You’ve been invited to be a guest on a podcast, how exciting! Being interviewed on podcasts is a great way to highlight you and your brand in a fun, personal, and interactive way. Podcasts also have engaged and active listeners who may differ from your regular market, so it’s a great way to broaden your reach too! But if you’ve never done podcast interviews before, the experience can be intimidating. So we’ve created a checklist to help ease the process and make you better prepared!
Best Practices for Podcast Interviews
1. The Prep Work:
- Listen to a few episodes of the podcast
- Do your research!
- Listening to the podcast is a great way to learn about the host(s), the show’s format, and the overall tone of the podcast.
- Prepare your pitch
- What makes you unique and interesting to listen to?
- Preparing a pitch allows you to brainstorm your angle and be ready for an insightful conversation.
2. The Day Of:
- Get camera-ready
- Podcasts are often recorded. Make sure you look your best so you feel your best!
- Check your technology
- Make sure all your gear is working properly and allow time to troubleshoot and resolve any issues beforehand. (See the gear checklist below.)
- Minimize distractions
- Silence all notifications (phone, watch, computer, etc).
- Minimize all background noise such as TVs or music.
- Move into a room away from pets, children, significant others, friends, etc.
- Drink water
- Keep a glass of water nearby so you can hydrate throughout the interview.
- Tip: be sure to sip, not chug, so that the noise doesn’t pick up on the microphone.
3. The Gear:
- Microphone/AirPods
- Using AirPods or a microphone can help isolate background noise and ensure sound quality.
- Proper lighting
- Many podcasts are recorded for promotional purposes!
- Bright and clear lighting increases professionalism and makes for a more visually appealing interview. Ring lights or natural lighting work great!
- Your background
- Backgrounds should be simple, clean, and professional. You can show your personality through shelf decor, plants, and artwork.
- Tip: avoid windows in your background as they create a glare. Instead, try sitting toward (looking out) the window for bright, natural light!