Podcast Design: Let's Chat, Change Makers
Budding Podcaster: "I have an idea for a podcast."
Designer: "Wow. Tell me about it."
Budding Podcaster: "I just want to get together with great people and have a conversation."
Designer: "Okay. Why?"
Budding Podcaster: "Why? What do you mean, why?" I want to have a conversation. Everyone will want to listen.
Designer: "Why?
Budding Podcaster: "It's all about the conversation. That's why. Aren't you listening?"
Designer: "No."
There's one reason to launch a podcast, and that's to change the listener's behavior. Think of a podcast you listen to and write down 1-3 changes you made based on the show. If you're struggling to identify specific changes, step back and think broadly. Your favorite show may have helped you get back into a hobby you love, inspired you to become a volunteer, or helped you reduce stress. I guarantee the podcast aimed to help you make these changes. Don't believe that? Go back and look at the podcast description page and see for yourself.
How can we harness the podcast format in our work as agents of change? Here are a few podcast design tips.
Step #1: Designing a podcast experience includes identifying the show's aim. What's your vision for the show? What's your theme? For example, my friend and colleague Ben McDougal's "You Don't Need this Podcast" aims to re-energize builders, creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Ben's conversations highlight ups and downs, showcasing our tendency to think we're driving forward alone. He shares the work of others so that listeners can mash new ideas into the work to solve their struggles. Check out Ben's show links on his site.
Pitfall: Stopping here is tempting. Keep going deeper. You won't be sorry.
Step #2: Based on your aim, who will listen? Who do you want to impact?
Pitfall: Identifying "everyone" or listeners too broadly means designing your show for a HUGE audience. Choose 1-3 types of listeners.
Step #3: What behaviors do listeners have before they listen to your show? What behaviors will they have after listening? As the show's host, you'll want to articulate the shift between those two to help you focus your show's design.
Pitfall: Prioritizing what YOU want out of the show as the host. Behavioral change statements start with "They" or "The listener," not "I."
Step #4: Crafting the conversation flow, the journey, and the total experience is a pragmatic art. Creating a flow for each episode, an overarching guide, or a combination of both helps you establish your show's brand. Whether you're launching a show for a free audience or an internal staff, time solidifying your show's familiarity, clarity, and continuity helps listeners shape your show's impact potential.
Pitfall: Remember, you don't build your show's value; your audience does.
In a future post, I'll share structured thinking on "Talent vs. Design." While many podcasters make their craft look easy, "winging it" is far from a central element of their podcast design. But it is an element. Are you surprised by that? Keep checking for more tips to make your podcast learning experiences create change.
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MYNDDSET is a Learning-Experience-Focused Growth Agency. We help medium to large non-profits, learning institutions, and businesses impact their customers, teams, and communities through high-impact learning experiences aimed at growth. If you're launching a training program, supporting BIG community thinking initiatives, hosting a national virtual event, or launching a podcast, contact us to set up a free initial consultation.