I began building my experience in audio production in 2007. I was hired by the North Texas (Dallas, Fort Worth, Denton, Sherman) NPR affiliate to create content and messaging to help improve radio fundraising drives.

My production work included everything from short audio stories and testimonials to live and pre-recorded fundraising shows with popular names. When I left the station in 2011, I launched my own podcast.

While I had experience producing high-quality radio content, I still learned some podcast lessons the hard way. However, once I figured some stuff out - I couldn't wait to use what I learned to help others.

It was important to produce podcast content that stood out even back then.  Today (with the increased saturation of shows), it's essential.

I talked with Lyndsay Philips about creating a show that stands out on Leverage Your Podcast.

When I launched my first podcast in 2011, I created a Twitter account to help me promote episodes. Twitter was a pretty good platform to promote a podcast - if you knew how to generate interest in your copy.

It was not uncommon for me to see very generic and simple episode promotions from other shows. They would read something like this:

Our new episode is out now! Listen here!

Episode 233 is now live! Listen here!

​We just dropped our latest show about cow-tipping. Get it here!

Okay, I made up the cow-tipping post, but it represents a limited explanation of an episode. You can insert any topic there.

​I interviewed movie and television actors in my first podcast, and instead of "cow-tipping," I would highlight who I interviewed in each post. 

I thought dropping names would be enough.

I was wrong.

For example, I interviewed Anthony Michael Hall, and we talked about his early success, John Hughes and modern comedy.  It was an enjoyable discussion, and I was anxious to share it with everyone. 

So, when the time came, I promoted it on Twitter. I can't remember what I wrote in the first Tweet, but it was something simple, like:

In the latest episode of the show, I talk with Anthony Michael Hall - (link)

I might have added another minor detail. Either way - engagement was extremely low.

I knew my copy needed something more. In a lot of ways, my post wasn't any different from saying, "Check this out! - (Link)"

So, I thought about the conversation.

What was one of the more intriguing questions and answers?

What was a question that I couldn't wait to ask?

Then it hit me - What was it like for a kid your age in 1985 (17 years old) to play Kelly LeBrock's love interest in Weird Science?

So I created a post that said something like:

"Anthony Michael Hall describes what it was like playing Kelly LeBrock's love interest as a teenager in Weird Science..."
​

• Engagement went way up.
• I picked up more listens.
• And Kelly LeBrock followed the show on Twitter.

It was true then, and it is still true today (especially with all of the other podcasts promoting episodes now) - Give people a reason to click.

​"Check it out" and "New episode!" aren't the best examples.

Think about your audience.

Keep it simple, but be specific.

Finally, make it more appealing than a greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray.

In 2017, I was asked to create a virtual session for Podcast Movement. I decided to center it around creating a podcast that stands out right after launch. As you'll see in the session, it's important to consider things like format, topic and audience. ​

​When I wrote and produced fundraising content at the North Texas NPR affiliate, one key messaging point was that listener support helped the station produce radio with less advertising - leaving more time for interviews and shows each hour. The more content/fewer commercials component of podcasts have a similar appeal, and you don't have to follow an hourly clock.

​So, what should you do with all of that time flexibility?

​There is no "perfect" length for a podcast episode, but, some guidelines can help determine what's best for your show.

In the book Content Chemistry, Andy Crestodina points out that:

1. The Top 10 business podcasts average 42 minutes.
2. Stitcher research says the typical listener stays connected for 22 minutes.
3. Ted talks are 18 minutes for a reason - Attention rates drop after 20 minutes.

Consider what successful podcasts are doing
One of the most shocking things I heard someone say about their podcast episode length was that you can't go in-depth on a topic in under 30 minutes.

Really? What if your listener thinks you've said enough about something after 18 minutes, and they feel like you dragged it out for another 22?

When I launched Comic Book Noob a few years ago, people said they wanted a simple comic book show that shared simple insights and recommendations. One person told me they would listen to other shows discuss comics, but they would get so into the weeds the content felt overwhelming or confusing. 

Our episodes are under 30 minutes - some are under 20 minutes.  

Insider tip: People are okay with that length.

Here are some other examples of short podcasts to check out.
​
Consider your audience​

I'm a creative who likes to come up with an idea and immediately start working on it.  In 2011, I decided to launch my first podcast, and I wasted no time recording, editing and uploading my first episode.  However, as Timothy Failure says - mistakes were made.  These mistakes were worthy of some face-paIms, but I learned from them.  Plus, they helped me develop strategies to share with new podcasters.

Here are some lessons I learned while producing my first podcast:

Give yourself time to tweak your concept before launch
The Critic Show was the name of my first podcast.  The idea was to theme it around guests and listeners discussing all things entertainment.  We're all critics, and we share opinions about the things we hear and watch.

Ideally, I wanted celebrity guests on the show.  However, this was going to be a brand new podcast, and guests weren't going to know who I am.  I figured I would be lucky to book a guest every few months.  Nonetheless, I started recording the episodes.

As the first seven shows were produced:

I wanted this episode to make the first impression on listeners.

​So, I did something painful but necessary.  I deleted the first six episodes from my feed.

Later, I heard a podcast expert suggest recording and editing your first shows without uploading them.  That way, you can make the necessary tweaks before sharing your content with the public.

He said episodes 7-10 would likely sound a lot different from episodes 1 -6. 

​I was living proof he was right.

Optimize your frequency
The release dates for The Critic Show was the 15th and the last day of the month.  On the one hand, it was a perfect fit for me.  It generally took two weeks to find, book and record guest interviews.  However, it wasn't an ideal set of dates for potential subscribers.

Later, I attended a podcast session at Social Media Marketing World that emphasized the importance of optimized frequency.  The speaker strongly recommended that podcasts upload weekly episodes, but an every other week system worked as well. 

The key is to upload shows on the same day.  That way, listeners can make your show part of their subscription routines.

The idea of trying to get a show out every week terrified me.   However, I would later develop a successful plan for weekly podcast uploads.

Don't create an intro that sounds like it lasts forever
Calling my first show opening "too long" is an understatement.  It might be easier to say, "Yikes!" and move on.  The original intro for The Critic Show went like this:

So, I tried too hard to creatively explain the show through the introduction.  I was so focused on the creativity that I forgot that people would have to listen to this epic open before each episode.

These days, I try to keep my intros under 30-60 seconds.  The only reason they would last that long is I'm still using some creativity to explain the concept of the show.  After all, you never know which episode will be someone's first to hear.  However, it's not uncommon for me to make a tighter version of the intro after the show has been out for several weeks.

Still, nothing has been as long as that first Critic Show open. From an audio standpoint, it was giving In A Gadda Da Vida a run for its money.

I tell new podcasters to make sure they develop a concept that produces a consistent amount of episodes each year.  In other words, don't create a podcast that might run out of topics.

Also, if you can create a podcast with a specific target audience, you're more likely to generate strong subscription numbers.  For example, a podcast solely focused on a television series generates a very specific listener base.

Even though The Critic Show established a good format, two problems remained:

1. There was so much variety in my guests that it created a lot of ups and downs in listenership.  People would listen to guests that interested them.  However, interviewing has always been one of my strengths.  If people love the way you conduct interviews, they might listen despite a lack of interest in a guest.​
2. As my podcast unexpectedly evolved into a celebrity interview show, the title no longer made sense.  In fact, I'm surprised the name didn't scare more people.  Imagine being an actor and getting an invitation to be on The CRITIC Show.

When the podcast started its second year, it was renamed Beyond the Screens.  This definitely fit the description, but now my feed had two sets of the same show with different names.

So, get that title right the first time!

I started podcasting in 2011.  Today, podcasts are a lot more mainstream, and that comes with better access to advice.  So, it's easier not to make some of these mistakes. 

However, I would finally recommend that you maintain a willingness to learn new things.  If you can avoid not learning lessons the hard way, that's even better.

In July of 2014, I had an awesome opportunity and a problem.

The opportunity: An in-person interview with David Giuntoloi and Bitsie Tulloch about Grimm.

The problem: I didn't watch the show.

However, I had to assume that many of my listeners did watch it.  So, I researched what happened in previous seasons, and I developed some questions.  I then sent those questions to friends who were big fans of Grimm because I wanted to make sure I crafted good questions.

My friends said they were good questions and didn't have anything to add.

Then, when I sat down to talk with David, he noticed I had a set of prepared questions.

He was shocked.

He playfully expressed his surprise by telling me he didn't expect a podcast interviewer to come prepared with questions.

While I appreciated the compliment, that wasn't the best commentary about podcast interviews.  Yet, it wouldn't be the only time I would have to be the exception to that rule.

When I asked Anthony Michael Hall for an interview, he agreed but wanted to keep it short.  He soon realized I was prepared, and we ended up having a longer (and enjoyable) conversation.

While attending a convention, I walked into a room full of independent podcasts and media outlets who were there to interview voice actor Fred Tatasciore.  I was the last person to interview him.  He was so pleased with my preparation and questions that he offered to sign some posters for my listeners.  These were posters he brought to the convention. 

It's nice to be appreciated, but preparation should be part of everyone's process.  Yet, I know it's not something generally associated with podcast interviews.

That makes me crazy!  In fact, I've probably lost an opportunity to interview someone because the mention of "podcaster" was a red flag.

​We can do better!  Here's how you can do better.

This may sound like common sense, and it should be automatic.  However, it's one of the major reasons why so many podcast interviews suck.  When I say research, I mean:

1.  Ask for a biography page, read their websites and/or read news stories about them
2. If there are prior interviews with your guest, find some and watch or read them
3. If they're an author, read the book
4. Put yourself in the listener's shoes and ask yourself what you would want to know
5. Make sure you don't have too many (if any) questions that start with, "What was it like..."

Many podcasters will improvise or decide on simple questions that don't take a lot of time to develop.  Keep in mind, your questions and preparation are a representation of you.  While it's important to always remember that, I've interviewed quests whose expertise was way beyond mine.  For example, when I had to conduct an interview on the mind's impact on back pain, I had to do a deep-dive into research in order to give me and the interview some meaningful credibility. 

Research is critical.  Start with these steps, and you'll be well on your way to conducting a stronger interview.

While I was attending a convention a couple of years ago, I came across someone who I've interviewed in the past.  He's an in-demand author, and he told me he was starting to cut back on podcast interview requests.

One reason for this - People keep asking him the same questions.

"Instead of asking me how I got started, I wish they would ask me WHY I got started."

This goes back to my point about the "What was it like" questions:

What was it like doing this
What was it like playing this role
What was it like working with ____

There are better questions, and my former guest correctly pointed out that there are better ways to ask them.  It's also another for reason researching prior interviews.  If the person you want to interview is an in-demand guest, you can definitely learn about the repeated questions they've been asked.

One of the biggest guests I've ever had was Hayley Atwell, who plays Peggy Carter for Marvel.  There are a ton of previous interviews to watch, including podcast interviews at San Diego Comic-Con.​

I listened to Hayley answer this type of question over and over again.  She would generally say she viewed the character in a sexless way.  In other words, this isn't about being a female superhero.

​It's about being a hero that happens to be female.  She knows a male actor would not get this question in the same context.

So, you don't have to be the interviewer who asked that question because:

1.  You did your research and noticed she's been asked this 100 times.
2. Your research will show you that she doesn't like to view the character in that context.

Now, it's almost impossible to line-up a set of questions that a guest like Hayley has never been asked, but you can craft a different way to ask it.  When you do that, your guest will probably have to stop, think and share a new version of their response.​  The same questions will trigger the same responses, and that gets old with guests.

During a tennis match, you ​can't help but take your eyes off the game and watch the crowd.  The sight of people's heads going side to side can be entertaining as well.  However, in the world of interviewing - it can be quite dull.

What do I mean by a tennis match interview?  The back and forth is simple and one-dimensional:

1. Question
2. Answer
3. Question
4. Answer
5. Question
6. Answer
7. Etc.

I think it's much more effective to approach an interview as a conversation.  You don't even have to follow your prepared questions at times because they might answer a prepared question while discussing another topic.

You have to listen and adjust.

Plus, if you're listening carefully, they may say something that inspires a better question than the one you have in front of you.  

You can also make a guest comfortable with a conversational interview by having some pleasant small talk before you start recording.

This is another advantage of doing research.  You might be talking to an author about their book, but your research showed that they're very passionate about a charity.  So, you ask them about that as well.

Some interviewers are so one-track minded, they talk about one topic, and they're done.  If there's an opportunity to work an additional highlight into your discussion:

1. It shows you did your research
2. It's a potential opportunity to ask something they're not always asked
3. It could add another interesting layer to your discussion.

I've done this on more than one occasion, and it's always a good thing.  Back in 2012, I interviewed Alicia Witt about her role in Cowgirls 'n Angels and Two Weeks Notice.  She lit up with a smile when I brought up her singing career, which is a bigger part of her life now.

Remember that when you conduct an interview, you're representing you, your show and your audience.  Take that seriously.  Let that help you gain a reputation as a prepared and professional interviewer.

That reputation could override the negative perceptions of podcast interviews and generate more opportunities for you.

I get it.  When you get into podcasting, you're likely going to learn some things the hard way.  I know I did.  When I launched my first podcast in 2011, my mistakes included:

• An intro that was way too long
• A show theme that wasn't focused enough
• Launching my show too soon (before I optimized the format)

However, it's 2020, and podcasting is going more mainstream every day.  With that, it's a lot easier to find good podcasting advice from reputable professionals.  When I started, I found some random guy in Australia who produced a podcast about podcasting.  Now you can find great experts like Cliff Ravenscraft, Daniel J. Lewis and Chris Brogan to help guide you.

While I think it's important to continue learning, there are some things I've heard podcasters say that made me instantly facepalm.

As they said in Beverly Hills Cop - don't fall for the banana in the tailpipe.​

As Daniel Lewis says - Don't fall for the podcasting myth of monthly downloads.

In 2020, podcasts are bigger and more popular than ever.  That means there area lot more resources available for building a good show.  Take advantage of it, and don't forget to keep learning along the way.  

New podcasters are always asking about an "ideal" time for their podcast episodes, and most experts will tell you that there is no universally-known perfect podcast episode length. However, that doesn't mean you should turn on the mic, hit record and talk until you lose your voice.
For some context, consider what Andy Crestodina wrote in his book - Content Chemistry

The Top 10 business podcasts average 42 min. (15-60 min)

Stitcher research says the typical listener stays connected for 22 min

TED talks are 18 min for a reason (Attention rates tend to drop after 20)

The Top 10 business podcasts average 42 min. (15-60 min)