How to Rock Your Interview Checklist

After have been interviewed on podcasts, and having interviewed several people, I wanted to share some of my tips to ensure that you have the most enjoyable experience as a guest on the Parenting, Passports and Profits ‘Pop-Up’ Podcast.

BEFORE THE CALL

15-30 MINUTES BEFORE

• Share something on your social channels; e.g. a tweet/Instagram along the lines of “I’m excited to talk with @parentingpassportsandprofits on the Parenting Passports & Profits ‘Pop-Up’ Podcast! #yourusername”.
• Grab a glass of water to be available during the call.
• Turn off all notifications on your computer, phone, Skype, etc. I encourage putting your phone in airplane mode.
• Close the windows, turn off the fans, and put the animals in another room.
• Get those headphones (earbuds are perfectly okay) plugged in. If you don’t have any headphones, then this is a great beginner set from Amazon. Remember, the better the audio is the more likely my audience and your audience will listen and share the show.
• Write Colin Clapp and Parenting, Passports & Profits on a Post-It note and stick it on your monitor.

7 MINUTES BEFORE

• Pause the automatic syncing of any applications such as Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, etc.
• Minimize the number of open applications you have on your computer.
• Ensure the correct mic and headphones are selected in Skype.

BEFORE I HIT RECORD, I WILL

• Ask how to pronounce your name.
• Establish any signals we need to pause/repeat any aspect of the interview.
• Note I will be recording your bio/intro separately (based on the factual information you’ve previously provided)
• At the end of the show, I will give you the opportunity to share any projects that you are working on (as per the preparation questions). If these were not known at the time you completed the prep questions, please tell me before we start recording that you wish to include this information in our conversation.

DURING THE INTERVIEW

• Call me by name often; this helps with storytelling; I will of course do the same.
• Be authentic and vulnerable.

AFTER THE RECORDING

• I’ll share with you the approximate date of the release of the show.
• While you have already shared your social media and website addresses, if you have any other items you would like to share that would be a part of my show notes, please share those with me in an email.
• I’m always looking for great guests, therefore, if you know of anyone that would be a good fit, please have them email me.