Flying solo or with a partner, which is better for you?
TL;DR:
- Getting a co host for your podcast can help take it to the next level, but also has its cons
If you’re in the planning stages of your podcast, you may be wondering whether its a better idea to start off as a solo operator or to get someone to join as a co-host. As with most things, the answer is actually: it depends. It depends on your goals, what your strengths are, and the format of your show.
There are podcasts that are solo operators that are crushing it, and there are co hosts that are also crushing it. In this article, we’ll be going through what you need to consider before making the decision.
Interview Podcasts
The first thing to consider is the format of your podcast. If you’re doing an interview podcast, things can get complicated with a co host. It may be better to just do a solo host, unless the co-host brings something unique to the table.
If you’re considering a co-host with an interview podcast here are some questions you should ask:
- Do they have some unique skills or expertise that you don’t have?
- Do you have great natural chemistry with the person, can you talk to them all day and not get bored?
- Can they add value to the discussion in ways that you can’t?
- Can they commit to showing up to the interviews consistently?
If the answer is yes to all 3 of these questions, it may be better to add a co-host. There has been a massive influx of interview podcasts, it seems like social media is filled with clips from interview podcasts. If you add a co-host that can actually raise the bar, that can be a differentiator for your podcast and why your audience will come to you.
A great example of co-hosts that do interviews and also talk about their own niche is the My First Million Podcast. Shaan and Sam are a treat to listen to. They’re hilarious, and it feels like you’re just hanging out with them.
When they have a guest on the podcast it feels like the guest is hanging out with them. It feels very down to earth and natural, and when one of the two is missing the episodes are just not the same.
The plus side of having a co-host in this situation is that they’re able to elevate your podcast to a level that you could not achieve on your own. However, the downside is the headache of coordinating with another person. Especially if there’s no money involved (there usually isn’t at the beginning), it can be hard for people to consistently carve out time to record a podcast. Even if they are able to make time, life gets busy and people’s schedules are not always the same every week. You may have to be flexible and record at times that are not ideal for you if you really want to make it happen.
Non Interview Podcasts
There’s a lot of different types of podcasts that aren’t necessarily just interviews. There’s the investigative journalism type podcast, there’s the history lessons, there’s company deep dives, there’s market analysis and predictions, whatever the actual podcast is about, if its not interview based we’re calling it a non-interview podcast. The reason for this is that your podcast isn’t inherently a conversation between two people. You’re speaking directly to the audience. You’re guiding them through a story or concept.
In non-interview podcasts, having a partner in crime also comes with its pros and cons.
The questions I’d ask in this case are the following:
- Can the person commit to putting in work (research, prep, editing, etc) on a consistent basis?
- Can the person add value to the topic in ways that you can’t? Do they have a different background? Do they have expertise in a different area?
If the answer is yes to both of these questions, I’d bring them on for the ride. The key here is you don’t want someone that just shows up and does what they’re told. You need someone with a unique perspective that will elevate what you’re doing to a new level.
When To Go Solo
The simple framework is if adding someone won’t make your podcast significantly better, go solo. There’s no shortage of podcasts that have reached incredible success with one personality as the main driver behind it. A great example of an interview podcast that does this well is the Jordan Harbinger show. The podcast is built around his personal brand. When he interviews people its just him. He also does a weekly Q and A episode with a co-host, but it the podcast is still named the Jordan harbinger show.
For people that are just starting out, I always recommend starting solo. Most people think they can just record a conversation they’re having with their friends and it’ll be an amazing podcast episode. They’re shocked when they don’t get any downloads and they give up after one episode. Starting solo will force you to actually create something of value, it’ll force you to think through the message you’re giving the audience.
Once you have a couple episodes under your belt you’ll also have a clearer idea of what you want your podcast to be and who you’re serving. With this knowledge it’ll help you pick a better co-host if you do decide to add a partner.