Hello, podcast guest!
There are many guides and how-tos out there for people who want to make podcasts. But what if someone's invited you to be on their podcast, and you don't know what you're supposed to do?
Don't worry. This page is here to help guests like you. We'll make sure you're ready for your appearance, and help you sound great. We'll even show you how to record your side of the conversation, if a host asks you to.
This guide was written by award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Antony Johnston. He's the creator of Atomic Blonde, author of the Dog Sitter Detective murder mysteries, and a scriptwriter for videogames including Dead Space and Resident Evil Village.
Antony is also a veteran podcaster, with hundreds of shows as both host and guest to his credit.
Check out his work at AntonyJohnston.com.
Rule #1: Don't Panic!
Podcasts are an informal medium, and sound best when the guests are having a real conversation, rather than talking in sound bites. So you don't have to be ‘radio perfect’ – in fact, being too slick can sometimes be a bad thing. Podcast listeners want to hear the real you, and they want you to enjoy yourself. If you're having fun, they'll love listening to you.
Trin Garritano from Kickstarter Games has some great tips on how to sound more relaxed and natural:
• How to Sound Pretty Good on a Podcast: Useful Advice for Beginners
3 Steps to Sound Great
These tips will explain how you can take part, and help you get the best sound quality.
1: SOFTWARE
Most podcasts are created using videocall apps like Zoom, or web-based services such as Streamyard and Zencastr. At some point before recording, your host will send you a link. All you have to do is click/tap the link and give the app or website access to your microphone (and camera, if you're also recording video).
If your host hasn't told you how they record, or if you're not familiar with the service or app they use, ask them so they can help you get set up. Your host wants you to have a good time on their show, so don't be embarrassed.
2: MICROPHONE
Use an external microphone if you have one. If you don't have an external microphone, use a headset, AirPods, or phone earbuds. If you don't have those either, you can use your computer or phone's built-in microphone as a last resort, but the sound quality won't be as good.
If you expect to appear on even a couple of podcasts per year, it's worth buying a microphone. You don't have to spend a lot; you'll be amazed how much even a basic $50 model immediately improves your sound quality.
3: HEADPHONES
Wear headphones or earbuds of some kind during the call. This may mean you hear yourself as you talk, which can be a bit weird at first! But you'll quickly get used to it, and it's worth it for the improvement in sound quality.
Wearing headphones makes your audio ‘clean’, because it stops your microphone from accidentally picking up the voices of other people on the call. This makes it easier for the podcast editor to work with your audio, and avoids feedback noise.
Recording the call
Many podcasts will handle all the recording; all you have to do is call in, chat with the hosts, and let them take care of everything. If so, you can skip right ahead to the bottom of this page.
Some hosts, though, may ask you to record your ‘end’ of the call, often as a backup. Don't worry, it's not as difficult as it sounds. Let's walk you through it.
First, you only need to record your side of the conversation. Your host will take care of everything else. All you have to do is set up your microphone to record your own voice to an audio file. When the call is finished, your host will ask you to send them that file (probably using a service like Dropbox) and then they'll edit everything together so it sounds like you're having a conversation in the same room.
If you're a Mac user, good news: you can use the built-in QuickTime Player app to record yourself. Watch this video to see how:
If you can't see the video above, click here to view it on YouTube.
If you're a Windows user, things are a teensy bit more complicated, because first you'll have to download Audacity, a free audio application, and install it on the computer you'll use for the call.
Once you have Audacity installed, you're ready to record. Watch this video to see how:
If you can't see the video above, click here to view it on YouTube.
Remember: the most important thing is to relax, and have fun.
If you still have questions, don't hesitate to ask the show's host. They want you to sound great, so don't be afraid to ask. We all started somewhere.
Feel free to keep this page open while you're setting up, or even during the recording. Good luck!
© Antony Johnston. Last updated 2025-03-16