← Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach
Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach
254 The Podcaster's Ultimate Guide to Co-Hosting a Podcast
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Hey podcaster, I'm Tim Wahlberg, your podcast performance coach, with another actionable tip so you can grow your podcast authority, generate leads, and convert with ease. Today's tip is Create a co host dynamic or don't have a co host. Co hosted shows can be powerful. They can bring energy, perspective, and a natural back and forth that solo shows to you don't always have. But they can also get messy fast. Most co hosting problems don't come from bad chemistry. They come from a lack of hosting strategy. So if you're thinking about co hosting or you're already a podcast host, here's what you need to get right. First and most importantly, know your role. With co hosts, someone has to drive the bus. That doesn't mean that one person is more important than the other. It means one person person is responsible for the flow of the show. That person typically handles the opening, the transitions, the housekeeping. And I just hate the term housekeeping, so please don't use it on your show. It reminds me of cleaning toilets. The guest introductions and the calls to action, they keep the show moving forward for the listener. When nobody owns that role, the listener feels it. The show wanders, the pacing drags and important moments get missed. Without a bus driver, you're all over the road and it's downright uncomfortable for the listener. Let's take this one step further, because having a great co host dynamic is more than who drives the bus. It's about each host having a clearly defined role and personality. Ask yourselves, what perspective does each host bring to the listener? Great co hosts don't sound the same. They offer contrast. Different angles, different ways of thinking about the same topic. Sometimes that contrast is natural. Other times you consciously decide to take a side for the sake of the conversation. That's okay. In fact, that kind of tension can make a show more engaging as long as it's in service to the listener. You remember doing debates in school? They'd be pretty dull if everyone was arguing the same point. We used to do this in radio all the time. Someone had to play devil's advocate to keep things things spicy. So know your role. Next co hosting tip. Give your co host a bit of space. Even if you completely disagree with what they're saying or feel a deep in your bones need to correct them pronto. Two people fighting for airspace and talking over each other is not a party for the ears. It's annoying and it makes editing a nightmare. Remember, the conversation is not about the two of you. It's not for you. It's for the listener. And that means listening to each other, responding and moving the idea forward. Instead of battling to get your point in, here's a great way not to talk over each other. Develop a secret and silent sign language in radio, we had this advantage of being able to point, wave, gesture and signal without the audience ever knowing. It was a perfect ballet. If I held my thumb up and forefinger, you know, like the little itsy bitsy tiny sign, and pointed it to myself, my co host knew I had something little to add before moving on. It was magic. Now with podcasting, especially if you're recording video or doing remote recording, you might need to develop a more subtle approach. That might mean low hand signals. It might mean using platforms like messenger or chat. It might mean an agreed upon look for when someone wants to add a quick point without derailing the conversation. Another way is to back away from the mic when you're done, or lean in as a signal that you've got something to add. If you don't build that in, you end up with people talking over each other, interrupting unintentionally, or holding back entirely. And that's not fun for anyone. So finding your own way to communicate with one another is really important. In radio, building a morning show team was all about chemistry. You can tell if a team gels or or if there's tension, the listener will hear it too. There are so many co host nuances that go into creating magic. Some shows have it and others don't. They feel forced or awkward. I could go on and on about navigating dynamics, roles, voices, attitudes, contributions, and egos, but not addressing these issues can create a bad listener experience. As a podcast coach, working with co hosts with we need to be intentional and strategic about how you're going to share your conversations, and it's going to be different for every show and every set of co hosts. If you want to talk about your specific show, I suggest you get on my calendar for a free podcast coaching call and let's get into it. But for example, we helped two sisters develop a show. They had a natural pattern from a lifetime of having conversations, and that was fun. But for the sake of the audience, we we had to tweak a few things. First, they sounded similar, so we encouraged them to call each other by their name periodically to help the listener get to know the nuanced differences between their voices. Next, we encourage them to own their perspective. One was a bit more woo and into the feels, while the other was more grounded, practical, and loved a good statistic. So we encouraged them to lean into those differences. This also helped the listener identify the speaker because of the content of what they were saying. Plus it gave their conversation a deeper dynamic. Their show sounds amazing. I'll pop a link into the show notes if you're curious. Now my final tip for creating a great co host dynamic is to not share your prep. Notice I did not say don't prep. We're not going to be winging it here, people. Your show should follow a structure and you should both know the flow of the conversation. But and this is where the real magic comes in, do your prep separately so that there is some surprise and authenticity to the conversation. Come to the conversation with your own stories, opinions, questions and examples. Don't script every moment together. When co hosts know everything that's coming, the conversation loses its energy. It starts to feel like an acting exercise instead of a real discussion. Separate prep keeps the things spontaneous, natural and alive. Now that's a lot to unpack, I know, but that's because being a great co hosting podcast duo does not happen without the work. So figure out your roles, get clear on how you'll help the audience understand your unique perspective. Give each other space to talk, and keep it fun and spontaneous. If you're still struggling, remember that co hosted shows need a few episodes to find their rhythm. Some awkwardness at the beginning is normal, but if after 20 or 30 episodes it still feels uncomfortable or a heavy lift or forced, it's worth asking a hard question. Does this show actually need two hosts? Don't add a co host just because it feels safer or easier. Add a co host because it genuinely serves the listener. And if someone isn't pulling their weight, know that the listener hears it. Address it sooner rather than later. Heck, give them this episode to listen to. Now. If you were given this episode by your co host, know that they care and they just want the show to be the best it can be. Don't take it personally. Do it for the show. Okay? Co hosting gold happens when everyone knows their role, respects the structure and shows up fully. And I hope that's just the tip you need if you're building a co hosted podcast and want help designing roles, structure and flow so it actually works. That's exactly the kind of thing we help with. Head to my website podcastperformancecoach.com to book a free podcast coaching call so we can talk it through before small issues turn into big ones. Because great co hosting isn't accidental, it's intentional. Book your free private podcast coaching call by using the link in the show notes or@podcastperformancecoach.com I'm Tim Walberg. See ya. It.