Podcasting is an art, which means it takes time, effort, and practice to get really good at it. Some podcast hosts make their shows seem effortless, but that’s usually far from the truth. There’s quite a bit of preparation, practice, and thoughtfulness put into crafting a podcast.
If you’re new to podcasting, or just looking to improve your craft, then check out these tips on being a better podcast host!
Preparation & Practice
The key to effortlessness is to prepare beforehand. Conversations that flow smoothly, questions that guide the speakers in the right direction, cadences that keep the discussion engaging, etc. all require some level of preparation and practice.
It’s not uncommon for podcast hosts to create scripts for their shows, even for interview-style shows where the conversation is usually centered around a guest and their expertise. This helps to lower the chances for off-topic ramblings, boring interludes, and awkward pauses. This doesn’t mean that you should read a script word-for-word, but a little bit of preparation goes a long way!
In addition to creating a script, be sure you research your topic and/or guest before hopping on the mic. You can’t have an engaging and meaningful discussion without having some idea of what you’re talking about.
Finally, don’t be afraid to practice! Go over your questions, read over your script, give yourself time to test things out to ensure it sounds how you want. You can’t get better at something without practice!
Work on Your Technique
Speaking of practice, it’s never a bad idea to evaluate your own speaking skills – that’s what a podcast is all about! As humans, we utilize speech every single day to convey ideas, share stories, and be part of a community. Podcasting, at its heart, is using conversation to connect with other people. Improving your skills in this area will improve your overall podcasting skills!
How You Speak
The first area you may want to focus on is how you speak. Are you speaking clearly? Are you speaking in a measured tone, or are you speeding through your words? Is your voice monotone? Is it obvious that you’re reading from a script? Communication is a skill in itself, so be sure you’re mindful that you’re:
- Speaking in a clear voice (are you jumbling your words?)
- Speaking with passion (be engaging!)
- Speaking at an appropriate pace (not too fast, but not too slow either.)
- Embracing pauses at the right time (some ideas need time to sink in.)
- Speaking with intention (don’t ramble off-topic!)
How You Interview
Interviewing skills are also important to brush up on, especially if you plan to have guests on your show. Being a good speaker doesn’t mean you’re a good interviewer, though! Here are some things to keep in mind when interviewing guests for your podcast:
- Don’t interrupt (let the guest share their thoughts!)
- Practice active listening (making a conscious effort to really hear what they’re saying.)
- Ask engaging and insightful questions (they mentioned X, dive deeper into that.)
- Research your guest/topic beforehand (you can’t engage in the conversation without knowing about it!)
Learn From Experts
One of the best ways to improve your interview skills is to learn from experts. Think about an interview-style podcast that you love. Or a late night host’s episodes you can’t ever seem to skip. Anyone who dabbles in the art of interviewing! What makes their interviews so good? Watch, listen, and learn.
Seek out resources on the art of storytelling and advice on conducting interviews. There’s a wealth of knowledge available at your fingertips – take advantage of it!
It’s also worth asking for feedback within your community. Reach out to podcast hosts you admire, or friends who create similar content, or even post on a community board. A great way to learn is to gather feedback and apply it!
Keep Your Audience in Mind
A podcast is more than a digital way to lecture someone. As a podcast host, you weave narratives and create conversations with and for your audience. It’s not possible to do so without keeping them in mind when crafting your podcast.
Speak to Your Ideal Listener
How do you speak to your audience without knowing who they are? If you’re creating a new show, then, of course, you don’t have an audience to speak to just yet. Burt you should be thinking about who you want your audience to be and then speak to them. Create a persona for your ideal listener by asking:
- Who are they as a person? Name? Age? Hobbies? Gender? Socioeconomic status? Etc.
- Why are they listening?
- What are they hoping to gain from your podcast?
- What can your podcast provide them? What challenges are they facing?
Creating an ideal listener persona can help you to craft content tailored specifically to your audience. It helps you to understand how to best serve your listeners!
Engage with Your Audience
Remember – a podcast is not a lecture but a conversation. Don’t talk at your audience, talk to your audience instead. Include them in the conversation by actively engaging with them through:
- Asking & welcoming feedback
- Having them submit questions for your show
- Encouraging comments
- Providing them with different avenues to speak with you
Including your audience in your content creates a much stronger relationship with them. And without them, you don’t have a podcast.
Use Tech Smartly
Don’t forget to make your show sonically pleasing! This aspect of podcasting is often overlooked even though it’s one of the most important things for a successful podcast. Great content can pull in an audience, but you won’t keep them around for long if the listening experience is subpar. Here are some key things to keep in mind when producing your podcast:
- Use a good mic & other accessories (see our suggestions here!)
- Clean up your audio (adjust LUFs to -16, remove awkward pauses or strange noises, etc.)
- Add music and similar effects when appropriate
- Respect their time (don’t insert 10+ ads, there is a sweet spot!)
Your goal should be to create an enjoyable listening experience!
Be Yourself
The final piece of advice we can offer is to just be yourself. Authenticity is key for a successful podcast. In fact, podcasts are trusted the most out of every other medium. As a podcast host, you have the unique opportunity to be right inside the mind of your listeners, literally! This intimacy creates an entirely different experience, one built on trust and vulnerability.
Don’t stress over too many filler words, or setting the right tone, or saying words with exact pronunciation. Your audience isn’t expecting perfection from you, but they are expecting authenticity. Focus instead on crafting great content that speaks to your audience.
Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Be passionate. Be a real person.
Podcasting can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take the time to learn your craft. We hope these tips help you to become the best podcast host you can be!
Interested in taking your podcast, and podcast skills, to the next level? Check out RedCircle today and sign up for our free 7-day trial! Explore our platform without fully committing, and see how we can help you monetize without compromise.
