Raise Suspense

One week of podcast and social training. A podcast on gender stereotypes in fairy tales, one on female political crime, and one on biases in global tech. Some TikTok socials that took a planet money approach. These approaches go into the direction of acting, political-journalistic theater (a thing to explore in itself probably).

Main takeaway: Either do an interview podcast. If you’re super niche this may work out of the box. Or do a feature-like podcast and spend shitloads of time on scripting. Or do something else.

Podcast Research Takeaways

• Having a good host (their voice) is great
  • Use voice modulation wisely
  • Think about format: Interview, Feature, Expolration, Kollegengespräch, Panel, w/o host
  • Podcasts tend to a niche. So be niche.
  • Laid back narrations let the story shine
  • Be well prepared. With political formats take extra care with research to avoid being criticized for bias.
• Scripting well allows to build drama/tension
  • Focus well
  • Structure is key otherwise listeners get lost
  • Starting in the middle is great but don’t be confusing
    • Be sure to raise suspense
    • Starting with something people know situates them easily, then spin it into your direction (e.g. Use a well known TV show, then spin towards where you want to go with a bang)
    • Introduce the Fallhöhe early, then circle back to what you’d like to say
  • Create a takeaway list before scripting, then use it to structure
  • Repeat stuff if its important
  • Answer clearly: »Why should I listen to this?« - Raise questions but answer them
    • Be clear about the aim and state it
    • Keep audience hooked: Cliffhangers throughout?
  • Structure with music, use music to separate different pieces of content
  • Continuous pieces are super dense. Keep in mind to take the listener by the hand and possibly give them a break
  • Original elements early are nice to show you’re adding value
• Feel & Vibes
  • World-building is great but doesn’t work for every format
  • How social is it?
  • Be entertaining
  • Atmo is generally nice but you can get away without it. It may sound overengineered
  • Collage of news-soundbites always work
  • Visual language is key (like with radio)
  • Fake atmo is tricky: It may create the desired effect but may also get called out

Podcast Feedback Criteria

• Audience
  • Podcast for niche?
  • Hook: Why should they listen?
  • Keeping hooked
  • Visual language
  • Atmo: Are we »in the room«?
  • Do focus and audience actually match?
• Structure
  • Clear title & teaser
  • Adds feeling with music
  • Emotional insight?
  • Intriguing, clear script
  • Was I ever lost while listening?
  • Did you state the aim clearly?
  • Clear focus?
  • Smart storytelling? Is there enough meat on the bone?
  • Strong soundbites from interviews?
• Host
  • Connects with audience
  • Creates atmosphere
  • Sets up a space to narrate
  • Uses voice modulation well