How can you create a great roundtable discussion for your podcast?

To host a stellar roundtable discussion for your podcast, start by inviting dynamic guests who bring diverse perspectives and expertise to the table. Set clear objectives and ground rules for the discussion, ensuring everyone is on the same page and fostering a productive environment. As the host, facilitate the conversation, guiding it towards relevant topics and encouraging interaction among guests. Embrace spontaneity and allow for organic moments of insight or humor to emerge naturally. After recording, edit the discussion to enhance clarity and coherence, trimming any unnecessary tangents and enhancing audio quality.

Select a topic that aligns with your podcast's theme and interests your audience. Ensure the topic is specific enough to foster meaningful discussion but broad enough to allow for diverse perspectives.

Es una forma de estructurar episodios de tu podcast. Elegir un tema o cuestión y en torno a ello plantear invitar a uno o distintos profesionales a hablar sobre ello. En nuestra trayectoria en La Factoría Azul tuvimos las dos primeras temporadas enfocadas a programas temáticos, en muchos de ellos. Durante la primera temporada, consideramos hacer episodios temáticos hablando de distintas cuestiones sobre LinkedIn y donde hacíamos una tertulia entre el equipo de LinkedGrowing. En la segunda temporada, abrimos el abanico e hicimos varios episodios temáticos invitando a profesionales relevantes. Por ejemplo, hablamos sobre emprendimiento y LinkedIn, sector arquitectos y LinkedIn, Universidad y su relación con LinkedIn, etc...

🎯 Apart from choosing the topic, also decide on what will the audience get from the discussion. Get a clear idea of what are the key insights that should be discussed so that it will benefit the listener. The topic has to of course align with your podcast's core theme.

This point is the main problem with most congress, podcast, etc. when making a round table. Instead of creating a space where different people show their reasons and ideas, it seems a TV commercial trying to sell you something. And that's because they gather too similar people with too similar ideas around the table. Thus, the audience can't listen to different points of view and only hear the same again and again. This can be boring, and it can be a reason for people not to hear your podcast roundtables again, if they feel they are too driven. If you don't want that sort of discussion, then maybe you could give a try some other format tha round tables that can fix better for that content or episodes. You can do anything.

Preze por convidar participantes com expertise sobre o tema e desenvoltura na fala, com facilidade para expor os pensamentos. Ter autoridades na mesa e um roteiro bem definido, com perguntas e "deixas" certeiras, fará aquela mesa redonda render muito conteúdo relevante e ser um sucesso. Neste caso nem é preciso incrementar com outros recursos, pq o 'menos' será 'mais'.

✅ The best part of getting together a round table is the guest line up. Get a line up that will create a dynamic discussion with multiple POVs, unique perspectives, and also opposing opinions. Energy of the guests needs to match too. It can't be exactly levelled up, but rest is on to you as a host to manage and show your strength as the lead.

To host a fantastic roundtable discussion on your podcast, it's crucial to curate a diverse and knowledgeable guest list. Think of it like assembling a dream team – you want a mix of experts, influencers, and practitioners who can offer unique insights and perspectives on your topic. Look for guests who know their stuff and can articulate their ideas clearly and confidently.

Round table conferences should be done with people from different walks of life where the topic of the discussion is relevant. Don't consciously target people from same domain as it might turn into war of words rather than a perspective exchange session!

Develop a set of well-researched questions and an organized structure to guide the discussion. Consider the flow of the conversation, allowing each guest ample time to share their insights while ensuring a dynamic exchange of ideas.

🧩 Preparing a structure for a round table is like solving a puzzle. What will make life easier is creating a final structure and line up of topics after an icebreaker session in advance. This will give you a fair idea of everyone's POV and you can direct conversations accordingly.

At the same time I ask you to gather people with different points of view around your table, I also tell you that you need to moderate the conversation. Every attendant has its own reasons to explain its point of view and the conversation can fall into argument or monologues. You have to ensure every attendant has the chance to speak, and at the same time you have to ensure some rythm for the episode avoiding it become boring or too slow. About your attitude: be asertive, kind but serious with the attendants, and of course, be neutral. If you make questions with your desired answer "hidden" inside, your audience is noticing it and then the round table loses its meaning.

Serve as the moderator to facilitate a productive and engaging discussion. Keep the conversation on track, encourage participation from all guests, and mediate any disagreements or tangents to maintain focus and coherence.

Regardless of the size of your round table discussion, whether it's 4, 3, 2, or just you, there should always be at least one person who is mindful of the flow of the conversation. The person should know how long the recording has been going on and be aware of the topic you're discussing (like whether it is relevant to the episode's goal). It's good to banter because it keeps the episode exciting and shows personability between the podcasters and the listener - you want to ensure the listener feels involved. But if you need someone guiding the conversation, you risk derailing and making more work for the editor and the listener.

⛵️ You're the wind that sails the boat! Be swift, simple, to the point, and balance when moderating the conversation. Make sure you brief everyone in advance before you start recording on how you want the session to be conducted. Don't hesitate to take control if the discussion offshoots.

After recording the discussion, edit the audio to enhance clarity, remove any background noise or interruptions, and tighten the pacing. Add introductory and concluding remarks to frame the discussion and provide context for listeners.

Promote the roundtable discussion across your podcast's channels and encourage listener engagement through social media, polls, and audience questions. Analyze listener feedback and insights to inform future roundtable topics and improve the overall quality of your podcast content.

✳️ Maintain the mood! How do you want the audience to feel while and after listening to the discussion? - You gotta keep that in mind. Make sure the discussion does not get too heated or too casual to be taken seriously.

As a host, make sure your listeners realize whom they are listening to especially if it is an audio show. Make sure that you engage and handle the discussions which work for your show.

Here are some steps and tips to help you create a successful roundtable discussion for your podcast: 2. Invite Engaging Guests 3. Prepare an Outline 4. Set the Format 5. Promote Interaction 6. Moderate Effectively 7. Encourage Diverse Perspectives 8. Engage the Audience 9. Edit for Clarity 10. Promote and Share