Pro-tips for a perfect podcast interview

Getting booked on popular podcasts is a lot of work. In a previous blog post we mapped out how to build your strategy and use the best practices to connect with hosts and land a guesting spot. Booking that opportunity, although it’s a massive win, is only half of the battle. When you spend a significant amount of time booking interviews, you want to be sure you rise to the occasion when the host hits the record button. 

From pre-interview preparations and using the right equipment, to speaking in a way that will wow listeners, we have taken all the guesswork out of podcast appearances and outlined everything you need to know about being a master interviewee.

It’s not you, it’s your framing

We hate to break it to you, but what you think of as valuable may not be as important to the podcast host. We’re not saying you need to change your message. The problems you solve and the vision you have may be impeccable, and you may be quite proud of the large community you’ve built around your tech startup.

However, it’s important that you take the time to properly frame your message in a way that the audience can fully understand. You don’t have to change what you are serving up for dinner, you just might need to reconsider how it is presented on the table.

We call these your key messages. If you’re having trouble distilling your vision into a succinct selection of jargon-free key messages, working with a PR professional can help you identify your unique value proposition, as well as how to frame it in a way that podcast hosts and listeners can easily grasp and find valuable.

This starts with understanding who you are speaking to and the objective of the host. It might take a little digging on your part to understand the ethos of the show and its goal, but this little bit of effort will help you better frame your message no matter who you are speaking to. 

Once the prep work is done and your key messages are ready, you can go an extra step to “wow” the host by asking them “What would make this episode a win for you?” before they hit record.

This one small question, coupled with your attention to framing your message for the podcast’s listeners, will help you respond appropriately to questions during the interview.As an added bonus, it will also show the host how much you care about serving their audience.

The better the interview is in the host’s eyes, the more likely it is that they will put in extra effort to market it, record a favorable intro, and sometimes even repost it at a later date.

Audio-only podcasts

For audio-only podcasts, there are two main aspects you need to consider: your sound and how you present the information. When it comes to sound quality, you don’t have to have a professional microphone to sound amazing, although the host won’t be upset if you choose to invest in one. If that is not quite in the budget for you, or if your package gets lost in the mail and you don’t have it in time for your interview, you can get away with using the built-in mic from your cell phone’s headset or earpods. If you use a mic that has a cord, like the one that comes with your iPhone, make sure it is not rubbing against the collar of your shirt.

You don’t have to have a voice like James Earl Jones to sound good to listeners, but you will need to be mindful of your “filler words” – meaning the “ums,” “ahs,” and “sos” that can crop in as your brain searches for the words you really want to say. Re-listening to your old interviews will help you identify which filler words you use the most, which will help you be more mindful of not using them in the future. A simple thing you can begin to practice is slowing down your speech and using the power of your own breath. Resisting the urge to speak too quickly and slowing down your speech in order to breathe will automatically reduce your use of filler words.

Podcasts that include video

Most podcasts that use both audio and video will typically tell you beforehand (or you may know from your research), but there may be times when you will believe the podcast is audio only, only to learn at the last minute that they will be using video as well in order to pick up those minute social cues. We recommend preparing for both possibilities to be on the safe side.

Lights: A simple rule of thumb when it comes to proper lighting is to have the light source in your room pointing toward you. You can sit in front of a window or have studio lights right in front of your camera and instantly improve how you appear on camera. Be sure to avoid wearing white as it attracts more light and may wash you out.

Camera: You don't have to have a studio camera to produce excellent footage, but there are some things you can do to present yourself in a more favorable light. First, make sure you are centered within the camera frame. Second, be mindful of your background. It is important to have the door in your room out of view of the camera so that if someone walks in the room, it won’t show up on the recording.

Make sure the camera you are using is at eye level. If your camera is not well positioned, it can give the impression that you are looking “up” or “down” at the audience. Additionally, look at the camera, instead of the image of the host, and don't look at yourself the whole time! Yes, people notice.

Action: Remember that speaking on camera is vastly different than speaking on stage. On a stage you might need to be extremely animated, but in a tight frame on a camera, you will want to minimize movement. Be sure to keep your mouth in the same range of your microphone during the duration of your interview, so that your voice volume will not fade in and out. You don’t want to be making your best point in the interview as you are out of the optimal range of the microphone and have listeners not be able to hear what you’re saying. 

One final tip, with both audio and video podcasts, always ask the host how you look and sound before the host starts recording, as there may be minor adjustments they can make on their end. Showing that you are conscientious of this will help you appear and sound better in the final recording.

Provide value

As tempting as it may be to use your interview as an opportunity to market your startup or convince listeners to invest in what you are building, trust us, you will be the only one who is impressed. Podcast hosts are mainly focused on providing value for their listeners. During your interview, you have to bring that value.

Never answer a question by slyly stating, “You need to read our startup’s lightpaper to find out.” The more value you deliver, the more listeners will assume you have to give. Interviews are a sneak peek of everything you have to offer. Think of a TV show pilot, which has a better opportunity to hook viewers than a commercial does. A commercial sparks curiosity, but a pilot builds a relationship with the audience. Use your interview to build a relationship with the podcast’s listeners.

Lastly, remember the list of key messages we mentioned earlier? Keep those in front of you to help prevent the possibility of your mind going completely blank during the interview, or to keep you from getting caught up in industry jargon. Sometimes the host will even give you a list of potential questions ahead of time, which can be helpful, but do not rely on those. Having bullet point notes at the ready can help to jog your memory if you freeze up.

The real secret sauce

While following our tips will help you properly research and present yourself for a podcast interview, the real secret sauce lies within your own personality. Lean in fully to what makes you you, and show the human side to yourself – that’s what the audience will connect with. Not every startup founder will hit the podcast scene presenting perfectly in interviews right out of the starting gate, but what makes a truly successful interview is showing up fully as yourself.