoy talking to people from all walks of life. So, yeah. So that's

[00:03:26] what I initiated. And so I decided to do with Maharani talks and I thought, okay, let me just talk to all the people that I find interesting. That's how it came to be. yeah.

[00:03:38] Dilip: Interesting. So, when you started off with Maharani talks, was there something specific in your mind saying that, okay, now this is what I'm going to do, and then did it change or as the podcast matured over the last one, one year, three months, I'm guessing. So over the last one year, did it mature into a more concrete, kind of a niche or topic?

[00:03:59] [00:04:00] Or are you still continuing with what you started?

[00:04:02] Mahathi: That's a very good Question so the podcast, I launched it in may 2020, just two months after the pandemic. So initially the idea was to launch it in March, that year, but that's when the whole thing pandemic started. Right. And the schools got shifted online. So there was so much chaos.That got delayed but anyways. Yeah.

[00:04:22] So I wish looking back, I wish I'd done a

[00:04:26] little more, You know, the upside was when I decided to do it, I didn't like hesitate or anything. I just decided, okay, I'm going to do it. Let's just jump in and see what happens, but which is a good thing, but I also wish I, did an, I took a bit of a pause and thought, okay, you know, have a little bit of strategy about, what it is exactly going to, how are you going to go about it after a couple of episodes?

[00:04:47] Right? Because the first few episodes, you're all going in all guns, ablaze. And then I think maybe 10, 15 episodes down the line, you kind of try to wonder, okay, where exactly you wanted to go. Right. You [00:05:00] need to have some strategy. So I don't think I gave

[00:05:02] that aspect much thought, which I wish I did.

[00:05:05] Maybe I'd done a little more research and everything. So yes, it's definitely matured over the past. You know, one year, four or five months. Earlier it was it was just, you know, it could have been like you just talking to people and getting the amazing journey aspect, or whether it's, it could be considered motivational or just getting the journey of people who have done amazing things, really cool things. But now it's, I feel It's kind of geared, towards, what I'm also passionate about, which is like, um, as a journalist, a lot of my, I love I mean, as much as I stay up to date with news and, the current politics or the current scenario or relevant issues and business issues as something that I tend to gravitate towards. So I've kind of noticed. After, you know, a couple of maybe 15 or 20 episodes, I noticed that I on some level was steering also the conversation that [00:06:00] way, in the sense, you know, what is it that you want to highlight? What issues do you want to highlight? You know what are the yes, I'm talking to, you know, I'm talking to a really cool person to a guest and they're doing some really amazing stuff. But in the industry, in the work and, from where, from their perspective, what is it they want to highlight? What are the issues they deal with? And what is it they want to throw light on. So I think yes, the podcast now kind of concentrates more on that aspect now, you know, besides of course talking to, those people behind the, this who do some really cool stuff.

[00:06:37] Dilip: Okay. So at that point, I would like to know one more thing, Mahathi. So considering podcasting has been a completely new experience for you, from what I understand. So when you plan on starting the podcast, how did you go about it as it was there?

[00:06:53] Somebody who kind of guided you on how to get started? Where did you gather all the information from and how did you [00:07:00] get to. started.

[00:07:02] Mahathi: Okay. Um, so I wish I knew someone from the podcasting industry. Right. But I didn't know anyone at all. And in fact, I didn't know anyone around me who was listening to podcasts at all. So even to ask them. What is the currency in with podcasts? What podcasts do you listen to? What, what, what are the ones I can check out? So I had no one to turn to in that aspect which is what was so amazing about, you know, the current age of internet, the best of knowledge is free. So I just got on Google on YouTube and did a whole bunch of research about, you know, okay, you're thinking about starting a podcast, what next, you know, what do you need to know about it then? And as much as the amount of information is free, it's just, it's really a rabbit hole that you can get into. And it can be very confusing. So many people coming up saying there, so many like, at least a hundred different points of view, right. So it [00:08:00] can be very overwhelming and it can really put you off from what you want to get started. So that took a while to just sort through the information that is relevant. And that is useful for me. You know, it could, whatever others were saying could have been useful for someone else. But it wasn't for me. So that took a while to just sort out. But I, so I basically spent quite a few months just, you know, trying to get it right. You know, the kind of software. what I first need to know about podcast and a kind of software that I need, or that you know, the hardware that I need, the microphone and what, all the stuff that I need to the recorder to invest in how much it takes to invest in. And do I really. Invest a lot or do I need to.

[00:08:47] you know, is it Okay.

[00:08:48] if I go, you know, the mid range? So all that took a while for me to figure out. And then once I did then I spent a whole amount of time just doing trial [00:09:00] runs of, recording Interviews and sadly, most of it, I know, I didn't let my husband escape, so he was the one who had to put up with it. So, yeah. At one point he would say something like, I should start charging you for interviewing me.

[00:09:23] Dilip: Okay.

[00:09:25] Mahathi: yeah, so, so he was very sweet. Then you would sit down and, you know, we'd just do like a whole bunch of mock and I would record it just so, because I would have enough material to. Practice my editing. Right. So I did a bunch of that And, also to do, to see where I can improve the recording and what mistakes I'm making and, you know and plus it's it, I was jumping into all this after all, like, you know, after a slight gap with my work. And so just to, for me to again, fine tune my skills and everything. So it helps a lot. [00:10:00] Yeah.

[00:10:03] Dilip: Okay. And, after researching, how did you start off what was the kind of setup that you started off with? What were the equipments that you bought, or did you start off on a minimal with a minimal setup and over a period of time, you kind of you know, upgraded yourself.

[00:10:16] Mahathi: So

[00:10:16] uh, what I decided was that I wouldn't invest in something really high-end, you know, some

[00:10:23] not very expensive, something

[00:10:25] in the mid range, Which, allows me. You know, it's like, I didn't want to invest two less also because I knew I was, you know I was taking it seriously in the sense, like I, and I want it to sound professional.

[00:10:37] Right. So I wanted to invest in, in a good amount of equipment. It's just that I didn't want to, that could also as the, you know, the podcast mature as it grew, that I could actually build on it. So build on the equipment that I buy. So I was pretty clear. So in fact, a lot of the stuff that I bought then is what I'm continued to use it today.

[00:10:58] It's still serves me [00:11:00] good. Like my microphone is an ATR 2100, which is not very expensive. It's a great microphone. It's, a dynamic microphone and that's something I had to figure out condenser and dynamic. I was like, okay, what

[00:11:14] the hell is the difference? so yeah, and it still serves me good and and then for the recorder, I decided I'll go with the zoom H5, which I knew I could, which helped me, you know, when I started my, you know, in-person recording because earlier on the pandemic though, I had set up a small set, had a small setup, you know, for people to come in and we can record an interview. It was all put, uh, I had to like, basically. Lock up that space and, you know, cover up everything because of the pandemic. And obviously no one was willing to come and meet in person. So so I actually, in March this year, I did my first finally. when it was comfortable enough and I will someone was willing to come in. So I did my first interview. So the ZoomH5 [00:12:00] helped a lot, you know, so I was happy. I invested in that though. It's slightly on the expensive side. But I knew I wanted a good recorder. So it really helped with, uh, you know, the in-person recording and I actually had so I am though I'm an engineer.

[00:12:15] I studied electronics and communication. I really suck at technology. Yeah. So I actually got a sound engineer to come and help me out to help ensure the setup is good. And we did a couple of, you know, mock trials, audio trials to see how the audio sounds and what I can do with the ambient sound and everything.

[00:12:38] So he was the one who helped me through it. So yeah.

[00:12:42] So yes, the equipment I invested back then still helps me good now, so yeah.

[00:12:48] Dilip: And I think what you've invested in is some of the best that you can, at not a very expensive budget, but a reasonable budget. These are some, some of the good equipments that are there in [00:13:00] podcasting. So, you

[00:13:00] Mahathi: Yeah.

[00:13:01] Dilip: something that did well in terms of starting off. Yeah.

[00:13:05] Mahathi: Yeah. So

[00:13:06] there was some, actually some, sorry, there were actually some really good creators out there. You know, I should probably give a shout out to who helped me decide on the equipment, you know, like Kevin Ross he's actually a YouTube creator. He was really good. He, the, his videos are very informational.

[00:13:21] I found it very informational and of course I think that was Pat Flynn,. Yeah. So he does a whole bunch of informational videos as well for podcast, for people wanting to start podcasts And.

[00:13:35] even videos on by BuzzSprout was also very informational.

[00:13:39] Uh, it was good. Yeah.

[00:13:43] Dilip: Okay, good. And when you started off now the topic is something that you were interested in and you knew that you can get people that you could talk to, but when you started up, did you know that there'll be people who will be interested in listening to it.

[00:13:58] Mahathi: Good question [00:14:00] again. Um, I didn't give much thought to that. I. I, I knew you know, definitely they would I knew

[00:14:07] Take time for it to build up to.

[00:14:09] a good amount of listeners. So I wasn't in a tearing hurry to see if that was something that, you know, when I was reading up on podcasting and other creators who were podcasters, right. So they would constantly tell podcasting is a long form media, right? It's not something you Consume in a 30 second or one minute short clip, and then you move on it. So it takes time to build your base or your listeners. So I, I that's the mindset I got into with that it is going to take time. So for the first couple of weeks, I wouldn't even check my stats at all my statistics.

[00:14:45] Right? How many downloads or how many people were listening? Because I knew if I did that, I would immediately feel discouraged. I know it would take time. So I, my main goal at that point of time was to ensure my content was good.. So I would try my best [00:15:00] to get on. I mean, I, I focused a lot on the kind of guests I brought on and how I would structure my interview and all the interesting stuff they had to share. Like for instance, the interview with Shradha Sharma the founder of your story was went really well. And she shared some really amazing stuff and I feel. Some of the stuff that she shared right was not always found in other interviews she's given and she's given so many interviews.

[00:15:24] Right.

[00:15:25] Um, so stuff like that. So I think that really helped to just concentrate on my content. And I think that kind of helped build up the listener base for it.

[00:15:38] Dilip: Yeah. So something I'll come back to you on is about the guest selection. But before I, I talk about that what I also wanted to understand from you is that you, you spoke about editing and setting up your studio and everything. So do you do the editing and everything by yourself?

[00:15:52] Mahathi: Yes, I do, actually.

[00:15:55] I I don't know. Do you do still do your editing? You've been doing it for four or five years. [00:16:00]

[00:16:00] Dilip: Right. Editing is something that I continue to do because somehow I feel that if I edit my recordings, I'll be able to get that personal touch to it, rather than getting somebody else to edit it and maybe, you know, editing out something that I would, have wanted to retain in the recording. So that way I.

[00:16:17] Mahathi: Yeah, I completely agree with what you have to say. That's the only reason why I'm still editing because I'm not a big fan of editing. So I, I really wish I could outsource it. But I know that if I edited, I will structure it well, I know how I want to structure the interview. And even just like those are pause in a conversation, right?

[00:16:39] So certain things that matter, I.

[00:16:42] would pay attention to all the small details, right? Like, like how you would write it with your recording, with your

[00:16:49] editing. So I feel if outsourced it, I, I think I would end up giving like a. I dunno, 50-100 notes, probably that person would be get mixed, so I [00:17:00] edit it myself,

[00:17:03] Dilip: That's

[00:17:03] Mahathi: yes, I'm not a

[00:17:04] Dilip: that I have.

[00:17:07] Mahathi: You've done that.

[00:17:09] Dilip: No, no, I have, I tried outsourcing it. So I got somebody to edit. I think three of my episodes and eventually ended up editing it again myself and I just paid him. But then I wasn't really happy as a, not one person. There were two different individuals that I use there, but I wasn't really happy with that.

[00:17:27] And then I ended up editing it myself. So that's how it is.

[00:17:31] Mahathi: I know. Yeah. Because I know that's exactly what I'll do. And, you know, I, I would like obsess, I'm showing I would keep like pinging them or this, you need to do that. And that, and so I figured it's easier for me to just do it myself, but though it takes hours. Right. Even for like a half an hour conversation. Yeah. But that's

[00:17:50] okay. What

[00:17:51] Dilip: that's, that's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. So w when I was checking through your podcast you know, I went through some of your YouTube you know, videos, snippets [00:18:00] as well. I even through your LinkedIn profile where you've been posting your, your episodes on the show. So what I wanted to understand Mahathi is that one, I'm sure you're spending a lot of time because there is a video that you have, you are editing your audio, you're cutting out small snippets from your video. You're posting that on YouTube. You're using that for your LinkedIn. So all of this process, how long does it take one episode? What does the post-processing like?

[00:18:28] Mahathi: Okay. So the video aspect, I do not do it anymore because the very first video of the first episode with Ananya Parekh it was, I think a three minute video clip that I wanted to upload on, you know, on various social media platforms. That three minute clip, because I was doing it for the very first time it took me like almost half. a day, and

[00:18:51] I realized it wasn't the best way to spend my, my, energy or my time to, you know, to it kind of, it's kinda like, uh, divert your [00:19:00] attention away from, you know, the actual podcast I felt. So I was very lucky to get a good, editor, so he's been from the second episode onwards, he's the one who's been helping me and really so in a lot of ways he's been very we really work well in tantum and he's very good.

[00:19:17] He himself like comes up with ideas and inputs. And so in fact we decided to, this is just a small thing. The look of the video, the past couple of episodes. So that was something that Yeah, that's all that's possible only because you know, he's been helping me otherwise I've driven myself crazy if I have to do that as well. So the video aspect alone, someone takes care of it, but the rest, yes, I do it myself. Yeah, but it does the post production the podcast, not just the editing of the podcast, but other aspects, does take its fair share of the time.

[00:19:54] And, uh, and I I'm guessing, you know, because so many podcasters, right though, indie [00:20:00] podcasters, they do this as a side thing, right?

[00:20:03] Like a side hustle types because they enjoy doing this. And I'm sure most of them do this when I don't know at night, you know, the weekends or how do you manage? You have So much to do it, right. When do you actually sit down and do your editing or your post production?

[00:20:20] Dilip: So I usually batch record maybe about four to five episodes and then spend about two days in between and usually it's the mornings that I do the editing and everything on. So I, as an, I am an early, riser. So I wake up at about five o'clock and during the day I finish off my editing work.

[00:20:40] And then I work on the content because I also write a blog post along with it on the website. So that content is something that I write. And in about two days I keep whatever recordings I have. I keep that ready. So that's how it, but it's usually mornings on weekdays, itself. Weekends I, I prefer not to get into any of these things.

[00:20:59] I [00:21:00] would like to take some time off.

[00:21:02] Mahathi: I know. Yeah, that's true. So if I'm like totally a night person, I cannot do early mornings, but I can stay. Really late into the night. And I enjoy the quiet the night offers, especially because I have two kids. So who often don't let me complete my thought also in peace. So, so night is when I really get to, yeah. do.

[00:21:26] you have kids?

[00:21:27] Dilip: Yeah. I have a daughter she's 12 years now, but you know, she, she doesn't, as in, when I'm working, she knows that as in the two of us, me and my wife, both, she knows that the two of us need to be left alone. So she'll not be there. That's fine.

[00:21:42] Mahathi: Oh good. Okay. Yeah. She's like quite old enough and I'm sure that she's at an age where she's more like, okay, I want you guys to leave me alone type

[00:21:50] Dilip: Right? Yeah.

[00:21:51] Mahathi: yeah. So my kids are like eight and five, my older one kind of understands, but my younger one is so, if he needs me, he needs

[00:21:59] [00:22:00] me. So yeah. So yes, nights is when I do most of my work. yeah.

[00:22:06] Dilip: Okay. So on, on that video piece itself Mahathi now you you've been doing this on YouTube for quite some time, so just if I'm to understand how effective do you think that that strategy of posting on YouTube is and how has it helped your show in terms of growth, as in, is there a contribution that you would like to give YouTube for the, the growth of your show?

[00:22:33] Mahathi: You know, more than YouTube, I would attribute to a certain amount to the growth of the show, to the video element of the podcast and thanks to zoom and, other platforms right. It's easy to record, right video as well. YouTube, I have to admit, I haven't really spent much time or, focus on it. They say YouTube is I put it mostly there for like [00:23:00] copyright issues. So that's something else doesn't come up on YouTube, just so that Maharani talks is available on YouTube as well. Ideally I should put up the entire video because people on YouTube would like to watch the entire interview. Right.

[00:23:13] And not just snippets. Ideally. That's what I should do. But I having done that. That's again, something that's going to take editing a video, the whole entire video again, is going to take a considerable amount of time. And so I've just concentrated on just the audio consumption on the podcast. Though I have leveraged the audio, I mean the video snippets, right. For growth. So I've just been doing that for like, say my main focus right now is Instagram and LinkedIn. That's how I mainly are most active on, I would say. And yeah, YouTube will there on the side, but I guess, you know, eventually going forward, I should do more with YouTube because it is a great platform as well.

[00:23:53] Maybe eventually put up the entire video interview, I think people woud like would

[00:23:56] Dilip: And considering, you are anyways planning in doing [00:24:00] in-person interviews, I think that will help you.

[00:24:03] Mahathi: Yeah. Yeah. If it would, yeah, I should.

[00:24:07] Dilip: And, LinkedIn you've been consistent on LinkedIn. You've been posting on LinkedIn. So how has LinkedIn help you in terms of promotion of your show?.

[00:24:17] Mahathi: It has so because my podcast. It's quite, to say, how do I say it? It's quite like a serious conversation, right? It's not something light or not always entertaining. And it kind of, talks about any important issues and, anything currently that's happening. So it's, really helped because LinkedIn kind of, it's the kind of users it has, right. It kind of. It relates to, the content that I put relate very well to the people who are there on LinkedIn. And a lot of times since I also talked to entrepreneurs and, you know founders and CEOs, so they, it generally does well.

[00:24:55] And so many of them have a much more greater presence on LinkedIn [00:25:00] than on Instagram. In terms of their work, right? Instagram, sometimes they're mostly there for their personal thing, but they aren't always promoting their company on Instagram or, you know, so that way it's definitely helped. And also, because another reason why I posted on LinkedIn, because the content that I'm putting out kind of aligns with the career that I've also had right.

[00:25:23] As a Journalist, so. it doesn't deflect away or take it away from that. So it kind of.

[00:25:28] adds to it. Yeah. So that's another reason why I chose for LinkedIn. Though initially it was only Instagram and then it was a friend who suggested, considering the

[00:25:38] kind of content that kind of interviews that you have made a do.

[00:25:42] Right. Which is quite in-depth and more so like towards the real towards the serious conversation type. will do really well on LinkedIn. So that's when I started to take LinkedIn more

[00:25:53] as well.

[00:25:55] Dilip: Okay. So from a promotional perspective, what you're doing is you're utilizing videos to [00:26:00] some extent, Instagram and LinkedIn. Is there any other way that you are promoting your show?

[00:26:04] Mahathi: Mostly this. I've also now and then on Clubhouse taking part in Clubhouse chats around podcast and also co-hosted, or, you know, the talk about, for anyone who wants to start podcasting and podcast. So a little bit of my presence on clubhouse. Though I get bit of lately, it's kind of tapered down because I'm not able to manage so many platforms.

[00:26:27] And I really don't know if I, if anyone should focus on so many platforms also, right? It takes considerable amount of, of your energy and so Clubhouse also kind of tapered. So yeah, it's mostly like, you know, Instagram and on LinkedIn. So that's

[00:26:43] what I mostly do. Yeah.

[00:26:46] Dilip: And do you have a website or something where you host these episodes or is it only on the audio platforms?

[00:26:51] Mahathi: So I have this, like this default website is not really a great website. It's just there, so that it comes up on the, you know, if anyone searches Maharani talks [00:27:00] on Google, uh,

[00:27:02] Dilip: website, right?

[00:27:03] Mahathi: Yeah, that's just a Libsyn website. So I mean, even the other anyway, shows up in terms of you know, the audio platforms that are there. But no, I haven't really like what you have. I do have like a proper blog and everything. Oh, that's interesting. I haven't done that with

[00:27:21] the podcast.

[00:27:23] Dilip: Right.

[00:27:23] Mahathi: Yeah.

[00:27:25] Dilip: Okay. So coming back to the most important aspect in your show, it's about the guests now. I happened to listen to a few of the episodes, that you've done. And I found that you have a variety of guests from different niches, like. You know, from talking about coffee to some very relevant social topics to crowd funding and a lot many different kinds of topics of lot many different interests.

[00:27:52] So how do you know which guests to approach to, how do you get the leads? How do you approach them and what is [00:28:00] that process like?

[00:28:02] Mahathi: Okay. So like I mentioned early in the beginning of a conversation, I initially thought, podcast should be about business. And I talked to entrepreneurs and VCs and the likes of people from the business but since, I. Like talking to people from all walks of life. I just decided to do that. And, but I also had a certain, I was also weary whether if I would do that and not really have like a particular niche will it water down the podcast itself, people will find it way too wide, And not really because one week is one topic and next week is another topic. so I I've thought about that, but I also did a bit of research on that.

[00:28:40] I realized there are podcasts that do that, and and some of them are my favorites like "This American Life" and there's another one called "On the Contrary" which is also interesting, a really interesting podcast. Each time they speak about a different issue. So I thought, Okay.

[00:28:55] since I am passionate about it, why not do it?

[00:28:58] It's only when I don't [00:29:00] approach each episode with the same amount of interest or the research that it requires, that's when I will be doing dis-service to it. So I decided to go ahead with that and do it. In terms of choosing the guests. Well, I really do not approach a guest. How do I say unless I've done enough research on them, it's not like I approach

[00:29:25] them, and then I start my research. I do, I actually take quite a long time in just deciding on my guests sometimes because I really completely do a deep dive into kind of work they've done and what they've been doing and, you know how consistent have they been with what they say? They tend to say,

[00:29:42] With their work or otherwise as well. And it's always been like I always approach people whose work I personally admire in many ways who has been doing some really exceptional work and were passionate about what they doing. So yes, that's still continues to be the main way [00:30:00] of how I approach my guests. Do I find their work inspiring and that's how I do it. And more often than not, I, most of the guests that I've got, not most, I, I would say maybe like 80% of the guests 70 to 80% of the guests, I just cold email them if they have, a public profile on Instagram or on LinkedIn. I send them a DM and I tell them, I first tell them, what is it I love about their work and, what is it nice about what they're doing? And I talk about the podcast and about a little bit about, my background, so and tell them it would be great to, you have your other show and talk about you know, these aspects and. So, yes, I would say that as many as the guests who said, yes, there are equal or maybe more who have said no, or, or there's been like complete silence from the end, which is fine because, [00:31:00] initially why would they come on a show that no one's heard off, right? Yeah. So yes, that's, something again, i have accepted, people will say, no, you can't take it personally. So you just keep on knocking and eventually someone will open the door. So, but I'm very particular on whose door I knock. So, Yeah. Yeah.

[00:31:20] Dilip: Yeah. And the fact that you research about your guests a lot reflects in the interviews that you do. So that's what I wanted to ask you next. So in terms of the questions that you ask your audience, because I've seen that you get a lot out of your guests and a lot of information that is actually relevant to the audience.

[00:31:41] and to the entire conversation. So when you ask those questions, is it by using a framework that you already have, or is it just random questions that you ask them during, something that comes to your mind during the course of the conversation? How do you do that?

[00:31:58] Mahathi: So it's [00:32:00] definitely putting a lot of thought in the question. So I structure my interview. Every interview I spend a lot of time just researching my guest. I spend hours actually, I would say, um, I have this need, this compulsive need off basically digging up any information about them. So that's what I do. Uh, I always have this nagging thought did I miss some article or some, interview they have given or, any, like, so I basically go through different channels if they say they work as on social media, I go through what they posted and, I go through basically every aspect of that. And I see what new, can I ask them that hasn't already been like asked over and over and again, because they also get tired of listening. I mean, I'm being answering the same questions. So I make that a point to, you know, but there is sometimes when you go through all these old articles or interviews and, videos that they've [00:33:00] done a lot of times, something they would have said in their reply that it strikes you, or, it gives you an idea about some other question and and or something that wasn't. Wasn't asked more about, maybe the person, it wasn't they didn't ask that particular question, then it strikes me and then I write it down. And then once I feel I have all the necessary information, then I sit and structure how I want the interview to flow. So that's something I give a lot of thought to because if it's just a whole bunch of serious questions and it's going to lose also the listener's interest and as much as the guests interest. Right. So I space it out well, and in between, you know, I ask other questions. So, I give enough as much as I follow a certain structure, I'm not rigid to it. I also let to a certain extent, talk about freely, talk about what it is they want to talk.

[00:33:53] And if they said something from what we are conversing or discussing, and then I would ask more on that. [00:34:00] And it's not like I jump back again to the next question that I've written down. Right. So, so we go on that tangent if we need to, and then eventually I steer back. The, and eventually I ensure the questions, that important questions that I want to ask are answered. So yeah.

[00:34:19] Dilip: So your career as a journalist, has it helped podcasting in any way?

[00:34:25] Mahathi: Yeah.

[00:34:25] definitely. It definitely has. In fact my my obsessive need to research so much is partly of me being a journalist. So, and the fact that I can do it over and over again, because it can tire people out. Right. Can do it maybe five or 10 times. But I can, I can actually do it over and over

[00:34:45] for long periods of time. So, so yes, that is definitely helped because I'm a journalist because you have to be very thorough in what your any reports that you put out, right. You have to ensure the information that you have is correct. So that way it's [00:35:00] definitely helped. And what I've in fact, what I have to relearn in terms, with podcast is when I was a journalist and I was writing for the print media and I've done my interviews and I, when I was, sitting down to write my article, And I realize, okay, I missed some important vital information or something that could add a little more to the article. I could always call them up or, message them. And as if you and I tell them, hey, I wanted to check, forgot, about this. Can I ask you about that? And I could include it in the article. Right. But I can't do that with when we're recording, right? Because we are recording and I can't go back to the guest and say, Hey, you know what?

[00:35:38] I missed one important question. Can you get back on to our recording? And they're going to be irritated because they're all busy people. And just to schedule interview takes time. So that's something, I first early on, I realized I made that mistake. And, so that's now I ensure my, level best, that any questions that I missed [00:36:00] or I mean, of course there's still I I'm sure I still make mistakes or, you know, but now that's how you learn. So, but now I'm doing my level best to ensure that, you know, I don't go back to them and say, I

[00:36:13] Yeah.

[00:36:14] Dilip: and I've seen Mahathi you're, pretty consistent with your show. So do you follow a a planning method as in, do you batch produce, how do you go about, ensuring that you have content so that you don't miss out on, releasing an episode.

[00:36:27] Mahathi: Yeah, I try my level best to be consistent, because it's something I enjoy and something that really I'm passionate about,

[00:36:36] but I don't batch produce it. I take it one at a time. Literally an episode I take. One at a time. That's how I approach it. And in fact, the past, I think two months.

[00:36:46] So I haven't like brought out as many as I would have liked. with just, all the other stuff that's been going on, but anyways, yeah, I want to buck up on that, be a little more consistent, but I don't batch produce, but I wish I also know that I, I need [00:37:00] to work on that to be able to better schedule my content and the podcast interviews. So I need to get a little better at that. 'cause I literally see it at one

[00:37:11] episode at a time. So I think I need to do a little more planning, for the future episodes, yeah..

[00:37:18] Dilip: And so at that point, let me ask you this question. Have you ever felt like quitting saying that, okay. I know podcasting, isn't something that I want to do. This is this isn't giving me the kind of returns I would have expected. So might as well just quit this and maybe move on.

[00:37:31] Mahathi: Um, I Have felt discouraged in between. About not what I want to do about, is it really making a difference? You know, I mean, it's the podcast, this one among thousands. I mean, is anyone going to miss it if I stopped doing it tomorrow. So I have had those thoughts and the only thing that keeps me going is. The thing is I'm not slave to the medium, to the podcast medium. Right? I like podcasts. Yes. I listened to it and it's very convenient. And when you're exercising [00:38:00] or you're doing any of the work around the house, you can just listen, turn it on and listen to it. So I really liked the medium and everything, but I'm not a slave to the medium in the sense.

[00:38:12] I'm not like, oh, it has to only be a podcast. I'm more slave to what I am doing in sense, the interviews. Right. So it's just right now podcast is the medium I've chosen. It needn't always be that going forward. Right. It could branch out to other mediums. So how would things move ahead in the

[00:38:31] future?

[00:38:32] So that way I haven't, I felt discouraged. Yes., how do I get more people to listen? And what more should I do? That's always there playing in my head. But I haven't ever thought about giving up. Maybe I have thought about, taking a break now and then, because it can be quite exhausting. Especially now with the, with this all online classes and everything, I feel like I hardly have sometimes time to come up for air. So. [00:39:00] That way I felt about taking breaks in between, but I haven't really done that. So I think my consistency is taken a bit of a beating in the past two, three months. And I need to buck up on that.

[00:39:14] Dilip: Oh, it's fine. You, you're still releasing episodes at least, on a periodic basis.

[00:39:19] Mahathi: Yeah.

[00:39:19] Dilip: You know, a long gap of not having an episode is something that that actually impacts. But I think you still continue to produce episodes so that I think you, you're doing a really good job and considering you're doing it along with a lot, many other things, because I see my wife spending so much of time getting the content ready, recording and all of those things.

[00:39:42] So I can understand the amount of effort that you put in managing your kids, managing your house and there's everything, you know if I look at all of that, you're, you're pretty consistent with what you're doing. And so a lot of effort that's something that is really worth appreciating, you know, so.

[00:39:59] Mahathi: [00:40:00] Thank you. I mean, Yeah,

[00:40:01] I mean it's for all of us, right? That's what I want to tell people who want to get into podcasting. Right? It's a lot of effort. It's not something you get in and you think it's okay. You know what? I just talking to my phone and I can publish. Maybe initially you can do that. But if you want. Grow the show. You need to be a little more professional and approach it more professionally. Otherwise it's just going to become one of the shows of the graveyard of podcasts that are out there sometimes. So many of them quit their shows midway, right? Because I think don't realize what it entails. Yeah,

[00:40:34] or maybe sometimes, you know, people have genuinely moved to other pastures. So they put a pause on their podcast, which is fine. But some quit not knowing what the amount of work it requires. So, which

[00:40:48] yeah, it takes a lot of work.

[00:40:50] Dilip: So at that point, let me ask you something. So if I am to ask you two things that you would like to advise on somebody who's planning to start a podcast, what will those two things [00:41:00] be?

[00:41:02] Mahathi: Okay. First I would say do some amount of research at least a certain amount of research in the category or the niche that you want to start your podcast. I didn't,that's a mistake I made, I didn't do enough research. I just jumped headlong. So I would tell them to do just to figure out what kind of shows out there. What are the, I mean, how well it's doing and what kind of listeners they have and who exactly the demographic that you're targeting. And have a little better strategy about how you want to take your podcast going forward. Like, whether you want it to be a monthly or bi-weekly or weekly and try your level best.

[00:41:38] Once you decide that try your level best to stick to it.. And know that it's it's something that you play for the long haul, right? It's not something you can do for six months and quit because it, sometimes it takes that many months to, for it to even pick up steam. So you have to be extremely patient. So, um, that's another thing you should remember. It takes time, [00:42:00] so be really patient and yeah, and that, it just requires a whole lot of work. So.

[00:42:05] Dilip: Good, nice two points. And these are, I think some of the core aspects of even before you actually decide getting into podcasting, these are two aspects that you really need to spend time considering. From a new newbie podcaster perspective. These two points are something that'll help them.

[00:42:24] Okay. So before I let you go, one last question. Have you ever thought about monetizing or about what are the different ways of monetizing and have you ever planned for monetizing your podcast in the long run or bothered about not being able to do it or something.

[00:42:40] Mahathi: I have thought about it in the long run where is a podcast headed. I do think about it. And in this course of more than a year, I have had people suggesting about wanting to What'd I say, take out ads or do collaborations, not just ads, not just like, put an [00:43:00] ad in the podcast type. But also collaborations like, the company and the kind of people they, we could do together to interview together. Like it didn't really fit into. Into the brand of the show or where exactly how Maharani talks is really, I felt it kind of would sidetrack it. So yeah I didn't really pursue it too seriously. But monetizing, I mean, it's not something I see it with urgency at the moment because it's just something.

[00:43:29] I'm doing on the side. So,

[00:43:30] but yeah, eventually, yeah, when I wanted to go, maybe if it goes that way. Great.

[00:43:36] Um, yeah.

[00:43:39] Dilip: And out of curiosity, one, one question that I wanted to ask you, why did you name the show Maharani Talks.

[00:43:46] Mahathi: Yes. A lot of people have asked me that. I have had a lot of names. So basically the name Maharani comes from my name, my first name and my last name, which is Mahathi Rangarajan. So

[00:43:57] the first few letters. So

[00:43:59] when you [00:44:00] joined them, The logical conclusion is Maharani. Um, so I was really very, okay. I liked it.

[00:44:08] And I fact that it had some personal touch. I thought it would be nice, but I was a little wary whether having such a name, would it, does it go well with what I'm trying to, what the podcast would be about or, would people think it's only for women. But then I realized there are so many podcasts out there with men's names and they're catered to , for everyone.

[00:44:27] Right. So why can't a name like Maharani also cater to men, so I was like why not? Let me just go ahead and do it. And so it hasn't really deterred in any way played deterrent to any way. Yeah, and I think now people kind of just know Maharani talks. Okay. It's me doing these kinds of relevant conversations

[00:44:50] and

[00:44:50] Dilip: All right.

[00:44:50] it

[00:44:50] Mahathi: has nothing to do with Royal family.

[00:44:54] Dilip: It's a nice name. So, you know, I was trying to relate it to your name. And then I felt okay. Maybe [00:45:00] because Mahathi talking, maybe you used some part of your name and because it's you, so you might have maybe put it as saying, okay. Maharani talks. So something like

[00:45:10] Mahathi: Yeah.

[00:45:11] Dilip: that's a nice name. It's actually a nice thing.

[00:45:13] Mahathi: So I've been teased about it. Also some like to my friends sometimes call and say, hey Maharani but,

[00:45:22] Dilip: Okay.

[00:45:23] Mahathi: Yeah.

[00:45:24] Dilip: Yeah. Okay. So a very interesting conversation Mahathi and, a lot of good nuggets that we could get from the, the overall experience that you've gone through in terms of podcasting. So thanks a lot for coming on the show and sharing all of this. I'm sure it'll help a lot of people out there who want to start with podcasts and it was wonderful knowing your journey.

[00:45:48] And all of the struggles that you've gone through to bring the show to to this point where it is today. So it was a nice conversation. Thanks a lot for coming on the show.

[00:45:59] Mahathi: Thank you [00:46:00] so much for having me. And for all the insightful questions that you asked made me think too. So it's been equally, a wonderful time just talking to you.

[00:46:11] Dilip: Thank you so hope to talk to you sometime later again.

[00:46:15] Mahathi: Sure definitely.

[00:46:17] Dilip: Thanks bye.

[00:46:18] Mahathi: Thank you. Bye.