Tip: How to set up a productive dialogue in a podcast without a host

Credit: Image from pexels.com

Having a host or moderator present in a podcast or radio piece can strengthen the story by adding context, personality and steering the direction of the conversation to reveal the most interesting nuggets of information.

However journalists can also frame an interview in such way that it "captures an interaction that grabs a listener’s attention and lays out the stakes of a story better than a scripted piece ever could", explains Connor Donevan, producer for All Things Considered, in this post on NPR Training.

Donevan, who has experimented with unmoderated conversations at NPR, points out some techniques for ensuring a productive dialogue between guests.

He advises looking for participants who "use stories or illustrative examples to explain what they mean — showing, more than telling", and avoiding too much pre-interviewing to allow for spontaneity. Prepare a list of questions guests can ask each other, making sure they are open-ended, and that they are based on facts as well as feelings.

Once the recording is under way, "you can continue to coach, carefully, from the sidelines", Donevan says. "You should know the two or three things you heard in pre-interviews that you definitely want out of the conversation — a heartbreaking moment, a surprising pearl of wisdom, etc. — and make sure the guests get there."

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).