How to Prepare for a Podcast Interview (Guest Guide)
You've been invited on a podcast. Brilliant. They found you interesting enough to dedicate 30-60 minutes to your insights. Now you've got three days to prepare, zero broadcasting experience, and a nagging fear that you'll freeze mid-sentence or sound like you're recording from inside a biscuit tin.
Most first-time guests make the same mistakes: showing up without testing their audio, rambling without structure, or treating the interview like a sales pitch instead of a conversation. The result? Awkward silences, unusable audio, and an episode that never sees release.
Here's how to prepare properly so the host invites you back.
Why Podcast Guesting Matters for Your Brand
Being invited as a podcast guest is one of the most effective brand-building tools available in 2026. Unlike written content that gets skimmed, podcast listeners spend 30-60 minutes actively engaged with your voice, stories, and expertise — building trust and familiarity that no LinkedIn post can match. For business owners and professionals, this translates directly into opportunities: podcast appearances make it much easier to close business because they give potential clients a better sense of who you are and what it's going to be like to work with you, reducing perceived risk Rephonic.
But here's the reality: hosts receive dozens of guest pitches each week, and they're looking for guests who'll make their production easier.
If your audio sounds like you're recording in a bathroom, or your video looks like a hostage situation, you won't get invited back, and you certainly won't get recommended to other podcasters.
Professional-quality audio and video (whether through proper home equipment or a dedicated studio like the Podcast Studio Glasgow) signals that you take the opportunity seriously, respect the host's audience, and understand that content quality matters.
Hosts talk to each other. One great appearance in a well-equipped environment leads to referrals, repeat invitations, and access to larger audiences. Your expertise gets you the first invitation. Your production quality determines whether you get the next ten.
Before the Interview: The Technical Stuff
Equipment Check (48 Hours Before)
Let’s assume you’re being recorded remotely, as in you won’t be in the same room as the podcast host.
Don't wait until five minutes before recording to discover your laptop microphone sounds like you're underwater.
Minimum setup for remote interviews:
Microphone: USB mic (Samson Q2U £70, Audio-Technica ATR2100x £90) beats laptop/phone mics by a long shot. If you're serious about guest appearances, invest £70-90 once rather than apologising for bad audio repeatedly.
Headphones: Wired, closed-back headphones. Not earbuds. Not AirPods. The host needs to hear you without echo feedback.
Internet: Wired Ethernet connection, if possible. Wi-Fi works, but increases the risk of dropouts. Close Slack, email, OneDrive; anything that might steal bandwidth mid-sentence.
Lighting (if video): Face a window or use a desk lamp. You want even lighting on your face, not a ceiling light casting shadows under your eyes like a horror film.
Test your setup 24 hours before: Record 60 seconds of yourself speaking in the same location you'll use for the interview. Play it back through decent speakers or headphones. Does it sound clear? Can you hear background noise (air conditioning, traffic, keyboard clicks)?
If the answer is no, fix it before the interview. Always wear headphones while recording — it's the only way to know for sure what your microphone is capturing Riverside.
Pro tip: Services like Zoom or Riverside allow you to save individual audio files for later editing The Podcast Host.
If the host uses Riverside or similar platforms, your audio records locally to your device (higher quality) rather than streaming through the internet. Just don't close the browser tab mid-interview.
Recording Location (Day Before)
Pick the quietest room in your house. Not the kitchen (fridge hums), not near a road (traffic), not near your neighbour's drum practice.
Quick fixes for bad room acoustics:
Hang blankets or duvets on the walls to absorb the echo
Record in a room with carpet, curtains, bookshelves (anything soft that absorbs sound)
Sit at a desk covered with papers, books, fabric — hard flat surfaces bounce sound around
Close windows, turn off fans/air conditioning during recording
You're not building a professional studio. You're just stopping your voice from bouncing off bare walls like a squash court.
Platform Familiarisation (Day Before)
The host will tell you which platform they're using (Zoom, Riverside, SquadCast, Google Meet). Create an account if needed and test it works on your device.
Common remote recording platforms:
Riverside.fm — records high-quality video/audio locally (preferred by professionals)
Zoom — familiar but lower audio quality unless configured properly
SquadCast — similar to Riverside, built for podcasters
Google Meet — functional but not ideal for podcast-quality audio
If you've never used the platform before, do a 5-minute test call with a friend the day before. Check your mic shows up, video works (if needed), and you understand how to mute/unmute.
Content Preparation: What to Actually Say
Research the Show (One Week Before)
Listen to 2-3 recent episodes of the podcast. Not the entire back catalogue — just enough to understand:
Format: Structured interview with set questions? Casual conversation? Rapid-fire Q&A?
Audience: Who listens? Business owners? Tech enthusiasts? General interest?
Tone: Professional and serious? Conversational and funny? Somewhere between?
Episode length: 20 minutes? 60 minutes? Plan your energy accordingly.
If you ask the guest, "Can you tell our listeners what you do?" they'll give you their prepared bio - long, boring, and identical to what they say everywhere else, Castos.
The host has already researched you. Don't waste time reciting your CV.
Prepare Your Key Points (3-5 Maximum)
You're not giving a keynote speech. You're having a conversation. But structure helps.
Identify 3-5 key messages you want to land:
One story that demonstrates your expertise
One counterintuitive insight most people get wrong
One practical takeaway listeners can use immediately
One example with specific numbers/results (not vague claims)
One "lesson learned the hard way" moment
Don't script these word-for-word. Bullet points only. You want to sound natural, not like you're reading from an autocue.
Example structure:
Story: "When we launched our SaaS product in 2022, we assumed enterprise clients wanted feature complexity. Wrong."
Insight: "Turns out, enterprise buyers don't buy features — they buy reduced risk and faster onboarding for their teams."
Practical takeaway: "Before your next enterprise pitch, interview three users about their biggest workflow pain point. Build your demo around solving that, not showcasing features."
That's concise, specific, and immediately useful. That's what makes good podcast content.
Prepare Your Call-to-Action (But Don't Be Pushy)
If you want listeners to take action after hearing your interview, you'll need a CTA strategy prepared in advance Rephonic.
Know what you want to achieve.
Two-tier CTA approach:
Low investment: "Connect with me on LinkedIn" or "Visit my website for free resources"
High investment: "Download our enterprise strategy guide" or "Book a consultation call"
Generate curiosity about your high-investment CTA near the start of your interview, hint at low-investment CTAs in the middle, and offer one of each when you wrap up. Rephonic.
Don't turn the interview into a 40-minute sales pitch. The host invited you for insights, not advertising. Listeners can smell desperation.
During the Interview: What to Do (and Avoid)
Technical Discipline
Mute notifications: Phone on silent. Slack closed. Email closed. Calendar alerts off.
Close other programs: Don't let OneDrive start syncing mid-interview.
Sit still: Dynamic mics reject background noise, but they also pick up chair squeaks, desk bumps, and fidgeting.
Speak into the mic: Keep 4-6 inches away. Too close = distortion. Too far = you sound distant.
Don't touch the mic or desk: Every bump is amplified.
Conversational Discipline
Do:
Pause after the host finishes speaking (avoid talking over them)
Give specific examples instead of vague theories
Tell stories with a beginning, middle, and end
Admit when you don't know something (credibility beats bullshit)
Ask for clarification if a question is unclear
Don't:
Ramble for 5 minutes without reaching a point
Say "um" or "like" every third word (breath control helps)
Give yes/no answers to open questions (the host can't work with that)
Interrupt the host mid-question to "correct" them
Plug your product in every answer
The most important factor is your own mental state and body language. If you're nervous coming into an interview, that will come across, and the other person may become rigid as a mirror Alex Birkett.
Energy and Pacing
Podcast audio is intimate. Listeners wear headphones. You're speaking directly into their ears while they're commuting, cooking, or working out.
Energy tips:
Stand up or sit upright (better breath support)
Smile while speaking (yes, people hear it in your voice)
Vary your pace — don't drone in monotone
Use pauses for emphasis (silence isn't awkward, it's powerful)
Match the host's energy level (don't be louder or quieter)
If you're recording for 60 minutes, your energy at minute 55 should match your energy at minute 5. Drink water between answers if needed.
What to Avoid (Common Guest Mistakes)
The "Expert Curse"
You know your topic inside out. Your audience doesn't. Avoid:
Industry jargon without explanation ("We implemented a multi-tenant SaaS architecture with API-first microservices...")
Assuming listeners know acronyms (spell them out the first time)
Answering questions nobody asked because you find them interesting
Over-preparation might make your interview sound more scripted and less from the heart, so you'll need to be careful to keep prioritising authenticity Riverside. Preparation helps, but don't rehearse so much you sound robotic.
The Sales Pitch Trap
Listeners tolerate one mention of your business. Maybe two if they're directly relevant to the story. Beyond that, you're advertising, not contributing.
Bad: "And that's why our platform at CompanyXYZ helps businesses achieve 340% ROI through our proprietary AI-driven..."
Good: "We built a tool to solve this exact problem. But the principle works whether you use software or a simple spreadsheet..."
Give value first. If listeners want more, they'll find you.
The Vague Generalist
"It depends" is the worst answer in podcasting. So is "everyone's different" or "you need to find what works for you."
Bad: "Well, it really depends on your business model and customer base, so you'd need to evaluate your specific situation..."
Good: "In my experience with B2B SaaS companies, we saw the best results when we focused outreach on companies with 50-200 employees. Below 50, they couldn't afford us. Above 200, procurement slowed everything down."
Specific beats general every time.
The Glasgow Factor: Where to Record
Recording Remotely
If you're not in Glasgow (or even if you are), Riverside.fm is the industry standard for remote podcast recording. Both the host and guest need a good USB microphone and headphones, plus a computer with an internet connection The Podcast Host.
The advantage: Your audio is recorded locally on your device at full quality, then uploaded afterwards. Even if your internet stutters mid-interview, the audio file stays pristine.
Recording In-Person (Glasgow)
If you're in Glasgow or visiting, professional studios give you broadcast-quality audio without worrying about your home setup. And yes, this matters even if you’re the guest: there’s absolutely no reason why your end of the recording shouldn’t look or sound amazing, potentially better than the host. Opting to be in a professional podcast recording studio when you’re a remote podcast guest will increase your chances of being invited to be a guest on more podcasts.
Why?
Your part of the podcast recording will be highly “clippable” and shareable because it looks and sounds professional.
Podcast Studio Glasgow (279 Abercromby Street, East End):
3-camera Blackmagic 6K video setup with ISO recording
Rode Procaster dynamic mics (broadcast standard)
£75/hour for multi-camera video podcast recording
Production Partner Programme: £1,500 for 6 monthly recording slots
An in-studio recording removes all technical risk. You show up, sit down, speak. The equipment, room acoustics, and post-production get handled professionally.
Book via podcaststudioglasgow.com if you're recording in Glasgow.
Preparation Checklist Table
| Timeline | Task | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Week Before | Listen to 2-3 recent episodes | Understand format, tone, audience expectations |
| 1 Week Before | Prepare 3-5 key talking points | Structure without sounding scripted |
| 48 Hours Before | Test microphone and headphones | Catch audio issues before it's too late |
| 24 Hours Before | Record 60-second test in interview location | Check for background noise, echo, audio quality |
| 24 Hours Before | Test recording platform (Zoom/Riverside/etc.) | Avoid fumbling with tech during intro |
| Day Of | Pick quiet room, close windows, silence phone | Eliminate background distractions |
| Day Of | Close all programs except recording platform | Prevent bandwidth/notification interruptions |
| Day Of | Position mic 4-6 inches from mouth | Optimal audio capture without distortion |
| Day Of | Sit upright, have water nearby | Maintain energy for 30-60 minutes |
| During Interview | Give specific examples, not vague advice | Listeners remember stories, not platitudes |
| During Interview | Pause after host speaks (avoid interrupting) | Clean audio editing, respectful conversation |
| During Interview | Mention your CTA naturally 1-2 times max | Value first, promotion second |
| After Interview | Send thank-you email to host | Builds relationship, increases reshare likelihood |
| After Interview | Promote episode when released | Host invited you — share it with your audience |
After the Interview
Follow Up
Send a thank-you email to the host within 24 hours. Keep it short:
"Thanks for having me on [Podcast Name]. Really enjoyed the conversation about [specific topic]. Let me know when the episode goes live and I'll share it with my audience."
That's it. Don't ask for the raw files, don't request editorial control, don't suggest rewording your answers. The host knows what they're doing.
Promote the Episode
When the episode releases, share it. LinkedIn post, Twitter thread, email newsletter — wherever your audience lives. The host gave you free promotion to their listeners. Return the favour.
Good promotion: "Had a great conversation with [Host] on [Podcast] about [topic]. We discussed [specific insight]. Listen here: [link]"
Bad promotion: "Check out my latest podcast appearance where I talk about how great my company is for 45 minutes."
The Bottom Line
Most first-time podcast guests wing it and hope for the best. They show up with laptop audio, ramble without structure, and plug their business every third sentence.
You're better than that.
Test your equipment 48 hours early. Prepare 3-5 key points. Give specific examples instead of vague advice. Don't sell, contribute. The rest takes care of itself.
If you're recording remotely, use Riverside. If you're in Glasgow, book Podcast Studio Glasgow and let professionals handle the technical side while you focus on the conversation.
Your first podcast interview doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be prepared.
Sources:
Podcast guesting strategies and CTA preparation Rephonic
Interview preparation best practices and guest experience Alex BirkettCastos
Authenticity vs over-preparation in interviews Riverside
Remote recording equipment and platform recommendations The Podcast HostRiverside
USB microphone recommendations for podcast guests 2026 The Podcast ConsultantThe Podcast Host
