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How a donation leads Sarah and Ross Gray to places we rarely get a chance to see.

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Commentary: How to convert iPhone Voice Memos to MP3 (or WAV) in iTunes : SFFaudio

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Commentary: How to convert iPhone Voice Memos to MP3 (or WAV) in iTunes : SFFaudio

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I use my iPhone as a portable audio recorder. But the default recording format is M4A. This is not an easily manipulable format. If you, like me, want to use Audacity (and/or Levelator) to fiddle with your files you'll want to be able to convert your files into other formats. iTunes has this capability, but figuring out how to make it happen in iTunes is not straightforward. Here's the process in seven steps:

1. Go into the "Music" section of iTunes (which is where Voice Memos are found)
2. Click on the "Edit" tab
3. Select "Preferences"
4. Select "General"
5. Go down to "When you insert a CD" and select "Import Settings"
6. Change "Import Using" from "AAC Encoder" to "MP3 Encoder" (or "WAV Encoder")
7. Now, when you right click on the Voice Memo, you will now have the option to "Create MP3 Version" (or "Create WAV Version")

Here's a video that shows the same process:

Similar Posts:

Comments

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Commentary: How to convert iPhone Voice Memos to MP3 (or WAV) in iTunes

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I use my iPhone as a portable audio recorder. But the default recording format is M4A. This is not an easily manipulable format. If you, like me, want to use Audacity (and/or Levelator) to fiddle with your files you'll want to be able to convert your files into other formats.

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How to transfer voice memos from iPhone to computer

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How to transfer voice memos from iPhone to computer

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I use my iPhone to record interviews. I also regularly record songs that my band is working on at practice. The iPhone's native Voice Memo app works great for simple access to the features I need. Of course, after recording something, I certainly don't want to delete the memo. But I also don't want to keep it on my device, taking up space. Instead, I sync the memo with iTunes or email it to myself so I can store it and remove it from my iPhone.

If you are wondering how to transfer voice memos from iPhone to computer, or wonder where they went when you synced them, we've got a quick tutorial to help you out...
It has been a while since we've done one of these basic tutorials, so we want to remind you that we recognize this information is common knowledge to many of you. If you are already familiar with how to move voice memos to your computer and know where they are stored, rest assured that we don't mind if you skip this article. We feel confident that there will be a number of readers who don't already know about voice memos syncing and will be glad we posted this basic tutorial.
Transfer voice memos via email

Probably the easiest way to transfer a voice memo is to do so via email. The one problem with that is you can only send one memo at a time, so if you wish to transfer multiple memos, you will have to repeat the process several times, or you can just skip to the next section where we explain how to transfer memos to computer using iTunes.

Step 1: Launch the Voice Memos app and select the memo you want to transfer. Then tap on the Share icon, as seen on the screenshot below.

Step 2: From there, you have several options. You can select to send the memo via email, but you can also send it via SMS, or even via AirDrop if you are nearby your Mac. For this tutorial, we select to send this memo via email.

Step 3: A new email will be automatically populated with the memo file. Simply type in your email address, or the email address of your preferred recipient, then send the email.

How to sync voice memos with iTunes

Exporting voice memos to your computer is a lot simpler than you may realize. It requires you to connect your iPhone to iTunes. There is not much more after that. In the few steps listed below, we will show you how import voice memos into iTunes. Note that the process is exactly the same whether you own a Windows PC or a Mac.

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your computer.

Step 2: Open iTunes on your computer and select your device in the top header (the icon that looks like an iPhone).

Step 3: Select "Music" from the tab options in the sidebar.

Step 4: Select "Sync Music" and then select "Include voice memos." This setting will extract your voice memos and load them into iTunes.

Step 5: Click "Apply in the bottom right corner of iTunes. iTunes will then sync with your iPhone and download your voice memos to your computer.

How to find voice memos in iTunes

Once you've synced your voice memos with iTunes, they will be added as a specific category called, "Voice Memos."

Step 1: Select the "Music" icon from the top navigation bar in iTunes, then select Playlists from that top navigation bar.

From there, you can play the memos, but you can also drag and drop them to your computer's desktop and put them in folders, or share them via email for example.

Finding your voice memos on your Mac or PC

If you have a PC, you can find your voice memos in this folder: C:\Users\(your username)\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Voice Memos

If you have a Mac, you can find your synced voice memos here: Macintosh HD > Users > (your username) > Music > iTunes > iTunes Media > Voice Memos.

That's all you have to do to sync your voice memos to your computer so you can store them there instead of your iPhone.

Note that if you delete a synced memo from iTunes, it will stay on your device. If you delete a synced memo from your iPhone, it will be copied back on it next time you sync with iTunes again.

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How to transfer voice memos from iPhone to computer

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I use my iPhone to record interviews. I also regularly record songs that my band is working on at practice. The iPhone's native Voice Memo app works great for simple access to the features I need. Of course, after recording something, I certainly don't want to delete the memo.

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Zoom H6: How to import files to MAC/PC - YouTube

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Zoom H6: How to import files to MAC/PC - YouTube

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This tutorial shows how to move files from the Zoom H6 to both Mac & PC. For more information check out Zoom-NA.com

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Podcasting 101: From Setup to Publish in 10 mins - YouTube

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Podcasting 101: From Setup to Publish in 10 mins - YouTube

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Podcasting 101: From Setup to Publish in 10 mins

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http://incomeschool.com/podcast-advance/ Click this link to check out my $20 audio course called Podcast Advance. In that course, I share with you the secrets I've used to build some of the largest podcasts in my industry. http://incomeschool.com/podcastinggear Learn the basics of podcasting in this basics video.

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In this video I explain all the connections and how I use the Zoom H6 for podcasting....yes I know that I am a big dork and I also haven't done many of these yet. If you have any further questions please feel free to comment. thanks for watching.

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Leonard from Kosmic Sounds gives you a detailed run down on the new Zoom H6 portable recording solution. For more information or to purchase please visit http://www.kosmic.com.au/zoom-h6-portable-recorder

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Zoom H6 Handy Recorder - superb 6 track audio recorder in your pocket [Review] - YouTube

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Zoom H6 Handy Recorder - superb 6 track audio recorder in your pocket [Review] - YouTube

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Zoom H6 Handy Recorder - superb 6 track audio recorder in your pocket [Review]

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http://www.redferret.net/?p=41148. The Zoom H6 Handy Recorder is the latest in a range of portable audio recorders from this popular brand, and definitely the best. The new design incorporates six channels of recording which can be mixed down live on the unit, with four external XLR phantom powered ports available for off-board mics, mixing desks or other inputs as needed.

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Zoom H6 Audio Recorder Setup, Ep.5 Tutorial - YouTube

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Zoom H6 Audio Recorder Setup, Ep.5 Tutorial - YouTube

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Audacity Basics: Recording, Editing, Mixing - YouTube

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Audacity Basics: Recording, Editing, Mixing - YouTube

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Audacity Basics (OLD/ORIGINAL): Recording, Editing, Mixing

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Getting started with Audacity: Mixing multiple tracks - YouTube

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Getting started with Audacity: Mixing multiple tracks - YouTube

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Getting started with Audacity: Mixing multiple tracks

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This short video illustrates how to import multiple audio tracks, arrange them in a sequence, fade tracks up and down, mix the levels and and produce a new audio track. Worksheet for this exercise: http://goo.gl/PZKbP Files for this exercise: http://goo.gl/q6tWy

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Audacity: Complete Tutorial Guide to Audacity for Beginners - YouTube

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Audacity: Complete Tutorial Guide to Audacity for Beginners - YouTube

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Audacity: Complete Tutorial Guide to Audacity for Beginners

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Radiolab: Podcasts | WNYC Studios | Podcasts

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And the Call Was Coming from the Basement | This American Life

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And the Call Was Coming from the Basement | This American Life

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For the week leading up to Halloween, scary stories that are all true. Kidnappings, zombie raccoons, haunted houses-real haunted houses!-and things that go "EEEEK!!!" in the night. Plus a story by David Sedaris, in which he walks among the dead.

Host Ira Glass and Albert Donnay read a true ghost story that appeared in a medical journal in 1921. After a "Mrs H" and her family moved into an old rambling house, strange apparitions started appearing...until her brother-in-law figured out the real cause of the ghostly presences. (6 minutes) Environment * Health Care/Medicine * Science

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And the Call Was Coming from the Basement

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Host Ira Glass and Albert Donnay read a true ghost story that appeared in a medical journal in 1921. After a "Mrs H" and her family moved into an old rambling house, strange apparitions started appearing...until her brother-in-law figured out the real cause of the ghostly presences.

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How audio stories begin

Once upon a time ...

... we sent radio stories out into the ether and judged their success by letters, emails, crude quarterly ratings and annual awards.

Now, we can dissect listener behavior, minute by minute. With platforms such as NPR One, we can see the listener tuning in, becoming captivated or dropping out. It's exciting ... and terrifying.

Visualizing listener behavior adds urgency to something we have always known: If your story or podcast episode doesn't promise something interesting at the beginning, fewer people will listen. The same goes for a 3-minute story or an hour-long story. For listeners, there is simply too much audio to choose from, so we have to compete fiercely for ears. We have to grab the audience and make them want to stick around.

There are so many ways to start a story. Whatever you choose, it's important to be deliberate. Be able to articulate why you're starting in the style and place you are. Why does it serve the story - and the listener - to begin this way?

And no matter how you start, make sure you do the following:

Tightly focus your idea

Make that focus clear to listeners

Tell your audience what to expect (You'll learn XX or discover what happens to this character/place/policy/etc.)

Create a sense of movement or momentum

*********

Before we lay out some ways to start your stories, let's recall one of the most common ways we begin audio stories:

An intro provides a peg and a little context, and then we start with sound and a scene. Birds chirp. Cows moo. The reporter says, "It's a sunny day on John Smith's farm in Kenosha ..."

This can be a fine way of beginning, especially when your story is rooted in a particular place or depends upon a specific image or event. But it's overused.

Here are a few other ways to start an audio story:

1.) Ask a question

Many public radio stories begin by stating a circumstance. This hearing happened on Capitol Hill ... This verdict was handed down ... This policy has caused problems ...

But what will we explore in this story? What is our mission? What should the audience listen for?

Take one of the examples above: Will we learn the policy caused problems? W those problems affected? Or could be done to solve the problem?

All three of these questions could kick off valid stories. If we set out to answer of them and tell listeners near the beginning of the story what our mission is, we bring them along on a journey. They don't know the destination but they know we have one. (And yes, one clear question can lead to others, which you can use to carry your story forward or to report another story.)

Questions also communicate curiosity. Just question might not be interesting. But if a question reflects something many people are wondering, people are more likely to tune in. ( related efforts to generate stories Curious City, along with other, a great testament to the value of curiosity.) with listeners, are

You can regularly hear this approach in Planet Money stories (both podcast episodes and the newsmagazine pieces):

2.) Dive immediately into the narrative

Traditionally, radio news stories begin with exposition: an intro which offers some context and explains what the story is about. After that, the reporter begins with a scene.

Sometimes it's better to jump right into the narrative, like this story does:

From the first line - "The other day, we stopped a car in front of a house" - Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep is telling us a story. Right away you can hear the ambient sound of a Louisiana neighborhood - buzzing crickets, singing birds. Ten seconds in we hear action - Steve knocking on a screen door. Soon after, there's a reaction - a woman answering the door.

With all of this, Steve builds a mini-narrative with sensory images, action and a little tension. Will she answer the door? Will she talk to him? In this case, the opening is more compelling than the generic alternative: an expository intro with facts about Hurricane Katrina, flooding, numbers of homes destroyed or even Steve's past visits to this neighborhood.

We reach that exposition at 1:25 into the story - and we need it - but by that point we care more.

Jumping right into the story is risky though. The story needs to be really compelling; otherwise, listeners will start wondering where they're headed and lose interest.
So when might a narrative opening NOT work?

When news is breaking! If the audience's primary need is to find out what is happening, narrative openings have the potential to bury the lead.

When something complicated or unfamiliar needs to be explained the listener will care about a place or character. If I don't yet understand how Medicare Part D works, I may not care about John Doe's personal struggles with it.

When the narrative is not central to the story. In this case, narrative openings can confuse the listener.

When the narrative just... isn't that great.

A few tips:

Scenes are not the same thing as narrative. When we say "narrative," we mean something is happening . Many radio scenes lack narrative - we hear the sounds of a farm or a tractor or a farmer talking about her work, but nothing actually happens. And keep in mind: While we love ambient sound, you can have narrative without ambient scenes. (See: much of the back catalog of This American Life )

If you begin with an ambient scene, let the sound lead. That means people and places are introduced via sound, and narration is minimal (only what's needed to tell the listener what is happening).

Even hosts/anchors sitting in sterile studios can dive right into a narrative. Here's a nice example:

3.) Introduce a mystery

What makes listeners stick around?

One obvious answer: They expect to learn something by the end of the story that they didn't know at the beginning. We may assume this is the goal of all our stories - short or long. But it helps to be explicit.

Presenting a mystery is a great way to do that. Channel your best Agatha Christie and tell listeners at the beginning that you're trying to solve an intriguing problem - and don't give away the answer! (Again, this is not an ideal approach with breaking stories, since you may bury the lead.)

Mysteries are similar to the ask-a-question approach described above, with added benefits: A mystery is a familiar genre to listeners with built-in narrative appeal. Mysteries have central characters (or a reporter) playing detective, clues along the way and a reveal near the end. So when you introduce a story this way, the listener knows what to expect. It's a bit like regularly watching a TV show; when you watch a new episode you don't know what will happen, but you know what kind of story it will be. And, given that you're a loyal viewer, you expect it will be good.

Science stories present a natural opportunity for mystery storytelling. This one by NPR's Chris Joyce takes the approach literally:

And even wonky pieces can begin with mysteries. In this next story, NPR's Ailsa Chang - with help from a smart intro edited by Weekend Edition - makes trade policy far more interesting than it might be otherwise:

Another category closely related to the mystery is the journey. It can be a journey from ignorance to knowledge, from one place to another, from morning to night and so on.

Whether journey or mystery, the beginning of the story must promise the audience a clearly-defined mission; an effort to learn or reveal something new or unexpected.

Pro tip: If your story has a host-read intro, make sure the reporter's first track picks up directly from the last line of the intro. Maintain the flow of the narrative. Ailsa's story does this nicely:

HOST INTRO: Deep in the basement of the U.S. Capitol, there's a soundproof room. And inside that room is a draft of a massive trade agreement currently under negotiation by the U.S. and 11 other countries. The White House has taken heat over what some call over-the-top secrecy around the negotiations. The Senate will soon vote on a bill that would give the president greater authority to enter into the trade agreement. But if senators want to read a draft of that deal, they'll have to go down to the Capitol basement. NPR's Ailsa Chang went to find it.

AILSA CHANG: It turns out the secret room is in a secret hallway that you can get to in a totally non-secret way ...

Note that Ailsa's first line could not exist without the intro. It picks up the baton from an already-intriguing beginning (The intro had me at "Deep in the basement of the U.S. Capitol..."!) and carries the mystery forward.

4.) Establish the concept first

This approach is the opposite of diving right into the narrative. Some stories need background, context or a thematic foundation before we dive in. And so - soon after the piece begins - the reporter pauses and steps back. We signal these moments with common signposts like "Before we go on" or "In order to understand X, we have to first explain Y."

This can be tough to do well since it may involve delaying the action or pausing the momentum. You have to grab the listener first and then step back - for a good reason.

The first-ever episode of Serial presents a fascinating example of this approach. Host Sarah Koenig introduces the show and the case of Adnan Syed (see above: "introduce a mystery"), and she could easily barrel forward with her detective work. But only 20 seconds in, she pauses and tells us:
"Before I get into why I've been doing this, I just want to point out something I'd never really thought about before I started working on this story. And that is, it's really hard to account for your time. In a detailed way, I mean. How'd you get to work last Wednesday, for instance?"
Koenig goes on to ask random people that same question. None of them can remember their whereabouts.

This move is really, really smart. It asks listeners to think like the sleuthing host, to engage in the detective work more personally than they might otherwise. It also provides a reality check, along with a promise: that Serial 's true-crime journalism will not be oversimplified or sensationalized. Answers won't come easily.

I asked Serial's Executive Producer Julie Snyder about the thinking here, and she wrote in an email that "we were hoping to broaden the ideas in the show and in the first episode in particular." They wanted Serial to be about more than the facts of one case. "The title of the first episode is 'The Alibi' and we wanted the opening to be larger than just a recitation of the case ... because all of that feels a little dull, and rote and, well, small ... So we were hoping to draw attention to something larger - the nature of an alibi."

So an opening that steps back from the action can be a good way to elevate a story beyond its basic facts, to give it depth and conceptual heft.

Don't have time to produce a blockbuster podcast? Here's a simpler example from a short newsmagazine story:

After the host intro, NPR's Cory Turner steps back for a brief history lesson. It provides context from the past - the birth of the GED - to help us understand what's happening now.

Here are some reasons to step back at the beginning of your story:

The story requires, or at least benefits from, context or history at the beginning. ("In order to understand X, we need to explain Y ...")

The story is an update or follow-up from previous reporting. ("When we last reported on this ...")

The story must ask listeners to pay attention to something specific or to put themselves in someone else's shoes. ("Before we go on, let's point out ...")

The story needs to draw a clear contrast between itself and other related stories. ("We've often heard X, but this is different ... and here's how ...")

5.) Get personal

When is it OK to begin a story with "I?"

Of course, some audio stories are pure memoir - so let's set those aside. Let's talk about stories that are not about you; they're about current events, societal issues or pop culture, just to name a few topics. Deciding to begin a story on a personal note - when executed well - can add narrative, humanity, urgency and transparency to a story. It's also a technique you should use sparingly.

Here are several reasons to consider starting with the personal:

You have a unique perspective or experience.

The topic is nearly universal and you are as good a subject as any.

The story stems from your own curiosity (and wouldn't exist otherwise).

You need to illustrate how something works (a technology, a machine, an experience).

Here's an example of a story that begins by explaining a producer's curiosity:

This beginning works because NPR's Uri Berliner and Cara Tallo are honestly reflecting the origins of the story: Cara was curious about something personal (and something so common, we usually ignore it). She shared her curiosity with Uri - and a story was born.

This approach shouldn't be used too often. Recording sound in your newsroom - rather than leaving the building to report - can seem lazy, especially if you do it over and over again.

Here's an example of the personal that illustrates how something works. Jasmine Garsd begins this feature about an app for single people by trying it herself:

The personal approach works here for several reasons. First, Jasmine's delivery sets the right tone in a story about something silly (InvisibleBoyfriend.com) which represents something more serious - the pain and loneliness of being single. Second, by using the app herself she illustrates how it works - which is something we must understand to follow the story.

Obviously Jasmine's whimsical approach could be problematic if her topic were more serious. Here are some other reasons to be cautious about starting on a personal note:

You risk offending listeners by positioning yourself as "normal" and others as abnormal.

You risk mistakenly assuming you're a stand-in for others' experiences or feelings.

You risk alienating listeners by navel-gazing.

You risk undermining your journalism by replacing facts with personal anecdotes.

Getting personal in journalism has always been controversial. Some reporters, editors and producers are comfortable with it. Others will never be. If you consider this approach, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

What does putting myself in the story add that I can't find through other means?

Why will this approach make the story more listenable?

Why will the audience care about me or my experience?

Also, keep in mind that the first-person may not work at the beginning of the story but could be useful later.

WNYC's Matt Katz reported this story about how Trump supporters targeting Jewish activists and reporters with anti-Semitic slurs. He begins with the experience of an activist. More than halfway through the story he mentions his own experience: "For me, it took just a few days of reporting on Trump before I was called a [expletive], then my name was posted inside triple parentheses which is neo-Nazi code for flagging Jews."

Matt's experience is (sadly) not unique. And it's not universal either. He's reporting a news story about a scary trend affecting many people. So if Matt had begun with his own experience, he might appear self-absorbed. But given the topic, what happened to him is still relevant and worth describing later in the story.

I have described five different approaches to beginning audio stories, but they can be hard to disentangle from each other. A mystery should begin by asking a clear question. You can dive into a narrative on a personal note. And so on. However you choose to begin, make your purpose clear, deliver a promise and follow through.

If you want to read more about story beginnings and how they relate to story structure, check these out:

Understanding story structure in four drawings

Once upon a time ... and other devices for starting your story

is the Senior Editorial Specialist with the NPR Training team, where she focuses on audio storytelling. Prior to that, she edited NPR's All Things Considered.
This post was written as a companion to a session at the 2016 Audio Storytelling Workshop in Washington, D.C.

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Once upon a time ... ... we sent radio stories out into the ether and judged their success by letters, emails, crude quarterly ratings and annual awards. Now, we can dissect listener behavior, minute by minute. With platforms such as NPR One, we can see the listener tuning in, becoming captivated or dropping out.

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The 14 Most Addictive Storytelling Podcasts Of 2015

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The 14 Most Addictive Storytelling Podcasts Of 2015

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The 14 Most Addictive Storytelling Podcasts Of 2015

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Who doesn't love a good story? These podcasts are a great start, but if you have an amazing true story bubbling up inside of you, submit it to Schick's Epic Story Project for a chance to win epic

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Top 10 Tips for Conducting an Exceptional Interview

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Top 10 Tips for Conducting an Exceptional Interview

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Conducting a good interview is a great skill to have as an entrepreneur-for your website, for your blog, for your podcast, and so much more. Find out why!

Pat Flynn

One of the best ways to create content online is to interview someone-a person who compliments you and your brand or someone who fills the holes in it.

Interviews are extremely beneficial because:
At least good ones that are worth people's time.
Conducting interviews (especially audio or video interviews), however, is not easy.

Although most of the content is generated by the person you are interviewing, most of the responsibility to fashion an interview worth consuming still lies in your hands-and it's not just about asking the right questions either.

It's about genuine interest, flow, vibe, sincerity, concern, digging deeper, defining the unclear, attracting stories, avoiding awkwardness and being conscious about all of that at the same time.

After conducting 20 interviews of my own and being interviewed in more than 30 (and listening to several more!), I've learned a lot about what it takes to conduct a worth-listening-to interview, one that is captivating and full of content that your audience wants to hear.

Below are my top 10 tips for conducting an exceptional interview:

Two words: Your Audience.

Although the interview may help you and your brand while at the same time help the person you are interviewing (by giving them exposure to your audience) your number one priority should be to enlighten your audience-to get answers that are meaningful from the person you're interviewing that can better serve those who will eventually consume that content.

Don't forget.

There are few things that you should do before the interview actually happens:

8. Prepare a List of Flexible, Open-Ended Questions and Possible Followup Questions

You should prepare a list of questions that will act as sort of a template for the interview-a guide for the path that you want to take from start to finish.

Not a shopping list that you should stick to 100%.

For each question you should come up with 2 or 3 possible followup questions that might be suitable to ask, depending on the answer.

You probably won't get to them all, but because they are there it's a good reminder just in case the perfect opportunity comes up to dig deeper into a topic of interest.

As far as the questions themselves, here are a few basic rules:

1. Don't ever ask YES or NO questions.

2. Don't ask more than one question at a time.

3. Keep them relevant but be creative.

4. Phrase the questions in a way that will allow the person being interviewed to expand.

5. Offer to show the questions to the person you're interviewing to make sure they're comfortable with them, which goes along with...

7. Provide a Welcoming Environment

In order to get the best answers from the people you interview, you've got to create a welcoming environment for them.

A comfortable person, one who feels as if they are just having a conversation with a friend, will be more likely to give beefier information in a more enthusiastic and friendly tone, which benefits everyone.

Here are some ways to create a comfortable environment for the person you're interviewing:

Make sure they know all of the details about the interview beforehand.

Ask them if they'd like to see the questions first.

Thank them for the interview before you even start and welcome them to your audience.

Have them listen to a kind pre-written or rehearsed introduction before getting to the questions.

Be enthusiastic and actually want to conduct the interview!

6. Allow the Person You're Interviewing to Talk

One of the worse things you can do as an interviewer is take over the interview yourself. You've got to give the person you're interviewing a chance to communicate as much as possible without interruption. The more they talk-the better.

It's important to engage in conversation-yes-but there's a line you can cross where it starts to become rude and/or just not valuable to your audience.

5. Listen!

This may sound obvious, but you've got to listen!

Be engaged in the interview-not just a person who reads the questions aloud.

This is much tougher than it sounds. As an interviewer myself, it's extremely easy to "drift off" while the other person is talking. It's not that you become bored and uninterested (I hope), but you might "tune out" while you wait for him or her to finish so you can move on to your next question.

Not good, especially because important followup questions are usually lost in the process.

Listen and be engaged.

4. Actually Want to Understand

Along the same lines, you must want to understand-and this can be done on different levels.

On the surface, it's just about understanding the situation or what's happening. What did this person do and why is it important to share?

On a deeper level, however, it becomes much more interesting, both for you as the interviewer and those who will eventually listen to it. On the deeper level, it becomes why does this person do what they do, and

Pro interviewers like Andrew Warner from Mixergy and David from The Rise to the Top do a fantastic job of actually wanting to learn everything there is to learn about a person or a process-not just the but also the and , and I genuinely feel like it's because they want to fully understand everything, which is why their shows are so popular.

3. Strive for a High-Quality Production

Bad quality audio or video can ruin a fantastic interview. Some people won't even listen if the quality isn't there.

Do whatever possible (within your budget, of course) to conduct a high-quality interview.

I personally use a Heil PR-40 Microphone and conduct most of my interviews on Skype, even if the other person is on a telephone line (I pay $2.99 a month to be able to dial a landline).

I record using Call Recorder for Skype (mac only), although if you're on a PC I hear that Pamela for Skype is the software of choice.

Also, check out The Levelator, which is a free tool that makes sure both sides of the conversation are at the same level of volume.

2. Never...

Ask a Yes or No question.

Ask more than one question at a time.

Say "...and my next question is..."

Allow for an awkward pause or dull moment.

Be disrespectful to your audience and the person you're interviewing.

Keep your mouth on your microphone (or breath into the mic) while the other person is talking.

Forget who you're serving.

1. Have Fun!

I know it's cliche to end a top 10 list with "have fun"-but in this case it will truly help your interview.

Having fun with it will actually make you and the person you're interviewing much more comfortable, which will lead to better content for your audience.

If you make it seem like a task or a chore, then it will reflect in the interview-and that's not what we want.

Have fun, enjoy the experience, develop new relationships and generate some amazing content!

Ask the Readers: What Makes an Interview Exceptional to You?

Now it's your turn.

As a consumer of content please share your thoughts in the comment section about the following question:

What makes an interview exceptional and makes an interview terrible?
Jennylou Raya says:
Here's what some people already have to say about it on the SPI Facebook Page:
Jason Bellomy says:
Exceptional is when they show genuine interest in the person, asks questions no one asks but others would be dying to know. Good is consistency from one interview to another without sounding like a broken record when you have a chance to listen to the interview archives all in one day. Terrible is when the interviewer is unprepared and has no clue who they are talking to or knows less than the audience.
Brandon Figueroa says:
The main thing for me is that the person conducting the interview does not dominate the conversation. The goal should be to let the interviewee do most of the talking while the interviewer pushes the conversation in a direction where he feels his listening audience would benefit.

Exceptional: the interview is incredibly informative. Meaning, the they ask lots of 'meaty' questions (and non of that basic boring stuff) with lots of answers and perspectives that most people haven't thought of or seen before.

Terrible: Poor audio quality, no one cracks a joke, monotone, uptight, uninformative, repetitive stuff that people already know.
Now-how about you?
Awesome Interview (Bonus): it's 'shareable'. Extremely entertaining AND informative at the same time...

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Top 10 Tips for Conducting an Exceptional Interview

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Pat Flynn One of the best ways to create content online is to interview someone-a person who compliments you and your brand or someone who fills the holes in it. Interviews are extremely beneficial because: At least good ones that are worth people's time. Conducting interviews (especially audio or video interviews), however, is not easy.

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Step by Step Development

Planning topics to discuss, possible guest interviews, and your show's length in advance will go a long way when producing a professional sounding podcast. Since you'll be recording your project in an almost live fashion, you will have the flexibility of going back and re-editing sections prior to committing your show as "podcast-ready".

Since nearly everyone has heard a radio program, you should expect that your listeners have grown accustomed to hearing material produced in a certain way. Here is a suggested framework for mapping out your production.

Sample Podcast Recipe - A Blueprint for Your Podcast

Shoot for a show length of 10-15 minutes. Keep topics moving, and limit topic coverage to 2-3 minutes. Try to use guests as a way to break up the conversation, pace, and tone of your shows. Use musical backgrounds (known as jingles or music beds) or other non-music interludes (referred to as stagers, sweeps and ID's) to transition between topics. These topic breaks are typically described as bumpers or sweepers, giving your listeners the time they might need to digest the content you just presented.

Show Outline - Your Table of Contents

Here's an example of a show outline:

Show intro monologue (who you are, what you're going to talk about): 30-60 seconds

Intro music jingle (repeat for each show so listeners identify the jingle with your show): 30-60 seconds

Topic 1: 3 minutes

Topic 2: 3 minutes

Interlude (music or break): 30 seconds

Topic 3: 3 minutes

Topic 4: 3 minutes

Closing remarks (thank audience, thank guests, talk about the next show): 2 minutes

Closing music jingle (suggest same as Intro music jingle): 2 minutes

How to Write Your Script - Writing Relevant Copy

Research all components of your podcast in order to deliver the most relevant material to your audience. Your writing style should be conversational with friendly language, limiting the use of jargon or industry specific words in order to accommodate your listeners.

Develop an introduction that will quickly explain and highlight the purpose of your podcast. This section should be roughly 2-3 sentences in length. Usually an announcer will read this portion of your podcast over a music bed. This intro can be reused at the beginning of each episode to build your brand.

Next, you will need to incorporate a brief salutation, roughly 30 seconds, greeting the audience and giving them a preview of the episode, and perhaps even an overview of the show's agenda.

The first segment should be the most interesting to keep listeners' attention. This segment should appeal to the entire audience. Broad content is encouraged to serve the majority. News and current events related to the podcast theme are often of interest to an entire audience.

All subsequent segments can be more in-depth and focus on specific areas of interest. Depending on the quality of the content, each segment should be no more than 2 - 4 paragraphs.

The wrap up should thank the listeners for joining the host, and if possible, provide an idea of what the audience can expect to hear in the next episode. Announce contact information for feedback and ideas. Usually an email address or website url is sufficient.

Close with an outro or music bed, ideally using the same theme music from the introduction to reestablish the branding of your podcast.

Once you have a listening audience, ask them for feedback about your show and gain valuable information that will help you to improve your podcast. They may even introduce new ideas that will give you an edge over any potential competitors and enhance their listening experience. Ideas that they provide might refer to the length of segments, topics discussed, guests on the show, and so on.

Script Writing Style - Talking to Your Audience

There are two voice-over styles for recording your podcast that you should keep in mind when writing your podcast script. These include polished and freestyle.

A polished, professional sounding podcast, is similar to what you might hear in a news cast or documentary. The script is written out and rehearsed prior to recording. Generally this podcast may have particular themes that are explored in sequential order, demanding more structure and precision.

Freestyle recordings are most similar to live radio shows or television interviews. Freestyle is an ad lib, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants recording style that can be unpredictable, engaging, and full of chemistry. This style may work best for podcasts with more than one host, highlighting their dialogue skills and spontaneity, or for individual podcasters that decide to record a verbal stream of consciousness, especially poets, announcers, and others that are recording impromptu or on location at a live event. When writing a freestyle script, you may only need to include your segment theme and some point-form details within each segment. This way, you can refer to your freestyle script while recording without feeling nailed down to a finalized script.

Yield best results by combining these two methods and developing your own unique podcasting style.

Summary - Key Points About Planning Your Content

In this chapter, we talked about the importance of planning your podcast and gave you some ideas about how to organize your podcast including a sample recipe. Now that you know what is required in the pre-production phase of developing your podcast, we can move ahead to the actual recording of your podcast. In the next chapter, we'll discuss recording equipment, software, basic recording techniques, and how to add music, sound effects, voice-over and more to enhance your podcast.
Written by Stephanie Ciccarelli
Next: Brand Your Podcast

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Planning topics to discuss, possible guest interviews, and your show's length in advance will go a long way when producing a professional sounding podcast. Since you'll be recording your project in an almost live fashion, you will have the flexibility of going back and re-editing sections prior to committing your show as "podcast-ready".

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Starting a Podcast: 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Published My First Episode

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Starting a Podcast: 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Published My First Episode

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Ryan Hanley - Content Marketing Strategy

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Thinking about starting a podcast?

Good decision.

Audio, done right, can build an intimate relationship with your audience.

The kind of relationship which transforms the casual fan into a disciple.

But there is much more to success as a podcaster than hitting record.

Every day, Amazon delivers another Blue Snowball to a budding thought-leader eager to share their expertise... and steal your listeners.

Not to mention iTunes can be a fickle lover.

Oh, there is definitely a technology learning curve.

Nothing you can't overcome, if you figured out WordPress, you can figure out podcasting.

Here's what you need:

That's it.

You're all in for less than $150 bucks.

This is exactly what I did.

And there is no doubt, creating the Content Warfare Podcast is the best decision I've ever made in content marketing.

More than anything I've ever written, when people approach me at speaking events its because of the podcast.

We have a relationship, even if I've never met the person before. It's amazing.

This is why I love podcasting.

You can't fake good podcast content.

Sure you can edit a podcast. Lot's of people pay to have "Umms and Ahhhs" taken out of their show.

I don't.

But there is nothing wrong with producing clean audio.

Clean audio can't hide a lack of depth.

That's why podcasts build such a ravenous following. Listeners can smell the stink of inauthenticity a mile away.

When starting a podcast, you don't have to be perfect, but you must be authentic.

I come from the school of thought where you publish first... edit, refine and focus second.

But hit publish. Definitely hit publish. Starting a podcast is exhilarating.

After more than 150 podcast episodes I'm just finally starting to get a handle on how to do it well.

If you're starting a podcast today, don't make the same mistakes I did at the beginning.

My suggestions below will not work for everyone. But I can promise you this, the Content Warfare Podcast is battle tested.

So they just might work.
SEE ALSO: Boring Questions, Boring Podcast: How the Best Interviewers Stand Out
1) Buy a Pop Filter

Audio quality matters.

There is no quicker way to lost listeners than poor audio.

Duh. It's a podcast.

My first microphone I bought for $15 at RadioShack. I'm being serious. It was the cheapest microphone on the rack.

I could have used a telegraph machine and audio quality would have been better.

My early podcast growth numbers struggled as you would assume.

My cheapness was a mistake.

However, it didn't take me long to realize podcasting was going to be a long-term content marketing tactic for my brand.

I had to step my game up. No one takes a podcast with poor audio quality seriously.

So I cracked the wallet and purchased three pieces of equipment:

1. Audio Technica AT2020 Microphone - High quality audio for less than $100.

2. Microphone pop filter - Keep your Ps from popping and audio sounding smooth.

3. Table top suspension arm - Keep microphone proper distance from your mouth.

Put some time, effort and a little bit of loot into your audio quality. Your podcast audience will forgive almost any mistake, except for bad audio.

2) Hook your audience early

Podcast listeners are no different than website visitors.

You need to hook your audience early or they will not stick around for the body of your content.

What I try to do is pull out one engaging thought from the podcast.

If I have a guest on the episode it will always be from the guest. That way the audience gets a feel for the conversation their about to listen to.

James Altucher, of The James Altucher Show, doesn't even use an intro. He opens his show in the conversation. No waiting, no guessing.

The worst thing you can do is make your audience wait for the content. This can take the form of long intro monologues (mistake I've made) or unnecessarily long intro music (mistake I've made).

3) Use Vanity URLs

During the course of your podcast you're going to reference things:

Twitter handle

Article you discussed

Tool you recommend

iTunes review page

Most people are doing something else when they listen to a podcast. This makes calls-to-action a challenging task for podcasters.

Use Vanity URLs to simplify the process.

There many ways to do this. Here are the two I recommend:

Use Bit.ly

Create 301 redirects in your own site. A nice little tool for this on WordPress is Pretty Link Lite (free).

This is also useful when you begin to monetize your podcast.

Let's say I want to discuss landing pages on my podcast. I'm definitely going to talk about my favorite landing page software Leadpages.

My call-to-action is, "Use www.ryanhanley.com/leadpages to get..." And then I share whatever deal I have going with Leadpages at the time.

4) Ask for iTunes reviews

The largest and most engaged podcast audience exists on iTunes.

If you're looking to grow your podcast audience, where you rank in the iTunes podcast directory matters.

This may not always be the case (and I'm sure their exceptions).

But ignore iTunes at your own peril.

Apple has never released their ranking criteria. However, iTunes reviews are widely considered a primary factor in ranking.

Like a true rookie, in the beginning episodes of the Content Warfare Podcast I did not ask for iTunes reviews. I just assumed that if I produced a good product, people would go to iTunes and leave me a review.

This is not the way it works. This isn't how life works.

You must explain to your audience how important reviews are. Give them a clear call-to-action and provide an easy way for them to do so.

To make it easy for my own audience, I created the vanity URL: www.ryanhanley.com/review.

I mention this link on every episode.

I ask listeners that if they found value in the episode, to visit iTunes and please leave me a review.

If looking for more ways to increase podcast reviews, visit this article that I wrote for Anna Hoffman on Traffic Generation Café.

5) Prepare, prepare, prepare

Don't "wing it."

I don't care how charismatic you are or how well you know the material.

If you "wing it" your audience will know.

Far too many podcasters believe the lie that "off-the-cuff" is what their audience wants.

This doesn't mean your show has to be stuffy or feel over produced. There is a difference between improv (a practiced art of creation in the moment) and "winging it" (the practiced art of hoping people believe your bullshit).

The difference is practice and preparation.

This may seem like a no-brainer for some of you.

Here's the simplest solution: create an outline for each episode.

Even if you don't write the outline down, walking through the episode in your head will improve quality.

If you're doing an interview show, make sure you have a few topics laid out. There is no need to script each question.

This will give your show a natural flow, while providing the flexibility for tangents and follow-up questions.

6) SEO for iTunes

ITunes is a search engine.

Just like you can optimize your written content for Google search, you can optimize your podcast for iTunes search.

There are four places that you can add keywords to your podcast which inform the iTunes search engine.

Podcast Title: start with the title of your podcast, add a colon and then list keyword terms for your podcast.

Publisher Name: do the same thing with your publisher name. Start with your name, add a colon and then list of 2-3 keywords.

Podcast Description: add as much text as you need to describe your show. The podcast description box will serve both iTunes and human SEO. Make sure that you are using similar keywords as you did in the podcast title and your publisher name.

Podcast Episode Title and Description: title your podcast episode with primary keyword. Dive a little deeper, while adding secondary keywords in your podcast description. This will help specific episodes show in iTunes search

7) Tag Each Episode

"Tagging" each podcast episode appends vital information to the mp3 audio file.

These are called ID3 tags.

MP3 ID3 tags are used to store track 'title', track 'number', 'artist', 'album' etc. and even the track artwork.

This is a small, but important detail in the publishing process.

Tagging your podcast using ID3 Editor ensures that your podcast cover art is passed along to mobile podcast players.

Don't mistake podcasting as an audio only format. The ID3 tags allow you to pass along the visual and text content that support your podcast.

Dismiss this detail at the peril of your podcast.

Helpful Resources for Starting a Podcast

Start a Podcast, Like a Boss

You're going to make mistakes.

Things are going to go wrong.

It doesn't matter how prepared you are to start your podcast.

When they do, take a deep breathe and carry on.
Start your podcast like a boss.
Learn from my mistakes and blast past your competition.

Make podcasting a permanent part of your content marketing and I promise it will change your life.

Podcasting has certainly changed mine.

Thank you,

I am Ryan Hanley.
P.S. Never miss the best content marketing articles from around the web. Get the Sunday Seven here.

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Starting a Podcast: 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Published My First Episode

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Good decision. Audio, done right, can build an intimate relationship with your audience. The kind of relationship which transforms the casual fan into a disciple. But there is much more to success as a podcaster than hitting record. Every day, Amazon delivers another Blue Snowball to a budding thought-leader eager to share their expertise...

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DIY Toolkit: How To Make A Podcast – Youth Radio

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DIY Toolkit: How To Make A Podcast – Youth Radio

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Share this story:

Podcasts are EVERYWHERE right now. It seems like everyone has one - celebrities, comedians, politicians, authors, your cousin, your mom, you mom, your dog. And for good reason. Unlike other forms of storytelling, high quality podcasts don't take a lot of tech. Just some creativity, a strong work ethic, and a little know-how. So what are you waiting for? Check out our DIY resources below, and let's make a podcast!

And for all you teachers out there, we've also put together our best youth-tested lesson plans, handouts, and activities for teaching media skills in our Teach Youth Radio hub page.

Podcasts come in all sorts of varieties - comedy, music, journalism, fiction - there are even podcasts about other podcasts! So whether you're a Serial addict, a 2 Dope Queens fan, a proud RadioLab supporter, a WTF with Marc Maron aficionado, or none of the above, rest assured there's still something in the podcast world for everyone.

At Youth Radio, NPR's official youth desk, podcasts are one of the first forms of media that we teach. They're great for a couple of different reasons. Compared to traditional news radio, podcasts are pretty free-form (they can range from a few minutes to over an hour), creative (lots of sound design and music), and personality-driven. Also, compared to media products like video or animations, they are simple and don't require a lot of special equipment to get started. But despite their low bar to entry, podcasts are one of the most popular forms of storytelling in today's media ecosystem.

In fact, we're living in what many people are calling a new "Golden Age" for audio. We've already seen that audio CAN go viral (ahem, Serial season 1) in podcast form. And thanks to our cell phones, most of us are carrying around a kind of digital audio player and recorder with us all the time. Today more people than ever are getting creative with podcasting as a form of intimate, engaging storytelling. In other words, people are listening - not just to journalists or comedians, but also to ordinary people who decide to share their stories, expertise, and ideas.

So are you ready to try your hand at podcasting? Get the skills you'll need by checking out the five steps we've laid out for you below.

First, you should familiarize yourself with the basics of podcasting and practice coming up with a brief pitch for a podcast of your own.

Determine Your Podcast Personality

There are a lot of different types of podcasts out there: comedy, music, how-to, journalism, fiction, to name just a few - there are even podcasts about other podcasts! To determine what kind of podcast you might like to make, we suggest you start by listening to a variety of different podcasts and get a sense for what you like. You can browse what's popular on iTunes, look for productions by your favorite media personalities, or explore by topic.

We've put together a short list of some of our favorites. If you have the time, take a listen and figure out what kind of podcast you might like to make yourself.
If you're a public radio junkie:

This American Life (WBEZ)

Snap Judgement (WNYC)

99% Invisible (Radiotopia)

Invisibilia (NPR)

TED Radio Hour (NPR)

RadioLab (WNYC)

If you love a good mystery:

Mystery Show (Gimlet)

Serial (WBEZ)

Welcome to Night Vale (Welcome To Nightvale Presents)

Criminal (Radiotopia)

Limetown (Two-Up Productions)

My Favorite Murder (Feral Audio)

If you're a proud STEM nerd:

RadioLab (WNYC)

Invisibilia (NPR)

Science Vs (Gimlet)

99% Invisible (Radiotopia)

Reply All (Gimlet)

Planet Money (NPR)

The Hidden Brain (NPR)

If you're a history/language arts buff:

The Memory Palace (Radiotopia)

RadioLab Presents: More Perfect (WNYC)

You Must Remember This (Panoply/Slate)

The Moth (The Moth Radio Hour)

Stuff You Missed In History Class

Love + Radio (Radiotopia)

Grammar Girl

Revisionist History (Panoply/Slate)

Allusionist (Radiotopia)

Song Exploder (Radiotopia)

If you love comedy/pop culture:

Comedy Bang! Bang! (Earwolf)

2 Dope Queens (WNYC)

Hello From The Magic Tavern

WTF With Marc Maron

How Did This Get Made (Earwolf)

The Bugle

Mystery Show (Gimlet)

The Read (Loud Speakers Network)

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me (NPR)

Gilmore Guys

Guided Listening - Figuring Out What You Like

Now that you've got a basic idea of what this podcasting thing is all about, you'll need to come up with an idea for one of your own. Use the guided listening questions above to come up with a new idea for a podcast

Vetting Your Idea

You've got an idea for a great podcast... or at least you think it's a great podcast. How can you tell whether your idea will be a hit or fall flat? We've got some helpful tips, from finding inspiration to vetting your ideas and turning them into brief, punchy pitches.
T.A.G.S. - That's A Good Story
Coming up with a good story (and presenting it well) is harder than it seems! Even experienced journalists and producers often struggle with coming up with fresh ideas that editors (and listeners) will respond to. In general, here are some qualities that set fresh story ideas apart from stale ones:

Twist / trend -
A good podcast takes a familiar idea and adds a new angle to make it fresh.

Adds to / Advances the story -
If your podcast is covering a familiar topic or style, make sure the way you present it takes the listener's understanding to the next level.

Grounded in experience / expertise -
How will you make sure your podcast feels genuine? Start with the things you actually know about, or at least are really curious about.

Surprising -
Your podcast should include new, unexpected information, techniques, or elements that make people sit up and listen (and, of course, share your podcast with all their friends).

Common Pitfalls of Pitching

You're almost there! As you finalize your podcast/story ideas, check out these common pitfalls and try to avoid them!

"The Columbus"

"The Long-Distance Pitch"

"The Aspirational Pitch"

"The Thesis"

"The Stereotype"

"The Fake Trend"

Now that you're pretty sure you have a fresh podcast concept, we'll learn how to turn your idea into a brief pitch.

Pitching Practice: The One-Graf Pitch

A pitch is essentially a paragraph description where you make the case for why your story is awesome and interesting. To practice, you're going to write the pitch for the first episode of your podcast.

When writing your pitch, focus on the essentials - What is your podcast/the episode about, and why will people want to listen? Emphasize the T.A.G.S. (see above) of your story, or why people should be excited about it. And keep it conversational! Write your pitch as if you were talking to a friend. This will keep it from becoming stuffy or formal.

For example, here are a few successful pitches from Youth Radio stories:
EXAMPLE: PITCH: Out of the nearly 900 emoji options available to U.S. teenagers, the pistol emoji is one of the most popular (#75). Teens use it to express boredom (another math test: gun), prompt people to respond faster (are you there? text me: gun), or vent frustration (this line is taking forever!: gun). And most of the time, it seems pretty harmless. But even if the message is benign, the question remains why so many of us feel we have to use violent imagery to express ourselves - often without thinking about it. In this podcast episode, Youth Radio's Tylyn Hardamon tracks the linguistic and technical history and use of the pistol emoji, quizzing young people on how and why they use it. The Great Gun Emoji Debate (Youth Radio/NPR) EXAMPLE: PITCH: Are teens today more narcissistic than ever before? Some psychologists are pointing to a personality test called the Narcissism Personality Inventory , which seems to indicate that millennials have a historically high sense of self-obsession. But not everyone thinks the test is a great tool to use on teens, who may need an inflated sense of self to protect themselves against the natural pitfalls of puberty. In this week's podcast replay, Youth Radio's teen reporters turn the lens on themselves as they investigate their own narcissism scores, and interview an expert on what this trend might mean for the success of the next generation. Are Teens More Narcissistic Than Before? (Youth Radio)
Listen to the final piece below:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.youthradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2048821_YouthRadio_GunEmoji_mix.mp3

Listen to the final piece below:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.youthradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/YR_Podcast_Narcisist.mp3

Sound is everywhere. From the moment we wake up to when we go to sleep, our days are filled with noise. Even so-called "silence" is actually full of sound - the hum of an air conditioner, the distant rush of traffic, the whoosh of our own breath. By collecting and weaving together high quality recordings of our interviews and scenes, we can bring the story closer to listeners - their ears and imaginations allowing them to enter entire worlds of sound.

Choosing Your Recorder

When it comes to recording sound, not all equipment is created equal. But even if you can't afford a top-of-the-line audio kit, there is a wide range of devices that you can use to gather sound for your stories. In the end, whether you're using a Zoom H4N or a Fisher Price Cassette Recorder, it's still the audio you gather that truly makes your story compelling.

Smartphone

Find a quiet room - preferably one with carpet, lots of furniture, etc. - for interviews. Unplug or remove all devices that click, tick, ring, hum or buzz.

Make sure your phone has enough space. You don't want to gather awesome sound only to find out there's nowhere to save it!

Have the person being interviewed hold the device's receiver a few inches away from their mouth. If you want to capture multiple people's voices, ideally each person will have their own phone. If the phone is too far away, their voices will be hard to hear.

Consider investing in an external microphone. If you need to gather higher quality sound, there are many setup options (like this one ) that allow you to record and edit via your phone. External microphones can also help if you want to gather characteristic sounds of a particular scene.

Check out some broadcast/recording apps. There are many free or inexpensive mobile apps that allow you to customize the levels and quality of the sounds you record on your phone. Two popular options are Hindenburg and Transom - though new ones are popping up every day!

Can't go there in person? Record your phone calls. "Phoner tape," as it's called in audio editing circles, isn't the highest quality sound - that's why many radio studios use tape syncers (locals with audio equipment who can gather sound in-person) to do remote interviews. But if your source lives far away and you're on a budget, there are still ways to preserve that audio. Check out inexpensive apps like Tape A Call or Recorder . Free options are possible using Skype and Google Voice .
If you're doing a phoner, try asking the person you're interviewing if they have a smartphone. If so, they can record using the voice memo option on their device (using the tips above) and then email you the audio afterwards.

Computer (desktop or laptop)

Portable Digital Recorder

Other Equipment

A Sound Dampener - When you're recording narration or an interview, you want to reduce outside sounds and prevent echo. If you've got the $, you could get a vocal shield or set up your own studio. If you're on a budget or just getting started, try recording in your closet (the clothes help to muffle outside noise), or in a carpeted room under a sleeping bag.

Headphones - One great way to know you're getting awesome audio is to LISTEN to it as it comes in. You don't even need pricey headphones - just make sure you can hear what's going on clearly and you ALWAYS wear them when you record.

An External Microphone (Optional but recommended) - It's not that you can't get great sound with the microphones built in to your devices ( check out Youth Radio's guide to gathering high quality audio using your phone ), but it can be difficult. Built-in microphones are more likely to pick up "handling noise," meaning the sounds your hands make when they make tiny shifts in your grip, gusts of wind, or echos from a room. There are entire sites dedicated to picking a fancy microphone that best fits your needs, but in general you could upgrade your sound game by getting some type of external microphone (one you plug into your recorder).

A windscreen/pop filter for your external microphone - Wind makes noise. And, if you do any of your recording outside, it has a tendency to interrupt the sounds you're trying to capture. A windscreen is a soft, cushy cover for your microphone that helps prevent that dreaded WHOOOSH noise. It also is known as a pop filter, which refers to the normal but gross-sounding noises we make with our mouths when we pronounce certain words. If you're just getting started and you're recording indoors, feel free to skip the filter. Or you can be nerdy like Youth Radio producer Teresa Chin and make one yourself (see above).

What Sounds To Gather

So now you have the equipment to start recording. Awesome. But to make a great podcast, what exactly should you be listening for? From interviews to interactions, here's a brief rundown of some of the types of sound you might want to gather.

Scene - In audio, a scene takes you to a place where some sort of action is happening that relates back to the narrative. A scene is comprised of elements such as characteristic sounds , room tone , interaction , and emotion . The goal is an audio soundscape that allows your mind to recreate whatever is going on.

Levels - Levels represent the sensitivity of your recording device - in other words, it sets the amplitude of the sound you gather. When setting your levels (which you should do before each interview or scene), you want to make sure the amplitude of your sound stays in the mid-range for your device. If your levels are too low, you will not capture the sound you may need. If your levels are too high ("peaking") the sound will be distorted. For step-by-step instructions on how to set, check out online tutorials like this one.

Skills You Need For Gathering Great Sound

Before you press record on your actual podcast, you're going to want to make sure you have a couple of basic recording skills down. Gather your equipment together and make sure you're comfortable doing the following:

Complete set up (headphones on, cables and microphone attached)

Turn on recorder

Set recording levels to mid-range*

Proper mic placement (for interviews: fist-width distance from mouth, slightly off to side of mouth)

Start recording

Gather room tone (ambient noise)

Turn off recorder

Complete break down (headphones, cables and device stored properly)

*A note on gathering levels: rather than asking your interviewee to say something artificial like "check check 1 2 3," have them answer a basic descriptive question like "what did you have for breakfast?" This will make sure they're speaking within their normal range of volume.
Recording Practice: Gather the sounds of your room

To practice field recording, you can use your recording set-up to gather three different sounds that help define the room you're in. The goal is to get a sense for how you can use sound to build a portrait of a place.

Take a look/listen around the room you're in currently (or pick one nearby that you can easily access). What are three characteristic noises that help to define the space you're in? For example, if you're in a classroom, you might hear the ring of the school bell, the laughter of students coming in, and the creeeeeeak of the chair as you sit down.

Using your recording equipment, gather no more than ten seconds of each sound. Save each sound file and play it for your friends!

Interviewing is the foundation on which most podcasts are built. Great interviews are conversations that suck the listener in and leave them feeling included, informed, and more connected to the story than before.

Interviewing is more than a skill - it's an art. The order of your questions, the way you phrase them, and the tone of your voice all affect the way a person will respond to you. By carefully crafting your interview questions and paying attention to how your source responds, you'll be more likely to gather compelling, engaging tape for your podcast.

The style of a given interview depends a lot on your relationship to the person you're talking to. If you're interviewing an expert, you'll use different words, tone, even posture than if you are talking to a friend or classmate. You'll also use different interviewing strategies depending on the angle of your story - if you feel your source is hiding something, for example. In this activity, we'll learn to identify different styles of interviews and cover a few tips for improving your interviewing style for each one.

Types of Interviews
Someone-You-Know Interview
In normal conversations, we "interview" people we know all the time. But casually saying hello to a friend or relative can feel really different than sitting down with them with a goal in mind. You'll want to capitalize on your familiarity with your interviewee to get the best stories and answers as possible, but also keep in mind that your conversation shouldn't be so filled with inside jokes and references that other people won't understand what you're talking about. To set the scene for a strong interview with someone you know, it's a good idea to:

Listening Example: Youth Radio's Maya Escobar interviews her dad about whether or not he thinks he's addicted to his cell phone

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Expert Interview
When we think of the word "expert," many of us picture a doctor, lawyer or professor. But an expert can be anyone who has a lot of knowledge or experience that you can to tap into for a particular story. We often interview experts when we need a complicated process explained, or if we need someone to speak about broader trends for a story. When looking for the right expert to talk to, think about someone who is:

Good at explaining things and/or a dynamic storyteller

Acknowledged in the field, meaning he or she has written about the topic or has been recommended by others as a knowledgeable source

Representative of the diversity of the population. For example, women and people of color are often underrepresented in the media as sources of analysis and expertise. You have an opportunity to change that.

Once you find your expert, you're going to want to spend some time researching him or her, and writing questions ahead of time. To help, we've created this HANDOUT: Youth Radio Tips For Interviewing Experts.

Listening Example: Youth Radio's Kasey Saeturn interviews a representative from the Federal Housing Authority , asking him to explain why it's so hard for young adults like her to get public housing

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Something-To-Hide Interview
The phrase "something to hide" makes it sound like we're talking about interviewing a spy or super villain about their plans for world domination. But really, "something to hide" interviews are about getting information that a character may be hesitant to share. This doesn't mean they are good or bad people, but it does mean you should tread carefully when structuring your interview. Examples of "something to hide" interviews include:

While it can feel awkward to probe someone for hidden information, know that it's part of your mission as a journalist to report as accurately and thoroughly as possible. You are doing your readers/listeners a service by asking thorough questions, and getting to the truth is a powerful reward.

We've put together some tips in this HANDOUT: Youth Radio Tips For Something To Hide Interview .

Listening Example: Youth Radio's Malachi Segers interviews a representative from Spirit Halloween about whether some of their costumes are racist

Practice Interviewing: 3-Minute Job Profile

Schedule an interview with someone you think has a fascinating job. This could be a person you know well, or someone you've never met before but are simply curious about. Your goal will be to conduct a three minute (yes, it's short) conversation with that person, trying to use your best interviewing techniques to capture what makes their role so interesting.

1. Write questions for that person (suggestion: at least 5 questions you think will prompt interesting answers). You may not get to them all, so have a sense for which ones are the most important.

2. Schedule at least a 10-minute interview slot. This will give you time to set up your equipment, get room tone, etc. Let your source know the interview is going to be only 3 minutes long, and let them know you might (politely) interrupt them for the sake of time.

3. Start recording! Do your best to stick to the time limit, but take the time to make your source as comfortable as possible. Remember to INTERACT and ASK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS (see above)! These are the keys to getting great interview tape. If you get lost, remember to treat it just like a normal, engaging conversation - on a time budget.

Now that you have field recording and interviewing down, you're all set to start gathering awesome elements for your podcast. The next step is learning how to put it all together, turning your raw audio into an edited audio piece.

Essential Audio Editing Vocabulary

Finding Your Editing Flow - Organize Your Audio

Once you start gathering interviews, scenes, etc. for your podcast, start organizing your tape right away! You want to be listening for tape that sticks out for various reasons (see graphic above).

1. After you gather your audio, immediately download your audio and save it in a safe place. Name each file in such a way that you can quickly identify each file and what it contains (example: DATE_PODCAST_SOURCENAME_INTERVIEW.wav)

2. Before listening back, take a few minutes to write down what you most remember from each scene or interview - those are probably the bites/ acts/ cuts/ tape you want to pull.

3. Now open up your audio files in an audio player or audio editing software such as Audacity and listen back. Make a note of the time codes of your favorite pieces of audio (logging your tape).

4. Transcribe your audio in a separate document, marking the time codes as you go along. If you have time, you can transcribe the whole thing. If you're on more of a deadline, transcribe only your favorite clips.

Structuring Your Podcast

When it comes to arranging your best clips into a script, there's no pre-set format for how to structure a podcast. On the one hand, that's awesome! You get to be creative and experiment with your storytelling! But it can also be intimidating when you're not sure how to get started.

We suggest you start by making an outline:

1. Print out the transcripts of the tape you logged. Cut each clip/AXX (usually a few sentences or less) and clearly label them so you know who is talking.

2. Look over the clips/AXX and ask yourself;

1. What should the listener hear first? Oftentimes this is your strongest or most scene-driven tape.

2. What do you want the listener to leave with? Is there a natural ending?

3. Is there a narrative thread (meaning a natural beginning, middle, and end of the story) that you can reinforce?

4. Is there information that you feel is missing? If so, write it on a new piece of paper and put it in the place you think it belongs. Consider using narration (tracking) or contacting another interview/source to fill this gap.

1. Line up your clips/AXX in the order you think makes sense. Try it a few different ways to play with the structure.

2. Write your narration/TRAX in-between clips/AXX

1. Remember, you are the tour guide for the story. Start us out one place, and take us to another.

2. Tell the story your clips/AXX don't tell.

3. Describe scenes, introduce speakers, and explain confusing parts.

4. Note: you may decide to take out clips/AXX, rearrange the order and re-write narration a bunch during this process

3. Write your host lede - meaning the introduction to the story

4. Double-check your facts

5. Edit your script and prepare to record your narration !

Formatting Your Script - An Example

Youth Radio Reporter Amber Ly's parents own a donut shop in the Richmond district of San Francisco. She interviewed her mom as part of her feature about "the model minority."

Once you get your outline together, you'll write in and out of the clips you've selected, giving additional information, transitions, context, etc. You'll also want to format your script so that it's easy to read (see our voicing unit).

Check out this script (below) by Youth Radio's Amber Ly about how the Asian-American model minority stereotype has affected her experience in the classroom.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.youthradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/16144621/YR_Amber_ModelMinority_Audition.mp3

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How Model Minority Myth Shortchanges Asian-Americans Youth Radio's Amber Ly NPR's Here & Now
INTRO: Today there's news out of the Supreme Court (striking down/upholding) affirmative action. That suit was brought by a white student who claims she was discriminated against. Meanwhile, up north, Ivy League colleges face claims from a coalition of Asian American groups who say Asian-Americans have to score higher on the SATs to get accepted. Youth Radio's Amber Ly (AM-bur LEE) is Asian-American, and she's been thinking a lot about how racial stereotypes affect her experience in the classroom

SCRIPT:

There's a joke that an A minus is an Asian F. It's a play on the idea that all Asians are smart. We get good grades. We work hard.

Jokes like this can be pretty frustrating for Asian teens. For one thing, it makes us sound like a bunch of high-achieving robots.But moreover, it's just not true for everyone. How well immigrants do in the US often corresponds to

MOM: I come here with nothing. I don't have English, no English at all.

That's my mom.

MOM: Our family, it's not like have a good education from the country.

My parents never got a formal education. They came here in the early 1990's from Cambodia to escape the Khmer Rouge.

The dropout rate for Cambodian-American kids like me is actually really high-35 percent. It shouldn't be a newsflash that not all Asian-Americans do well in school, but the model minority stereotype makes the actual problems in these communities invisible.

[DONUT SHOP AMBI]
MOM: Hi, can I help you?

Customer: Hi. Uhh, can I get a dozen?

MOM: A dozen donut holes?

For the last 19 years now, my parents own a donut shop in San Francisco.

[donut tape]MOM: One apple fritter? And?

My dad carries flour into the back of our shop in 50 pound bags. Both of my parents labor over heavy machinery and boiling oil. They work hard at keeping their business afloat, and by extension supporting our family.

So they're not exactly tiger parents hovering over my homework. But when I'm at school, my teachers and peers still treat me like I'm supposed to be some kind of genius. And I'm not the only one.

RHEA: I feel like I was always expected to be, like, the top student. I mean in middle school and in elementary school, I worked really hard to meet that standard. Because I felt that was like what everyone expected of me and I didn't want to let them down.

That's 15-year-old Rhea Park. For her, the model minority myth can make it harder to get the help she needs at school.

RHEA: Like even with teachers... Whenever I needed help like, they're like "Oh, it's okay. You can figure it out."

I get this too. The pressure I feel about school doesn't come from my family at all. In fact, my mom doesn't even know the stereotype that's supposed to be about her.

AMBER: Have you ever heard about tiger moms? MOM: No. What's mean tiger mom? AMBER: So yeah, like this is what a tiger mom is. It's like you are super strict. Like, Oh my God you have to go study right now. No playing with your friends. You can't go outside. Like you have to go do-you have to study, play piano, do the violin. Mom: Ohh. I cannot do that. Because I saw you trying to work hard by your homework or your everything, your tests. You always try hard by yourself.

My mom says whenever I talk to her about my grades, I make it sound like I'm failing. I've spent the last four years in high school, feeling ashamed because I'm a B student. And lately, I've come to see that this invisible pressure I feel is the model minority myth at work.

This is how racism operates. It erases our individuality. It tells us how we should act, how we should perform in school. And when we miss the mark, we're failures. That's how even positive sounding racial stereotypes cause damage.

For Here & Now, I'm Amber Ly.
BACK ANNOUNCE: Amber Ly (AM-bur LEE) recently graduated from high school in San Francisco. Her story was produced by Youth Radio.
Tips For Writing For Radio

As you start filling in the TRAX between your clips, you'll want to keep your writing style super simple, conversational, and clear. In other words, DO NOT write as if you were composing an essay or academic paper. If you listen to how people actually talk, you'll notice a few trends:

Use small, casual words, not big, formal ones.
For example, say "car," not vehicle. "But" not "however," "said," not "expressed," etc.

Use short words/sentences, not long ones.
This is not Scrabble. Long words do not earn you more points. Short sentences are punchy, clear, and engaging. Even sentence fragments are OK in radio scripting!

Avoid acronyms, long organization names or formal titles, lots of exact numbers, etc. unless you absolutely have to.

Assume everyone's memory is really short.

So if you're introducing a new voice, identify them right away (you might need to break a long clip into smaller pieces to do this).

If it's been awhile since you heard from someone in the piece, re-introduce them when you hear them again (ex: that's Joe again, the guy from the laundromat).

Don't make your AXX and TRAX too repetitive.
It's good to reinforce important points with phrases like "in other words," or "hey did you catch what she said there?" But if your narration just repeats the same core concept as your interview clips, the listener will get bored.

When possible, use the present tense.
Audio is an intimate media format. You are whispering directly in the listener's ear! Using the present tense will make the listener feel like he or she is there in the moment with you.

Practice Editing: The Basics Of Mixing

Once you get a script together, you'll want to line up your tape in an order that matches the script using some type of audio editing software. We suggest checking out Audacity, a free, open source program available for both PC and macs.

In this make, you'll get familiar with the program by recreating Amber Ly's piece that you listened to above, her script and audio files that we provide for you.

1. Download Audacity. You can download the program for free here .

2. Download the Youth Radio audio files from Amber's piece . We've put them into three folders: AXX (Amber's narration), TRAX (her interviews with other people), and AMBI (room tone or scene tape). We've named them in the order they appear in the script.

3. Start by importing your audio. There are lots of great tutorials available online that will walk you through how to do this. Here's a good one that goes through a couple of techniques for importing audio, as well as showing you how to record audio directly into audacity (which we'll do during the voicing module).

4. Arrange your audio into the order it appears in your script . Here's another Audacity tutorial on audio editing that will help you with the technical details. Do you best to mimic the pacing of the original piece.

You've done the research, you've written your podcast script... now it's time to step up to the mic and read. But if you really want to breathe life into your podcast, you can't just read it- you have to perform it. So what goes into a good vocal performance? How do you sound like you're talking to a friend, when you're actually reading off a paper?

In this module, we'll cover some of the tips we use at Youth Radio for putting your best voice forward.

What Is A "Radio Voice?"

Journalist and podcaster Eric Simons is the Editorial Director of Bay Nature Magazine and co-host of The Field Trip Podcast. He's also been featured on the popular science podcast RadioLab. Youth Radio reporter Sophie Varon sat down with Eric to ask him how podcast makers can put their best voice forward - from tips for sounding like yourself even when reading a script, to keeping conversations casual while covering complex topics.

Supplies for Voicing

When you record yourself (or someone else) reading a script for a podcast or radio story, it's known in the industry as "tracking." When you track, you'll first want to make sure you have a good location to record. As you learned in the recording module, be sure to have:

A quiet place - that means unplugging any devices that make sound such as clocks, phones, refrigerators, etc.

A sound-dampened environment - to eliminate echo, choose a padded place like a studio, a small room with carpet and lots of furniture, a closet full of clothes that you can sit in with the door closed, or even a quiet corner with a sleeping bag over your head.

Headphones - to hear yourself and make sure the sound quality is good.

A recording device - Try to avoid laptops microphones unless you have an external microphone. You may also choose to use your phone (hold it close to your mouth) or an audio kit.

An external microphone - Ideally you are using an external mic, but if you don't have one, try to minimize handling noise by keeping your hand as still as possible and listening for noise during each take.

A partner/producer - tracking by yourself is hard because you're having to talk and listen to yourself at the same time. It's much better to find a buddy and have them coach you on your read and take notes on your cut sheet (see below).

A copy of your script - unless you have a REALLY good memory... just kidding, you'll need a script no matter what. Make sure it includes not only the parts you are recording but the transcript of any audio you are reading in/out of (such as interview clips, scene tape, etc).

A pen or a pencil - you'll use this to mark up your script with notes, change tricky words, and make notes on which takes you like the best.

A cut sheet - this is a piece of paper where you write down the time codes for your best takes of each section of your script. You can add notes for each cut to help you remember what you liked about each time you read your script.

Mark Up Your Script

Voicing is more than just talking - it's a form of performance. If you simply read your script aloud, chances are it will sound very flat. But the goal of podcast voicing is to sound as if you're not reading at all. To make your voice sound natural and engaging, you're going to have to put a little extra effort into your read. One technique many professionals use is to "mark up" your script. This means you'll add notes to help you know which places to breathe and which words to emphasize, slow down, modulate, etc.

Here are some common symbols for marking up your script:
/ = breathe or pause here Underline ALL CAPS = really emphasize this word because it is absolutely essential to the meaning of the sentence = pay attention to this word because it is an operative word in the sentence. You may want to draw it out or modulate it with your voice.
You may also want to add notes indicating the pace, mood, or tone you think would be appropriate for each part of the script.

Here's an example, from a commentary (a short, first-person opinion piece) by Youth Radio Reporter, Billy Cruz. Listen to his commentary as you look over his marked-up script.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.youthradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/28153017/BillyCruz_Height.mp3

Using Your Voice Effectively

Now that you've got your set up, marked up script (and hopefully a partner to help you track), it's time to start talking!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Get at least 3 different takes of each part of the script.

At Youth Radio, we usually have reporters start by reading the script all the way through, then they break it into parts and do each part 3 times, and then they do one last full read-through.

With each take, try different reads. If you're a fast reader, try doing an intentionally slow take. Or if you're a flat reader, try doing an extra dramatic take. It may sound silly to you, but it will improve your read as you find a happy medium.

Pay attention to pacing, pronunciation, emphasis, tone, volume, energy and phrasing -If your partner sounds stiff: ask him or her to try these techniques:

Recite the story as if you're telling it to a friend

Turn over the script and do it from memory

Make eye contact with you

Stand up and see if that position gives the read more energy

Watch for "upspeak," the term used to describe when your voice goes like it does at the end of a question

Make sure people can understand you. It helps to:

Slow down at proper nouns and numbers

Don't rush hard-to-pronounce or long words

Make sure you have enough breath. If you're struggling, consider shortening your sentences

Change hard-to-pronounce words or long sentences as you encounter them. Keep sentences short and words simple for clarity's sake.

Practice Voicing: Reading A Commentary

Now, let's practice voicing using an early version of a script written by Youth Radio's Eli Arbreton about how he thinks high school could use more breaks.

Eli's natural way of speaking is deadpan, but not flat - as you can hear in the final version of his intern podcast (which he wrote, recorded, and edited himself) about recess in high school. When you read this early draft of his piece, you'll want to try to sound as much like yourself as possible!
Script: Four hours of classes with no real breaks, and they expect us not to get distracted - ridiculous. I'm Eli Arbreton with a commentary from Youth Radio. One time my math teacher was explaining a really confusing problem, and I tried to pay attention, but my head began leaning to the side. I woke up like, "Oh shoot, I just missed half the lesson." I tried to focus again but the same thing happened. When I woke up, I had missed the whole period. It's not that the class isn't interesting, it's just that after a couple hours of consecutive classes I really need a break. And the experts agree. A We had recess as kids, and PE in middle school, but now it's just, learn, learn, learn. Even adults need breaks. So as this new school year begins, I really hope that my school considers making changes to the schedule, so that I can have a more productive senior year. For Youth Radio, I'm Eli Arbreton. scientific paper on increasing productivity suggests splitting up your schedule into 90 minutes of working or learning, followed by 15 minutes of moving around and socializing. This is supposedly the best schedule to help people retain focus throughout the day.
Even though you didn't write this script, you can still use the principles of voicing to make it your own. Mark up the script and record yourself reading it three different ways. Then, listen back on your reads. Which one appealed the most to you? Why? What techniques work for you to get the best read? We encourage you to do this with a friend for the best possible outcome.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.youthradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/EliArbreton_Classroom-Breaks_KCBS.mp3

Teach Youth Radio: Lesson Plans, Handouts & Activities For Podcasting

Tags: diy, DIY toolkit, equipment, handout, how to make a podcast, interviewing, lesson plan, pitching, Podcast, Podcasting, recording, teach youth radio, voicing

Edited by Lissa Soep

DISCUSSION: How Should Schools Address Privilege In The Classroom?

March 28, 2017 by Teresa Chin

Youth Radio's Senior Editor Talks Digital Age Civics at UC Berkeley

January 09, 2017 by Lissa Soep

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Share this story: Podcasts are EVERYWHERE right now. It seems like everyone has one - celebrities, comedians, politicians, authors, your cousin, your mom, you mom, your dog. And for good reason. Unlike other forms of storytelling, high quality podcasts don't take a lot of tech.

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Conduct Better Podcast Interviews with This Simple 6-Step Preparation Process - Copyblogger

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Conduct Better Podcast Interviews with This Simple 6-Step Preparation Process - Copyblogger

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Editor's note: This post was originally published on March 26, 2014. We're running it today to once again share these important podcast interview best practices with you.
No regrets.

That is my number one goal for every podcast interview I conduct.

(And there are a lot of them, including this one you might be familiar with.)

It's a hard feeling to achieve, because most interviews last a pre-determined amount of time.

And almost without fail, the people I've interviewed have had far more to say than I've had time to get them to say it. (If you've ever conducted an interview, I'm sure you can relate.)

This means the pressure is on us to lead the interview in a way that ensures nothing essential goes left unsaid.

Here's the simple six-step preparation process I follow to conduct podcast interviews that work.

Plus a bonus tip at the end ...

Step 1: Know your subject

Know this: your interview will fail if you do not display curiosity about who you are interviewing and what he or she might say.

What do you do if you're not genuinely curious about the person you're interviewing? You act as if ... or don't bother doing the interview.

That means doing your research to know who your interviewee is, what he knows or does better than anyone, and what atmosphere you need to create to make him comfortable.

This is especially true if you don't know the person.

Think of it this way: an interview is not so much a chance for you to get to know your subject better (though you will) ... an interview is your chance to be the conduit that allows your audience to get to know your subject better.

You are leading your audience on a journey into the mind of the person you're interviewing.

Don't let it be the blind leading the blind.

Step 2: Figure out the intersection between subject and audience

This is why doing your research is so important.

It allows you to answer this very simple question:

What knowledge or experience does the person you're interviewing have that will most benefit your audience?

If you are not asking this question to yourself before every interview, then your interviews are failing. Because they aren't delivering the value to your audience that they could be.
*Note that I am taking for granted that you know your audience ... which should be a prerequisite before you are ever allowed to conduct an interview on their behalf. Just know that if you don't know your audience, doing so becomes the new Step 1 above.
For example ...

I once put together a podcast honoring a graduating senior from my alma mater's basketball team.

The podcast includes interviews with people who all have a unique, first-hand perspective on the player that normal fans (like myself) don't have. That was the intersection between interview subject and audience.

What good it would have done the audience to have these folks discuss the player's achievements on the court? It may have been mildly interesting, but it would have been redundant and wouldn't have been the most value these interview subjects could provide.

For these interviews to succeed, I had to extract that unique knowledge and perspective to share it with the audience.

That's what I did, and based on the response the episode got ... I succeeded.

It was not by accident.

The interviews worked because I followed this deliberate thought process I'm outlining for you with this post.

Step 3: Write the right questions

Once you know the intersection of your interview subject's knowledge and your audience's curiosity, you have to craft questions that will draw this out.

Spend some time brainstorming.

I like to get away from the computer after I've done my research - maybe go for a walk or get a workout in - and let my subconscious go to work. I find that great question ideas start coming to me when I don't try to force them. When they come, I make mental notes or type them into Evernote.

Then I get back to my computer, brainstorm some more, and see what I've got.

Typically I find the question ideas can be grouped into topic areas. I then organize the topic areas from most important to least important ... because I'll be damned if I'm going to bury the lede!

Finally, it's time to trim the fat and make sure every essential topic is covered without repeating myself.

Step 4: Edit your questions

Yep, now you trim the fat some more.

Remember this when you are conducting an interview: your interview subject's words are by far the most important part of the interview - not yours.

If and when you ever get interviewed, then your words can be the showcase.

Typically, your audience is tuning in to hear what your subject has to to say, not you ... so shut the bleep up and let them talk.

One important way to maximize the time your interviewee has the floor is to reduce blabber and bloat from your questions.

Personally, this is an area where I need to make gigantic improvements, because I am prone to thinking a paragraph of context is needed to preface every question. Usually it's not.

It's important to trust your audience to know and understand the context when they reasonably should be expected to. When they shouldn't, then you can fill in the gaps.

This is why knowing your audience and subject are so important. There is no rule for when to provide context, when not to, and how much. You just have to know.

You're the interviewer. It's your job.

One way I've tried to do this is to write out my questions, edit them ruthlessly, and then practice reading them beforehand. This way I can read them during the interview, if necessary, and sound natural doing so.

Caveat: this is a crutch that is not ideal, and it only really works for audio-only interviews.

But for now it is helping me conduct better interviews. As I get better and gain experience, I know I'll get more natural at asking questions.

And by "better" I don't mean that I'll prepare any less diligently. I'll still prepare questions word-for-word. I'll just get better at "sticking to the script," so to speak, even without having to read it, thus avoiding all the filler that delays me getting to the point of my question.

Step 5: Play out the interview in your head beforehand

A great interview often goes in unexpected directions. I'll get to that in a second.

But for the most part, if you've prepared well, then your interview is going to be predictable.

You can probably guess how your subject is going to answer most of your questions - if not the specifics, at least the general tone and ideas.

So think about what answers you are likely to get and then consider what follow-up questions you might ask. You may even want to write these contingency questions down.

If one of your questions is controversial, or you don't know how your subject will respond, consider the possible responses and plan your own counter-response accordingly. (You might also discuss this with your interview subject beforehand. Let her know you are planning to ask the question and preempt any potential awkwardness.)

You will also want to play out the interview in your head from your audience's perspective.

What questions are they expecting to be answered in the interview?

If there is an obvious line of questioning that they will be expecting, you either need to bring it up or address why you are not. (This can be done in the intro or outro, or in the show notes; it doesn't necessarily have to be addressed during the interview itself.)

And finally ...

Step 6: Plan to be relaxed and flexible

A good interview will deliver the unique perspective and experience of the interview subject to the audience in clear, easily digestible conversation.

A great interview will give the audience insight they never expected and will even entertain them thanks to a strong rapport between interviewer and interviewee.

The more relaxed an interview subject feels, the more likely he or she is to open up and be candid.

And candor makes an interview kinetic.

Sometimes this happens by happy accident. But don't leave it to chance.

Anticipate that if your subject says something she hasn't said in an interview before (you oughta know), you'll go down that road.

Know that if your subject ends up seeming especially engaged about a particular topic, and there is meat on the bone, you should ask a follow-up question so he can take another bite.

Prepare yourself mentally to make it less an interview and more a conversation.

This isn't always easy. It isn't always possible. But try to take advantage of those wonderful little opportunities during the interview when they present themselves.

Your interview subject and your audience will appreciate it.

There is no substitute for experience

Comfort level is so important.

Your comfort level as an interviewer, and the comfort level of your interviewee.

The audience can tell, and a comfortable tone makes the content of an interview easier to digest.

You develop this comfort level by setting a relaxed tone for the interview and being flexible throughout, as I just discussed.

Preparation and experience should help with both.

Preparing for interviews as described in this post has helped me because I don't fear getting lost in the moment. I know I won't end up stammering or uncertain for even a second about where the interview should go next.

Experience helps because the only way to get comfortable doing something is just to do it.

So if you want to improve your podcast interviews ... well, go schedule some podcast interviews.

Prepare for them, conduct them, and learn from them.

Stay humble, and you'll get better with every one.

And have no regrets.

Over to you ...

Do you have any podcast interview tips to share?

Have you listened to the shows on Rainmaker.FM, our new digital marketing podcast network?

What do you think so far?
Let's continue the discussion over on LinkedIn ...

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Conduct Better Podcast Interviews with This Simple 6-Step Preparation Process - Copyblogger

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Editor's note: This post was originally published on March 26, 2014. We're running it today to once again share these important podcast interview best practices with you. No regrets. That is my number one goal for every podcast interview I conduct. (And there are a lot of them, including this one you might be familiar with.)

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How to Make a Podcast | Everything You Need to Know | Digital Trends

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How to Make a Podcast | Everything You Need to Know | Digital Trends

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Podcasting equipment

Equipment is where you're going to be investing the most money. The creative aspects of the show - i.e. planning, writing, and performing - are only one part of the equation; the other is the technical side. Mics, headphones, a mixer, and recording software are the basics you'll need, but there are some other extra pieces of equipment that you can include in your setup to enhance your recording experience and ensure the best possible sound quality.
Recording Software
While you could opt for high-end recording programs such as Pro Tools, there are several reputable free options out there. The first, Audacity, is an open-source editing and recording program that's compatible with most operating systems and works well for beginners. Though it dons a rather unflattering exterior, you'll be able to record live audio directly into the application, or import a variety of different audio files, including MP3 and WAV. The software even touts recovery options in the event that your system crashes. Acoustica Basic Edition is another free option, one that provides audio recording and editing within a well-designed interface. However, you'll have to pay extra for multi-track editing and other advanced features.
USB Microphone(s)
In all reality, podcasters should consider purchasing an external microphone. USB mics, such as the CAD 37 and Fifine USB Plug & Play, plug directly into your computer and interface with your recording software, thus offering superior sound and greater flexibility than your computer's built-in microphone. Also, be sure to buy the right number of mics for your show, as you'll want all cast members to be heard loud and clear. And if you're going to be using a mixer, be sure to buy microphones that can plug into it! Not all mixers support USB mics, and not all mics will work with standard mic plugs.
Mixer
Amateur podcasters don't necessarily need to purchase a mixer, as any worthwhile piece of recording software allows users to directly record their voice and store it as an audio file. Mixers often offer other benefits you can't find elsewhere, however, such as greater control and effects. A mixer is valuable, for instance, if you'd like to include music or movie clips in your podcast, or if you're using multiple mics.
Headphones
These don't have to be all that fancy; all you need is a decent pair of headphones so you can hear yourself and any guests you might have on the show. If you're using a mixer, however, these become a requirement, as you will need to have headphones in order to correctly adjust the audio channels. After all, you can only do so much in post-production editing.
Pop Filter
Ever heard of the term "popped plosives?" Well, if you haven't, they're the annoying pop you often hear in a microphone whenever someone punches their consonants. Thankfully, pop filters are an inexpensive way to decrease explosive sounds that are common among casual vocal delivery. There's a bevy of offerings out there, from DragonPad's generic offering ($8) to Nady's clamp-on filter ($11), each of which is designed to eradicate the sudden burst in air pressure and the bassy response that ensues when you say words chock-full of the letters "P" and "B."

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Equipment is where you're going to be investing the most money. The creative aspects of the show - i.e. planning, writing, and performing - are only one part of the equation; the other is the technical side.

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The Art of Creating an Invisible Podcast Script | Engaging Episodes #1

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The Art of Creating an Invisible Podcast Script | Engaging Episodes #1

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To script or not to script... that is the question.
One of the things we're often asked, especially by new podcasters, is "should I write a script for my podcast?" The answer is almost always 'yes'. At least to some degree.

In the real world, it's unusual that complete scripts are written. More commonly the bulk of a show will be planned out with bullet points, and the host will script the set-piece elements. Examples of this include the intro, the sponsor message and the call to action, all of which benefit from being really polished.

The end result of this type of process is a bullet point plan for the entire show, with some sections fully scripted for clarity and slick delivery

If you think this sounds like overkill, then in some cases you're quite right. Many hosts simply wing it on every episode, and do just fine. There's an assumption, though, that the most inspiring or successful podcasters don't script anything. Well, the opposite it often true, and that extra work is just one of the many things that gives them their edge.

You see, many of our podcasting idols just happen to be masters at crafting invisible scripts.

Scripts, though well intended, are dangerous beasts. They have the ability to squeeze the very soul out of the spoken word. But a well-executed, invisible script is worth it for five key reasons.

1. Helps create your Podcast structure, ensuring you cover all points.

2. Ensures your content flows and engages.

3. Builds your reputation as a slick podcast host.

4. Gives you the roadmap to deliver confidently.

5. Cuts down on production time.

What is an Invisible Script?

An invisible script comes across so naturally that the listener thinks it's been ad-libbed. It's easier said than done because writing to be read and writing to be heard require a different thought process.

Our earliest podcasts definitely don't sound as natural as our most recent efforts. We've learned, over time, that the way we write our blog posts, and the way we write our podcast needs to be different.

With the aim of helping you shortcut that process, here are our top tips to turn your obvious script into an invisible script.

Map it Out - One Step at a Time

A great way to start is by mapping out the structure of your podcast. Breaking any task down into smaller components is good advice generally! Here are some specific examples you can apply to your podcasting.

Suggested Script Elements

The 'Welcome To' Message

The 'Thanks for listening, hope you're well.' Rapport Builder

The 'This week we'll be discussing' episode introduction.

The 'Here's a message from our sponsor' commercial.

The 'Our guest this week is' introduction.

The 'Thanks for listening' close.

The 'Please leave an iTunes review' call to action close.

Your podcast map should be linear. In other words, each step leads on naturally to the next. Don't force your listener to rewind to an earlier part of the podcast. Keep the flow simple, logical and consecutive.

Write Like You Talk

The best podcasts are conversational in nature. It's a familiar voice speaking directly to you with personality and warmth. Tune into the way that you talk in everyday life. Compare that to how you write. Listen to how those around you talk. (I recommend taking mental notes, not real ones.... that would just be weird!)

Just listen and be aware that there is a pronounced difference between speaking and writing.. That'll give you the general idea, but next let's explore some of the specifics

Use Contractions

Use I've rather than I have.

Use I'll rather than I will.

Use Don't rather than Do not.

Ignore the aghast looks your english teacher would shoot your way. Contractions make reading your script 10 times more natural!

Use Plain English

"Someone pinged over an email and asked..."
Is better than
"I recently received an email enquiry from a listener, who proceeded to ask..."

Cut Out The Jargon

Even if you're Podcast is technical in nature, try to cut the jargon from your script. Don't assume a base level of knowledge from your audience. Spend the time to script a simpler version of anything you feel is too technical.

Regards jargon and plain english, it's really easy to fall into the 'writing to impress' trap. You want to prove your knowledge, after all. To sound intelligent and confident.

Instead, have the confidence that you'll be credible no matter what language you use. And that's because you are! You don't need flowery, complicated language to prove it. Simple explanations that clarify are much more impressive than complicated words that confuse.

Use Short Sentences

Keep sentences short. Longer sentences, when spoken, come across as a bit rambly. Restrict a sentence to one point or idea. If you have any more than one comma, consider breaking it into a new sentence. Similar with the word 'and'.

If All Else Fails...

Use the 'mate test'. In other words - would a friend recognise you if he heard your podcast? Or, would he shake his head in disgust while uttering the words 'he's changed!'. Be yourself, be authentic and have fun.

It might take you a while to get there but before you know it you'll be creating invisible scripts that mark you down as a podcasting Superhero.

We're great believers at ThePodcastHost.com that you learn more by doing, than you do by reading. Here's what we'd like you to do. Take any element of your podcast and write a script for it. Once you've done that - share it in the comments.

Don't be shy, go on - give it a try.

Resources

You might find our ' How to script your podcast ' blog post helpful.

The Engaging Episodes Series Guide
Introduction - Engaging Episodes: The Powerful Podcasting Series
Chapter 1 - The Art of Creating an Invisible Podcast Script
Chapter 2 - Be a teller of great tales. The Power of Narrative Flow for your podcast
Chapter 3 - How to Inject Personality into your Podcast
Chapter 4 - Hooks, Taglines and the power of words
Chapter 5 - Tools & Tips to Podcast Planning Perfection
Chapter 6 - Making Your Podcast Pleasing on the Palate

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The Art of Creating an Invisible Podcast Script | Engaging Episodes #1

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This is Episode 1 of the Engaging Episodes series, all around creating the most engaging, compelling, powerful podcasts possible. To script or not to script... that is the question. One of the things we're often asked, especially by new podcasters, is "should I write a script for my podcast?"

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How to Make a Podcast - The Step by Step Guide

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How to Make a Podcast - The Step by Step Guide

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How to Start a Podcast: Complete Step-by-Step Guide [2022]

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Learn how to make a podcast with this step-by-step guide. You will learn how to record and edit your first episode, upload it to a podcast host, and submit it to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

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Interviews are a big part of podcasting, and for good reasons.

They break up the potential monotony of one voice talking for too long, they add expertise and gravitas to your episode, and it's a chance to tap into your interviewee's own following - a tale of two audiences!

You'll want to get the most out of your interviewee and maximise their contribution to your cause. That boils down to the conversation you have, and the questions you ask. No pressure.

So, what should you be asking them?

I've drawn up a few generic categories which you can mold to your chosen field. Bear in mind, some questions will be more relevant to your interview than others. Please use responsibly.

Core Questions About The Topic

Tell me About Your Topic?

Why is it so important?

What are the common myths?

The classic introduction to the topic and the conversation on the whole. Get them to give you their elevator pitch, which they probably have off to a tee.

The common myths part is also good because people like to debunk any false negativity around things they're passionate about. Give them that opportunity and they'll feel good and start to enjoy themselves.

"So, you're a Vegan Baking Specialist - isn't it really hard to bake without eggs?"

"Not at all! There are a number of alternatives you can use, from mashed banana to flax seeds. And not only do they bind the mix really well, but I often find that..."

Engage them. Push their buttons.

Another way of doing so is by asking a seemingly-negative question; Why Do People Fail?

"What's the most common reason for people failing or giving up? Why do writers put their pens down and walk away?"

"Uh... well, obviously, it's a very competitive market. I think a lot of the time they give up because they're not getting their work reviewed by the right people. They might have been doing it for two years, but have no real idea of how far they've come, or even if they've improved at all!"

Your guest might be taken aback slightly, like the example above, but hopefully it'll spur them into giving you some great answers. Not only will they know the main reason, they'll have advice to help people overcome it.

Slightly less antagonistic is this conciliatory cutey;

"What are some specific roadblocks to watch out for?"

"Don't give in too soon. The breakthrough might just be around the corner. Most of your competition today will give up further down the line. You can be the one to succeed because you believed in yourself and stuck at it."

Much more helpful and sounds less like make-or-break than the "One Reason People Fail" question.

Okay, so sticking with positivity, how about something to help people get started?

"What support and/or resources are available?"

Your guest will no doubt have some great contacts, as well as being able to point people towards online communities, FAQs, walkthrough guides and more.

Core Questions About The Interviewee

Let's focus on the guest themselves, because people love to hear things in context.

"Believe in yourself and never give up!" is all good and well, but people often can't see that applying to them... until they hear a story about it happening to someone else.

Which hurdles did you personally face and how did you overcome them?

Was it obvious or did you stumble upon the answer(s)?

How did you get started? Talk me through it.

What compelled you to become a screen writer?

"Well, I came from a working class background. I didn't have a lot of money to spend, but it's amazing how you make do with what you have. I saved up to go to night school, and

Super Questions

You've covered the basics by now, the usual questions around the topic and your interviewee's relevance to it. But how do you really set your interview with that person apart from the rest?

Let's look at some questions that might be considered unusual, out of the box, or from left field.

The purpose of these lines of enquiry isn't necessarily to get raw information, but to stimulate your guest into giving your podcast something really interesting.

The famed American TV show, Inside the Actor's Studio, does this to great effect by asking famous actors and performers such questions, including the following;

What is your favorite word?

What turns you on?

What sound or noise do you love?

What is your favorite curse word?

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

As you can see, they have almost no relevance to any specific films the actors appeared in, but are simply there to inspire the guests into saying something interesting and invocative.

Other Super Examples

On a scale of one to 10, how weird are you?

CEOs are known to ask this one. Just imagine the kooky and varied responses you'll get from people!

Expect them to be taken by surprise for a moment. Give them time and encouragement to think, and they'll soon flood you with tales of dipping sandwiches into coffee, and how they always - always - wear purple underwear ever since they were a kid. They'll be glad to tell you.

What are you NOT Very Good at?

They've spent so long talking about themselves by now that maybe they're feeling like a bit of a blowhard. They might be glad of the chance to show their humility.

If someone's listening to the podcast and thinking, "Wow that person's really good. They know their stuff," the listener might actually feel intimidated and discouraged. A little anecdote from the guest about how hopeless they are at golf or DIY might just help the listener to remember that we ALL have strengths and weaknesses.

Tell me something that's true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

This is a cleverly complex little teaser. Will they decry global warming as a myth? Declare the existence of ghosts? Predict that Soccer will eventually be the top sport in the USA? (You never know).

This question puts the guest somewhat on the spot, but at the same time the answer they give is entirely up to them. Hope for something crazy!

Room, desk and car - which do you clean first?

Clearly, there's no right or wrong answer here, but the answer will tell you something about the person. Like how much they value leisure time, how they prioritise certain tasks.

Even if they struggle to put one priority over another, that'll show you how important their tasks are to them.

The Rest is up to you!

I hope that's given you something to think about. If you come up with any cool and interesting questions of your own, I'd love to hear them and possibly quote you in future articles.

Drop me a line in the box below.

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Interviews are a big part of podcasting, and for good reasons. They break up the potential monotony of one voice talking for too long, they add expertise and gravitas to your episode, and it's a chance to tap into your interviewee's own following - a tale of two audiences!

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How to conduct a podcast interview that leads to superior content - Schaefer Marketing Solutions: We Help Businesses {grow}

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How to conduct a podcast interview that leads to superior content - Schaefer Marketing Solutions: We Help Businesses {grow}

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Schaefer Marketing Solutions: We Help Businesses {grow}

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With the release of a new book, I've probably done 100 interviews in the last three months. And I found a stark contrast in the quality of the interviewers! Creating a great interview can be an extremely effective and time-efficient way to do a podcast, blog post, or video but it takes some skill to pull it off.

Doing an interview with an author or thought leader is your chance to discover unique insights and information. Having a guest on your show can raise your own level of authority that may even lead to new opportunities down the road. How do you maximize that effort?

Here are some tips on creating a great podcast interview:

1. Ease into it

Often, you may not know the person you're interviewing. They may even be a little nervous. A good technique is to put the person at ease by making some sort of personal connection based on a little research and insight. Something like:

"I see you're a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates ... they're my favorite team, too."

"Your LinkedIn profile notes you worked for Coca-Cola. Did you know I worked there too?"

"I love your outdoor photos on Instagram. Where is your favorite place to hike?"

You don't have to be recording when you ask these questions. You're simply setting the stage for a relaxed conversation. Those types of questions are unexpected, personal, and can immediately put the person at ease as they discuss some shared bond. This familiarity will be reflected in the rest of the interview.

2. Respect the work

There is one person out there who sends out the exact same set of interview questions to authors, no matter the subject or the book. As the person being interviewed, I know this person is "mailing it in" and I'm likely to "mail it back."

You're just not going to create interesting content if you don't put a little effort into it. Spend some time to investigate what makes this person unique, interesting, and relevant to your audience. Specifically, if you're interviewing an author, familiarize yourself with the book, even if it just means absorbing the main points.

In addition to long-running Marketing Companion show, I've started co-hosting a new program on digital transformation for Dell Technologies called Luminaries. Douglas Karr and I speak to some of the people on the leading edge of tech and we prepare 90 minutes or more for each 30 minute interview. We research each person, read their work, brainstorm potential questions and then plot out a logical "story line" for the show.

Also, respect the person's time. Before each interview, confirm the date, time and interview technology. Double-check your tech and calendar. Ask the person if they would like to see the questions first (I don't).

3. It's about them

I've been on several interviews recently where the interviewer simply took over the entire conversation. It made me wonder, "What am I doing here?"

Here's an example of a frustrating interview:

As I sat through this "discussion," I wondered why I was even on the show. The podcast host seemed nervous and inexperienced. You can see that the problem worsened as the show went on and they used their time with me to tell stories from their own career. If you have a tendency to ramble or tell war stories, you have to hold that in check for the sake of your content and your audience.

Here's an example of the pace from an excellent, balanced interview:

You see in this case the conversation was a true give and take. The interviewer led the conversation but gave the guest most of the air time ... which is the purpose of having a guest, right?

4. Ask something original

If you ask boring questions, you'll have boring content.

The best interviewers prepare for a discussion by digging into the person's content and background to try to find the intersection between the expert and the audience. When I do an interview, I actually write out my questions (but them pose them in a natural and conversational way). The best questions should be open-ended (instead of a yes-no answer).

The most important thing you can do before an interview is brainstorm a list of questions that will tease new and relevant insights from your guest. An interview is always more fun when it's a little challenging. Don't bring out the same old tired questions. Here are some questions I've been asked that were challenging and "different."

Several years ago you wrote a well-known post about XYZ, do you still believe that to be true today?

On a scale of 1-10, how weird are you?

If you could send a message to yourself 10 years ago, what would you tell the younger Mark?

Describe the process behind ...

Where do you get your best ideas?

How do your values show up in your work?

This other person seems to have an opposite view from you. How would you respond to that?

You given us a path to success in your book, what is one reason why people would fail?

5. Go "off road"

During the interview, don't think about your next question. LISTEN intently and be prepared to take the conversation in new and unexpected directions. This is challenging because a host has to watch the clock, balance the conversation, and cover the essential topics, but you'll be rewarded if you pay close attention to the wisdom of your guest and probe a little more.

More often than not, the best question isn't on your list. It's a follow-up question based on a provocative guest comment.

The best interviewers

If you want to learn from the best, here are five people who have interviewed me multiple times so I know they can bring the thunder to an interview (in no particular order):

Kerry Gorgone - Kerry is a contributing columnist to {grow} of course but also hosts the Marketing Smarts podcast. Kerry ALWAYS takes the conversation off-road. She is well-prepared but knows when to make a pivot based on a guest insight.

Mitch Joel - Mitch has one of the longest-running podcasts out there in Six Pixels of Separation and he takes no prisoners. It's not unusual for Mitch to respectfully scald one of his famous guests if he sniffs some BS. He is also gifted at connecting the dots between industry trends and the guest's topic.

Jay Baer - Jay would be at ease hosting a national television show. He's incredibly smart but also puts his guests at ease with his wit and teasing. Being on Jay's Social Pros podcast is the closest thing out there to talking to a friend over coffee.

Douglas Burdette - Doug is the most prepared interviewer in the business. As the host of the Marketing Book Podcast, the man has literally pored over the subject matter. You will always get amazing questions from Doug.

Srivanos Rao - Srini used to be a guest contributor here on {grow} and he has gone on to be a well-known author and host of the Unmistakable Creative podcast. It's been a long-time since I've been on his show, but he's secured a place as one of the most gifted interviewers on the scene. If you want to get the most from your guests, listen to this master.

So there you have it. Any other tips for interviews you would like to provide?
Image marked free for re-use by Pixabay Mark Schaefer is the chief blogger for this site, executive director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions, and the author of several best-selling digital marketing books. He is an acclaimed keynote speaker, college educator, and business consultant. The Marketing Companion podcast is among the top business podcasts in the world. Contact Mark to have him speak to your company event or conference soon.

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How to conduct a podcast interview that leads to superior content

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With the release of a new book, I've probably done 100 interviews in the last three months. And I found a stark contrast in the quality of the interviewers! Creating a great interview can be an extremely effective and time-efficient way to do a podcast, blog post, or video but it takes some skill to pull it off.

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214 How To Conduct Skype Interviews For Your Podcast | Become A Blogger

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214 How To Conduct Skype Interviews For Your Podcast | Become A Blogger

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One of the most rewarding things I do in my business is interview successful bloggers and entrepreneurs from all over the world.

It's one of the best ways I've found to create high-value content for my audience.

But the truth is - doing interviews can be an overwhelming concept for many bloggers.

In this episode, my goal is to simplify the process so that you can learn to record and post killer interviews.

Listen to This Episode

Why Conduct Interviews

Interviews are awesome. I love them for a number of reasons:

Reason #1: Meet and connect with new people.

I get to meet and connect with new people and learn from the experiences of others. The truth is; I live in a very small town in Michigan and don't often connect with entrepreneurs in person. Using the power of the internet, I'm able to connect with people, regardless of their geographic location.

Reason #2: Create awesome content from the interview itself.

You can create awesome content without having to come up with the content yourself. If your interviewee is good at what he does, there's so much that your audience can learn from him, and you don't have to stress about the details; because the details are in his mind. It's your job to draw the ideas out.

Reason #3: More exposure from credible interview guests.

You can leverage the credibility of your interview guests for more exposure. When people hear insightful interviews from successful individuals, they are more likely to share. Also, some of your guests will share their interviews with their audience, and that can result in additional exposure for your show.

What Equipment Do You Need?

Conducting interviews are easier today than before. You no longer need tons of expensive equipment to make them happen. Your needs are limited to:

A computer. You can use a desktop or laptop, Mac or PC.

A Microphone. A simple USB microphone can go a long way when it comes to the quality of your audio. Please do NOT ever rely on the built-in microphone for an interview. A great affordable mic to start with is the Audio Technica ATR2100 USB. Just plug it in and start talking.

Earphones. This is very important and often overlooked. When you're recording a call on your computer, with the audio coming through your computer speakers, the audio can loop through your microphone and cause an echo. You don't want that. This is why it's best for you and your guest to use some kind of earphone or headset.

Skype. I've tried a number of different programs for recording interviews and have found that NONE of them deliver the audio quality that Skype does. You want to make sure you have a relatively strong connection, but once you do, you can achieve near perfect audio quality.

Recording software. One of the cool things about Skype is that you can have software add-ons that work with Skype to record your calls. If you're on a Mac, the one I recommend is Ecamm Callrecorder. If you're on a PC, then I'd recommend Pamela. Once you start a call, click record and that's it. When you're finished, click stop. It's that simple.

Editing Software. I don't edit my interviews because I like them to be as raw as when I initially recorded. Yes, I make mistakes, but that's real life, so I share it all. If you need to edit your interviews, you can use Audacity. It's a free audio editing program that's available on both PC and Mac.

Scheduling Your Interview

If you're reaching out to people for interviews, chances are they're relatively busy. Because of this, there can be lots of back and forth when trying to schedule a time slot. This is a huge time waster.

Since I respect the time of my potential interviewee, there are a few things I do to minimize the amount of time it takes to schedule the interview.

First, I send a short email letting her know who I am and why I'd like to interview her. I place the focus on the interviewee and let her know that I'd love to have her on my show and give her the opportunity to talk about XYZ (the thing she is known for).

I also show my interviewee an example of a past interview so that she can get a feel for what the show is about.

Once she agrees to the interview, I send her my Scheduling Page. On that page, she can choose from a list of available times - no back and forth, just a simple selection.

After choosing a date and time, my interviewee enters her details, and the interview is setup.

I use Acuity Scheduling to make that all happen. I love it because it not only sets up the appointment, but it also gathers her information (i.e. Skype ID, phone number in case we have a problem connecting on Skype and anything else I need), sends reminder emails and adds the interview to my Google calendar. It's a beautiful tool.

Preparing for the interview

I've been interviewed on shows where the host has no idea who I am, what I do, or even which direction they want the interview to go.

In my opinion, that's very unprofessional and can make the guest feel uncomfortable. Since an interviewee agrees to spend time with me, at my request, I want to make it worthwhile for him.

I do two things to prepare for interviews:

I first have my guest fill out my Learning With Leslie Guest Info Form. Through this form, I learn the basic details about my guest and his blog/business. He can also provide a picture he'd like me to use.

Then I have my assistant use the information on the form to run additional research on my guest. In that research document, my assistant writes as much relevant information about that person as possible. The goal is for me to to spend a few minutes before the call getting to know who the person is and deciding the kinds of questions I'd like to ask. In the past, I'd do that research myself.

Here's an example of the research conducted for my interview with Paula Pant.

Preparing Questions

Now that you know more about the person, you want to compile a list of target questions.

Depending on the type of interviewer you are and the type of guests you're having on your show, it's a good idea to have a list of questions and also provide those questions to your guest in advance so that they can prepare.

I don't personally create a list of questions, but I'm very comfortable with interviews and my guests are usually used to being interviewed.

I do not recommend this for most people. Interviewing is a skill that takes time to acquire. It's better to be prepared than to get halfway through an interview only to realize that you're not sure where to go next. It's awkward for you and even more awkward for your guest.

Structure of My Interviews

This is how the beginning of my show is generally laid out:
Podcast Introduction Interview (Introduction)
I usually ask my guests for a brief bio and use that information to write out my podcast intro. Because this is such an important thing to me, I read that introduction word for word so that I don't forget any important details in the heat of the moment.

Remind your audience of the purpose for conducting the interview. You can do this by stating what you hope your audience will learn or gain from the interview.

If you listen to a lot of interviews, you may notice that MANY interviews tend to start out with the same question. It's usually something along the lines of: "Can you share with the listeners how you got started with XYZ?"

PLEASE, for the love of all that is good, do not do this! Here are some great tips that can help you really stand out.

Ninja Tips For Your Hook

Start in the middle of the story. Get directly to the action by either talking about something exciting that individual is doing, results they have achieved, or something fun and exciting.

Ancient Greek story tellers like Homer and Sophocles started this tradition. They would start their stories in the middle of the drama and quickly hook their audience's attention.

Guest Background Information

Once you have YOUR audience's attention, then and only then should you go back and "fill in the details". Here is where you provide some brief background on your guest.

Your introduction is an important part of the interview. You want to paint him in the best possible light as well as mention details that are important to him.

During The Skype Call

What happens during the actual call is critical. Here are a few tips that can help you conduct an awesome interview:

1. At the beginning of the call, greet your guest and make her feel welcome. Ask her how she's doing, start a conversation, but respect her time. Her time is valuable, so don't spend too much of it on irrelevant banter.

2. Explain how the interview will run. I usually tell my guests that my interviews run anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes, and that I add all of the intro music and sounds live on the call.

3. Make sure to test the audio levels. This is extremely important. You want to make sure that both your audio and her audio can be clearly heard and that the levels are high enough post interview.

4. Answer any questions she may have. Right before I hit record, I ask my guest if she has questions for me. If she does, I answer them right away.

5. Ask the questions you've prepared (if you've prepared them in advance), but LISTEN and be ready to deviate from the plan if something interesting pops up. If your guest says something fascinating, don't move on because you have to get to question 7. Probe a little deeper.

6. Pay attention to the flow, and be aware of your goal. What do you want to accomplish by the end of the interview? Do you want your audience to be able to do something? Try to navigate the interview so that it flows to the appropriate destination.

Improving

My first interview sucked. I wasn't prepared and the result wasn't great. But I did it and I'm so glad I did.

However, I knew I wanted to improve. So, how'd I get better? I watched, listened and studied other successful
interviewers. I looked at the way they sat, how they asked questions, what they did to make their guests feel comfortable enough to reveal juicy details.

Here are some people I highly recommend you check out:

1. Oprah Winfrey - Oprah is the queen of interviews. I LOVE the way she captures the raw emotion of the person she's interviewing, regardless of the topic up for discussion. She uses great conversational techniques to guide her guest into opening up.

2. Larry King - I think Larry King is a master at listening. He asks a question and just shuts up. Sometimes his silent pauses are incredibly poignant.

3. Andrew Warner - Andrew hosts a popular podcast for entrepreneurs called Mixergy. I love the way he pulls information out of people to the point where they reveal much more than they expected.

There are many other excellent interviewers out there, but these are some of my favorites. Check them out and learn.

How About You?

Have you done any interviews? If so, share a link below. If not, is this something you're considering doing in the future?

Resources Mentioned

Equipment needed:

Audio Technica ATR2100 USB - recommended microphone

Skype - recommended for making calls specially for those with good internet connection

Recording software:

Editing software:
Audacity - an open source software available to both PC and Mac users

Scheduling interviews

Samples:

People worth listening to and learning interview styles from:

Infographic

Transcript

Some people just love being able to read along with interviews, or they might just prefer to skip the audio completely and just read through the transcript. Hey, if that's what floats your boat, it is all good. Here's the transcript just for you

Click here to download transcript.

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214 How To Conduct Skype Interviews For Your Podcast

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One of the most rewarding things I do in my business is interview successful bloggers and entrepreneurs from all over the world. It's one of the best ways I've found to create high-value content for my audience. But the truth is - doing interviews can be an overwhelming concept for many bloggers.

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How to Plan & Execute a Killer Podcast Interview

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How to Plan & Execute a Killer Podcast Interview

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Some of the most compelling moments in the history of mass media have come in the form of interviews. From the playful rapport between Howard Cosell and Muhammad Ali to John Lennon's declaration that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, interviews have the power to capture attention and influence the way people view the world.

Similarly, a great interview provides magnetic content for your podcast listeners and will help improve your standing in your chosen field. Yet many podcasters are unsure of what to do once they actually get a guest to agree to be interviewed on their show. Follow this advice before and during your interview and it will be an insightful, valuable conversation with your guest.

[content_upgrade cu_id="698″]Find out what some other online authorities have to say about how to host a great interview. Grab your copy now[content_upgrade_button]Click Here[/content_upgrade_button][/content_upgrade]

Know who they are

You don't have to have a detailed biography of your interview subject, but you should know a bit about their background and where they came from. Behind every company or brand is a story, and there are usually some interesting tidbits in the narrative.

Many entrepreneurs have unexpected backgrounds. John Lee Dumas , host of the popular show Entrepreneur On Fire, was an officer in the U.S. Army and then went from New York City to San Diego in search of employment before realizing that he was destined to work for himself. Take time to research your interview subject, and as you are reading up about your guest, make note of what jumps out at you.

With this method, your interview questions will practically write themselves - things that you find intriguing about your subject will most likely be interesting to your podcast audience as well. These questions will then lead to a natural dialogue between you and your guest, which is always great for podcast content.

Confirm the details in advance

An example of how you might confirm with a podcast guest the day before

This may seem like common sense, but you might be surprised at the number of podcasters who drop the ball in this area. A podcast interview is the same as any important meeting: you need to make sure everyone is aware of the date and time and is still available to meet. A quick email the day before or a call the morning of works fine.

This is also a great time to provide logistical details like Skype IDs, software they'll need, and so on. Devoting just a few minutes in advance to this task could save you from a nightmare situation on the day of recording if there are technical issues.

Think about the way that a professional sports team prepares for a game. No matter what sport they play, athletes get to the stadium or arena hours before the game to start stretching and working on their techniques. They review the coach's game plan and any specific plays that they will be a part of. This warm-up period allows their body to get used to physical activity and helps their mind get into the zone for the competition.

Podcasting requires a warm-up too, though you shouldn't need a track suit or sweatbands. You will want to start a conversation with your guest before recording, at least a few minutes prior but the longer the better. This warm-up period allows guests to get themselves in the mood to talk and helps them settle into the podcast recording environment, which is especially important for people who aren't used to podcasting.

The warm-up period is also used by podcast hosts to make sure that there are no technical problems and all equipment is working the way it should be. If you can check all the equipment you will be using during your warm-up period, you will be confident that you are good to go when it's time for the show.

Prepare questions, but leave room

It's certainly important to be prepared for a podcast interview: you can't just sit down with no idea of what to talk about and hope your conversation leads somewhere. Even the best podcasters and performers have plans for their shows. On the other hand, you don't want to schedule out every second of the interview. This will make your interactions feel robotic and excessively scripted, and it will become obvious if and when you go off track.

Instead, strike a good balance: have some questions planned that you want to get into, but also leave some room for a conversation to flow naturally. Often the most interesting and memorable podcast content comes from unplanned interactions like a brief deviation from the show's subject or an interesting fact added by the guest or host.

Don't be intimidated

This can be particularly problematic for podcasters who are new and are interviewing someone who is a personal hero or has a very big name in their industry. Ed Gandia, a well-respected freelance writing coach who runs the International Freelancers Academy podcast, admitted to listeners that he was nervous while interviewing Michael Port, an author whose works had a huge impact on Ed's development.

It's nice that you were able to book a guest who is well-known enough to make you feel intimidated, but a starstruck interviewer usually isn't a very compelling one. Respect your guest and give them room to talk, but don't be afraid to ask them to clarify something you don't understand. If they make a point you disagree with, ask them why they think that way.

This little bit of tension adds an element of drama that can really draw in your listeners. Think about daytime talk shows: hosts of these programs ask questions that are designed to uncover the truth, even if it ends up affecting the relationships of the show's guests. You don't want to be hostile, but a bit of disagreement can make for an interesting exchange between a guest and interviewer.

Focus on the listeners

At the end of the day, remember one thing: as huge of a name as the person you are interviewing may be, or as nervous as you may feel about talking to them, your podcast really isn't about you or your guest. It's about the people who are tuning in. If you are sufficiently prepared, you can have a podcast interview that people can't help but want to hear.

[content_upgrade cu_id="698″]Still hungry for great interview tips? We've got you covered. [content_upgrade_button]Click Here[/content_upgrade_button][/content_upgrade]

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How to Plan & Execute a Killer Podcast Interview

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Some of the most compelling moments in the history of mass media have come in the form of interviews. From the playful rapport between Howard Cosell and Muhammad Ali to John Lennon's declaration that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, interviews have the power to capture attention and influence the way people view the world.

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Boring Questions, Boring Podcast: How the Best Interviewers Stand Out

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Boring Questions, Boring Podcast: How the Best Interviewers Stand Out

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Ryan Hanley - Content Marketing Strategy

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Is your podcast boring?

I'm being serious.

Are you asking the same boring questions every other podcast host asks?

If you are, your podcast is boring.

Conducting a successful podcast interview is a skill you develop through practice.

Intentional practice.

The most popular podcast hosts were not blessed with an innate ability to ask intriguing questions.

They practice.

Many podcast hosts mistakenly believe going "Off the cuff" creates a more authentic broadcast.

Wrong.

James Altucher, Tim Ferriss, Mitch Joel, these podcast hosts approach every interview with a plan.

A lack of preparation is not authentic, it's lazy.

As podcast host you have a responsibility to your audience. They listen to be educated, entertained and inspired.

Preparation, focus and practice are the only ways to deliver value with each new podcast episode.

Here are four tips extracted from a few of the best interviewers online:

Study Your Guest

The majority of the work that goes towards a great podcast interview is done weeks in advance of the actual interview.
Successful interviewers prepare.
You will not ask insightful and meaningful questions if you haven't done your homework on your podcast guest.

James Altucher, among other accomplishments, has two successful podcasts - The James Altucher Show and Ask Altucher.

James Altucher is an interesting guy. His diverse past and keen smarts create the foundation for a fantastic podcast.

But these qualities are not what separates James' podcast from the field.

James prepares more than any podcast host (for sure any marketing/business podcast host) I've listened to.

And it shows in the questions he asks.

The average podcast host will Google their guest, skim through their latest book, check out their blog, and read their Wikipedia page.

Maybe

James will buy and read their entire catalog.

He analyzes their LinkedIn page, reads every news article he can find, learns about their hometown, and watches/reads every interview that's ever done.

Not only does this allow him to ask insightful questions the guest has never heard before, but also make connections between events other podcast hosts could never make.

When you see a well-known guest doing the rounds through the top podcast shows, you can always count on Altucher's interview to be original.
James Altucher is an expert on his guests before he asks single question.
This quality defines his show and sets it apart.
SEE ALSO: Starting a Podcast: 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Published My First Episode
Crowdsource Questions

Without your audience, your podcast is nothing more than audio recordings that you've uploaded online.

To grow a large audience that keeps coming back for more, you have to give them what they want.

Tim Ferriss' podcast is not boring.

In part because Tim is one of the hardest working guys online. He also is deft at giving his audience exactly what they want.

For his podcast, Tim will ask his audience what questions they would like him to ask.

He doesn't do this for every guest, but whenever he has an upcoming interview with a high-profile guest, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, he sends a tweet out to his audience asking what questions they would love to have answered.

Genius.

The opportunity to have your question asked on Tim's show creates anticipation and excitement. Not to mention the always elusive "Engagement" which is so vital to the longevity of a podcast.

If you've got a guest lined up that you know your audience is dying to hear from, why not solicit questions?

Maybe you give away a prize for every question that makes the show.

Asking your audience for suggestions is a guaranteed way to find out what questions they care about most and it can also help you brainstorm questions you wouldn't have come up yourself.
WARNING: Don't rely on your audience questions. They still expect you to lead the show. Otherwise you're just being lazy. Tim Ferriss finds ways to get his audience involved in his podcast.
This quality defines his show and sets it apart.

Listen

One of the biggest mistakes that podcasters make, especially when they're first starting out, is not listening to their guests during the interview.

This is my number one pet peeve with podcasts. The bullet point interview. Also known as, the worst kind of interview.

I'm sure you've heard this type of interview before (some might call this a scripted interview).

The host asks a question and the guest gives a thought out response. You, the listener, are intrigued and ready for the host to dive deeper. But they don't.

Instead the host's follow-up question is off on another topic. There is no flow and listening soon becomes frustrating.

The host can hear what their guest is saying, but they're not listening to the response.

There are few podcasters as skilled at follow questions as Mitch Joel on his Six Pixels of Separation podcast.

Take your guest down the path they want to go.

Some questions will end up working out better than others. It's hard to predict the ones that will get the most interesting answers beforehand.

But that's the game.

That's the work of being a podcast host, squeezing as much value as possible out of each guest.

Creating conversations, not interviews, is the only way I've been able to separate my own show, Content Warfare Podcast, from a competitive pack of content marketing podcasts.

To keep the conversation natural and interesting, you have to listen to what your guests are saying.

More importantly, you have to care what your guest is saying and ask questions which reflect such.
Mitch Joel listens to his guests.
This quality defines his show and sets it apart.
SEE ALSO: On Speaking, Podcasting and Creating Valuable Audio Content | #139 CWP
Stay in Their Sweet Spot

Unless your guest is a personal friend, they likely aren't doing the interview solely for the sake of having a conversation with you.

Their time is valuable.

Assuming you do not pay guests, their compensation is being able to promote themselves and/or their work to your audience.

Michael Stelzner, host of Social Media Examiner's Social Media Marketing Podcast, does an excellent job of this.

It's normal to set aside time towards the end of the interview to allow your guest to promote their latest project.

However, Michael likes to throw in questions throughout the interview which allow his guests to insert what they do into the conversation.

This is great for two reasons. The first one is that his audience wants to know what makes your guest special and why their insight is valuable.

The second reason is that we all enjoy talking about things that we know best.

These questions put the guest in their sweet spot.

You can tell when a guest is dialed in by the enthusiasm in their voice and pace at which they speak.

You don't want to go overboard with these types of questions or your interview will sound too staged.

Done well, a track record of making your interviewees shine will make your podcast more attractive to future guests.
Michael Stelzner knows how to showcase his guests.
This quality defines his show and sets it apart.

The Rub

Every day the catalog of marketing podcasts on iTunes grows.
There are no schemes or tricks for long-term podcast success.
The podcast host must be laser focused on delivering value every episode.

No one wants to believe their podcast is boring. But the truth is, if you're asking the same questions as everyone else, your podcast is going to become stale.

Don't settle for boring questions and boring podcast.

Answer this: How do you ask better questions?

Thank you and good luck,

I am Ryan Hanley

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Boring Questions, Boring Podcast: How the Best Interviewers Stand Out

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I'm being serious. Are you asking the same boring questions every other podcast host asks? If you are, your podcast is boring. Conducting a successful podcast interview is a skill you develop through practice. Intentional practice. The most popular podcast hosts were not blessed with an innate ability to ask intriguing questions.

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10 Questions to ask during Podcast Interviews when Stumped | How to Record Podcasts

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10 Questions to ask during Podcast Interviews when Stumped | How to Record Podcasts

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Interviewing a person for your podcast is exciting and fun. It gives your show a bit of variety because people are hearing from a different source. Some people do one-on-one interviews on-site, while others interview via Skype or by phone. You want to do it but get concerned you cannot keep up with the questions. Part is a listening game, another part is to make sure the interviewee doesn't run away with the segment.

You need questions to keep them on track. But what if you don't know what to ask them? What if they give you a "train wreck" answer?

Reporters have this problem all the time. Being able to turn an interview into an interesting conversation is key. Especially since they bounce from one interview to the next. In order for them to keep on track, reporters have questions they can pull out of their back pocket. This is what we are going to look at - how you can utilize these questions to make the interview exciting and informative.

10. Have the interviewee explain it in their own words.

It's easy for you to explain who the interviewee is. It's better if they tell you in their own words. This is a great "ice breaker" question because you can give them something they should be able to answer comfortably. They take the floor and therefore feel more confident in their interview.

9. Can You Expound on... (Listen for Keywords)

Part of the interview process means to listen as well. You should listen to the whole conversation; sometimes distractions do happen. As a one-person crew, I have to make sure the camera is still running, nobody crosses through the shot, and how the audio levels look. From time to time, I miss a bit of the interview.

Listening for keywords can help. You can have them go into more detail about that part. Example: If you are talking politics and they say, "Bipartisan support," you can have them talk more about what that is. Depending on your audience, you might even have them explain the basis of the term.

8. Who, What, When, Where, Why, How

If you ever get stumped, the 6 basic questions are great to fall back on. Who are you? What is the event we are talking about? When does it happen? Where do people go? Why did you create this opportunity, How do people do this?

These keys will keep you going and pass through to a more in-depth question.

7. Name a... (or What is your...)

This question allows for a bit of a break for you. Example: They are talking about golf and go over something that doesn't have a follow-up question. You could then say,"Let's switch gears. Name a favorite golfer of yours," or, "Which hole on this golf course is your favorite." It also gives the interviewee a bit of a break in the hard questions.

If you barrage someone with hard questions, throwing an easy one (known as a "softball question") can relax the interviewee and also give the listener/viewer a little break.

6. I Hear People are saying... What do You Think?

Bringing in public opinion can make a viewer or listener think they are personally part of an interview. In some cases they could agree with you. Other cases they start yelling at the podcast. Either way, it invokes emotion to your audience.

It also brings information to your interview the interviewee may or may not have known before. The response could also spark emotion.

That is why investigative reporters use it. "Public opinion says that you are not doing your job. How do you respond to that?"

Remember: What ever you bring up has to be supported by fact. You cannot just say "I hear people say you eat ice cream everyday," especially if the interviewee is lactose-intolerant. That makes you look bad and the audience may write you off as a interviewer.

5. Congratulations. How did...

If the interviewee says something like "I stopped smoking two years ago," give them a word of encouragement and ask a question (if appropriate). A great response is, "Congratulations. How did you do it?" or "Congratulations. How have you been handling it?"

4. Injecting a similar story to re-direct a question.

This is a great way to move a conversation in a different direction. Example: They could be talking about a Ford Mustang. You might say, "I remember driving my first Mustang. It got away from me a little. I accidentally drifted the car while turning a corner. Speaking of which, how important are high performance tires on a car like that?"

3. What can people expect...

This question brings the audience in again. The interviewee is also put on a spot to speak directly to the audience. Example: If you are talking iPhones to an Apple representative, ask, "What can people expect the next iPhone to have?"

2. Two Part Questions

Don't be hesitant to put a little more on the table. Just remember the questions you asked. For example: You might be talking about a new store opening. You can ask "How have the employees been handling the influx of new customers and do you think that influx will continue?"

There are times you can get some great answers. Other times, they may forget to answer both because the one answer takes longer. You can then re-direct to the second question, or move on if you found a good keyword to work another question.

1. Take and Keep Control. If you Cannot, then Stop and ask again.

You might not think this is a question but I assure you - it can be the best one. If you feel the interview is out of control and are not getting answers; stop and bring them in a direction of the interview. Sometimes you can stop them to interject a sponsor. If you don't have a sponsor for your podcast, remind people of what you are talking about. Example: "That is great. Once again, this is ..... and we are talking about... Let's get back to the point..."

You are highlighting the guest unless they are avoiding the real questions.

If it's getting completely out of control, then just say "Look, I know you want to talk about .... The viewers (listeners) really want to know more about.... So let me re-ask this question."

A little bit of hard reporting can really get you over on the listeners / viewers.

Some other points of Interviewing

For me, this is the biggest one I have to personally avoid. Try not to crack a joke when in-between questions (unless it's that type of interview). It's good to inject a little bit of humor. At the wrong time it could rub the interviewee the wrong way; the audience could also get offended. Be personable and positive when the interview is just that.

If you are there to get the "hard truth," then it's best to look the part. Happy and smiling is not that part. If you get offended by a question, tell them that. It may piss the interviewee off a bit. It may get your audience going.

You control the interview - it's important to remember the interview needs to be redirected from time to time. That is why these questions are so important.

Like what you read? Support me!

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10 Questions to ask during Podcast Interviews when Stumped

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Interviewing a person for your podcast is exciting and fun. It gives your show a bit of variety because people are hearing from a different source. Some people do one-on-one interviews on-site, while others interview via Skype or by phone. You want to do it but get concerned you cannot keep up with the questions.