I planned this piece as How to be a Good Podcast Guest. But as I plugged away in research, I realized the tips I’ll list are just as applicable to regular online conversations like Zooms and written guest posts. To keep on track, though, let’s focus on how to behave as a guest during a video podcast. After all, there is an art to being interviewed.
First, a look at how big today’s podcast world is. I found a statistics site called DemandSage and dug into their podcast stats as of 23February2023. Here are some interesting bits:
- There’re an estimated 464.7 million podcast listeners globally.
- That’s expected to reach 504.9 million by the end of 2024.
- It’s up from 274.8 million in 2019—approaching double.
- There’re over 5 million podcast sites with over 70 million episodes combined.
- Over 100 million Americans regularly tune in to podcasts.
- 78% of US citizens are aware of podcasts.
- 28% listen to at least one podcast per week.
- This year the podcast industry’s value is $2 billion USD.
- Next year, 2024, it’s expected to be $4 billion.
- 79% of Americans who enjoy podcasts download the episodes to their mobile smartphones.
- 15% still use a web browser and only 6% use a tablet.
- Apple is the leading podcast streamer followed by Spotify.
- 90% of podcasts are pre-recorded. Only 10% go live.
- The majority of podcasts are 20-40 minutes long.
You’re probably wondering why I’m qualified to write a post about podcasts. No, I don’t host a podcast, although the thought has shot through my mind. My experience is from being a guest—being interviewed by podcast hosts, some with large audiences.
Also, I’ve been a resource person in webinars and on talk shows. In the past few years, I’ve had several dozen online appearances and now it’s common to have one guest podspot per week and a half. Today, for instance, I’m on a crime writing podcast based in Ireland. (I hope my west coast Canadian accent amuses them.)
On with it. I’ll break my tips into three areas. Before the show, during the show, and after the show.
Before the Show
Be on time. This is crucial. Do not be late or arrive at the last second. It’s rude and unprofessional and you wouldn’t want anyone doing that to you.
Know your material and be prepared. This sounds so basic, but it’s the key to a meaningful performance. The host’s audience tunes in to get something out. Make sure you’re ready to give it.
Be familiar with your host and their show’s style. It’s a good idea to watch a couple of previous episodes if you’re not familiar with the program.
Tell the host what to ask you. This might sound vain, but you are the resource the host is presenting. You should know more about your particular subject matter than your host and it can be particularly helpful for them to formulate questions if you tell them what to ask.
Check your equipment. I’ve done enough appearances now to make a worthwhile investment in professional quality stuff—noise-cancelling headphones, a 1080-pixel camera, and two boom mics (one dynamic and one condenser). You can always use your computer’s mic and camera along with earbuds but the quality won’t be as good. Regardless, just ensure they’re operating.
My Writing & Recording Station
Check your internet signal—especially if you’re on wireless. I had an embarrassing experience last week when I was on a live webinar and my signal crashed. I had to shut down, leave my studio with its backdrop full of props, and restart in the kitchen near the router. I survived, but I went and bought a roll of coaxial cable to hardwire my feed for next time.
Secure your room. Make sure whatever place you’re speaking from is secure from unexpected interruptions that could derail your presentation. Watch this funny video of a professor being interviewed live on BBC when his little kids crash the door. (BTW, it has 54 million YouTube hits.)
Turn off your cell phone.
Sound deaden your background. This is important. No one wants to listen to an echoey or tinny talk. I’ve decorated my space with fabrics like drapes, cushions, and neckties. Yes, I admit I’m a grabologist and collect neckties. (Have about 500.) They’re excellent for acoustic control and make a great backdrop. For economy, just lay towels over hard surfaces to do the job.
My Studio
Adjust your camera angle. How many pods and webs have you watched when you stared up a person’s nostrils or had a good view of their bald spot? I’ve learned to have the camera right at eye level so it appears you’re looking right into the audience’s eyes. And I’ve got a trick to share. I work with two screens. One is my laptop on the desk surface. The other is a larger monitor higher up. I fasten my Logitec digital camera with a piece of duct tape right in the center of the upper monitor. The audience can’t see the jury-rigging and the angle is perfect, but I do sit at an angle so my good side gets exposed. (I have a multi-time broken nose with a hump on one side.)
Microphone distancing. I use adjustable boom mics with pop filters. I find the best mouth-to-mic distance is spreading your palm and fingers open and place the mic from your mouth the space that your thumb tip is to your little finger. In my case, that’s 8 inches. Also, try to place the mic close to the centerline of your mouth but not blocking the camera view too much.
Lighting. Very important and should be unnoticed. You need a balance of light impacts, and it’s a visual tool to experiment with. Kind of the Goldilocks zone where it’s not too much, and not too little, but just about right. You want your front illuminated enough to be clear but not so bright that every imperfection (zit) is highlighted. I have dimmable LED overheads with adjustable side lights as well as backlighting. Part of the pre-show test with the host is checking the lights.
Dress and grooming. When you appear on camera, think of it like a job interview. Dress and look the part for the job. Clean and well kept but not overdressed or underdressed. Cameras are finicky when it comes to patterns like checks and stripes. It’s okay to be plain, Jane.
Water and bathroom. Make sure you’re comfortable. Take a pre-show bathroom break whether you need to or not. There’s nothing worse than feeling the urge at half-time. Hydration is important and the best drink is a lukewarm glass of lemon water. Also, have lip balm ready to suppress dry mouth lip smacks.
Eating on camera. This is a big no. Don’t even have food nearby and the same goes for chewing gum. It’s terribly distracting for a viewer to see a host or guest chomping away and then—Eghads!—letting off a belch or a fart.
Rest. Make sure you’re rested and ready. Don’t pull an all-nighter and go on a podcast in the morning. A yawn, or series of yawns, is a show killer.
Be aware of your tics. We all have ‘em. Use hand gestures to accent your speech but leave your hands from touching your face. As for tic words—“uhh”, “aww”, “geeze”, “like”, and “etcetera”—just be aware and keep them minimal. I know. That’s harder than it sounds because we don’t want to sound robotic.
Cheat sheets, notes, and props. It’s handy to have talking points or reference facts handy. Anticipate what you might need and have the materials nearby. Also, ask your host in advance if they’d like some “show as well as tell”. Never surprise them by whipping out something unexpected.
Your bio. Send your host a short and current bio before the podcast. A decent headshot, too. They’ll use this to introduce you. Clearly say who you are in third person and what expertise you have for the show. Include your links on how to be found but don’t try to sell anything. That can wait till the end of the show and let your host do the selling for you.
Nerves. We’re human, right? It’s natural to be nervous before a performance. Being properly prepared, as in all of the above, goes a long way toward killing butterflies. I like to engage with the host for about 15 minutes before show time. This sets a tone and allows an equipment check as well as giving some nerve-quelling time. If you do get a bit fluttery while on camera, here’s a remedy that works and no one sees. Simply place your fist in your solar plexus and slowly press. There’s a physiological reaction that calms the nerves.
During the Show
It’s your host’s show and audience. Your appearance is not about you. You’re just adding value to the host and their audience. Keep that in mind and focus on what’s in it for them. Remember, your host allowed you to go before their audience so be humble.
Listen as much as you talk. Take cues from your host and answer the questions. Clearly and concisely. Don’t seem evasive or unclear. Audiences, as well as hosts, pick this up and it either helps or hurts delivery not to mention credibility.
Stay “on brand”. Try not to get sidetracked and ramble off the topic. If you find yourself drifting, stop. The host will recognize this and steer you back.
Be conversational. Talk like you’re speaking casually with a friend. Ignore the audience and converse with the host as if the audience wasn’t even part of the show.
If you stumble or fumble your words, just own it. Laugh it off. Correct course. Move on.
Don’t hesitate to have a notepad handy. Stop and capture an idea or a link that comes up. It adds to your authenticity.
Lean forward toward the camera when you’re speaking. Lean back when you’re not. This subtlety truly works to engage interest. If you practice it, it becomes second nature. You won’t realize you’re doing it.
Use gestures. Don’t just sit stationary and converse. Smile, nod, wink if it’s appropriate, and use hand gestures, especially when explaining or comparing. But do this in moderation and be sure it appears natural, not contrived.
Be yourself. Relax and enjoy your time. Be entertaining and deliver value. But, you don’t have to be a comedian. It’s fine to freely laugh and get others laughing, too.
Remember your host’s name (and how to pronounce it). I keep the host and podcast name on a sticky note on the monitor, and I naturally use the host’s name in conversation. Can you imagine being interviewed by Joe Rogan and mistakenly calling him Neil Young?
Don’t hesitate to mention previous work your host has accomplished. Leave a compliment and/or a reference to something your host has previously done.
Leave a takeaway at the end. Be prepared to sum up your core reason for being on the show. Depart by planting a seed in your host’s and their audience’s minds.
After the Show
Send a thank you note. Possibly a small gift, too. A little gratitude goes a long way toward being remembered, and you want to be remembered as a great interviewee.
Promote the podcast. Source the links and pitch the program on your social media sites and your mailing list. It not only boosts your host’s podcast but it increases your personal exposure.
Ask for referrals. Your host undoubtedly knows other podcasters and influencers. Don’t be afraid to ask if your host knows anyone else who’d like to have you as a guest. The worst they could say is no.
Get ready for your next podcast appearance.
* * *
I hear the question. How do you get leads and invites to appear on a podcast or be interviewed on a show? Well, there are lots of pitching tips on the internet. Some involve cold-calling. Some involve building rapport through networking and referrals. I don’t solicit appearances and can only speak to what’s worked for my discovery.
It’s come from my blog at Dyingwords.net. I’ve been at it 10 years and have over 400 posts. I stick to my tagline Provoking Thoughts on Life, Death, and Writing, and I consistently publish new material every second Saturday morning. I’ve worked out proper backlist Search Engine Optimization (SEO) protocols, and I get randomly found by podcast hosts and film producers on their constant search for new content.
And I have somewhat of a catchy bio:
Garry Rodgers is a retired homicide detective and coroner, now turned crime writer and emerging film content producer. Garry has twenty indie publications on the market as well as being a regular podcast guest focussing on crime and forensics.
Garry Rodgers lives on Vancouver Island at Canada’s west coast. You can contact him via his Twitter handle at @GarryRodgers1 or follow his blog at www.dyingwords.net.
Kill Zoners – What’s your experience in being interviewed? Have you been a podcast guest? If so, how was your time? And what helpful art of being interviewed tips do you have for us?
Not having to go somewhere to do an interview or podcast would be a real boon for lots of people, including those who are more fragile or disabled. But it would then also require having your own good equipment and space to participate from.
I love to talk about my writing (and am careful not to go on and on, even when encouraged) when it happens in person. Writers don’t get a lot of chances to do that. It would be interesting to take it to the level where there’s actual interest in that content – because I do writing rather differently from most people, to cope with low energy and a damaged brain.
I’ve bookmarked this – and am off to check out your site. Thanks!
Good morning, Alicia. I hear a common concern from podcast hosts and film producers. They’re constantly looking for new content and struggle to find it. The trick for folks like us is being found. And thinking about that, I’d be surprised if some of them weren’t monitoring sites like the Kill Zone.
Oh, I appreciate being welcomed here – fellow writers – even though it’s not my genre, we have a lot of craft in common. But I would assume if hosts and producers look here, they want the more exciting thriller and mystery writers.
But you never know where or when something will fall from the sky – you just have to be ready to pick it up.
You are so right about something falling from the sky, Alicia. That’s what’s happened to me.
All great tips.
The #1 issue I find with any sort of video podcast, writing related or otherwise, is that the host, who regularly does these gigs, is well set up with equipment, while the guest is not. And it often creates an annoying imbalance–the host’s mic is set to a good volume, but every time the guest speaks you have to turn your own volume way up to try and hear them, then your ear drums get blasted when audio goes back to the host. So you are sitting there moving your device’s volume up and down to try and hear everything.
It’s annoying not only from the standpoint of the constant volume adjustment for you the listener, but also, many of us dwell in urban environments in buildings that are not well sound-proofed, so it can be obnoxious for neighbors too. In cases where I’m trying to watch a vid podcast with these sound imbalances, I often give up and move along to something else. It’s not worth the torture of constantly tweaking my speakers/volume.
Please, have a great sound set up before you interview.
You make an excellent point about sound control, Brenda. That’s a common (and quite annoying) issue on many podcasts and that’s an issue to hang on the host. A serious podcaster will have a sound mixer that compensates for variations – at least what’s in their control. The worst interviewees are those who show up using a cell with their speaker phone on. A good host should head this off in the pre-show planning but, unfortunately, some hosts are not that well prepared or equipped. There’s a low barrier entry point to podcast production.
Garry, this is wonderful info! So helpful! Thanks much.
Two questions I’ve run into:
1. My glasses have anti-reflective coating but they still glare on screen. Tipping my head up takes away the glare but then I’m looking down my nose at the camera. How to prevent this?
2. When I hold up a book for the camera, it appears backwards–a mirror image. Any tips?
Debbie, the camera should have a setting as to whether you’re mirroring yourself or not. I can’t remember which one to use so your book title (and anything else with text, like a logo T-shirt) appears “right” for the audience.
Thanks, Terry! I use the internal camera in my Mac so I’ll check that.
Being able to reverse your image is dependent on both your computer and the video software. MS Teams and Zoom offer mirroring. WebEx does not. One workaround would be to create a background image with the book cover reversed.
Thanks for a good idea of a background, Alan.
I had to think about this, Debbie. I have reading glasses but don’t wear them on camera so I haven’t experienced the issue – but I’ve sure seen it on others. So I did what I usually do when stumped. I Googled “How to reduce glasses glare when on camera” and found this: https://www.visionworks.com/video-chat-tips
As for backwards images, I haven’t experienced this either. So I did what I do when I’m really stumped. I asked my wife. She immediately said what Terry says and that’s your camera setting might be backwards.
Thanks for the link, Garry. Also appreciate Rita’s and Terry’s tips.
I’ve been invited to a couple of podcasts. I didn’t get any tech-quality-related complaints. If I’d read this first, I’d never have accepted. 🙂
I tried to cover all the bases here, Terry. I’ll reduce it down to the foundation. Just be yourself with what you’ve got and you’ll do fine. 🙂
Great tips on how to be interviewed for a podcast! .I’ve done a few and also taught classes on Zoom, and a trick I learned is to put a pair of googly eyes on either side of your camera so you’re looking at the camera instead of your computer screen when you speak.
Good trick, Patricia. It makes a big difference when the speaker is looking right into the camera rather than appearing off to one side or down.
Terrific tips, Garry. I’ve been on a few podcasts, as well as having done an online presentation for a writer’s organization, and participated in two virtual conventions, including one as a guest of honor, which was great fun.
Definitely be conscious of where the camera is, as well as having a good mic–I use a Snowball Blue Ice USB one which works well. I found rehearsing what I’d like to say, not only if the podcast gives you interview questions in advance, but just because preparation helps me relax and be more natural in my responses.
Thanks, Dale. It’s all in the prep, as “they” say. And thanks for recommending the Snowball mic. I have a Blue Yeti dynamic and and an Uhuru condenser. I ask the host which one they perfer – it’s usually the dynamic as the condenser picks up background noise. Some don’t care and some don’t know the difference.
Thanks for putting together this list, Garry. It’s a keeper.
I’ve been interviewed on a couple of different podcasts, both audio. Your tip about listening to episodes of a podcast before you appear on it is important. Each host has their own types of questions and cadence to the podcast. Since I’m not good at “thinking on my feet,” it was important for me to listen to some of the previous podcasts and get familiar with the kinds of questions the host would likely ask.
Also, I saw the suggestion somewhere to drop a menthol cough drop into a glass of water to keep your throat clear during the interview.
You’re most welcome, Kay. I’ve found that no two hosts and podcasts are exactly alike. Much of the conversation is spontaneous. That’s a good tip about menthol in the water. I use lemon if I have one around – otherwise just water but not with ice. Whatever works but it’s very wise to have something to clear the throat and wet the mouth.
I have yet to do a podcast interview, but I’ve learned this: to keep your hands away from your face, hold a pen or a thin 3×5 card deck or a small pad of paper in your hand.
In my spare room, I have a document easel, a good mike with wind cover, a pair of headphones, and a 22″ monitor slightly above and behind my Chromebook. I do have a logitech camera, pixels unknown, atop my living room monitor. I could add it to my spare room setup. I might make a horizontal bar-clamp to affix the camera to the large monitor.
Behind me is a bookcase full of junk and even a few books. The lighting may be problematic: a floor lamp and a desk lamp, with beige shades and “save the planet” spiro bulbs. I face a window behind and to the right of the setup.
Typical Video Interview Questions:
brief description of your book
your publisher
what inspired the book
what else you’ve written
how you came to be an author
your goals as a writer
who your (other) favorite author is
some of your favorite books
what your other forms of creativity are
an anecdote about writers or writing
what your next book will be about
how you write and when
who your muses were or are
what has shaped you as a writer
where we can find your book
Great list of probable questions. Thanks for sharing this, JGA.
Good point about keeping your hand(s) occupied, JGA. I think it’s natural to subconsciously touch one’s face and it can be distracting. I block out natural lighting in my space and use dimmable LEDs – seems to do the trick.
I have been interviewed a few times including a podcast. Notes and cheat sheets are a must. Print big. I learned from a congressman. When he spoke his notes were in 48pt triple spaced pages. No squinting, easy to read.
Your notes should include all of your books. Especially if you are being interviewed about the latest book in a series. You should have those titles right there.
I have three screens going. My camera is attached to the laptop. Keep yourself centered on your CAMERA. My main screen is up and to the right of my camera.
Yup, Alan, a larger font really helps. When I teach via zoom, my notes are 20+ point.
I forgot!
Make sure to get a link to your podcast. Post it to your social media.
Good stuff, Alan. At my age and needing reading glasses for fine print the big font tip is excellent! Thanks for sharing these tips.
Speaking of subconscious, Edgar Allen Poe once wrote a short story called “The Imp of the Perverse,” (1850). You may find it at:
https://poestories.com/read/imp
The “Imp” is something in the Unconscious (Poe calls it ‘the human soul’)–a prime mover, something autonomous, that causes us to blurt out the very thing that we most wish to keep secret. This predates Freud, and his eponymous slip, by fifty years. The concept is also similar to the Guardienne Hypothesis, though much narrower.
My point is this: when being interviewed, resist the Imp. Do not blurt out in a moment of undue candor or excessive sincerity or desire to please anything that you may later regret. Beware the Poevian Slip!
You know the saying “There’s always one man in every organization who doesn’t get the word”?
I’m completely out of it. I have never been able to sit through any podcast and I’ve tried. I cannot multitask, and having earbuds with some person expounding their theory about this or that obscure homicide or guitar amplifier while I’m trying to do something like cook dinner or fix a carburetor just isn’t going to work for me.
I mean, I get the idea that podcasting has democratized investigative journalism, but with a large soupcon of amateurish goofs and mistakes and advocacy disguised as fact.
I will give it a try, if I can find some podcasts where some nice fellow or gal will teach me a few concrete things that can help me improve my craft. That would be a worthwhile thing, if anyone has some suggestions.
Lord, I have suffered.
Don’t start with Joe Rogan, Robert, unless you want to cringe over what he puts his guests through. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzJCJekzqN8
I can’t sit through a podcast if its audio only, but can do the a/v ones. That doesn’t make since of course, since I can listen to the radio and music just fine. Just another weird thing about human life. LOL!
Great tips! And such good advice. I’ve done quite a few local TV shows, and a lot of radio interviews. And this one thing you said really stood out for me:
“Be conversational. Talk like you’re speaking casually with a friend. Ignore the audience and converse with the host as if the audience wasn’t even part of the show.”
How often have you watched some poor schlemiel on TV sitting there like a mumbling traffic cone or doing a bad flop sweat (see Albert Brooks in Broadcast News). I got this tip from an author friend who had TV background — ignore the audience and zone in on your interviewer and have a fun CONVERSATION with them. Just as you said.
And yeah, don’t be afraid to give the interviewer some questions. (If they are smart, they will ask for them ahead of time!) Oh, and you don’t have to insert the name of your book in *every* sentence. 🙂
Great post, Garry
Hey, thanks, Kris! Some of the worst interviewees are politicians. And serving cops who talk like they’re giving evidence in court. Glad you liked the piece. BTW, I just came off a podcast and broke the golden rule – didn’t check the equipment and I had a camera fail. Me bad.
Great info. Thank you so much!