Podcast Hosting and Interviewing Tips

It’s not just what you say, but how you say it.

We’ve all heard that saying over the years and the truth is, being a podcast, radio, or TV host isn’t as easy as it looks. Hosting, or announcing, is a learned skill and something you get better at the more you do it. Especially if you interview guests- that adds a whole other layer to the skillset. Mastering these skills will not only engage and relate to a wider audience but also make your interviews stand above the rest.

I currently host two podcasts. My Journalism background led me to host The London Free Press Podcast and my former morning radio show announcer background is what led my former co-hosts and I to begin our own (and vastly different) podcast: Due to Underwhelming Demand.

As a Journalist, I hosted TV talk shows, anchored radio and TV newscasts, interviewed hundreds of notable community leaders, celebrities and musicians, hosted a daily morning radio show for 11 years and emceed dozens of live events. I’ve acquired 20 years of experience and skill thanks to my fellow broadcasters, coaches, teachers and podcasters.

Here are some my hosting and interviewing tips for podcasters just starting out or looking to hone their skills:

HOSTING:

1. Be relatable. The audience has already invested in you or your show because the topic relates to them somehow. They need to relate to you too, in order to keep coming back. Find the connection, that’s what it’s all about anyway. Talk about your own experiences; if it’s something that happens to everyone, great! If not, relate by saying something like, “Have you ever had this type of unique, can-only-happen-to-me experience?” Because someone probably has. And if not, they likely have their own one-off experience.

2. Be vulnerable. No one, and I mean absolutely no one wants to hear about your perfect life. I cannot overstate this enough. If you’re in the business of connecting with people and talking to them, exploit your faults and weaknesses. It makes other people feel seen because they may have the same ones. Relating to others on a human level is the most powerful and valuable thing you can do.

3. That brings me to the next point: Talk to your audience, not at them. Sure, you may be the only one talking but this is not a one-way conversation. As you’re speaking, your audience is digesting and trying to relate to what you’re saying (see point #1). Asking questions often gets the listener thinking. Tip: pretend you’re speaking to one person, not a group, and say things like, “Do you ever…,” “What do you think about…” etc instead of “Do you all think…” or “What do all of you think…” To anyone listening, they’re listening solitarily. It’s just them, in their body, listening to you. Even if they’re with someone else at the time, they’re listening just for themselves. So talk to them as if they’re the only person that matters, because they are.

4. Don’t ramble. Yes, the audience is there to hear what you have to say, but be concise or they’ll tune you out. If you’re saying the same thing over and over again, in different ways, they’ll get bored. Attention spans are short, you need to get to the point quickly. That means no long lead-ins, no unnecessary details and don’t leave them hanging for too long. Yes, there are a lot of podcast hosts who do all of these things and, as a radio host, I cringe every time and yell, “Get on with it!” in my car. Just like a wedding speech: shorter is better.

5. The Rule of Threes. This is a concept rooted in human psychology, cognitive load, and pattern recognition, suggesting that a set of three events, ideas, or adjectives is more impactful, satisfying, and memorable than other numbers. Consider: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” - Julius Caesar. Or, stories like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, etc. Presenting three points is easier for your audience to remember than 5 or 10, which they are more likely to forget. If you have an extensive list of points, try grouping them into sets of three. Alternatively, remove some and highlight just the three most important points.

   
   

6. "Don't Bore us, get to the Chorus!" Admittedly, I stole this phrase from a friend of mine (Thanks, Lisa!) who has even more experience hosting/interviewing than I do. One thing we learn is radio is that you have 3 to 7 seconds (I've heard various numbers in between that range) to grab the audience's attention. Don't waste your time setting up the topic. If your show notes already give that info, you don't need to verbalize much of it, if any. Lots of people think they need a long intro; you don't, less is more. Pare it down to the basics and just give a bare bones intro after your valuable/clever/attention-grabbing hook. Then, get right into the episode. If you take too long, people will tune out.

INTERVIEWING:

1. Do your research. Come to the interview over prepared and 80% knowing what your interviewee is going to say. The other 20% might be ‘breaking’ or new news. 

   
   

2. Ask the question, even if you know the answer. Yes, you’ve come to the interview knowing most of the answers, but it’s not your job to answer the questions. It’s the interviewee’s. I’ve been called out by a politician who suggested to me that I’m asking an obvious question. But I needed the sound bite and I needed them to say it, not me. It needs to be confirmed from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Alternatively, to correct what I think might be the answer.

   
   

3. Ask one question at a time. Sometimes we are so eager to get all of the information that we ask what are called, ‘double-barreled questions.’ An example could be: “Why did you start golfing and why do you love it so much?” When you ask two questions, the interviewee will answer one and then often forget to answer the second one. Ask them individually so nothing gets lost - and be concise about it. 

   
   

4. Listen to the answers. I can’t tell you how many interviews I’ve watched where the interviewer is just waiting for the interviewee to stop talking so they can move on to the next question. What if they say something groundbreaking or fascinating? Follow up on that! Really listen to what they’re saying because they could detour the entire conversation and that’s ok. It’s good, even! Interviews that don’t go as planned can generate a lot of buzz because they’re often more interesting than you initially thought.

   
   

5. Along those lines: Plan the order of questions, but go with the flow. You should go into the interview with a good idea of what will be asked and answered but, you absolutely don’t need to stick to that plan if the interviewee says something more interesting than you expected.

   
   

6. Don’t talk too much. One of the keys to getting a good answer from someone is to shut up. It’s true! In general conversation, when there’s an awkward silence, we feel like we need to fill the gap. This happens in interviews, too. If your interviewee pauses, don’t be too quick to jump in and ask another question. Let them ruminate because, often, they’ll continue speaking and offer up more valuable information or details you didn’t consider.

What other tips have you learned along the way? I’d love to hear them and incorporate them into my own skill set!