INTERVIEW CHECKLIST

BEFORE THE GUEST ARRIVES

• Use the restroom
• Check yourself in the mirror (hair, teeth, etc.)
• Have water nearby
• Have a pen and paper nearby
• Verify the right microphone is connected
• Check the framing of your camera
• Clear any visual distractions
• Turn off any background noise makers (open windows, overhead fan, etc.)
• Close all unneeded applications
• Silence all desktop and mobile notifications

WHEN THE GUEST ARRIVES

• Verify the right microphone is connected
• Verify that the guest is wearing headphones
• Verify their audio levels
• Ask guests to turn off any background noise makers
• Verify guest name pronunciation
• Remind the guest of the podcast name and target listener
• Inform guest what to do if the internet lags or drops the call
• Does the guest have a hard stop?
• What call to action would they like to provide at the end of the episode?
• Is there anything the guest doesn’t want to talk about today?
• Share an overview of your planned conversation
• Hit the record button
• Hit the record button on backup recording

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• Stop the recording
• Verify recording is fully uploaded
• Ask the guests for any links that need to be added to the show notes
• Ask for feedback
• Ask for a guest referral
• Let them know when the episode release date and how to best engage with them during the publishing week
• Ask them what repurposed content would be useful
• After your guest leaves, record any remaining assets such as a guest intro
• Upload video and audio files to dump folder