Host, Sam Bonham, began this summit by highlighting that talent hunting and inviting high profile attendees at a podcast is of utmost importance. But, just a big television or radio name won’t survive the competition wars at the podcast market.
“A podcast sucks when it is only being made because they are a celebrity”- Bari Finkel
With this quote, the co-head of pineapple streets enters the conversation. Audio can’t follow ‘the fake it until you make it’ logic, but authenticity goes a long way. Finding the celebrity’s why, by spending time developing and testing out in-depth interview techniques and formats, will determine their ability to do it right. Podcasting does not follow the rules of classic journalism. Both hosts and attendees have to be truly engaged and enjoy the process.
Leanne Allie from Unlocked Podcasts takes the floor, by introducing the “chemistry testing” method. Before the pilot episode of a podcast, participants should try free flowing, because sometimes people get really awkward in front of a camera and a microphone. This tactic will check the compatibility of both parties. She even suggests testing different co-host in pairs.
“Working with celebrities doesn’t translate to a successful podcast…They need to have a personality out of work”- Leanne Allie
When working with talent, it is crucial to take into account their audio skills, expectations, availability and promotion efforts. Also, some benefits are the existence of an engaging audience, the brand sponsorship interest and the possibility of reaching a wider range of important topics that aren’t discussed yet.
Last but not least, Rhianne Roberts from BBC, spotlights the ways of creating new celebrities and rediscovering old celebrities from scratch, by exploring new genres and niches. It is not really about the person, rather than the idea and the audience. The key is to discover the right space and know what the audience wants.
“Start from the point and not the celebrity”- Rhiann Roberts
