Podcast Guest Prep Checklist: 5 Tips

Want your podcast guests to shine? Here's how to prep them:

Research your guest thoroughly
Provide clear tech instructions
Explain your show's format
Have a pre-interview chat
Send a full info pack

Why bother? Good prep leads to better conversations, which keeps listeners hooked.

Here's a quick breakdown of each tip:

Tip	Key Points
Research	Look into career achievements, current work, past interviews
Tech	Suggest equipment, give sound tips, recommend recording spots
Format	Outline show structure, duration, special segments
Pre-chat	Build rapport, check topics, answer questions
Info pack	Include show details, guest intro, possible questions, recording info

Remember: These tips are flexible. Adapt them to fit your unique podcast style and needs.

Research Your Guest Well

Knowing your guest inside and out is key to a great podcast interview. Here's how to dig deep:

Career Achievements

Look into your guest's work history. What big wins have they had? If you're interviewing Elon Musk, you'd want to know about PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX.

Current Work

Find out what your guest is up to now. New product? Book in the works? This info helps you ask timely questions.

Past Podcast Interviews

Listen to other shows your guest has been on. It helps you:

Ask fresh questions
Get their speaking style
Find new angles

Travis Brown from HitPublish nails it:

"Our job as interviewers is to specifically pull out information that hasn't been shared on other shows."

Make Good Questions

Use what you've learned to craft questions that matter:

Do	Don't
Ask about recent projects	Rehash old interviews
Explore new angles	Stick to surface-level topics
Tailor questions to your audience	Ask generic questions

Good prep leads to great conversations. Serena Louth, co-host of the Kitchen Club podcast, puts it this way:

"It's so nice talking to you when you know so much about our podcast. We've spoken to so many people who know nothing about what we do. It's clear they haven't listened to our show before speaking with us."

2. Give Clear Tech Instructions

Want your guests to sound great? Give them these simple tech tips:

Needed Equipment

For good audio, guests need:

A decent mic (USB or XLR)
Headphones
Pop filter
Quiet space

Suggest budget-friendly mics like the Samson Q2U ($70) or ATR2100x ($50). These work with USB and XLR, perfect for beginners and pros.

Sound Better Tips

Tell your guests:

Use headphones to catch issues
Keep the mic at mouth level, a few inches away
Stay consistent with mic distance
Use a pop filter for cleaner sound
Mute all device notifications
Close windows to block noise

Where to Record

Guide guests to pick the right spot:

Good Spots	Bad Spots
Carpeted rooms	Bathrooms
Home offices	Kitchens
Living rooms	Outdoors
Bedrooms	Cafes

Soft furnishings? Great. Hard surfaces? Avoid them.

"You don't need a pro studio for great audio anymore. There are tons of ways to record high-quality sound at home now."

3. Explain How the Show Works

Let's walk through what your guests can expect during the interview. This helps them relax and keeps things running smoothly.

Show Parts

Here's a quick breakdown of our podcast structure:

Section	Purpose
Intro	We'll introduce you and the topic
Main Content	This is where we dive into the interview
Conclusion	We'll wrap up and thank you for your time

How Long It Takes

We're looking at about 45 minutes total. That's 35-40 minutes of chat, with some wiggle room for any tech hiccups.

Special Show Parts

Heads up: We've got a few unique segments:

A rapid-fire question round
Some questions from our listeners
Maybe even a bit of role-playing

What We Need from You

To make the show great:

Just be yourself and chat openly
Share some personal stories if you can
Don't hesitate to ask if something's not clear

Sam Datta-Paulin, who used to teach journalism and now produces at Lower Street, puts it well:

"Making your guest feel comfortable should be a top priority, especially in the lead-up to the interview."

4. Talk Before the Interview

A quick pre-interview chat can make a world of difference. Here's why:

Quick Chat or Email

Set up a brief call or send an email to your guest. This helps:

Build rapport
Calm nerves
Set expectations

Matthew Brown from Inner Ear says:

"You need to have a pre-interview call. Every show holds a pre-interview with guests. Trust me: you're not better off than all of them."

Check Topics

During your chat:

Outline main talking points
Confirm they match your guest's expertise
Discuss any off-limits topics

This keeps you both on the same page and avoids awkward moments.

Answer Questions

Let your guest ask questions. They might wonder:

Question Type	Examples
Technical	"What equipment do I need?"
Format	"How long will we talk?"
Content	"Any topics I should prep for?"

Answering these helps your guest relax.

Get to Know Each Other

Spend a few minutes on small talk. It's not wasted time – it builds relationships. A PR Manager notes:

"Our clients always come out of the pre-interview excited and confident about being on the show."

Don't ask your main interview questions now. Save those for the real deal to keep things fresh.

5. Send a Full Info Pack

Want to impress your podcast guests? Send them a full info pack. It's a simple way to help them prep and show you mean business. Here's what to include:

About Your Show

Give guests the lowdown on your podcast:

Show name and tagline
Who listens
How episodes work
Listener count

Guest Intro Draft

Write up how you'll introduce your guest. Let them check it over. This saves time and avoids awkward moments during recording.

Possible Questions

Share some questions you might ask. It helps guests prepare without sounding too rehearsed. For example:

Question Type	Example
Opening	"What got you into [topic]?"
Main Content	"Can you explain [specific process]?"
Closing	"What's next for you in [field]?"

When and Where to Record

Be clear about the details:

Date and time (with time zone)
How long it'll take
Where you'll record (like Zoom or Riverside.fm)
Any tech checks needed beforehand

Make It Fit Your Show

Your info pack should match your podcast's vibe. Casual show? Keep it light. Formal podcast? Stick to a pro tone.

"We send a link to our Riverside.fm studio in our info pack. We also throw in tips like 'Use Chrome' and 'Ethernet is best if you can,'" says the host of "Workflows" podcast.

Wrap-up

Prepping podcast guests isn't optional. It's crucial for making your show stand out.

Here's a quick recap of our 5 tips:

Research your guest
Give clear tech instructions
Explain your show's format
Have a pre-interview chat
Send a full info pack

Why bother? Good prep = better conversations. And that's what keeps listeners hooked.

But here's the thing: these tips aren't rigid rules. Adapt them to fit your show.

Take the "Workflows" podcast, for example. They include their Riverside.fm studio link in the info pack, along with practical advice like "Use Chrome" and "Ethernet is best".

The goal? Set the stage for a great chat. Use these tips as a starting point, but add your own spin.

Your podcast is one-of-a-kind. Your prep should be too.

FAQs

How to prepare for a podcast as a guest?

Want to nail your podcast interview? Here's how to get ready:

1. Listen to the show

Tune in to at least two full episodes. You'll get a feel for the show's vibe and spot any recurring segments.

2. Know your audience

Check out podcast reviews on iTunes or Chartable. Figure out who's listening and why they tune in.

3. Prep your stories

Have three solid anecdotes ready to go. Focus on real-life experiences that drive your points home.

4. Tech check

Grab a decent mic or headset. Test your gear before the big day.

5. Do your homework

Fill out any pre-show questionnaires. Research the host and recent guests.

6. Be yourself

Keep it natural and conversational. Ditch the script and just chat.

Podcast Guest Prep Checklist: 5 Tips