4 Podcast Tips from the Longest Running Podcasts

What do “The Moth”, “The Adam Carolla Show”, and “Hardcore History” have in common? They are three of the longest-running podcasts in the US. 

Yes, they cover very different topics, but they - and other podcasts that have been around for decades - have more in common than you might think. In fact, the longest running podcasts share four elements that can elevate your B2B corporate communications podcast. 

Four things the longest running podcasts have in common

They cover both evergreen and timely topics 

Volubility tip: Combine both topics in single episodes.

Since 2002, “Radiolab” has covered science and philosophy fundamentals, evergreen topics that remain relevant over time. By contrast, “This Week in Tech” focuses on the latest in technology news and trends. 

Many of our clients already do a great job covering both evergreen and timely topics in their podcast, but a few manage to combine both in single episodes.

Our law firm clients are doing a great job with this. For example, a podcast episode might involve a deep dive into why a recent Federal policy change is in clear violation of the Constitution, how it might play out in court, and what this means for your company or organization. 

The Constitution itself is an evergreen topic, but how it’s being used and interpreted is always changing. This naturally extends the shelf-life of an episode. 

They invite diverse and interesting experts with great stories

Volubility tip: Vet guests before issuing an invite.

Marc Maron’s now-discontinued podcast was famous for its guest list. But of course not everyone can get a sitting president (Barack Obama) over to their house to record an episode in person. 

When you are looking for an expert to speak on a particular topic, ask yourself:

Who has something interesting to say to your niche audience? Go beyond your field for diverse and interesting guests:

• A logistics company could invite a packaging designer. 

• An accounting firm could invite an attorney who specializes in partnerships or business succession planning. 

• An education consultant could invite a community college provost. 

That packaging designer may turn out to be a boring interviewee. It happens. Do your best to keep the episode as short as possible by editing it down to the bare essentials so you don’t lose too many listeners. 

To avoid accidentally inviting another boring guest, vet them first. Do research on them to ensure they are truly an expert in their field, and schedule a 10-minute introductory call before you commit.

Sometimes people are different in a big crowd at an industry conference versus an intimate setting like a one-on-one podcast interview. Their expertise may fit your podcast but their delivery may not.  

Years ago, one of our clients invited a nationally-known expert onto their podcast. Unfortunately, his ego was even bigger than his reputation, and everything he said came across as arrogant and condescending. It was painful to listen to. 

The hosts are passionate and energetic 

Volubility tip: Don’t limit your search for a host to subject matter experts. 

Adam Carolla moved from MTV to radio broadcasting to podcasting. His listeners followed (and his audience kept growing) because he has an engaging personality that keeps listeners entertained.

If your organization has its own Adam, they should be the host. 

If you don’t, look for a host who is passionate about the topic and energetic when discussing it. This is why a fixed host is often the norm. They might not be a subject matter expert, but they know enough about the topic and can easily guide a conversation. 

However, a fixed host isn’t always feasible. One of our law firm clients has rotating hosts by practice group, because they are the ones who know the topics best and can easily carry a conversation about it.

(Here are tips on crafting interview questions to help the conversation flow.)

They look for ways to engage their audience

Volubility tip: Turn to social media to support audience engagement.

The Moth shares real-life stories told by people from all walks of life, and they hold in-person events all over the world. Dan Savage of “Savage Lovecast” takes calls from listeners, as do Dee Simon and Kate Rambo of “Sick and Wrong”.

A corporate communications podcast does not need to hold live events or take listener calls to be successful. You simply need to make it easy for listeners to engage with you. 

The best place to do that? Social media. 

Share snippets from your podcast on LinkedIn and/or Instagram. Highlight the top takeaways, and ask questions that will jumpstart discussions. You can even solicit ideas for upcoming episodes to help listeners feel even more invested and connected to your podcast. 

(You can find more tips on repurposing your podcast for marketing here.)

Long-running podcasts are also professionally produced 

If you listen to any of the podcasts mentioned above, you’ll notice one thing: How good they sound.

That’s because they work with professional podcast producers who know exactly how to record and edit audio for a seamless listening experience.

If you’re looking for a partner who will produce exceptional podcast episodes, let’s chat. Reach out at info@volubilitypodcasting.com to get the conversation started.