Podcast Presentation Skills
<<– Podcasting for B2B Brands – Part 8 – Planning Your Show
Podcasting for B2B Brands – Part 10 – How to Find Great Podcast Guests –>>
Podcast Presenting – Best Practices
#1: Mute When Not Talking
Mute your microphone when you’re not speaking. This helps eliminate background noise and keeps the audio clean. For example, Jonny is currently muted, which is excellent practice.
#2: Plan the Start of Your Section (Avoid Dead Ends)
Have a clear plan for how you’ll start your segment to avoid awkward pauses or dead ends.
#3: Pause Before You Answer
Don’t be afraid of silence. If you need a moment to think about your response or how to phrase your next question, take it. Pausing for a few seconds is easy to edit out later, unlike filler words like ‘umm’ and ‘ahh’.
#4: Speak in Bursts and Silences
People naturally speak in bursts with pauses in between. Avoid scripting your entire dialogue to keep your speech natural. If you must script, write in a conversational style with pauses for emphasis.
#5: Address a ‘Listener’, not ‘Listeners’
Speak as if you’re talking to one person. For instance, Terry Wogan, a renowned radio presenter, said he thought of his audience as a single listener rather than millions. This personal touch makes your podcast feel more intimate.
#6: Say ‘Episode’ not ‘Podcast’
Use the term ‘episode’ when referring to individual segments of your podcast. For example, say ‘In this episode’ instead of ‘In this podcast’ to avoid confusion.
#7: Add an Anecdote Before Asking a Follow-Up Question
Share a brief anecdote before following up with a question. This shows you’re actively listening and makes the conversation flow naturally.
Podcast Presenting – Bad Practices
#1: Integrated ‘Umms’ and Apologies
Be mindful of filler words like ‘umm’ and avoid integrating them into your sentences. Standalone ‘umms’ can often be edited out, but those embedded in words are much harder to remove.
#2: Starting Every Point With the Same Response
Avoid being overly polite or repetitive. Responding to every statement with phrases like ‘That’s interesting’ can become monotonous. Instead, engage naturally as you would in a regular conversation.
#3: Finishing Every Point With ‘Umm’ or ‘So’
End your sentences confidently without trailing off with ‘umm’ or ‘so’. This makes you sound more authoritative and makes it easier for your podcast editor.
Fixing Mistakes
#1: Remember the Context of Where You Were Before
If you need to re-record a section, listen to the surrounding content first. This helps maintain consistency in tone and delivery.
#2: Pause and Restart With the Same Phraseology
When re-recording, use the same phrasing and intonation to make the edit seamless.
#3: Maintain the Same Pace and Passion
Match the pace and passion of your original recording to ensure a smooth transition between edited segments.