Solo podcasting often gets a reputation for being "easy" because you don't have to coordinate with guests. But without a guest to bounce ideas off of, many hosts fall into the trap of rambling or becoming monotonous. You need a specific architecture to hold your audience's attention.

In this episode, I break down the three primary structures of solo podcasting: The Storyteller, The Teacher, and The Commentator. Plus, learn about a fourth BONUS format.

We explore the subtypes within these categories too, such as the "Historical Deep Dive" or the "Academic Explainer," and look at real-world examples of successful shows using these frameworks. You will learn how to identify which structure fits your goals and how to pivot your existing show to a stronger format.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• The definition and goal of "The Storyteller" format (Narrative focus)
• How "The Teacher" format builds authority through logic and frameworks
• Why "The Commentator" format builds the fastest trust with an audience
• The risks and rewards of blending multiple formats (Hybrid models)
• How to use a "Cold Open" to hook listeners immediately

RESOURCES:

• Hardcore History (Dan Carlin): https://www.dancarlin.com/
• Lore (Aaron Mahnke): https://www.lorepodcast.com/
• History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps: https://historyofphilosophy.net/
• The History of Rome / Revolutions (Mike Duncan): https://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/
• Think Media Podcast: https://youtube.com/@ThinkMediaPodcast and https://www.thinkmediapodcast.com
• Your Improv Brain (Jen deHaan): https://youtube.com/@YourImprovBrain and https://improvupdate.com
• The Humanist Report: https://www.humanistreport.com/
• Monday Morning Podcast (Bill Burr): https://billburr.com/podcast
• Better Online (Ed Zitron): https://www.czm.media/shows/better-offline
• Adam Conover (YouTube Channel): https://youtube.com/@TheAdamConover
• Revisionist History (Malcolm Gladwell): https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history
• Radiolab: https://radiolab.org/

Chapters:

00:00 The risk of "winging it" in solo podcasting

01:35 Format 1: The Storyteller (Narrative focus)

02:08 Subtype: The Historical Deep Dive

03:07 Subtype: Themed Narrative & The Cold Open

04:36 Format 2: The Teacher (Knowledge transfer)

05:36 Subtype: The Academic Explainer

06:18 Subtype: The Framework Model (How-To)

07:34 Format 3: The Commentator (Perspective based)

08:24 Subtype: News Analysis vs. Op-Ed

10:48...