Podcasting is a great way to share your insights, stories, and opinions with your audience. But when you invite guests to your show, you also have a responsibility to respect their privacy and protect their personal information. How can you ensure your podcast interviewee's privacy? Here are some tips to follow before, during, and after the recording.
Before you start the interview, make sure you have your guest's consent to record and publish the conversation. Explain the purpose, format, and distribution of your podcast, and ask them to sign a release form that outlines their rights and responsibilities. You can use online tools like HelloSign or DocuSign to create and send digital release forms. Alternatively, you can record a verbal agreement at the beginning of the interview, where you ask your guest to confirm their consent and state their name and affiliation.
We've decided that just getting consent isn't enough. Giving everyone the chance to listen to their content before we publish it and promising they can have it taken down if they want has gone over really well. The freedom people feel from those two things leads to way more open conversations in the end.
Obtaining consent is a critical and ethical step in podcasting. Before starting an interview, it's important to ensure your guest's consent to record and publish the conversation. This involves explaining the podcast's purpose, format, and distribution and offering the option to sign a release form, or recording a verbal agreement. Both methods demonstrate respect for your guest's rights and privacy while ensuring transparency and accountability in content creation. Using online tools for digital release forms simplifies the process, and verbal consent can also be effective, fostering trust and mitigating potential legal issues.
During the interview, be mindful of your guest's boundaries and preferences. Avoid asking intrusive or sensitive questions that might make them uncomfortable or expose their personal information. If your guest requests to skip or edit a question, respect their decision and move on. If your guest shares something that they later regret or want to retract, honor their request and delete or modify the audio accordingly. You can also use software like Audacity or GarageBand to edit out any unwanted or confidential parts of the interview.
Respecting boundaries during interviews is fundamental for creating a positive and ethical environment. It's essential to prioritize your guest's comfort and dignity throughout the conversation. Avoid intrusive or sensitive questions that may make them uncomfortable or reveal personal information. When a guest requests to skip or edit a question, respond promptly and positively to show you value their agency. If a guest later regrets sharing something, honor their request to edit or remove the content, using tools like Audacity or GarageBand. Respecting boundaries not only protects your guest's rights but also maintains your podcast's integrity and trustworthiness.
Explaining to guests upfront that they can request removals or even cancel the episode has enabled us to create stellar content. We also go over any taboo topics ahead of time to steer clear of unwanted questions, while making sure to ask about the things we do want to discuss.
After the interview, store and transfer your audio files securely. Use encryption, passwords, and backups to protect your data from unauthorized access or loss. You can use cloud services like Dropbox or Google Drive to store and share your files, but make sure you set the appropriate permissions and access levels. You can also use tools like FileZilla or Cyberduck to transfer your files via FTP or SFTP, which are more secure than email attachments. If you need to dispose of any data, use a shredder or a wipe tool to erase it completely.
This isn't a problem for us. It's almost 2024 :) and security has become the default. Good habits also age well across all uses of modern systems. Lean into passkeys and 2-factor authentication and more often than not you won't have data security issues.
Before you publish your podcast episode, inform your guest about the release date, title, and description of the episode. Ask them if they want to review the final version or provide any feedback. You can also ask them how they want to be credited and promoted on your podcast and social media platforms. You can use tools like Canva or Adobe Spark to create attractive graphics and snippets to showcase your guest and your episode. Make sure you respect your guest's wishes and preferences regarding their name, photo, bio, and links.
Whenever possible we pick a hard release date. The deadline helps us move the process along and gets episodes out of editing and into the wild. The sooner the better so that guests can promote their participation. Less time and effort spent internally allows more time and effort spent promoting :)
Prior to releasing your podcast episode, ensure that you communicate with your guest regarding important details such as the release date, episode title, and episode description. Inquire if they would like the opportunity to review the final version or if they have any feedback to provide. Additionally, ask them about their preferences for how they wish to be credited and promoted across your podcast and social media platforms. Leverage tools like Canva or Adobe Spark to craft eye-catching graphics and snippets that highlight both your guest and the episode. It's of utmost importance to honor your guest's desires and choices concerning aspects such as their name, photo, biography, and associated links.
After you publish your podcast episode, respond to any comments or questions from your audience or your guest. You can use tools like Podbean or SoundCloud to monitor and engage with your listeners. You can also use tools like Buzzsprout or Podchaser to track and measure your podcast performance and feedback. If you receive any requests or complaints from your guest or your audience regarding your episode, address them promptly and professionally. If you need to update or correct any information or errors in your episode, do so as soon as possible and notify your guest and your audience.