Should You Script Your Podcast
To script or not to script your podcast. It’s quite a complicated question and the answer is unavoidably ‘depends’ and ‘yes and no.’ Confused? In this podcast, I’ll go over exactly what it depends on and how to figure out how much yes and no applies to you.
Being able to read a script naturally and convincingly is a skill that broadcasters go to school for. It’s a legitimate talent. Think about some of your favourite news anchors. Chances are you love them because it feels like they are telling you the news, just sharing the details with you, NOT reading them to you. The very best storytellers are the ones who sound like they are recalling that story from memory. The funniest comedians are the ones who sound like they are just coming up with the jokes on the spot. And, actors – well, you know where I’m going with this.
So, do you sound scripted when you podcast? (If you don’t know – here’s a tip: go listen to Podcast 003 – How to Listen to Your Podcast) That’s the first part of figuring out if you should be scripted or not. The second part is whether you can manage to keep the show cohesive and on track without one. Are you prone to going off on long tangents, rampling like an idiot, failing to get to the point? Does co-host banter turn into pointless prattling? Do you get to the end of your podcast and say, ‘crap, I forgot to say this,’ ‘I’m not sure what I just said,’ or, even worse, ‘I had no takeaway.’
The final piece of the ‘should I be scripted puzzle’ is whether or not you can go off script without panicking or freezing up – especially if you have a co-host or guest. If your guest says something really interesting and you let it float away because you’re so focused on your script, well, I’m going to have to come over and burn your script. You shouldn’t let your script control the show. You need to stay engaged and go with the flow – even if it means going off-script.
I know what you’re thinking. ‘Holy crap, Tim, you are so handsome.’ That’s true but you should also be thinking that this script or not to script stuff sounds so complicated. Now, before you get overwhelmed and start chucking your mic through the window, listen to my podcast. I reveal the Oreo Cookie formula that has worked for many of my clients. You can steal this script formula and not pay me a dime.
On the other hand, if you want me to figure all of this stuff out for you, help you sound more natural reading a script (like the pros do) or just take your podcast performance to the next level then you need to sign up for my critique and coaching package.
