If you want to be a better podcaster …
Every day, I record a “Sausage Factory” episode. It takes just a few minutes and it makes me both a better podcast host and guest.
Do it for 30 days and I guarantee you will be a better podcast host. You can do it secretly—nobody has to know.
But they'll notice the good results you get—you won't be able to hide how much better you are as a podcast host.
Focus on three things each episode:
Reading
Improvising
Answering random questions
Reading
Reading. Literally. For me, this is often “radio episode prep” from a service designed for radio jocks. Birthdays, weird news, etc. However, I’ve read everything from modeling contracts, to airplane safety manuals, to book reviews, to keep things fresh and keep me on my toes.
Improvising
One of the great things about reading prep material for radio jocks is the lightheartedness of its content. Because it’s designed to be “safe” and not piss people off, so they don’t turn the dial to another station, nothing is too deep. These stories of “common” experiences and celebrity news give me a lot of easy material to add my spin by telling improvised stories or giving a personal reaction, which is exactly what I do.
Answering Random Questions
Any time you interact with another podcast host, a co-host of your own podcast, or a guest, you’ll have to answer questions. And it’s important to be good at this.
Part of the reason to practice this skill is developing the ability to think on your feet, so you can’t know the questions you’ll be answering ahead of time. Fortunately, a site like Conversation Starters makes this easy. Another alternative is picking a random question from a list of “Table Topics” questions used by Toastmasters.
You see the question, read it, and immediately answer it—that’s the process.
Is Anybody Listening?
Probably not. But having an audience for a podcast like this isn’t the point— the point is for you to do what it takes to become a better host for the podcasts where having an audience is important.
Good luck!
