The host or hosts are key to your show. They’re the guides, entertainers, the questioners, the reason many people tune in, so make sure your host is up to the role and can strike the right tone(s). If your host is famous (even just on social media), try to leverage that popularity. In a crowded market, it can’t hurt to have a well-known face on your cover art. But don’t bring a famous host to the pod with little competence or relation to your topic. Ideally, you want a person who brings relatability, passion and subject-matter knowledge with them.
Host(s)
The voice(s) of the show
Tips & Tricks
How much you reveal about yourself on your podcast is up to you, but this medium differs from other journalistic formats in that listeners expect a certain level of opinion or commentary from hosts. Dully reading out questions to your guest doesn’t work well. Be active. Engage in some back-and-forth and let your personality shine through.Having two hosts and a lot of banter between them can be fun for a listener. But the chemistry needs to be right. If it’s not, co-hosting can come across as strained and inauthentic.Burning Question
What if I hate the sound of my voice? Take comfort in the knowledge that everyone hates the sound of their own voice. You might never really like it, but you can work on some things, like delivery and speed. Listen to your recordings. Work on what you want to change and you’ll get better as you go along.Common Mistake
Thinking you need a traditional radio voice. Don’t worry if you or your host doesn’t have one. Instead, what you need is to sound as natural and “human” as possible. Speak on mic like you’re chatting with an old friend about something extremely interesting, maybe even personal.Links
- Article: How to Be a Good Podcast Host
- Article: 7 actionable tips to become a good podcast host
- Article: How to Be An Effective Podcast Host in 10 Easy Steps
TIPS from OUR Network
- People want to relate to the host so let your personality come through.
- Always think of your target audience. A host for a show for teens will behave differently than one aimed at retirees.
- If your podcast has more than one host you have to think about the roles you have in your podcast. How will you divide the tasks between you? Who does what? And which roles do you take? [Galdem]