It seems everywhere you look these days, someone is coming out with a podcast. Although they are all the rage in 2021, podcasts have been around since 2004. The term podcast combines “iPod” and “broadcast.” More importantly, podcasts provide an audio file downloaded to a device via a RSS feed (a RSS (RDF Site Summary) feed is a web feed that allows users and applications to access updates to websites in a standardized, computer-readable format.) My blog posts are pushed to a mailing list via a RSS feed.

As of April 2021, the Top Five podcasts on Apple were: Dark History, Crime Junkie, The Daily, Park Predators, and Dateline NBC. I haven’t been fortunate enough to have been invited to talk on one of those. However, as part of the rollout for the release of Grow Your Grit (available for preorder here), I have been interviewed on 5 podcasts. There are more podcast interviews that will be released in the coming weeks.

• Hardcore Soft Skills Link here.

• Tactical Leader. Link here.

• Next Generation Warrior. Link here.

• Smart Athlete. Link here.

• Vertical Momentum. Link here.

Each interview has been different, but as I have done more of these I have started to develop a system to prepare for the podcast.

Here are my tips for preparing for a podcast:

• Reach out to the podcast host about appearing on the show. Make sure you share your bio and your webpage. With so many shows needing guests, many shows will schedule you right away.

• Listen to 2 to 3 episodes of the podcast so you get an idea of the questions that the host asks before you are live.

• Ask the host if they have any questions prepared. It’s always easier to think about the answer before the podcast rather than during the heat of the moment.

• I like to take Post-It Notes and stick them around the edge of my screen with key points I want to make during the show. It helps me stay focused and if the podcast films it you don’t have to look away at notes.

• Make sure your WiFi is high quality. If it isn’t plug your computer directly into the internet.

• Make sure your chair isn’t squeaky.

• I use a headset, a Ulanzi light, and Skrebba Laptop Stand (to lift the camera in the laptop to face level) to improve the audio and video quality. It may be worth investing in these tools if you do a lot of interviews.

For those of you who have done podcast interviews, what has worked for you? What hasn’t?

Conclusion

I know many of you have some great stories to share or lessons learned to pass along. Go on the offense in 2021 and book yourself on a podcast and share those stories.