Podcast Guest Guide 

Hey there! Thank you so much for the opportunity to chat with you on the Rooted Childhood podcast. This guide is meant to give you an overview of the process and what we'll need for a successful interview. If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. 

The Rooted Childhood podcast aims to tell the stories of childhood that have stood the test of time. We look to the past so that we can bring these tried and true, simple pleasures of childhood into our own homes. You can listen to Episode 0: The Introduction here to get a better idea of what the podcast will cover. 

Podcasts and interviews sound best, and are most engaging, when the participants are having a real conversation. I may or may not send you questions ahead of time depending on how well I know your story already.

A note about the format: this interview will not be played in its entirety as a Q&A interview on the podcast. I will record my own separate commentary and insert your quotes throughout in a storytelling format. 

To prepare for the interview, begin thinking about your own childhood and things that stood out- traditions, differences, favorite activities, people who made a difference, etc. Also think about your own motherhood including your favorite parts of being mom and lessons learned. If you are an expert in the field, we'll chat about that too of course! We'll begin the conversation with an introduction and then let it naturally unfold.  

Remember to smile and relax as you would in conversation with a friend. Listeners want to hear the real you, and if you're comfortable, they'll love listening to you.

We'll conduct our interview via Zoom. We may catch up on video at first just to see each other's smiling faces but we'll probably turn off the video for the call because the sound quality is better. If there are multiple people in the interview, we'll all be able to see and hear each other. 

The use of any VOIP software depends heavily on the connection. Wired ethernet connections provide much more stability when making VOIP calls, so if at all possible please try to have your computer connected directly to the internet rather than using a WiFi connection. In addition to using a wired connection, please quit any unnecessary programs, and close out of any background programs that may be using bandwidth. 

You should have gotten a Zoom link when you scheduled the interview. All you need to do is click on that link at the scheduled time, and we'll be connected in a call.  

Use an external microphone if you have one. If you don't have an external microphone, use a headset with microphone (like your iPhone earbuds or a gaming headset). If you are local to me, I can arrange to get you a microphone to use for the interview. If you do not have an external microphone or headset, please contact me and I can send you one for the interview. 

Your microphone will pick up background noise. Try to arrange your interview when you can be in a quiet place. Turn off appliances and fans and do your best to ensure you won't have interruptions. We can’t always control the environment we’re recording in — landscapers, motorcycles, or emergency vehicles may disrupt your interview. In that event, stop speaking until the disruption ends, then back up to what you were saying before the disruption and pickup from there.

Please use headphones while recording the podcast in order to prevent echo and background noise that can come from the computer speakers. Headphones will also allow you to hear yourself and allow you to make sure that you’re microphone is picking up your voice. A standard pair of earbuds or any over-the-ear headset will work. 

Above all, we're going to have a great conversation! If you have any questions, please let me know!