What are the best ways to introduce guests in a podcast?

Introducing podcast guests thoughtfully means highlighting their achievements or expertise in the topic, sharing a relatable story, and emphasizing unique perspectives. A concise, well-scripted introduction sets the stage for an engaging conversation, showcasing the guest's expertise and personality to captivate listeners.

Save the name until last! It holds secret the most important part and builds suspense for the listener. This creates a mystery and enlists the audience in trying to figure out who the guest is before you tell them.

Yes knowing the guest is the avenue to frame your conversation. First, unless you're a journalist it's not an interview - it's a conversation. The better you know your guest the more interesting the experience will be for the listener. So lead your guest to where you want to take the story. For instance it's one thing to ask: is there a summer vacation had recently? and whole other thing if you know the answer and invite them to extrapolate: "you went to Paris in the Spring and I read/hear/understand - it was a pretty harrowing experience" - this creates a scenario by which your audience feels like you know the guest and helps your guest tell the story you want them to tell.

Understanding Your Guest is 1 Key to an effective Interview! Here are some Tips Pre-Interview Research: Select a topic or guest you're genuinely interested in. Conduct thorough research on their background, achievements, and any recent work. Practice summarizing this information concisely. Mock Interviews: Enlist a friend or family member to act as a guest. Prepare questions based on their background, and conduct a mock interview. Focus on active listening and adapting follow-up questions based on their responses. Role Reversal: Switch roles with a friend. Let them prepare questions and interview you. This exercise helps you experience the guest's perspective and understand what makes an engaging interview.

Do your research WELL and try to intro them using something no one else does as the hook. A laugh and a smile to start the chat will set the tone.

Another introduction that always works is one thing you admire about them and why you thought they are the right fit for your podcast channel or how do you relate to them. It gives a great context to the conversation :)

If I have finally chosen to interview a certain professional in my podcast La Factoría Azul, it is time to introduce that person to our audience. When I think about the script and structure of that episode, you don't design it in the same way if you are going to interview the marketing director of a multinational company as if you are talking to a consultancy firm that is very active in personal branding, for example. In any case, it is very important to outline a storyline so that the conversation makes sense in the specific episode.

When people are hosting a podcast, it's easy to forget what it's like to be the listener. Remind yourself whether you like (or benefit from) a long guest intro. And carefully think about who is listening, and what they need to hear to continue listening. Here's my rule of thumb: The guest intro needs just as many words as it takes to gain your audience's interest and trust (this person is an authority on this subject, they know what they're talking about). You don't have to include their whole bio —just add links to know more in the show notes. Instead, adding a personal anecdote about how you know the guest, or something interesting about them as a person, can go a long way in helping the audience connect with the guest and the episode!

Why is the guest here, what do they have to offer the listener, and why YOU as a host are interested. It is NOT all about the guest. People come back for the host, so make sure you are present for the content.

30 and 60 seconds? Really? Aim for 15-20 max. You are introducing them, not giving them a coronation. If you feel compelled to add more, work it into a question. Don’t waste the listener’s time with a lengthy intro!

Make the guest introduction : Super short. Super simple Super impactful. And for the love of all things holy DO NOT lead in with "Hi. How are you today?" If you do this please stop recording and work on your interview skills. PLEASE.

Completely agree. During the intro bit, I give a quick introduction for the Founder and their company and then ask them to dig a bit deeper and introduce themselves, and tell the audience what they're doing. After all, a podcast is their stage to share their story and experience. And let's not forget that people like to talk about themselves, so giving a good introduction is important but it's even better to give them a chance to tell the story in their own words.

The guest introduction is best kept to a very brief summary of who they are and their area of expertise and/or topic. Interesting points in their bio that are worthy of digging deeper can be done where appropriate in the conversation. The guest telling it in their own words will almost certainly be more engaging than the host simply listing it.

"My next guest needs no introduction.." David Lettermann's standard introduction is probably still the best. It is the most succinct way to start a conversation.

First, greet your listener warmly and remind them who you are. Then, share your excitement about the guest and briefly mention why they're awesome. Maybe you met them at an event and were blown away by their skills. You can spell in a fun fact about the guest to make them feel real and relatable, like a hobby or talent.

Consider changing up the formatting of your episode. If you always start with a cold open but your episodes aren’t hitting like you’d hoped, try opening with a clip from your guests’ portfolio.

I was JUST listening to a podcast recently and was bothered by the way the guest was introduced (it was just too long and I didn't care about the huge bio - I was there for the content not the person), which made me really think about a question like this. First, ask yourself why the guest is there - what MUST the listener know about them? Why is the listener there in the first place, are they there because they want to learn more about people like that OR is it for the subject at hand? What story are you getting from them and how is it relevant to the body of work you're delivering to the listener? So as practice: a simple and short, here's who they are and why they're here intro will do the trick.

BIGGEST TIP: Stop reading their LinkedIn profiles or bios sent to you as an introduction. They are long, dull and BORING. -There's a reason that this person is invited as a guest on your show, work on that. -Why are they relevant to your audience, write a line or two around that. -One thing the guest mentioned, which was mindblowing/eye-opening/spectacular, use that as a hook in your intro. Combine the above points and an engaging intro is prepared.

Intro’ing a guest is about energy. It’s coming in with a Yes And mindset where your goal is to help them shine. Because of this I like to say things like “oh baby I am excited for todays conversation with…”, then I say a compliment or two about them, and we are off. This formula often gets the response of “that was the best intro I’ve ever had”. Why? It’s personal and from the heart.

A hook! Try a sound bite that is compelling where they show authority on the topic they are covering. I treat every episode like I’m on live TV. Never two segments, days, stories or guests are the same on the HIListically Speaking Podcast.