Interviewee & Co-Host Guidelines

Hello Listeners, potential Interviewees and Co-Hosts!

We're putting it out in the open. We've had a few different market tests where we aimed to share the content that Technology of Self aims to share in the form of podcasts, workshops, digital technologies, excursions, and community unities, and we realize that as cool as a Decentralized Autonomous Organization sounds, we realize that some occasions, we need a set of centering, guidelines, values, and themes and a good, devoted leader or a few.

Basically, it's key to have a set of rules to run by. 

So, we've created these Guidelines for Interviewees and Co-hosts.

We have a history of inviting our most interesting colleagues, mentors, associates and friends into the ring of discussion, and it can become quite passionate. To keep this space within the realm of intention of Technology of self, here are some guidelines we've developed for the podcast.

For now, we welcome interviewees who love our principles and feel these guidelines are great and a feasible approach that they'd love to respect and would like to discuss how to do so. (i.e. let's set up those silent cues!)

Interview and Co-Host Guidelines for the "Technology of Self" Podcast

1. Length of the Podcast:

  • Total Duration: Aim for a total podcast length of 55 minutes maximum, including introductions and conclusions.
  • Segment Duration:
    • 1 minute: Podcast Intro
    • 1 - 2 minutes: Podcast Announcements & Sponsorships
    • 1 - 3 minutes: Introduction of interviewee and topic
    • 30 - 40 minutes: Main Discussion
      • Keep the discussion in the Etiquette Guidelines below.
      • Kick off with host's initial question to the interviewee.
    • 10 - 20 minutes: Q&A by participants or lives where applicable
    • 1 - 3 minutes: Discussion Conclusion
    • 1 - 2  minutes: Brought to you by Sponsor & Next Episode
    • 1 minute: Podcast Outro 

2. Tone and Style:

  • Desired Tone: Maintain a tone that is purposeful, positive impact, inspiring wellness, evolutionary and that aligning with the podcast's vision of exploring human potential, well-being, evolution and the future now.
  • Language: Use clear, concise language accessible to a broad audience, avoiding jargon unless explained. Please Note: When jargon is used, host will aim to explain to the audience, be prepared for gentle interjections if you tend to be heavy on jargon.

3. Communication and Interaction:

  • Active Listening: Ensure all parties are actively listening to each other, acknowledging points before adding or redirecting. Acknowledging language includes full sentences that repeat the previous question or statement and may include an assortment of, "I hear that you said...." or "Yes, I see that... is a... for.. " 
  • Speaking Turns: Avoid interrupting; use a subtle signal or cue if needing to interject for clarity or timekeeping.
    Please Note: Interruptions are not fun for the audience, nor the host, nor the speaker, yet sometimes the host may be attempting to gently nudge in to stay on topic and architect the conversation, though sometimes it may be going into interesting territory. She will aim to allow for architected flow. Please notice any cues, as the host may want to keep the conversation on topic. If you yammer on, the audience and host alike may lose connection with what you're saying. So please allow for contemplative pauses and support periods of interaction. She will be taking notes yet may lose track if we go into too many diverse tangents.

4. Monologues vs. Dialogues:

  • Balanced Conversation: Strive for a balance between monologues and dialogues. Monologues should be brief and focused, while dialogues encourage a more dynamic exchange. Thank you!!
  • Sharing Spotlight: Ensure each participant has ample opportunity to share insights and stories. We all love to talk and share story, let's be considerate of time, audience and intention. We'll discuss this before the recording. Thank you.

5. Answering Questions:

  • Directness: We encourage our guests to answer questions directly first, and then elaborate as needed to keep responses focused and engaging. Remember, keep it simple at first and then go deep....
  • Preparation: We will go over a set of potential key questions or topics ahead of time so that you may have thoughtful preparation, and so that we may be sure we're on track with the intended conversation. We'll architect the flow and stay within the subject, time and momentum.

6. Staying on Subject:

  • Topic Guidelines: As a part of the preparation, we can create a clear outline of the topic areas and stick to them unless a natural, valuable tangent arises. Please note, the valuable tangent that arises may not always be seen so the guest or co-host may want to say, "this is a valuable tangent arising here.. " This is a GREAT cue!
  • Realigning Conversation: If the discussion veers off-topic, the host or guest may gently steer it back with a related question or comment. Let's together look out for the audience, topic and intention, stay clear focused and flow within the beautiful architecture that we prepared.

7. Outlines and Preparation:

  • Episode Outline: We will each have a basic structure of the episode including key points and segment timings for us to review and keep in front of us as we dive into the episode recording.
  • Background Material: Please inform us of any background material that the interviewed guest feels to share in advance to inform and prepare the host, and the host will share background material for the guest to informed and prepared in advance.

8. Etiquette:

  • Respectful Dialogue: Maintain respect and courtesy throughout the discussion, even when opinions differ.
  • Interruptions: Avoid talking over each other; use a hand raise or other signals if needing to speak.
  • Honor: Do not degrade the hosts being or person in any way, the recording will not be published. And the host will not do the same to the guests.
  • Technical Checks: Ensure all participants have a good microphone, headphones, and a quiet environment.
  • Media: The podcast will primarily be started as an audio podcast, yet it will also be video recorded.
  • Video Lighting: Be prepared with good lighting, hygiene and scene.
  • Scene: Be sure your background is clear and clean, or your background image represents your intentions. If you need help with your "Look and Feel" please let us know.
  • Verbal Cues: We will be in dialogue, yet let's get familiar with some ways to architect through words:
    • "This is a valuable tangent arising here..." = allowing for shift of architecture
    • "Let's .. " (i.e. let's look at this, let's open this up.. let's... let the audience know... etc.)
    • "Lllll, ooo, yyy = aiming to interject as it may be running on i.e. "Let's...."
    • "Okay... = wanting to wrap up, interject, architect, home in, etc.
    • "Yes... = wanting to paraphrase 
  • Visual Cues: Hand waving downward = slow down; finger pointing up = allow me to architect this for clarity into a clarify statement or question please; hand on head = you're going off topic; fingers circling up = let's wrap this up. Open to other cue suggestions, or changes!  

9. Post-Interview:

  • Feedback: We will love to offer a brief, constructive feedback session after recordings to discuss what went well and what could be improved.
  • Follow-Up: We will provide you information on when the episode will air and share any promotional materials for you to use or advise on actions to promote. We will be in dialogue about this via WhatsApp, or Telegram. And please let us know if you have questions.

Final Notes:

  • Flexibility: While guidelines are important, we will allow for natural flow and spontaneity where it adds value to the conversation as much as possible and we invite you to let us know when you see that, also keeping in mind the amount of time we're taking.
  • Improvement: We will regularly review and update these guidelines based on feedback and the evolving nature of the Technology of Self podcast. We've already evolved quite a bit and love our current focus!

Let's dive deeper into the Tone and Style

Given the nature and objectives of your "Technology of Self" podcast, which aims to explore human potential, wellness, and the intersection of technology and personal growth, the tone and style should be:

Tone:

Inspirational:

  • Empowering: Encourage listeners and participants to explore and realize their best potential.
  • Hopeful: Convey a sense of optimism about the possibilities for personal and collective growth.

Insightful:

  • Thought-Provoking: Stimulate deep thinking and introspection with meaningful questions and discussions.
  • Informed: Base conversations on well-researched facts and experiences, providing listeners with valuable insights.

Accessible:

  • Relatable: Use language and examples that resonate with a broad audience, avoiding overly complex terminology.
  • Clear: Communicate ideas clearly and succinctly, making complex concepts understandable.

Style:

Conversational:

  • Engaging: Foster a natural and dynamic exchange of ideas as if having a conversation with a friend.
  • Interactive: Encourage interactive dialogue between hosts, guests, and even the audience, where applicable.

Professional:

  • Respectful: Maintain a respectful environment where different opinions are valued and explored.
  • Focused: Keep discussions well-organized and on-topic to respect the listeners' time and attention.

Authentic:

  • Genuine: We will encourage guests to share real experiences and opinions to connect more deeply with the audience.
  • Personal: We will allow space for personal stories and insights, making the content more relatable and impactful.

In combining these elements, the "Technology of Self" podcast can create a unique atmosphere that not only informs but also inspires and motivates listeners to engage with the content and apply it to their personal and professional lives. The tone and style reflect our core mission of the Technology of Self podcast, which is to empower individuals to explore and enhance their innate human potential through the integration of technology, wisdom, and wellness practices.