How to Record a Solo Podcast Without Sounding Scripted
NOTE: Today's show is NOT edited to show how much editing I do.
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Everyone has their own workflow. Here is mine:
- Write out what I'm trying to say.
- Record using the Google doc as a reference. As I'm recording/talking I know what the next paragraph is so I often will expand on the paragraph as I want to tell a story or elaborate on the concept. Previously I would boil down the document to bullet points, but found I have to do less editing, If I write out the main points, and the expand on those points when I record
Dual Voices In This Episode
So you can hear when I go off script, when I am off script I will be louder on one side of your headphones. Some of this is good as I expand on the point off of the documents. Other times, I'm taking tangents that normally would've been deleted.
Don't Go Back to the Beginning
Some people when they make a mistake will go back to the very beginning of the episode. You don't need to do this. Go back slightly until you see a good spot to jump in. Talking along with yourself and press the record button. When you get to a good stopping spot, go back and make sure that it sounds natural
Relax, It's Not Live
I know it's weird to talk to yourself, so think of that one person who needs to hear your content. If you mess up on a solo show, it's no sweat. There are no re-interviews to schedule. Just go back and fix your mistake.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Even in my early days at the School of Podcasting, while there are things that could be improved for a new podcaster, I felt I had the "talk to your invisible friend" part down. This might be because I often had to entertain myself. I played with audio tools like cassette decks and reel-to-reel tape machines when I was very young. I started and still keep a journal. I'm a musician and have been on stage since I was 15, and I did daily presentations as a teacher for decades. There is no replacement for experience. This doesn't mean it will take you 40 years to sound good, but it will take more than 40 minutes. Just start recording yourself and practice getting words out of your brain, out of your mouth, and into a recording. Then delete it.