On recording days of our Marketing by the Minute Podcast, it seemed preparation time flew by regardless of how early we arrived to the media lab from the Western Washington University Marketing Program. Our guest’s time was valuable, so it was essential that we were ready no matter what. I created this helpful checklist to help other producers pay attention to every detail before, during and after the show recording. So here it is, the ultimate pre-episode recording checklist for producing the podcast on recording day.

 Pre-Recording Checklist

Equipment Setup

• Re-check out equipment

• Equipment setup

• Test equipment

Producer & Host Setup

• Customize teaser, hook, intro/outro

• Customize Script Blocks (research, research, research to write effective transitions and sub questions!!). Note that the progression of the questions encourages the guest to tell their story in a PRESENT-PAST-CURRENT order. Put effort into building your transitions between each block – they should be very customized to each guest. 

• Day in the life (+define your title if it wouldn’t make sense to non-industry individuals) 

• What do you find meaningful?

• Challenges/obstacles

• Current Projects 

• Finalize Script

• Read through

• Finalize timeline (timing section) on pre-production package for producer to track during the call

• Hosts write notecards 

• Rehearsal (ask questions of someone with real work experience to practice active listening and on-the-fly response formation)

• Hosts need some sort of silent signal when they want to ask the next question (our hosts use a small tap on the desk)

 Recording Checklist (Producer’s Checklist) 

Pre-Episode

• Producers and host get into position

• Ensure phones are silenced 

• Ensure host and producer computers are plugged into outlet 

• Producer make sure you have paper and sharpie to write notes for the hosts

• Put up a note card reminder card of the guest name on the host’s desk!

• Host open the studio

• Email link to producer

• Email link to “audience” (other class members)

• Email link to guest

• Once producer is in type the name of the episode in the upper right (guest’s name)

• Ensure waiting room is enabled in settings 

• CLICK RECORD (only host can do this)

• Welcome guest and mention that we just have a few points of housekeeping before we get started with the episode

• Ask guests the following: (1) are you on a computer (2) are you using Google Chrome (3) are you using headphones. Tell guests the following (1) We are recording, but we won’t officially start the show until we’re all ready and we clap (2) Don’t leave right after we finish talking in our interview. Stick around until after our video and audio has finished uploading. (2) During the recording, if anything funky happens, just keep going, we can edit it out in post

• Sound check guest (to check mic levels, adjust as needed) 

• Producer, get timer ready on computer

• When hosts are ready, producer remind them to take a breath 

• Hosts clap, teaser begins

 Mid-Episode (Producer)

• Hosts tend to talk fast due to nerves at the beginning, signal for them to slow down if they’re talking too fast

• Time each main block and let them know when they’ve exceeded the time outlined in the pre-production package timeline. 

• If you feel like they asked a great question, give them a thumbs up. A little encouragement goes a long way!

 End

• Stop recording

• Double check recordings have been uploaded so we know the files will be there for the editing team to download.

• Exit Riverside

That’s it! Let me know if you have any questions about producing a podcast on Riverside.fm! Good luck and have fun!