What do you do if you need to record live interviews as a podcaster?

For in-person interviews, consider the acoustics of your location to minimize echo and background noise. High-quality, portable recording devices or lapel microphones can significantly improve the audio quality of these interviews. For online interviews, a reliable internet connection is crucial to prevent dropouts and glitches. Using software specifically designed for podcast recording such as Riverside.fm can offer features like separate audio tracks for each speaker, which simplifies editing and improves the overall sound quality.

Whatever the chosen format, the most critical point is emotion! The technical aspect matter but in my view, podcasting as an art form matters much more. So that even being imperfect it can be a great experience to your audience!

As a podcaster, recording live interviews requires careful preparation. You'll need a reliable recorder, whether a dedicated device or high-quality microphone, and a backup just in case. Create a comfortable, distraction-free environment, establish rapport with your guest, and have thoughtful questions ready. Stay engaged, listen actively, and be responsive to your guest's cues. With the right setup and approach, you can capture engaging live interviews that will captivate your audience and strengthen your podcast.

In-person interviews offer a unique vibe, fostering genuine connections and richer conversations. However, they demand more resources and planning, which might not suit everyone. Online interviews, on the other hand, are super convenient, especially in today's digital age. But beware of tech glitches that can disrupt the flow. Phone interviews strike a balance, offering accessibility without the need for extensive setups. Consider your audience's preferences, your budget, and the logistics before making a choice. Always prioritize audio quality and the comfort of your guests to ensure engaging content that keeps listeners coming back for more.

Regardless of whether you're doing the live interviews in-person or remote, make sure that you record your episodes. While "Live event only" may have it's appeal, for the far majority of us, we're better off recording it so that it can be leveraged later on. Where possible, in-person interviews are just naturally more engaging both for the guest as well as the audience who may consume the episode and clips later on

It's all about if you are recording technically alone or you go with a technician. If you go alone your main points are: - Ensure that the redording is, in fact, done. Thus, take all the backups you need and stop as often as you can to ensure the recorders are working. - Get all the material you can in separate sources. Specially the voice of every person. Thus you can adjust levels (loudness, noise reduction, etc.) for every person voice. Check everything is working before, during and after the interview.

Preparing the right equipment is essential for recording live podcast interviews. You'll need a high-quality audio recorder or interface to capture clear, distortion-free sound - whether a dedicated device, USB microphone, or smartphone app. Test it thoroughly beforehand and have a backup on hand. Invest in a quality noise-cancelling microphone, positioned properly. Have necessary cables, adapters, and even a portable mixer ready. Ensure your computer or mobile device is charged and recording software prepped. By thoroughly preparing your equipment, you can focus on the interview itself, confident you're capturing top-notch audio for your listeners.

I'm a big fan of doing mock episodes with a colleague or even a friend. Not only is this helpful to ensure that you are confident hosting the episode and leading it, but also helps you run through your setup (both hardware and software) to ensure everything runs smoothly for your first real episode.

Effective planning also involves preparing your guest for the type of questions you'll ask and any specific topics you want to cover. Providing them with a list of questions or key points in advance can help them prepare thoughtful responses, which will contribute to a more engaging and informative interview for your audience. It's crucial to establish a rapport with your guest before diving into the more formal interview questions. A brief, casual conversation before starting the recording can help put your guest at ease, leading to a more natural and relaxed interview. This can be especially important for guests who may not have much experience with public speaking or interviews.

It is crucial to ensure your guests are familiar with the format of your show. The interviews that resonate with audience members are the ones in which they receive valuable content that informs, educates, or entertains. When inviting guests to my podcast, I not only send them samples of my show but also invite them to get to know each other before connecting. This allows us to know if we have good rapport and chemistry. When planning an interview, it is also important to research the guest to ensure you know key facts about them that you can use as interview questions. If you are using your podcast as a lead generation, create a content and marketing plan that helps to support your business goals.

Networking is a serious help to find guests. When you care about your relations, you're more likely to find good match between your contacts and your topics. So that you can both satisfy your audience providing it value and your guest giving him/her visibility and thought leadership opportunity.

When planning live podcast interviews, approach it with structure and intention. Research your guest, craft an outline of questions, and share it with them in advance. On the day, take time to build rapport before recording. During the interview, be an active listener and follow natural conversation flows, even if it means deviating from your outline. The aim is a genuine, captivating exchange that engages your audience. Leave ample time at the end for final thoughts. With thoughtful planning and a flexible, conversational style, you can ensure your live interviews are polished and compelling for both you and your listeners.

Respect your guest and the time they're taking to speak with you. One of the highest forms of that is to do the necessary research on them ahead of hitting record. This is especially important (but also easy) if the guest you're bringing has already done several podcasts. I try my best to do them and our joint audience justice by talking about things that they've not yet talked about before that are valuable

When recording an interview, look to have your guest log in a bit earlier so that you can have buffer time to check tech and sound and answer any last-minute questions about your show. I also ask guests if there is anything off-limits to discuss. From time to time, guests may feel apprehensive to discuss certain topics. Knowing this in advance is key to creating a good dialogue without awkward moments.

To ensure top-notch interviews, editing is key. Use tools like Audacity or GarageBand to polish your audio. Trim, adjust volume, and remove filler words or mistakes. Add intros, outros, and metadata for a pro finish. Remember, editing isn't just about fixing mistakes; it's about crafting a compelling narrative. Take your time and make sure every second counts. This attention to detail will keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.

Editing your interview is crucial to ensure a polished final product. Utilize software like Audacity, GarageBand, or Adobe Audition to refine your audio. Trim, splice, and adjust volume levels as needed. Smooth out transitions and remove any filler words or pauses to maintain flow. Enhance your episode with intro and outro segments, and don't forget to add metadata like the title and description. These editing touches will help elevate the quality of your live interviews for a professional finish.

I believe that "done" is often better than "perfect." It's crucial to polish each episode to honor your guest and engage your audience, yet perfectionism can stall release. Many podcasts sit unreleased, waiting to be perfect, but podcasting is inherently subjective. What seems perfect to you might not resonate the same with someone else. I would work with what you have to maintain momentum and enhance the editing quality over time eventually.

Podcast is a kind of contents which needs to be seriously promoted on several channels to be listened, increased and to make your community bigger.

After meticulously preparing for and conducting your live podcast interview, promote it to grow your audience. Tease the episode on social media, encourage your guest to share it, create shareable graphics and audiograms. Optimize title, description, and tags for discoverability. Consider supplementary content like blog posts or video clips to expand on key takeaways. Put as much energy into promoting the interview as you did producing it, to ensure it reaches the widest audience and keeps them coming back for more.