How to be a good podcast host: My tips after 2 years of podcasting

There are more than four million podcast titles hosted on Spotify and almost as many various personalities among the hosts. The purpose of this article is to share some tips on how to improve as a podcast host.

As a podcast host, you're coordinating the conversation. You're the middleman between your guest and your listeners. It's an important role that determines whether listeners subscribe or vanish forever. 

Personally, I like to consume podcasts and hear many different host personalities during the week. Some are very outgoing. Others are more reserved and let the guest do the talk. I don't think there is a right or wrong personality - but there are some parameters that determine whether the host does a great job or not. 

How to become a better B2B podcast host

A structure for obtaining interesting conclusions

People who listen to a company podcast want to walk away with new insights. Unlike, for example, comedy podcasts, you, as a host, need to coordinate the conversation in a structured way to reveal these insights to your listeners. 

When I host The Onlinification Pod, I often have a rough idea of how to steer the conversation in the right direction. I often think of the conversation as three parts. The first part generally talks about the topic and explains why the guest is a relevant subject matter expert. The next step is to talk about challenges or problems related to the topic. The final part is dedicated to solving the challenges, serving the listeners with conclusions on a platter.

Do your research

A prerequisite for a good conversation is that everyone is informed about the topic. The guest might be a specialist on the topic, and there are no requirements for you as a host to know as much. But to steer the conversation in the right direction and ask interesting questions, you'll need to know the basics of the topic. Thus, important to spend some study time before the recording. 

Listen to other episodes about the topic, read articles and watch YouTube videos for inspiration.

Connect the dots

The interesting thing about conversation is that it can take unexpected turns. But each turn has its red dot. As a listener, it is appreciated if you, as the host, can connect those related dots during the conversation.

For example, suppose we are recording an episode about CRM. We start talking about why it's important to have all contact data on one contact card. Later in the episode, we discuss the challenges of integrating systems when the company's department works in silos. A good podcast host could then refer to what you said about the importance of gathering data for each department. This method makes it easier for listeners to consume the content, and it provides you with more insights that you can later use when you repurpose your podcast content.

Do you want to start a podcast?

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From SEK 85 000, we help you plan, record, edit, and distribute your first ten episodes. Click the button below to learn more - and make sure to take a look at our in-depth guide to business podcasting for more insights on how to succeed, or download our free guide to launching your company podcast further down.