Be Our Guest!

WELCOME PODCAST GUEST!

Thank you for taking the time to be a part of the Career Therapy podcast. I am so excited to sit down and record an episode together.

To make things easier for guests, I’ve put together this little onboarding process.

PERSONAL INFO

Before we record, please email the following to martin@careertherapy.com.

• HEADSHOT(S) - High quality images that are not blurry work best. If you don’t have one, let me know and I can walk you through alternative options.

• SHORT BIO - Please send over a short 1-3 sentence bio of your work. Here is an example to refer to.

  • Sabrina Medora is a National Food Writer, Editor, and Founder of Unplated, where she celebrates the little known stories and unsung heroes of the restaurant industry.

• LINKS - Please send over links to the places online you’d like people to find out more about your work.

  • LinkedIn Profile

  • Website

  • Instagram

  • Twitter

  • etc.

• ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS - If you have any other interesting topics, tidbits, or thoughts that you feel would be good for us to discuss on the show, let me know in your email and I can weave them into the questions I bring up throughout the episode.

RELEASE FORM

Please download, sign, and return this release form to martin@careertherapy.com before our scheduled recording session.

EPISODE RECORDING OVERVIEW / BEST PRACTICES

• INTRODUCTION: The show’s introduction will be recorded separate from our conversation, where Martin will introduce you, your work, and the topic of the episode.

• RUN OF SHOW: Our episodes are conducted in a conversational Q&A format. Martin will lead the discussion with questions surrounding our agreed upon topic, and at the end of the show, Martin will ask you where folks can go to learn more about your work.

• YOUR NAME: Mispronouncing someone’s name is never fun, so I may ask you to state your name when we start recording, just to ensure it is right in the final edit. Or, if you want to send over a more phonetically written version of your name, that is always helpful just to ensure we get it right. Thanks!

• SOFTWARE: We will record using Zoom, so be sure to have it installed on your computer with the software updated prior to the call.

• JOINING THE CALL: The Zoom link can be found in the calendar invite. If you do not have it, please email me.

• LIGHTING: Be sure to place your computer in a place where your face is lit from the front, and minimize background lighting. (ie. close curtains, etc.) If you are backlit, your silhouette will show more than you face in the video recording.

• AUDIO: Please use a headset, or external microphone and headphones during the recording. This eliminates echos and improves audio quality. Also, double check your zoom microphone and speaker settings to ensure they are connected to your preferred microphone and headphones.

• VIDEO: You may use your built in computer camera, or any external camera that links with Zoom.

• NOTIFICATIONS: Please close out any applications that make noises, like Slack, Email, Messenger, etc. and silence your phone for the episode, if possible. This will help us not be interrupted during the convo.

• EDITING: Our podcasts are conversational and require little editing, however if you accidentally say something that you want cut, or if we get interrupted for any reason during the recording, we can make edits. Just let me know during, or after the call if something needs to be cut.

• PROMOTION: We will use the info you share in the above request (short bio, headshot, and links to your social media and online presence) to promote the show across LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Acast, and more.

• CONVERSATION: Try not to script your answers. Episodes tend to turn out best when the interview is 100% conversational. 

OPTIONAL TIPS TO IMPROVE QUALITY:

• Connect your computer to your internet router via an ethernet cable. This provides the strongest signal and will make you sound your best. Amazon offers basic ethernet cables that cost less than $10. If you don’t have an ethernet cable move your computer as close to your router as possible. 

• Use an external microphone and headphones or a wired headset. If you don’t have this equipment, we recommend the Logitech USB Headset H390 with Noise Cancelling Mic. It costs less than $25 and will significantly improve the sound quality of your interview.

• Set up in the quietest room available, close your door and windows, and turn off your HVAC system. Please keep kids, cats, dogs, and other pets in another room. Do not call from your car, a coffee shop, or public places. 

• Avoid tapping on the table when making your point, shuffling your notes, and shifting in your chair. Our sound system picks up the tiniest background noise and we don't want anything to distract from the points you make. Use a stationary chair or temporarily lock your swivel settings.