Making Peace with Being a Podcast Guest
A friend of mine recently shared news that they were asked to be a guest on a podcast. I was so excited for them, and they were as well! However, immediately after the excitement died down, they started sharing phrases like "I'm so nervous!" or "I say a lot of uhs and ums" or "I have imposter syndrome. I feel like a fraud!" In that moment, I completely related to their anxieties. As a self proclaimed over-thinker, I knew those feelings very well.
Being a guest on a podcast is a great opportunity to put yourself out there. It can be a new outlet to introduce yourself to more people, a different space to share your passions and thoughts, and most importantly build new relationships by having great conversations. As exciting as that may sound, it can be also be a nerve-racking experience if this space is something you’re not accustomed to and don't know what to expect.
As a podcast host myself, that conversation with my friend inspired me to share a couple of thoughts and pointers to help alleviate some of the stress when it comes to this dilemma. If you ever get asked to be on a podcast, here are some ideas to help ease your mind so you can be excited about this awesome opportunity ahead. Good luck!
Harnessing the "Lack of Control" Factor
As a guest, you will typically have no idea what the host will ask you. That's normal, but it can also be scary! If you're feeling this way, it wouldn't hurt to have some type of communication with the host if at all possible. You don't need to have a 2 hour call about it (let's not get too crazy), but having the back and forth so you can have a better sense of what you're walking into is a great idea. Most hosts would welcome this type of communication. A goal of any good host, whether it's a podcast or a dinner party, is to make their guest feel as comfortable as possible. Ultimately, this comfort produces a relaxed and natural atmosphere that lead into fun and interesting conversations. It would be to their benefit to make sure you are feeling good before you start recording the interview.
Before any interview, I send my guests a "one sheet" that gives a quick overview on what to expect out of the interview experience. Disclaimer: There's a fine balance on what info the host should be sending you. Although it'd be nice to get every single question they had for you ahead of time, I do want to caution that by doing that, you may run into a situation where your responses can sound too scripted. I personally make it a standard practice to only send guests general thoughts on my one-sheet in order to keep the conversation as open and natural as possible. Reach out to the host and see if they have their own overview page. If not, don't be intimidated to ask! Feel free to ask questions like:
Do you mind sending me a general flow of how your interviews usually go?
How long are interviews typically?
Do you edit the conversation?
Can I stop and repeat myself if I stumble on my words?
Can I swear?
etc..
Facing The Fear of Our Capabilities
Let me keep this as simple as possible:
If you get asked to be a guest on a podcast, there's a good reason why they asked you. Stop questioning whether or not you're worthy or qualified of being a guest. They've already asked you, so YOU ARE. PERIOD.
If my pep talk wasn't enough though, here are some additional tips to help you navigate this:
Speak on YOUR experiences.
If you are a chef and got asked to be a guest on a podcast, you don't have to speak on behalf of ALL chefs in the entire universe. That is not expected of you (at least hopefully it isn’t). Stick to stories that relate to you. You are more than qualified to speak on your experiences, because they're YOUR experiences. That should be enough.
Take your time.
You are also not expected to be perfect, especially if this is not something you do often. It’s human and it's totally okay. If you stumble on your words, take a second, stop, repeat your thought and keep going.
Bonus Tips
For good measure, here are some other things you can do to help you on your way to your interview!
Check out a few episodes of the podcast you’re going to be on. There’s a couple reasons:
It's good to support people who believe in you. If a show asks you to be on their show, support them back by checking it out even for a little bit.
Doing this will give help you get a general "vibe" of the show so you have a better idea of what to expect for your interview.
Remember - It takes two.
Remind yourself that you don't have to carry the weight of the entire show. As much as you want to be able to share as much as possible, your host also has a responsibility to navigate that conversation. If you feel overwhelmed that you're not going to be able to have enough to say, understand that a good host is there to help you along the way and make it an enjoyable experience.
F*CK it! We’ll do it LIVE!
If everything I just laid out is too much to worry about, ignore everything I wrote above, and just enjoy the journey! This is also a great method if you're comfortable doing it this way. Sometimes, you get the best outcomes when you don't overthink it.
Lastly, You got this! You're killin' it, and you’re going to do great!
