
September 8, 2020
How To Start a Podcast and Conduct an Interview | The Kyle Thiermann Show
Check out The Kyle Thiermann Show Episode Page & Show Notes
Key Takeaways
- Go into an interview with a goal or vision in mind otherwise, you get funneled into the mainstream conversations
- “I still think storytelling is the most important thing regardless of medium and regardless of length” – Kyle Thiermann
- “With hosting a podcast a lot of it is just about asking the right questions and getting out of the way”
- First, start with your immediate circle and find interesting people who you’re curious to learn more about
- Interesting people also tend to have interesting friends so people you know could also introduce you to someone new
- Preparing questions and topics in advance is key
- As you get better you’ll be able to riff and go on tangents more easily
- There is no one formula for success; interviewing is a creative process
- People will remember the ending most so you should aim to end on a high note
- This can be a laugh, a powerful statement, or a deep insight
- With podcasts, you have the ability to form deeper connections with your audience due to the depth of conversations available
- The unfiltered nature of podcasts also incentivizes honesty and trust
- If done well a three-hour interview will pass by in the blink of an eye for both the guest and the audience
Intro
- In this podcast, the host Kyle Thiermann (@kyle_tman) is interviewed by his friend Erik Rist
Lessons From Early Career
- Go into an interview with a goal or vision in mind otherwise, you get funneled into the mainstream conversations
- Kyle traveled the world conducting interviews for his documentaries
- “I’ve never traveled to check a place out, it’s pretty much always been to chase a story or chase a wave” – Kyle Thiermann
- “I still think storytelling is the most important thing regardless of medium and regardless of length” – Kyle Thiermann
- Kyle also states that short-form video always requires you to reduce nuance and condense information though
- “The name of the game with winning YouTube is consistency” – Kyle Thiermann
- Once you reach a certain number of subscribers you can guarantee at least 500,000 views per video no matter what you put out
- “With hosting a podcast a lot of it is just about asking the right questions and getting out of the way” – Kyle Thiermann
Finding Guests
- First, start with your immediate circle and find interesting people who you’re curious to learn more about
- Interesting people also tend to have interesting friends so people you know could also introduce you to someone new
- Cold outreach:
- In cold emails, Kyle will include an introduction, a sample of his work, and why he is interested in talking to that particular person
- You should also acknowledge how busy that person is and not expect a yes all the time
- Until you reach a huge following, guests do you a favor by coming on your show
- Return the favor by making the logistics to participate easy for the guest
Remote Interviews
- “Remote interviews can actually make you a better interviewer because it forces you to ask more precise questions” – Kyle Thiermann
- The slight delay will somewhat limit the ability for banter
- But, there simply isn’t as much of the human connection in a virtual setting
Conducting Good Interviews
- Preparing questions and topics in advance is key
- As you get better you’ll be able to riff and go on tangents more easily
- Good interviewers use their intuition in maintaining the flow of the interview
- Asking one question after another can get tiring so you might switch to a story when that happens
- There is no one formula for success; interviewing is a creative process
- Joe Rogan talks as much, if not more than his guests while Tim Ferris sticks to very sharp, well-researched questions
- “Part of every podcasters own journey is to decide who they want to show up as” – Kyle Thiermann
- Kyle will vary in between conversational and formal depending on the guest
- People will remember the ending most so you should aim to end on a high note
- This can be a laugh, a powerful statement, or a deep insight
Podcasting as a Medium
- Podcasting is able to find usage in markets other mediums are unable to because you can listen to a podcast while doing other activities
- With podcasts, you have the ability to form deeper connections with your audience due to the depth of conversations possible
- The unfiltered nature of podcasts also incentivizes honesty and trust
- When people trust you they will say stuff on your podcast they would never say on any other media platform
- “A good podcast can sound a lot like a good therapy session” – Kyle Thiermann
Making Guests Comfortable
- If done well a three-hour interview will pass by in the blink of an eye for both the guest and the audience
- Take advantage of the fact that the human brain is designed to love stories
- One or two drinks can be an effective social lubricant
- If possible, hang out with your guest before the podcast
- Ask your guest about little known facts they may be known for
- For example, if you have a physicist on but you know they also follow politics you might also ask about that
- “One thing that I will do as I begin a podcast is to energetically feel love for the other person” – Kyle Thiermann
- By thinking “I love you” and recognizing your guest as a person you can lift the entire atmosphere of the conversation
- It also makes you stop worrying as much and focuses your attention on the guest
Equipment
- Kyle basically uses the same podcast gear as Tim Ferris
- You can find a YouTube video of Tim sharing his setup here
- It costs a few hundred dollars in total