Hello again!
It’s that time of year when podcasting is ramping up again now that summer’s on its way out and I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to get out my fall-scented candles and cozy up to the microphone. As it seems to happen every September, new shows are coming out, favorite shows are returning, and big announcements are coming out in the podcasting space!
One of the biggest news stories lately has been the collaboration between SquadCast and Descript!
If you don’t already know, SquadCast is a web-based platform where podcasters can record their audio and video podcasts easily, providing podcasters with better audio quality than Zoom. As a podcast editor, I like that when my clients are finished recording, the recordings are saved to the website and I can log in to get the files to edit, either with my clients’ login or through a password manager like LastPass.
Descript is a program that allows you to cut and edit your podcast using the transcription.
Both SquadCast and Descript have changed a lot for independent podcasters looking for automated solutions to the parts of podcasting that may not be as exciting as getting on the mic. I’m personally excited to see more podcasters have access to these tools!
My tip this month is for those podcasters doing remote recordings with guests, but I want to know, if you’re brave enough to reply …
Tell me your podcast recording horror story!
Forgot to press Record for a big guest? Lost a recording? Nightmare guest? No doubt if you’re a seasoned podcaster, you have at least one recording horror story that instantly comes to mind.
Please reply and, if you’re comfortable, let me know if it’s OK to share in next month’s newsletter and include your podcast name and a link so I can give you a shoutout 🙂
This Month’s Podcasting Tip
Remote recordings, in case the term is unfamiliar to you, is when you’re recording your audio in one location and your cohost or guest is in another location, as opposed to an in-person interview where everyone is in the same room or recording space.
Here are my recommendations for remote recordings:
Prepare your guest by suggesting they record in a quiet space with no interruptions. Rooms with lots of soft furniture and carpeting are better than rooms with a lot of hard surfaces and echo. Not everyone’s going to have a perfectly quiet recording studio. Guests understand that. But getting good sound shouldn’t fall by the wayside because of it.
If your guest doesn’t have a proper mic, suggest using a pair of Apple Earbuds — the kind that came with earlier model iPhones. The microphone on those is actually great in a pinch! (The mic on the Apple Earpods is fine, but not great.) But anything is better than the computer mic, which often leads to lots of room noise and reverb, and can be difficult to clean up in post.
Ask the guest to wear headphones/earbuds for the interview so their microphone doesn’t pick up sounds from the computer or the host speaking. This helps preserve clean audio of just the guest’s voice.
Have a pre-interview to check the sound of the guest. Check all your connections and listen for any sounds that might be distracting before pressing Record.
During the interview, don’t be afraid to stop or pause if something comes up to make the sound hard to hear. I’d rather ask a guest to repeat themselves, rather than assume a bad connection or issue can be fixed afterward. This is what podcast editing is here for.
These tips and more can be found in my blog post 5 Types of Challenging Podcast Guests (and How to Handle Them).
And if you’d like some recommendations for Remote Recording, check out Pick My Brain: Recommendations for Remote Co-Hosting a Podcast on the blog 🙂
By the way, I have to give a shout-out to Mike Carruthers and his team from the Something You Should Know podcast!
I was recently interviewed on the show talking about the history of everyday objects from my podcast/book, The Story Behind, and they included an explainer video for guests to walk them through best practices for recording and to give them a heads up of what to expect when they come on the show.
In the video, Mike even demonstrated the difference in sound between using a professional mic, a decent $30 mic, and the built-in computer microphone.
He also suggested having an Ethernet connection and closing down extra programs that may hog bandwidth on your computer, which can help your guest get the best connection to you and sound their best. That's some pro-tip stuff right there!
I'll put the link to my appearance when it's published in a future newsletter 🙂 until then, if you like trivia and useful knowledge, give Mike a listen!
The Most Important Recordings You’ll Ever Create
Excerpt from the latest blog post:
I remember as a kid listening to the grown-ups at holiday gatherings talking about things that happened in the past and relatives no longer with us. Whenever my great-grandfather was brought up, I would chime in and ask someone to re-tell the story of how he lost his 3 fingers in an accident and how a mystic healer woman was able to cure his phantom pains — check out my Instagram post for that story!
I’m glad so many of you enjoyed it and like family legends like that. They’re some of my favorite things to read about and hear, as well!
All this to say …
As the weather cools and the holiday season is approaching, if you’re a podcaster who has invested some time and maybe even money into learning to how to podcast, consider bringing a mic and laptop or recorder to your next family gathering and recording some of those family stories!
Check Out the Latest Blog Posts + Appearances
E Podcast Productions — Podcasting Blog
Get Your Audience Excited for More: Be a Tease! — August 2023 Newsletter
Story Time: Your Podcast Audience Will Change (And That's OK!)
Emily: Out Loud — ADHD/Creative Lifestyle Blog
Until next time, Happy Podcasting!
♥ Emily Prokop
Like What I Do?
Enjoying this newsletter and my content? You can find additional tips over at BuyMeACoffee.com/emilyprokop where you can support me and my work by buying me a cup of coffee to say thanks 🙂 And look for a shout-out over on my Instagram Stories AND NOW THREADS!
Past supporters get additional tips emailed to them — if that's you, be on the lookout for a bonus tip in your email inbox!
September’s bonus tip is available for Supporters Only and it’s giving you some of my favorite tips and tools for scheduling 😉
Thanks for the coffee! ☕
About Me
I’m Emily Prokop, a podcaster, editor and educator. I created & hosted the Webby-nominated podcast, The Story Behind, among a number of other podcasts I’ve been a part of. As the owner of E Podcast Productions, a podcast editing and consulting business, I’ve been helping podcasters plan, improve, and grow their shows for the last 5 years.
I’m also an introverted, neurodivergent married mom of 2. When I’m not wearing a pair of headphones to record or edit a podcast, you can find me singing in choir, wandering in the woods, roller skating around my living room, or trying out a new hobby or ADHD hyperfixation on Instagram and now Threads! Find out more over at EmilyProkop.com.
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