Whether you are about to begin your podcast journey or you’re a veteran participant in the audio listening space, you might still be asking yourself what characteristics and qualities you need to give a great interview when coming onto a podcast platform like Molecule to Market.
We put our heads together this week and recognized that being on the other side of the mic is slightly different from hosting the show. There are some consistent qualities that make for a great guest and a great episode.
Here are the top qualities we look for in our guests.
1. Storytelling gold dust
Our listeners love a good story, whether that be how you overcame complexities in the life science space, built a great culture from the ground up, or lessons in leadership. The list is endless but one thing remains the same… the better you can articulate your experiences the more fascinating the story. You want the audience to remember your authenticity and your tone of voice goes a long way in portraying this, so sit back and relax and see it as a casual conversation.
Recent guests like Adrienne Leussa know this all too well and gave an exceptional interview that really painted a picture of her upbringing in Africa that led her into a career spent in the life sciences.
2. Succinct responses
Contrary to the last point, telling a story paints a brilliant narrative and engages listeners. However, don’t underestimate the importance of short and snappy answers that also allow for thought provoking questions to follow up on.
Being clear and concise on the points you make throughout an interview allows the audience to stay engaged and helps keep the conversation flowing. Avoid lengthy wordy speeches for the best results!
3. Enthusiasm is key
Your tone of voice speaks volumes when recorded. Whether you are in front of a crowd or behind a closed door. People can hear the emotions you are experiencing, are you telling a fascinating part of the story with a big smile on your face? You best believe the listeners can tell – and as they always say enthusiasm is infectious. This will really help inspire the listeners to take away your life science lessons.
4. Come prepared
Before the date of your interview, there is no harm in preparing a few notes to quickly refer back to. It can help the podcast keep moving and most importantly prompt you with anything important that you’d like to mention.
Familiarising yourself with your career timeline also really helps the show run smoothly. Walking people through the companies you have worked for, your time served and the roles you’ve undertaken helps to bring your career to life and often throws up interesting information about your career path including interesting pivots along its trajectory.
5. Stay on track!
Try to remain focused. We know how exciting it can be to have your moment in the spotlight but staying on track and avoiding tangents can be pivotal in giving a fluid interview. Taking your time, planning for the interview to take place in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed and talking at a comfortable pace help you to relax (& tell the best stories).
We promise you’ll be rewarded for following these tips and when your episode is ready to air there will be plenty of opportunities to share it across our channels and your own networks.
Be our guest
We’re always on the lookout for future guests, so if you’re up for raising your profile, reaching thousands of people across the globe and you have an hour to spare we’d love to hear from you.
Simply complete our short contact form and we will be in touch.