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

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

In this podcast, the host Kyle Thiermann (@kyle_tman) is interviewed by his friend Erik Rist

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

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 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

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 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

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

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