What I Learned from Taping my First Podcast

Reflecting on my First Podcast

I never thought I would be recording a podcast. Yet, here I am, reflecting upon my first one. This project allowed me to grow as a storyteller in more ways than one, and I am excited to move forward with this newfound knowledge. I am more confident in my interviewing skills, as well as overall more comfortable with computer software that I am sure to run into again in the future.

Choosing a Guest

While picking a topic for my podcast was by no means easy, I found that choosing a guest that could shed personal light on the situation at hand was even more difficult. I myself could have been a candidate for this interview, therefore it is a topic that is close to my heart. My friend Elle and I have had numerous conversations pertaining to this topic prior to the interview, and through these we bonded.

Comfort is Key

Through creating this podcast, I realized the importance of being comfortable with your guest, and making them comfortable. In class we discussed matching our guest’s body language to make the conversation more casual and relaxed. For me, I feel as though I was at an advantage, as the guest was one of my closest friends. I practiced copying her body language while shooting the podcast, and while we are already comfortable around each other, being recorded is always intimidating. I found that it made conversation flow more naturally.

Getting Comfortable with Audition

This was my first time using Audition and Soundcloud both, there was a large and rapid learning curve for me. I have never been good with technology, as it has never been something I have focused on. I do, however, enjoy getting familiar with new applications. Throughout the process of creating this podcast, I learned that it is easier for me to record outside of Audition in Voice Memos, and then insert the clips. Small tricks like these made all the difference to me.

Putting This Experience to Use

As previously mentioned, I feel as though this experience has better prepared me for a future career. Not only did it force me to exercise good interview techniques, but I also saw how important it is to choose an appropriate guest for a particular interview. With technology as prominent as it is in our society today, I am glad to have had the opportunity to get familiar with a popular software, and I am excited to put my skills to use in the future. I have learned good interview techniques as well, which is useful on either side of an interview.