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...

Full scripts can make you sound robotic, but winging it often leads to rambling and hours of painful editing. You need a middle ground that provides the safety of a script with the energy of a conversation.

In this episode, I break down the system I use at StereoForest Studio to organize solo episodes. We move away from word-for-word reading and towards "extemporaneous speaking." This method uses specific bullet points and a rigid structure to keep you on track while allowing your natural personality to come through.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• Why "winging it" actually increases your production costs
• The definition of "Structured Spontaneity" and why you need it
• Which parts of your episode must be fully scripted (and which shouldn't)
• How to use Main Points and Sub-Points to reduce cognitive load

You will leave with a clear framework to organize your next recording session for maximum efficiency and engagement.

About reading scripts without sounding like you're reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5F4RFcNoDw

Software shown: Davinci Resolve https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/ca/products/davinciresolve

About extemporaneous speaking: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-rockland-standupspeakout/chapter/four-methods-of-delivery/

StereoForest: https://stereoforest.com

00:00 The problem with winging it vs. full scripts

02:40 Defining "Structured Spontaneity"

03:14 Why structure creates freedom (The Improv connection)

06:53 What is "Extemporaneous Speaking"?

07:40 Part 1: Fully script the first 30 seconds

09:32 Part 2: Main points and cognitive load

10:12 Part 3: Sub-points for critical data

11:51 Finding your personal level of detail

12:45 Part 4: Fully script the Outro

==========================

==========================

Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan.

Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@solopodcastinghandbook

Website at https://stereoforest.com/solo-podcasting

Get StereoForest’s newsletter for podcasting resources at https://stereoforest.com/subscribe

Produced by Jen deHaan of StereoForest https://stereoforest.com

Contact Jen at https://jendehaan.com

==========================

Your support will help this show continue. Funds will go towards hosting and music licensing for this show and others on StereoForest. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry. StereoForest does not have any funding or additional support.

If you find value in our shows, please consider supporting them with a one time donation at https://stereoforest.com/tip

We love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact me anytime to ask me anything. You can support my shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytz

==========================

Jen's professional background is in web software technology (audio/video/web and graphics), working for many years in Silicon Valley. She has worked in instructional design, writing,

You have written the perfect script. But the moment you press record, your voice goes flat and you sound like you are reading a textbook. News anchors use teleprompters every day and sound natural, so why is it so hard for the rest of us?

In this episode, I break down four specific techniques to fix that robotic delivery. We look at the trade-offs between reading word-for-word and improvising, and how each method impacts your editing time and cognitive load. I also share the specific method I use for my own shows to balance accuracy with a human connection.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• The trade-off between natural delivery and post-production editing time
• How to use the "Look Down, Look Up" method for short-form content
• Techniques for scan-reading a teleprompter effectively
• How to use "Reference Cues" and bolding to anchor your memory
• The "Reference and Improvise" workflow for long-form episodes

The goal is to sound like the expert you are.

Previous episode on script formatting:

Podcast: https://stereoforest.com/episodes/solo-podcasting-workflow-voice-to-final-script/

Video: https://youtu.be/LixDbzNYRXE

Anchor words: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1244288/full

Newsletter: https://StereoForest.com/newsletter

CHAPTERS

00:00 The problem with reading scripts

02:22 Balancing delivery vs. editing time

03:57 Method 1: Look down, look up (Short-term memory)

05:26 Method 2: Scan reading (News anchor style)

06:50 Method 3: Reference cues (Anchoring)

10:24 Method 4: Reference and improvise

12:31 Choosing the right technique for you

==========================

==========================

Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan.

Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@solopodcastinghandbook

Website at https://stereoforest.com/solo-podcasting

Get StereoForest’s newsletter for podcasting resources at https://stereoforest.com/subscribe

Produced by Jen deHaan of StereoForest https://stereoforest.com

Contact Jen at https://jendehaan.com

==========================

Your support will help this show continue. Funds will go towards hosting and music licensing for this show and others on StereoForest. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry. StereoForest does not have any funding or additional support.

If you find value in our shows, please consider supporting them with a one time donation at https://stereoforest.com/tip

We love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact me anytime to ask me anything. You can support my shows by signing up with Captivate here:

In this episode, I share the system I use at StereoForest to bridge the gap between writing and speaking for your solo podcast. And I‘ll help you understand the "modality mismatch" concept and why it’s important for scripting your episodes.

What you learn in this episode:

• Why traditional writing styles create a disconnect with podcast listeners
• The science behind "modality mismatch" and how the brain processes spoken text
• How vocal dynamics and variety directly influence perceived authority
• The three-step system to write scripts that sound natural/human

I cover a workflow you can use immediately for forming your solo scripts that includes dictation, signposting (discourse markers) and performer formatting and why they help your recordings.

Resources mentioned:

Vocal dynamics:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.611555/full

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4765198/

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/big-data-approach-public-speaking

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6662577/

Voice to text (no affiliation with any of em - I use MacWhisper, Things, and Notion):

Mac Whisper: https://goodsnooze.gumroad.com/l/macwhisper

Whisper Notes: https://whispernotes.app/

Flow: https://wisprflow.ai/

Google Keep: https://keep.google.com/

Notion: https://www.notion.com/

Things (my fave to do app): https://culturedcode.com/things/

Otter AI: https://otter.ai/

Granola AI: https://www.granola.ai/

StereoForest newsletter: https://stereoforest.com/subscribe

Chapters:

00:00 The problem with sounding like a bot

01:53 The science of monotonous delivery

03:55 Step 1: Dictate your notes

05:12 Understanding modality mismatch

08:38 Step 2: Add signposts for the listener

11:24 Step 3: Format the script for performance

13:03 Visual example of script formatting

15:02 Summary and next steps

==========================

==========================

Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan.

Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@solopodcastinghandbook

Website at https://stereoforest.com/solo-podcasting

Get StereoForest’s newsletter for podcasting resources at https://stereoforest.com/subscribe

Produced by Jen deHaan of StereoForest https://stereoforest.com

Contact Jen at https://jendehaan.com

==========================

Your support will help this show continue. Funds will go towards hosting and music licensing for this show and others on StereoForest. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry. StereoForest does not have any funding or additional support.

If you find value in our shows, please consider supporting them with a one time donation at https://stereoforest.com/tip

We love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact me anytime to ask me anything. You can support my shows by signing up with Captivate here:

Starting a solo podcast is an excellent way to demonstrate your passion and become a trusted source for your audience. However, this specific format is arguably the most challenging type of show to sustain over the long term. You face unique risks and pressures when you are responsible for 100% of the ideation, scripting, and performance.

What you will learn in this show:

• The operational and psychological challenges unique to one-person shows
• How decision fatigue impacts creators without a conversational partner
• The causes of "pod fade" and the toll of performing without immediate feedback
• Strategies to manage vocal fatigue when maintaining an engaging tone alone

If you want to build a solo podcast that you actually enjoy producing, this show will help you avoid burnout. And/or podfade.

==========================

==========================

Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan.

Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@solopodcastinghandbook

Website at https://stereoforest.com/solo-podcasting

Get StereoForest’s newsletter for podcasting resources at https://stereoforest.com/subscribe

Produced by Jen deHaan of StereoForest https://stereoforest.com

Contact Jen at https://jendehaan.com

==========================

Your support will help this show continue. Funds will go towards hosting and music licensing for this show and others on StereoForest. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry. StereoForest does not have any funding or additional support.

If you find value in our shows, please consider supporting them with a one time donation at https://stereoforest.com/tip

We love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact me anytime to ask me anything. You can support my shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytz

==========================

Jen's professional background is in web software technology (audio/video/web and graphics), working for many years in Silicon Valley. She has worked in instructional design, writing, marketing, and education in the creative space. She was also a quality engineer for awhile.

Jen became involved in performing, acting, and improv in 2015. She taught dance fitness classes (despite beginning with two left feet), performed in community theatre, and taught and coached improv comedy and acting at several theatres. Jen was also the Online School Director and Director of Marketing at WGIS.

Jen's website: https://jendehaan.com

This podcast is a StereoForest production. Made and produced in British Columbia, Canada.

Note: This episode was recorded when this show was known as Human Internet Theory.

There's a disconnect in the conversation about AI regulation. While gov't focuses on labeling AI-generated output (like deepfakes), creative professionals are concerned about the copyrighted input used to train these models without permission or compensation.

You'll learn:

• the latest AI content labeling laws in India, China, and the EU.
• breaking news from Australia, which is rejecting a "fair use" style exemption for AI training data.
• difference between government focus (labeling, misinformation) and creative pro focus (unauthorized data scraping).
• about the 82+ copyright lawsuits filed against AI companies.

Sources:

Australia status:

• https://ministers.ag.gov.au/media-centre/albanese-government-ensure-australia-prepared-future-copyright-challenges-emerging-ai-26-10-2025
• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-27/labor-rules-out-ai-training-copyright-exceptions/105935740

India status:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/business/creators-mandatorily-declare-upload-ai-content-online-draft-rules-10320467/
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/spotlight/harness-the-future-of-technology-with-ai-and-ml-mastery-from-this-programme-by-iitm-pravartak/articleshow/118107365.cms

China status:

• https://mlq.ai/news/china-implements-sweeping-mandatory-ai-content-labeling-law/
• https://harris-sliwoski.com/chinalawblog/chinas-new-ai-labeling-rules-what-every-china-business-needs-to-know/
• https://www.chinalegalexperts.com/news/china-deep-synthesis-regulation
• https://mlq.ai/news/china-implements-sweeping-mandatory-ai-content-labeling-law/

EU status:

• https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/eu-ai-act
• https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/regulatory-framework-ai
• https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/06/13/eu-ai-act-regulation-law/

Canada status:

A top venture capital firm is funding one company to create thousands of fake AI influencers, after also funding another company that builds tech to detect them. This is the new "synthetic social web," an emerging industry that is targeting the work of human creative professionals.

Which is what this channel is about: the changing landscape of online and the creative professional industry.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Doublespeed AI, the A16Z-backed company with the tagline "never pay a human again."
• The "disease and the cure" investment strategy involving the detection company, Doppel.
• The new wave of startups (like MakeUGC and Creatify AI) built to create fake, synthetic user generated content.
• The distinction between "tools" and "services" that aim to replace human labor entirely.
• The impact of this on the jobs creative professionals and the loss of authenticity online.

This episode breaks down the companies and business models that are replacing human writers, editors, and creators, and explains what is at stake for the future of the human internet.

Mentioned in this video (references and sources):

Doublespeed AI https://doublespeed.ai

Doppel: https://www.doppel.com

VC Firm: Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) and doublespeed: https://speedrun.a16z.com/companies/doublespeed

A16Z and Doppel: https://a16z.com/announcement/investing-in-doppel

Report: 404 Media on Double Speed https://www.404media.co/a16z-backed-startup-sells-thousands-of-synthetic-influencers-to-manipulate-social-media-as-a-service

Podcast Source: Double Speed founder on phone farms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMO0VYTBC7U

High school students: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-27/teens-struggle-to-tell-if-social-media-videos-are-real-or-ai/105924186

Synthetic generated UGC Startups:

• https://Creatify.ai
• https://Zeely.ai
• https://Arcads.ai
• https://Tagshop.ai
• https://www.makeugc.ai
• https://creatorkit.com/ai-actors

Human Internet Theory Newsletter https://humaninternettheory.com

==========================

==========================

Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan.

Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@humaninternettheory

Subscribe to this show's newsletter for additional resources and a free 3 page workbook when

Note: This episode was recorded when this show was known as Human Internet Theory.

Maybe you've heard of "power posing" as a quick fix for confidence. The science behind that famous idea has (kind of) been retracted. In this episode of Human Internet Theory, I look into what happened to the power pose, why the simple "life hack" model failed, and what the latest science says now.

This episode covers:

* The history of the original power pose study and its retraction

* What current research says about postural feedback.

* The small, subjective effect your posture might have on your mood.

* Why a "neutral pose" may be more beneficial than an "expansive" one.

The episode includes three exercises you can use before and during your next recording session. You will practice finding your "baseline neutral pose," learn a "physical anchoring" technique to get grounded, and integrate "dynamic posture" with your natural gestures. This episode gives you a realistic, evidence-based approach to improving your physical presence and confidence on camera.

RESOURCES:

• Gesturing while speaking
• Neck flexion study (June 2025)
• 50% is slop
• Carney's retraction
• Power poses don't work
• Human Internet Theory Newsletter

==========================

==========================

Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan.

Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@solopodcastinghandbook

Website at https://stereoforest.com/solo-podcasting

Get StereoForest’s newsletter for podcasting resources at https://stereoforest.com/subscribe

Produced by Jen deHaan of StereoForest https://stereoforest.com

Contact Jen at https://jendehaan.com

==========================

Your support will help this show continue. Funds will go towards hosting and music licensing for this show and others on StereoForest. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry. StereoForest does not have any funding or additional support.

If you find value in our shows, please consider supporting them with a one time donation at https://stereoforest.com/tip

We love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact me anytime to ask me anything. You can support my shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytz

==========================