Are Interviews the Right Podcast Show Format For You?
Scan over the top Apple podcasts, and you’ll see a lot of shows built around the interview podcast format. It’s a tried and true style that many podcasters have employed to great success -- but is it right for you?
Often, first-time podcasters believe that the interviewing format isn’t just the best, but the only way to go. But as Evo Terra says on Podcast Pontifications, podcasting doesn’t have to be synonymous with the interviews. In fact, it might even be more interesting to veer away from it and explore new podcast ideas. After all, if everyone else is doing it, that only makes it harder to set yourself and your content apart.
Below, we’ll discuss alternatives to the standard podcast interview setup. We’ll offer options that are even easier than booking interviewees and that don’t cost an arm and a leg -- we love audio dramas and narrative storytelling, but that’s not what we’re suggesting here.
And if by the end of this, you still believe the Q&A format is right for you, we’ll touch on how to format a podcast with interviews so you can hit the ground running.
✴ Podcast show formats
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of podcast topics, let’s talk about all the different podcast show formats available. Generally, podcasts fall into the following categories:
Monologues or solo-casts
Conversational or co-host
Interview
Panel or round table
Narrative nonfiction
Audio drama
There are various iterations within these categories, and each has its pros and cons. For a more in-depth discussion, you can check out our definitive guide to which format your podcast should be. As for our purposes here, let’s focus on the first two as simple and easy alternatives to the traditional interview format.
If you’re working as the sole host of the show, then your bread and butter will be in the various types of “monologues or solo-casts.” This means that you’re the only one speaking throughout the show -- no interviewees, guests, or co-hosts necessary. You can twist and tweak this format to best fit your tone, genre, and subject matter, whether you’re doing a deep dive into the history of female pirates or giving tips on how to write a screenplay.
On the other hand, if you have a co-host, you’ll be able to explore the “conversational” format. This type of show generally involves banter between hosts and has a more relaxed feel to it, which is why it’s a favorite for more comedic genres or topics like pop culture.
✴ Podcast topics ideas
All right, with that out of the way, we can get to the real stuff. If you aren’t doing interviews, what exactly are you supposed to talk about?
The answer to that question is: pretty much anything. Seriously. Whatever your podcast topic is, you can find a way to explore it without having to interview someone else. All you have to decide is which format best fits your needs and your audience’s interest.
✴ Share your expertise
Are you an expert at what you do? Then you’ll likely fall under the “monologue/solo-cast” category, where you can simply talk into the mic and share your knowledge. Of course, a script written ahead of time will help keep you organized on the day, so you’re not literally just speaking into the mic. (Although, if you prefer to keep things free-flowing and are better on your toes, an outline could suffice.)
This format is excellent for business or development podcast hosts -- anyone who shares advice, guidance, or lessons that stem from personal experience. If you already have all this knowledge, you don’t need to bring on guests to interview because your audience wants to hear from you.
✴ Repurpose work you’re already doing
If your podcast has to do with an established business -- or even one you’re currently building -- you’re likely already doing work that you can repurpose as a podcast.
Say that you’re a nutritionist with a roster of clients you curate meal plans for. There’s bound to be overlapping guidance and themes amongst those plans that you could share with a broader audience. Take a slice of what you’ve already done, streamline it into an episode worth of content, and then record! This strategy uses the solo-cast format above; only you’re not writing up a brand new script. Instead, you’re reworking content you’ve already created.
But “mini-lessons” aren’t the only way to repurpose work. If you’re a lecturer, record your talks, edit them for clarity and conciseness, and then put them out as podcast episodes. If you’re a business coach, take a look at this breakdown of options for turning your coaching into a podcast. Our favorite example is recording coaching calls and republishing them as podcast episodes (with your client’s permission, of course!).
✴ Employee or customer takeover
Maybe you want to do something totally different. On podcast pontifications, Evo Terra suggests asking an employee or a loyal customer to do an episode takeover. Again, this employs the “solo-cast” format, but in this case, you’re not the one doing the recording. Instead, you give someone from within your business, or directly adjacent to it, a chance to offer your audience a new perspective.
Of course, you’ll still have editing and publishing power in the end, so you can ensure the quality and message before you release the episode into the world. But this is a great way to expand content in an easy, affordable manner, while also adding a new voice to your brand.
✴ Discuss industry trends
If you’re not a fan of the monologue/solo-cast format, you can also bring on a co-host or rotating guests without diving into interview territory. This format works best when you both have something to discuss besides each other.
Let’s say, for example, you’re a media company. Perhaps you want to have a weekly round-up of new movie trailers that you and your guests discuss. In a free-flowing manner, you analyze the trailer, rank which movies you’re most excited about, and touch on various pop culture news updates from the week. In this way, you’re still keeping your media company in your audience’s mind without the podcast episode being about your business.
This format works across various topics. You and your guests could converse about anything from health trends to the stock market -- whatever suits your podcast.
✴ Podcast interview
If you’ve read through all the various options and still believe that the interview format is the right one for your show, that’s a completely valid choice. There’s a reason so many people opt to interview guests each episode, and sometimes the popular option really is the best one. If that’s the case for you, here are some tips to consider for your podcast interview setup:
✴ Define how you’re different
With so many other podcasts in the market that specialize in interviews, it’s crucial to be able to differentiate -- and articulate! -- what makes you unique. What are you bringing to the table that’s unlike other interview-based podcasts? Will you have access to guests others don’t? Do you bring a unique perspective to the topic that informs your interviews?
Take Armchair Expert with Dax Shephard, for example. He’s not the first person to interview celebrities nor will he be the last. Still, his podcast stands out from the crowd because of his willingness to be vulnerable, which in turn encourages his guests to be vulnerable and open in a way they generally are not.
So, ask yourself, how can you address the question: what makes this interview show a must-listen?
✴ Be open to learning
By this, we mean multiple things. First, be an engaged listener who is generally interested in learning more about the interviewee. Your interest will translate to your audience.
Second, be aware that being a good interviewer is an art, and you won’t be perfect from the get-go. Be open to learning new skills and improving your ability as a host and interviewer.
To successfully do the above, be sure to do your research ahead of time and come to each interview with thoughtful questions. If you’re interviewing someone who’s been on multiple podcasts before, don’t regurgitate the same questions they’re always asked. Try to explore a new avenue. Find ways to connect with them and help them open up in a way that will make listeners tune into your interview because of its particular insightfulness.
✴ Audio is key
From a production standpoint, there’s one thing that all new podcasters can and should master before anything else: make sure you capture good audio.
Sound design, fancy intro music, and all the other bells and whistles can come later. But bad audio recording is one sure-fire way to lose listeners before you even get a chance to convince them to stay. There are, of course, the rare exceptions where podcasts caught on in popularity, and only then improved their audio. But why start on the wrong foot if you can avoid it?
Luckily, getting quality audio doesn’t have to break the bank. Just make sure you have the proper mic equipment and reliable remote recording tools.
✴ Conclusion
At the end of the day, whichever format you choose to move forward with should boil down to your audience and your end goal. If, after all this discussion, the interview format feels best to you, trust your gut.
However, if some of these alternatives speak to you, give them a try! Not only can they be easier than interviews, they may even be more fun for you. And if you’re not having at least a little fun, why even bother?
Choosing a format to move forward with is just the first step, though, and we’re sure you have a million more questions. If that’s the case and you’re ready to dive all in, check out our podcasting guide. It’s packed with tons of helpful tips and resources to help you bridge the gap from conceptualizing an idea to releasing your podcast out into the world.
When you do decide to start recording, do it with confidence. Grab our free production checklist here.
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