Before You Hit Record: Key Prep Steps Behind the Best Podcasts
You might think that making a podcast is as simple as getting two people (and two microphones) together and hitting “record.” But in order for a podcast to be successful, entertaining, and sustainable, there’s important work that needs to happen before that moment. (And after, too, but I’ll get to that in another post :).) As I’ve written before, if you think of a podcast as a meal that you're putting together for your audience, you want to make sure that you’re cooking with the best ingredients possible.
Clarify your focus…and your strategy
Before you hit record, you need to get strategic. Why do you want to make a podcast? What’s unique about your organization, and how can you amplify this through storytelling? How will this show be different from other podcasts out there? Who is the target audience? How will you define success? Answering these questions takes place during the creative development phase, which I recommend beginning at least 5 months before launching a new show.
Find your podcast north star
As part of creative development, it’s crucial to nail down a one-liner to describe your show. For example, the podcast I produce with the World Peace Foundation, Disrupting Peace, is about “why peace hasn't worked and how it still could.” Degrees, a show I produce for the Environmental Defense Fund, focuses on “real talk about planet-saving careers”. This focus statement will communicate the value of your podcast to potential listeners AND serve as a north star to guide your decisions going forward.
Pre-Production
After the creative development stage, a show enters pre-production. Part of pre-production is logistical, including mapping out the production timeline, scheduling interviews, sending out equipment, and running tech checks. This kind of planning ensures that recordings run smoothly, and that you capture the best quality audio possible.
The other part of pre-production is editorial – making sure that your show cuts through the noise, resonates deeply with listeners, and keeps them on the edge of their seat. This includes identifying potential guests, researching episode topics, conducting pre-interviews, and preparing interview questions. These steps are essential to creating a show that is as compelling and informative as possible. One pro tip for assessing potential guests is to find other podcasts or videos they have appeared on, so you can hear how engaging they are as a speaker.
You don’t have to figure this out on your own
Connecting with a podcast expert early in the process can help you move forward quickly and strategically, and avoid common pitfalls that sap your time and budget. I offer free intro calls where we can talk about your specific situation, and make a plan that works best for your organization. You get to focus on what you do best, with peace of mind that your show will run smoothly and have the biggest impact possible…for engaging new audiences, and achieving your mission.
By Emily Shaw and Anna Van Dine