Solo podcasting often gets a reputation for being "easy" because you don't have to coordinate with guests. But without a guest to bounce ideas off of, many hosts fall into the trap of rambling or becoming monotonous. You need a specific architecture to hold your audience's attention.
In this episode, I break down the three primary structures of solo podcasting: The Storyteller, The Teacher, and The Commentator. Plus, learn about a fourth BONUS format.
We explore the subtypes within these categories too, such as the "Historical Deep Dive" or the "Academic Explainer," and look at real-world examples of successful shows using these frameworks. You will learn how to identify which structure fits your goals and how to pivot your existing show to a stronger format.
Here is what you will learn in this episode:
- The definition and goal of "The Storyteller" format (Narrative focus)
- How "The Teacher" format builds authority through logic and frameworks
- Why "The Commentator" format builds the fastest trust with an audience
- The risks and rewards of blending multiple formats (Hybrid models)
- How to use a "Cold Open" to hook listeners immediately
RESOURCES:
- Hardcore History (Dan Carlin): https://www.dancarlin.com/
- Lore (Aaron Mahnke): https://www.lorepodcast.com/
- History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps: https://historyofphilosophy.net/
- The History of Rome / Revolutions (Mike Duncan): https://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/
- Think Media Podcast: https://youtube.com/@ThinkMediaPodcast and https://www.thinkmediapodcast.com
- Your Improv Brain (Jen deHaan): https://youtube.com/@YourImprovBrain and https://improvupdate.com
- The Humanist Report: https://www.humanistreport.com/
- Monday Morning Podcast (Bill Burr): https://billburr.com/podcast
- Better Online (Ed Zitron): https://www.czm.media/shows/better-offline
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