In the world of remote meetings, we’ve all experienced a poor connection. If you’re interviewing a guest remotely, be sure to let them know how critical a strong internet connection is to the interview. If they are on a weak connection, consider having them disable video to improve their audio quality. If the guest’s connection is incredibly weak, you’ll be better served to reschedule when you can meet in person, or they can connect from another location. You won’t be doing yourself any favors by having them dial in by phone if their internet connection is weak. Most interviews held over the phone capture an immense amount of background noise, and if your guest is like me, you’ll record every step they take as they pace around the room.

When interviewing a guest, especially if you’re doing so virtually, give them an overview of best practices before you begin. Keep in mind, your guest wants to come off sounding just as good as you, and technically they are the featured component of that particular episode. One important thing to remind your guests is to lean into their microphone. As you chat, guests have a tendency to get comfortable and lean back in their chair. The problem is that as they lean away, their voice will become distant, and the sound quality will be degraded in post-production editing. Remind them to keep those lips close to the mic to ensure they sound clear and crisp.

Podcasts are typically thought of as audio content consumed from smart devices. This is true, but as we’ve seen in recent years, the phones we carry around, as well as cellular service providers, are getting faster and better at supporting HD video quality. With this in mind, think of your entire audience. From the MySpace to TikTok generations, each likes to consume content differently. Recording your podcast sessions is one more content medium you can share and promote through YouTube and other video platforms to expand and maximize your audience reach.