Music Producer Tricks for Podcasters w/ Dan Hughley

I've learned a lot about both marketing as well as creativity from my work in the music industry, so it's always great to sit down with somebody who has a similar background and talk about how work in music applies to podcasting.

Dan Hughley is an audio engineer who understands the importance of managing people and situations in the studio. Like our role as podcasters, his role requires a bit of psychology. 

As a podcaster, you may know him from his work with Focusrite, manufacturer of the popular Scarlett line of audio interfaces.

In this episode, I talk with Dan about:​

• ​The importance of confidence and trust in interviews
• The differences between public personas and private personas in podcasting
• The role of the audio engineer in creating a comfortable recording environment
• Setting the space for creativity.
• The concept of "less is more" in music production and podcast editing
• Using reference tracks to make your episode the best it can be
• The importance of creating a dedicated creative space for podcasting, including tips on lighting, decor, and utilizing music during breaks
• The psychology of putting together great podcasts, including the need for listeners to be engaged and the importance of editing to create impactful content
• The role of listening skills in podcasting

Episode Timestamps:​

00:29 Marketing guy turned musician helps grow audiences.

05:16 Audio engineers are like psychologists – podcasters need these skills too.

08:21 Collaboration with professionals, "making good noise" and surpassing expectations.

09:28 Risk, trust, and letting loose as a musician and interviewer.

13:52 Allowing space for creativity and weirdness.

17:53 You need your version of David Bowie.

19:40 Creating space for artists in LA.

23:53 Acapella group emphasizes importance of listening in singing.

27:28 The hook 

28:48 Reference tracks and why "less is more."

32:37 Coming up ... Dan Hughley talks podcast equipment on budget.

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Note that this is PART 1 of a two-part series. PART 2 focuses on more technical elements of getting a good episode on tape and how to make the most with your recording budget. Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don't miss it.