Episode(s)

Tips & Tricks

Think of each episode as having a beginning, middle and end. Even if an episode is a chat between a host and a guest, structure your questions, conversation and editing around a story. Imagine how a listener will explain your podcast to a friend: the better the story you serve up, the more likely they’ll be to tell others about it.Confusion is your enemy. Unlike other forms of media, audio demands that listeners understand the content immediately since, for example, they can’t go back and reread a sentence like they could with a text article. They could rewind, but usually don’t. If the content is unclear on first listen, people quickly lose focus and tend to tune out. Many never come back.

Burning Question

Can all episodes be produced before launch? It depends. If you’re responding to current events, it’s not possible. If it’s a series around a preplanned topic, it might be doable. Find a realistic schedule for yourself. There might be sections of each episode that you can prepare in advance and in bulk.

Common Mistake

Skipping preparation so you seem casual during recording. You do want a relaxed environment for your guest, but the more you know about them and their work, the better questions you’ll ask and your guest will know you’re really interested in what they have to say. The conversation will be better.