Successful Co-Hosted Podcasting w/ Jim Collison

Thinking about doing a co-hosted podcast? Want to make your co-hosted podcast better? This episode of Build a Big Podcast is for you!

Most people who listen to Build a Big Podcast are familiar with Dave Jackson from School of Podcasting. And if you know School of Podcasting, you may know another podcast with Dave Jackson, Ask the Podcast Coach.

Jim Collison co-hosts Ask the Podcast Coach. 

Jim Collison is a seasoned podcaster and technology enthusiast also known for his involvement with Gallup, helping individuals and organizations maximize their potential through strengths-based development.

I've brought him on Build a Big Podcast to talk about co-hosting ... and we go deep.

We talk about:​

• The Value of Co-Hosting
  • David Hooper's Preference: Believes co-hosting leads to a more relaxed and comfortable listening experience
  • Jim Collison's Perspective: Emphasizes being genuine, consistent, and the significance of practice in co-hosting
• Evolution of Ask the Podcast Coach
  • Development of Inside Jokes and Consistent Elements: Examples of elements that engage the audience and foster community
  • Use of Audio vs. Video: Discussing the pros and cons of each medium
  • Acknowledging and Involving the Audience: Importance of making the audience a part of the show
• Motivation and Rewards in Podcasting Partnerships
  • Financial and Non-Financial Rewards: Discussing sponsorships, super chats, and Patreon
  • Recognition and Matching Effort to Rewards: Ensuring the work matches the recognition and rewards
  • Secondary Payoffs: Importance of non-financial incentives like community and recognition
  • Financial Incentives Debate: The discussion on how financial accountability can motivate quality
• Reflections and Learnings from the Past
  • Jim Collison's Reflections: Would not change anything about his podcasting journey
  • David Hooper's Comparison: Compares relationships to co-hosting experiences
• Importance and Dynamics of Co-Hosting
  • Comparison to Ballroom Dancing: Co-hosting dynamics where one leads and one follows
  • Role of the Co-Host: Jim's role compared to Ed McMahon or Robin Quivers
  • Impact of Different Co-Hosts: How different individuals change the show's dynamics
  • Interviewing and Interacting with Guests: Comparing regular co-hosts to unknown guests
• Handling Live Shows and Audience Interactions
  • Impact of Live Shows: Similarity to live medical procedures
  • Missing Co-Hosts and Audience Energy: Importance of interactions and the dynamic it brings
  • Challenges of Podcasting: Lack of instant feedback and uncertainty about audience reach
• Show Preparation Approaches
  • Spontaneous vs. Structured Topics: Preferences for episode podcast episode preparation
  • Maintaining Freshness and Inspiration: Strategies to keep the podcast engaging over time
• Finding and Testing Good Co-Hosts
  
  • Appreciation for Co-Hosts: Expressing admiration for each other’s dedication and enthusiasm
  • Random Opportunity and Active Pursuit: Combination of luck and effort in finding a good co-host
  • Compatibility and Trial Periods: Advice for assessing co-host compatibility
• Managing Chat Rooms and Audience Conduct
  • Handling Negative Behavior: Challenges of managing chat rooms
  • Role of Controversy: The impact and limits of controversial topics
• Diversity in Podcasting
  • Diverse Guests and Perspectives: Importance of gender, sexual orientation, and varied viewpoints
  • Challenges in Achieving Diversity: Overcoming the lack of diversity in certain spaces
• Podcasting Responsibilities and Rewards
  
  • Host vs. Co-Host Roles: Discussing the different responsibilities and rewards involved
  • Strong Partnerships: The importance of support in partnerships
• Establishing Clear Co-Hosting Agreements
  • Benefits and Challenges: Long-term co-hosting agreements and interview format limitations
  • Monologue Podcasts: Why they may lack appeal
  • Finding a Great Co-Host: Importance of clear agreements and proactive searching
• Experimentation and Fun in Podcasting
  • Happy Accidents and Sponsorships: Example of successful segments like the "sponsored coffee pour"
  • Audience Feedback and Trends: Importance of paying attention to audience interactions and chat room dynamics

Episode Timestamps:​

• 00:00 Discussion with Jim Collison about co-hosted podcasts
• 10:37 Podcasters should know it's normal to evolve
• 11:21 Pay attention to show moments, find "gold"
• 18:46 Issue of working with controversial co-hosts
• 26:12 Being a good co-host 
• 28:10 Interesting aspects of Ask the Podcast Coach
• 32:06 Radio vs podcasting formats
• 37:21 Remote communication forces active listening, despite limitations
• 46:19 Relationships bring joy and contentment (and how to have more of this)
• 51:05 A busy co-host
• 56:32 Considering paying guests for better performance in interviews?
• 01:01:36 Tips for successful podcast co-hosting and monetization.

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