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Podcast

Interview Or Solo Show? – PTC 345

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As you create your podcast, is it better to do an interview or a solo show? You might consider co-hosts. Should you have segment contributors? It all comes down to preference. There are benefits to each. We will cover those today. 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

If you perform an interview on your show, you need to grab my list of 17 Most Powerful Podcast Inteview Questions Ever. You can download the full list at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/interview.

This list can be customized for any niche or guest. It will help you create more powerful interviews that will have your guests saying, “Wow, nobody has asked me that before.”

You will create a unique, engaging interview that doesn’t sound like everyone else. Grab it at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/interview.

STRUCTURE

There are various ways you can structure your podcast. A few ways include a solo show, an interview, co-hosts, and crowdsourced.

Let’s talk about each one to identify the benefits and drawbacks of each.

SOLO SHOW

Benefits include …

  • Easy to schedule
  • Easy to edit
  • Less preparation
  • You have full control over the content

Drawbacks include …

  • More difficult to grow, because there is no guest to co-promote
  • The content is all on you

AN INTERVIEW

Benefits include …

  • Guest helps create the content
  • You don’t need to be the expert on everything
  • You have another person to promote your show
  • Interview swaps are possible
  • There is someone to talk to on the show

Drawbacks include …

  • Need to find guests that fit
  • More difficult to schedule
  • Lots of solicitation from potential guests that don’t fit your audience
  • It is tricky to find ways to promote yourself when you are interviewing others

CO-HOSTS

Benefits include …

  • Someone to talk to
  • There are two people to do the work and share the duties
  • Content ideas come from multiple people
  • Easier to be engaging with someone in front of you

Drawbacks include …

  • You need different personalities
  • Difficult to schedule
  • Balance of duties
  • Who owns the show if you split

CROWDSOURCED

Benefits include …

  • Much more engaging with differing points of view
  • Highly entertaining when produced correctly
  • Sounds like a top notch show with the variety of audio

Drawbacks include …

  • Takes time to find material
  • If you solicit your audience for content, you need to get people to submit
  • Requires more time to edit

OPTIONS

Those are just four of the ways you can structure your podcast. You could have episodes where guest contributors appear for a segment offering additional content. Repurposing your live presentations is another option.

The best part is that you don’t have to pick just one. You can use a consistent format and then drop in others when it makes sense.

On this show, I typically bring you a solo show. However, there are times when I have a guest here for an interview. It isn’t one size fits all.

Dave Jackson at School of Podcasting typically does a solo show. There are times when he does an interview. He also does a crowdsourced show once a month.

Dan Miller at 48 Days Podcast is usually a solo show answering listener questions. But there are times when he brings on a guest for a very special interview.

Pick the flavor that works for you. Then, change it when the time is right.

If you don’t have a mentor who can take your hand and walk you every step of the way, go to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply, click the button and apply to have a chat with me. We will develop your plan and see how I can help and support you to achieve your podcast goals.

Podcast

Great Podcast Examples – PTC 339

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On the show today, I want to give you a few podcast examples that will help you in various areas of your show. These are podcasts that I feel do many things well that you can model.

We will also talk about a few of my past episodes. After over 330 podcast episodes, you and I have discussed quite a few topics.

I looked at my stats the other day and pulled up my 6 most popular shows. If you are looking for the episodes that have had the most impact, you can give these a listen to help you on your podcast journey as well.

You can find a link to all of these podcasts in the show notes at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/examples.

THE BEST

Picking the best is always subjective. What I like you may not. That’s the great thing about podcasting. If you don’t like one host or show, you can probably find a dozen other shows on the same subject.

The quality of podcast examples depends on the niche and your tastes. Just like radio formats. One size definitely does NOT fit all.

I will give you a few that I feel do well in particular areas. You can take a listen and decide for yourself.

INTERVIEWS

In terms of hosts that conduct solid interviewers, there are three that I really like.

Malcolm Gladwell on Broken Record does great interviews, though he isn’t the only host of the show. The show is sort of album liner notes come to life. Broken Record brings you conversations with artists in a world without liner notes for a new audience of music lovers.

Michael O’Neal on the Solopreneur Hour podcast is a great interviewer. He creates real conversations. They can sometimes be a bit long.

Solopreneur Hour is a podcast of lively conversations, candid insights and bold advice for proudly unemployable people who are primed for real prosperity and fulfillment. Michael talks with the best and brightest solopreneurs from all walks of life.

Barbara Corcoran has a lot of fun with her inteviews on Business Unusual. You know Barbara from Shark Tank. She reminds me of my mom and has tons of fun.

I really like the older episodes before COVID hit. Her conversations with listeners were a lot more engaging.

In the description, Barbara says, “Life is too short to waste your time practicing someone else’s fancy theory on success. I give you the straight talk and the confidence to get there.”

Though I’m not a big fan, Howard Stern does amazing interviews. He usually asks exactly what the listener is thinking.

CO-HOSTS

When it comes to co-hosts, you need to ensure hosts have different personalities and opinions. If both are the same, one of them isn’t necessary.

Matthew and Elysha Dicks host Speak Up Storytelling podcast. This is a great example of co-hosts who compliment each other quite well. Unlike most storytelling podcasts, which offer you one or more outstanding stories to listen to and enjoy, this podcast seeks to entertain while also providing some specific, actionable lessons on storytelling.

Screw The Nine To Five podcast is hosted by husband and wife team of Jill and Josh Stanton. They are real, sometime brash and always funny.

This is a great example of two personalities really playing off each other. They have the same goal, but different approaches.

BUSINESS

Shane Sams on the Flipped Lifestyle podcast does a great job at giving you ideas you can actually use. This isn’t just tips and tricks found on the internet. Shane has done it.

The thing I love about Shane’s podcast is that he promotes his membership site and courses without being over-the-top salesy. This is a great example of using your show to drive your business without being a total infomercial.

Marc Mawhinney hosts the Natural Born Coaches podcast. He helps coaches. Pretty obvious. Love the title.

Marc uses his podcast to boost his JV relationships. He is typically interviewing experts in the online space. They provide great information. At the end of most episodes, they invite you to a webinar. This is a great example of leveraging interviews to drive revenue.

SOLO

One of the best solo shows I listen to is 48 Days To The Work You Love with Dan Miller. Dan spends 48 minutes every week answering questions. He is engaging and captivating having a conversation directly with you while doing it all on his own.

Dave Jackson over at School of Podcasting also does a solid solo show. Carrying a show by yourself and connecting with the listener isn’t easy. Dave does it every week. If you’re looking for another great show about podcasting, check out Dave.

Let’s get into the six most popular episodes of Podcast Talent Coach.

YOUR VOICE

The first is Like Your Voice – PTC223.

“I hate the way I sound.”

I hear that complaint quite often. Many people do not like the sound of their own voice. It is quite common.

It is also quite natural to dislike the sound of you own voice when hearing a recorded version of it. When you talk, the bones in your head vibrate adding to the qualities you naturally hear. When you hear a recording of your voice, those vibrations are absent causing your voice to sound different to you.

The natural bone vibrations also make you do some unnecessary acrobatics with your voice when using headphones. The bone vibrations combined with the enclosed nature of your headphones cause you to hear the big announcer voice in a much different way the listener hears it. You tend to speak in ways you don’t normally speak in everyday conversation.

The thing we fear most is not death but humiliation.

Listeners can tell in the first few words if you are excited and in the zone.

Your inner critic never congratulates you.

There are seven steps you can take to make your voice sound more natural and get you on the path to enjoying the sound of your voice. You will discover all seven in this episode.

DOWNLOADS

The next is How To Increase Your Downloads – PTC209.

Most of us want to grow our audience, increase downloads and become more influential in our niche. I recently conducted a survey asking about your biggest challenges with regard to your podcast. The most frequent response revolved around ways to increase podcast downloads.

If you were to list your top three struggles with your show, would one hurdle you list be getting more listeners and engagement?

When podcasters reach out to me for their free strategy session, I ask them how I might help with their podcast. Promoting the show, gaining listeners and increasing podcast downloads is most always part of the answer.

You are not alone. We all want a bigger audience. Whether you have 100 listeners or 10,000 listeners, I’m sure you would like a few more.

There are 6 steps to growing your audience. You can hear it in episode 209.

YOU’RE AN EXPERT

Next is 3 Ways To Position Yourself As An Expert – PTC227.

Once when I was grabbing a quick bite to eat at the local fast food restaurant, I was reminded we are all an expert at something to someone.

After ordering my food, I pulled up to the drive thru window of the fast food restaurant to pay. My total came to $4.38. I handed the kid in the window $5.38. The amount completely puzzled him.

He looked at the currency for quite some time. I was beginning to think he didn’t realize I needed change. After what seemed like two minutes, he looked around for his manager.

When he realized his manager was helping another customer, he looked back at the money trying to devise a plan B.

The kid finally stuck his head into the window and asked, “Are you good at math?”

I said, “The total was $4.38, right?” He replied with, “Yeah.” I said, “You owe me a dollar.”

“Oh, that’s what I thought,” he replied with relief as he ducked to the register to retrieve my dollar.

At that point, I realized we are all an expert to somebody. Even people who do not normally deal in American currency could probably guess that $5.38 minus $4.38 equals $1. To this kid, I looked like a genius.

If you think about where you were two years ago, you are much more experienced than a person in that position now. Help those folks make the two-year journey to get to the point where you are now.

There are 3 Ways To Become An Expert In Your field. We discuss them in episode 227.

LAUNCH

The next episode is What Do You Need To Start A Podcast – PTC248.

It seems so overwhelming. Launching a podcast looks so technical and confusing. What do you need to start a podcast?

It really is much easier than it appears. You can truly have a show up and running in four weeks.

When I was launching my podcast, I had been in radio for a couple decades. I knew how to create a great show.

What I didn’t know was how to get it on the internet, on Apple Podcasts and out to the world. I knew how to create an .mp3, but how do I make that .mp3 an actual podcast?

I watched a ton of YouTube videos. It felt like the more I watched, the more confused I became. It seemed everyone had their opinions without a real “right” answer. I had almost too many options. Which were the best?

In episode 248, we cover the six easy steps to follow to get your podcast up and running. Don’t overthink it. Done is much better than working for perfection.

ATTENTION

The next most popular episode of Podcast Talent Coach is How To Capture Attention – PTC219.

Have you noticed a lot of the business interview podcasts sound the same? We are hearing the same guests answer the same questions time and time again. How do you become unique in this sea of sameness?

Storytelling can transform your podcast.

I was on a coaching call with Arman the other day. He is a great public speaker who is launching a podcast to compliment his business.

Arman has a knack for telling stories in his speeches. His past life experiences create compelling tales. We were discussing the power of stories in his show.

There is a subtle difference between telling stories in a speech and telling stories in a podcast. During a speech, few people will get up and leave if you don’t hold their attention. While listening to a podcast, if you are captivating, there is a good chance your listener will go find something else to enjoy. There is no guilt in turning you off.

Therefore, you need to capture their attention right out of the box and hold it.

Stories can be a powerful tool with your podcast.

People do business with people they know, like and trust. Stories help you develop that knowledge, likability and trust.

Your stories define you and will touch many more people. The stories you tell and the details you include reveal many things about you. That begins to develop that like and trust.

Stories help you connect, motivate and inspire.

There are four parts to the storytelling structure. We cover those in episode 219.

COACHING

The episode that was the most popular for the longest time is Behind The Scenes Of A Podcast Coaching Session – PTC204.

Dave Jackson and I reviewed the Jeep Talk Show on the Podcast Review Show. Tony Muckleroy, one of the hosts of the show, reached out to me for a follow up review.

On this episode, I take you behind the scenes of that coaching session to show you how things work. It is my hope there are a few things in this session that might help you improve your show.

Tony hosts the Jeep Talk Show with his two co-hosts Josh and Tammy. They started the podcast about 8 years ago.

The primary reason Tony reached out for coaching is audience growth. Their show has plateaued around 1,700 downloads a month. Tony is hoping to discover how they might increase their audience and grow the show.

During our coaching session, Tony and I discuss the points Dave Jackson and I made on the Podcast Review Show, the progress the hosts have made toward those points and where they might go from here.

Jeep Talk Show has some passionate followers. The team posted our coaching session as an episode of their podcast. It is Tony’s hope that sharing the session with his audience might get listeners to provide the show with additional feedback.

This episode features the coaching session with Tony and his show. It was episode 204.

LISTEN

There you go. 15 different episodes that you can check out and use to overcome some of your struggles.

If you don’t have a mentor who can take your hand and walk you every step of the way, go to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply, click the button and apply to have a chat with me. We will develop your plan and see how I can help and support you to achieve your podcast goals.

Podcast

What Is Your Role On Your Podcast? – Episode 205

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What Is Your Role On Your Podcast? – Episode 205

What is your role?

This week, I helped launch a morning show on the radio. As we built it from the ground up, we created every piece from scratch. This required us to determine the role each host would have on the show. It got me thinking about you and your role. Have you defined it yet?

YOUR PURPOSE

If there are multiple hosts on your podcast, there must be a reason for each being on the show. If you both have the same opinion, one of you isn’t necessary. Bringing multiple perspectives to the show is the element that creates interesting discussions.

One morning, I was listening to a morning show having a discussion. This was your typical morning show with three people. They had received an e-mail asking for input on a relationship.

The woman who sent the e-mail was asking for the opinion of the hosts regarding her boyfriend. He had done her wrong in some way. She wanted to know what she should do.

All three hosts said, “Dump him.”

The main host very astutely asked, “Then, why are we talking about this?”

Exactly. If you all have the same opinion, you have no discussion. There is no debate or tension.

CONTRAST

As co-hosts, you need to compliment each other. You also need to contrast each other, play off each other and challenge each other.

For example, let’s look at the former ESPN sports show “Mike & Mike”. The show was hosted by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. They talked sports.

Greenberg was educated in in the studio. He worked as a sports reporter and anchor. Golic made his career on the field in the National Football League. He played for Houston, Philadelphia and Miami.

Both hosts were well educated on sports. They simply came to sports from different angles.

Howard Stern & Robin Quivers on the Howard Stern show compliment each other as well. Howard is the type of guy that says whatever comes to mind. Robin is his counterpoint and devil’s advocate. Robin serves as Howard’s center of gravity.

The comedy duo of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin played off each other perfectly. Jerry was the fall-down, slapstick jokester. Dean was the ladies’ man who was always a bit tipsy.

“The View”, the daytime, roundtable talk show, features a handful of women all with different backgrounds and perspectives. Whoopie Goldberg has the bombastic, opinionated point of view. When Barbara Walters was on the show, she was a bit of a mother figure. They all serve their purpose.

YOUR ROLE

What is your role on your show?

The hosts of a movie review podcast came to me for coaching. The show was hosted by a husband and wife team. The intro of their show said they had different tastes. He liked action movies while she appreciated the romantic comedy.

As I listened to the show, I noticed they had mostly the same opinions on the movies they reviewed. There was very little tension and debate on the show.

As you define your role, determine the unique traits you bring to the show.

What are your primary characteristics? Are you smart, blunt, the class clown, witty, adventuresome, the big brother, a fun mom or something else? Write down every trait you possess. List all the things that make you who you are.

Next, list your secondary characteristics. These are the traits that you possess, but may not be present on every show.

Keep these characteristics in mind as you create your podcast. Stay in your lane. If you are caring, you can’t be hurtful and blunt. If you do something uncharacteristic, it will demolish the trust you have built with your audience. Deliver what the audience expects.

You also need to define your role if you do the show by yourself. If you are doing a solo show, find someone as a contributor to compliment your characteristics. You will find you have a show with much more depth.

If you each have the same perspective, one of you isn’t necessary. Define your role.

 

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

How To Make Best Use Of Your Podcast Co-Host – Episode 136

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How To Make Best Use Of Your Podcast Co-Host – Episode 136

Copyright: kzenon / 123RF Stock Photo
Copyright: kzenon / 123RF Stock Photo

Today, we will open the Podcast Talent Coach mail bag and answer a few content questions I have received. The first questions is about making effective use of a co-host. The second is about consistently helping your listeners with your content.
I would love to hear an episode on involving a highly effective style with a cohost. – Rick Sizemore – VR Workforce Studio

CO-HOST BASICS

  • Different point of view
  • Distinct styles and perspectives
  • Different voices
  • One needs to be the leader

I was listening to a business podcast the other day. It is a show that is hosted by two marketing gurus. They typically offer business advice to listeners who write or call the show.

The hosts had received a question regarding unique ways to market a product. The listener had included a few methods he had used. Host number one rattled off his critique of the methods used and offered a couple of his own. Host number two basically said, “I agree with your assessment and really have nothing further to add.”

When a second host (or guest for that matter) isn’t offering any new information or differing opinion, the second host is unnecessary.

If your podcast involves more than one person on the show, you need to have a justifiable reason for each of you to exist on the show. When there are multiple voices on a show, each voice needs a role. One of the hosts is unnecessary if two voices are offering the same information, with the same opinion persona.

There are many podcasts hosted by two co-hosts. Many of those are successful, such as “On The Media” with Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield, “Manic Mommies” with Erin and Kristin, and “Mike & Mike in the Morning” with Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg.

Not all two-person podcasts are structured quite as well as these. It seems two friends who have similar interests get together and start a podcast without much planning. The similar interests of the hosts seem to spawn similar opinions and positions on topics.

If you and I are hosting a show, and we are both saying roughly the same thing, one of us isn’t necessary.

A great example of two hosts that compliment each other well is “Mike & Mike in the Morning”.

Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg host “Mike & Mike in the Morning”. You can find the show broadcast on ESPN television and radio as well as their “best of” podcast online. The show recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

Both Mikes have an interest in sports. That is the commonality that brought them together. A general interest in the topic is necessary for the subject matter and foundation of the show.

The differing opinions create the magic within the show.

Mike and Mike come from very different background. Their different experiences have developed differing opinions, attitudes and approaches to various sports topics. These differences make the show compelling.

Mike Greenberg was born to a Jewish family. He grew up in New York City. Greenberg went on to study journalism. He worked his entire career in broadcasting, beginning in Chicago, the third largest city in the United States.

Mike Golic was born in suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. He played American football in College while studying finance and management at Catholic university Notre Dame in Indiana. Golic played professionally in the NFL. He then began his broadcasting career after his playing career ended.

Where Greenberg approaches topics from the researcher/journalist perspective, Golic tackles those topics from the real life experience angle. Greenberg comes from the big city. Golic comes from the suburbs. Greenberg worked big-time radio in the nation’s largest cities. Golic made big-time hits on one of professional sports’ biggest stages.

There are multiple approaches you can take on a show with multiple hosts.

Good cop/bad cop is a common show structure.

This is approach would position one host as the nice guy. He is there to help. Always encouraging and supporting the listener.

The second host would be a bit of a jerk. He might have a big ego. This host would be in your face and telling you like it is. He wouldn’t necessarily be mean. However, he would be the antagonist in the show.

There is a three-person version of this called “The Dog, The Doll and The Dork”. This show involves the bad guy (the dog), the good guy (the dork) and the sweet girl to round it out (the doll). The female typically plays mediator between the two guys. This show is heard quite often on radio morning shows.

You can also see “The Dog, The Doll and The Dork” in America’s original version of “American Idol”.

Simon Cowell was “The Dog”. He was the bad guy with the big ego. Simon was the guy everyone loves to hate.

Paula Abdul played the role of “The Doll”. She was sweet while often siding with one of the two guys. She was very likeable. Paula was almost the antidote to Simon.

Randy Jackson was “The Dork”. He would often play the nice guy, even while providing tough criticism. You would hear Randy say something like, “You know you’re my dog, but that just wasn’t good.” Randy could be seen considering the feelings of the contestants.

“American Idol” is currently not as strong, because they’ve lost the role identity of each judge. When you watch the show, you really don’t know what to expect from each judge. Is Randy going to be the nice guy or suddenly play the part of “the Dog”? Roles are inconsistent from show to show.

There are many other varieties of show roles. You could use nerd/jock where one host has “studied it” and one host has “done it”. Liberal/conservative is an option if you can find a co-host with the opposing point of view. Corporation/entrepreneur could offer diverse points of view on business. Male/female is pretty clear. You simply need to select the differences that work for you.

Think of some of the best duos in history. What makes them different (and therefore valuable)? McCartney & Lennon. Abbott & Costello. Siskel & Ebert. Bert & Ernie. Sonny & Cher. Milli Vanilli. Ok, maybe not that one.

Each member in those great partnerships offered something different than their teammate. Often, that difference was the opposite of their counterpart. Sometimes, it was simply a different approach. Find those differences that make each of you unique.

The goal of your show is to entertain your audience. Listeners have come to your show to learn something, laugh at something, or be amazed by something. Your job is to create compelling content.

Debates and differing opinions are a great way to stir up emotion with your audience. It doesn’t always need to be an argument. Multiple hosts simply need to offer different information. If both hosts are offering the same content, one of you are just wasting the time of your audience. You are repeating yourself when you could be dishing up new content.

If you host a show with multiple people, find each individual voice and use those differences to entertain your audience.

HELP OTHERS

How can I help others with every show. I am so grateful for your show, keep up the good work, I point all my podcasting friends your way! You have a devoted fan on Oahu, if you need any ideas for family adventures on Oahu…. I’m your Man! – Dave Tupper – Kids Adventures Hawaii

Start with the goal of your show. What is it that you want people to take from this particular episode? How will your content help them?

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “what’s in it for me?”
Your audience will be asking this very question every time they tune into your podcast. Your introduction better tell your listener exactly how your topic will affect them. You need to hook them right at the beginning with an intriguing introduction. If you don’t hook them early, they will be gone in search of something more captivating.

When your audience knows what is in it for them, they begin to care. Making your listener care is the only way to get them to listen and more importantly come back again.

As I was listening to a podcast recently, it suddenly hit me. How does this apply to me, and what am I getting out of this podcast? I was having a tough time answering those two questions.

It was an entrepreneural podcast. The host and guest were recounting the launch and growth of the guest’s company. It was a decent story. There were a few highlights about growing out of a basement and finding industry partners. The most interesting part of the story was the fast growth of the company.

After twenty minutes of the show, it hit me. I really have nothing in common with this tech company. The stories being told were very specific to the guest’s company. Most of all, neither the guest nor the host were making the connection between the tale of the company and lessons that could be gleaned by the listener. They were not incorporating the audience into the show at all.

To truly engage your audience, you need to make the listener the star. Nobody wants to watch your home movies unless they are in them.

Your listener doesn’t need to be part of the show to be the star. The content could give them hope, help them envision the future, or relate to their situation. You need to help them make that connection.

The key question is “what’s in it for me?” Your listener isn’t attracted to your podcast by your content. They listen to your podcast because of what your information can do for them. They don’t buy products. They buy benefits.

If your podcast is only focused on you, your product, or your guest without making a connection to the listener, the size of your audience will shrink. Engaging content must be listener focused. Keep your audience engaged by making your listener the star.

Connection, put them in the show, one-on-one communication and teaching without being condescending.

This week, check out the free video I have on PodcastTalentCoach.com about one-on-one communication. We discuss how to make your listener feel like they are part of the show and that your content is specifically for them.

Next week, we will start a series on interviewing. How do you make the most of the time with your interview guest? What is more effective at attracting traffic, interviewing others or being interviewed? In the next few episodes, we will cover that, along with interview terms, and tips to help create powerful interviews.

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.