This guest post was written by Cristina Quitania, founder of reFashion.co.
It was earlier this year when I met John in person at a speaking event he was doing in San Diego. Through his dynamic sharing, I began seeing podcasting as the avenue to journalistic disruption, especially in my chosen niche of fashion technology.
As John would say, I was experiencing my “ah-ha moment”.
After just one hour at the event and a brief meeting over coffee, John had helped me transform my career as a fashion journalist and marketing strategist into the world’s first podcast host covering fashion tech.
Something that stuck with me from John’s talk is when he said “Lean on someone else’s experience to succeed if you don’t have what it takes yet.”
So what did I do? I took his advice and not only asked for his mentorship, but also asked to shadow him during one of his live podcast interviews. I knew if I saw his skills in action that I’d be able to learn so much.
Without hesitation John happily agreed.
You can also visit our complete guide on how to podcast for a full breakdown of how we run our podcast!
Here’s what I learned from my behind the scenes tour…
John’s Top 10 Podcasting Tips:
1. Format is key. Nail down your audience so that you can really create a show for them.
2. Prepare your show notes and use them to keep your show on track. Don’t try to memorize everything.
3. Prepare your guests ahead of time, and follow up a few days before the interview to ensure they’re ready.
4. Create a pre-show checklist you can run through with each guest before you hit the record button (reminders like: make sure to silence your computer alerts and cell phone.)
5. Pump your guests up before you hit record so you capture their energy.
6. Only speak 20 – 25% of the time.
7. Pause a second longer than you’d like to ensure your guests have completed their thought.
8. Avoid filling the silence with “uh huhs” and “I agree”.
9. Mark your audio as mistakes occur to make life easier when you go back in to edit.
10. Make sure to promote each episode!
Now for the fun stuff: the details I know you’re dying to hear about!…
Shadowing John Lee Dumas
My shadow with John was on a Monday: the day he completes eight podcast interviews in a row.
Impressive.
John was kicked back in basketball shorts and a t-shirt, not because he works from home, but because it was hotter than a Florida heat wave in his apartment. And just think, he’s in there all day…
His setup is simple, yet extremely effective. His view is out of his front window from his 2nd story apartment in Pacific Beach. With an 8′ desk supporting his 27″ Mac, mixer and microphone, he’s set and ready to rock.
The shadow was a great time. I learned how to edit using Adobe Audition, about hosting and iTunes, and most of all, I saw that it’s all about having a good time with your guests.
Today, I’m the founder of reFashion.co, a global media and broadcasting agency dedicated to fashion and retail technology.
In addition to event and marketing strategy, we have created the world’s first fashion tech podcast designed to accelerate innovation in fashion. The reFashion.co Podcast features the best fashion and retail startups from around the world and is delighted to have been invited by Decoded Fashion to be making history by driving interviews and capturing the story at Europe’s first fashion tech event: Decoded Fashion Milan.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank John again for opening the door to his studio so I could see first-hand how he works his magic.
Cristina Quitania loves to make things bigger, better, faster and prettier. She has many passions but she works hardest at accelerating innovation in fashion and retail. Her experience is in digital marketing and event strategy, with a craving to tailor experiences that create powerful connections, resulting in big ideas. She is fueled by collaboration and is a lean digitalista.
Connect with Cristina on Instagram to follow her and learn more.
