What makes a good podcast guest?

A good guest is gracious and prepares

I know your time is valuable. These show notes give you the gist of the episode, what is covered, any links or resources talked about in the show, and also gives you a few ways to listen, watch or digest this episode.

This episode’s topic, in a nutshell…

Inviting the right people to come on as a guest on your show is an art learnt over time. And, approaching podcast show hosts to be a guest on their show – means you need to get some things straight before you decide to ask them.

I bring on Imogen Jones to come have a conversation with me around what we think a GOOD podcast guest looks and sounds like.

Highlights

In this episode we unpack:

• That being a good podcast guest means:
  • Be prepared to have an initial conversation with the host – before the recording day (a good host will want to check to make sure that you are right for the show)
  • Thinking beforehand, about what you are going to bring to the topic that the host has prepared for the episode you are going to be on
  • Keep your answers succinct and to the point and relevant to the question – but also try to give good answers (that aren’t just ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – which stumps a conversation)
  • If you have a story to share that’s relevant to a point that is going to come up – do share it (just make sure it is relevant)
  • Be gracious – remember this isn’t YOUR show. How can you help the host make the best of the conversation for them and the listeners?
  • Sort your tech out before you record (test that your mic, camera and speakers are set-up correctly) – this way you can be relaxed and ready to have the conversation
  • Make the effort to create a quiet, concentrated space for recording (no interruptions or background noise to distract from the conversations)
  • Make the effort on tidying your background and be nice and tidy visually (hair, clothes, make-up – if applicable)
  • Prepare a good, relevant bio or introductory few sentences. This helps the host to be able to make you very relevant when introducing you onto the show
  • Listening to previous episodes of the show, so they know what the show is about, how the host operates and what to expect in general
  • Being active in helping to promote the episode to their own network
• On the flipside – a “not so great” podcast guest
  • Speaks over the host (doesn’t wait for them to finish their sentences or what they are saying – or tries to dominate the conversation)
  • Has their own agenda and wants to only talk about what they want to promote and keeps shifting the conversation to what they want to talk about.
  • Hasn’t bothered to listen to any previous episodes and doesn’t prepare for the recording (they can’t pull their ideas together and the host has to work harder to make the conversation work for the listener)
  • Hasn’t tested their audio or technical set-up beforehand, so the host has to spend the first 10 to 15mins helping the guest to get ready
  • Provides a two-page CV (when you ask for a short, introductory bio)

Have you got some experiences of listening to GOOD or BAD podcast guests? Got a story to share? Let me know!

If you are starting a show, or want to start a show and don’t want to do it alone, or what to get support to start it well, then feel free to come and say hello to us. We don’t bite, and we can help you with this process of looking for the right people to come on to your show.

(Check out our podcast service through Harbour 32, or drop me an email on shelley@harbour32.co.uk)

Quick ref to resources or links we mention

Imogen and I shared two shows that we listen to. In case you wanted to go and check them out, they are:

• “I Weigh” (Imogen’s recommendation) – any episode!
• “The High Performance Podcast” (Shelley’s recommendation). I enjoyed the one with Bear Grylls (EP100) 

Ways to watch, listen or digest this episode:

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A bit more about Imogen Jones

Imogen Jones is a personal brand strategist who helps clients to gain clarity on the deep motivational needs of their ideal clients, and craft offers that REALLY solve their unbearable aches.

With 20 years-experience working in marketing and customer-focussed roles inside marketing research and healthcare businesses, today runs her own freelance consulting business.

As a strategic marketeer, Imogen is creative and intuitively empathetic to understanding the position of the customer. She is the ultimate people person.

Imogen also works on personal brand strategy and podcast management at specialist marketing agency, Harbour 32, with Shelley Rostlund.

She is an avid runner, and lives in Oxfordshire with partner Dan and big goofy Golden Retriever, Asta.

Find out more about Imogen on the Harbour32.co.uk website, connect with her on LinkedIn or join her on Instagram.