Instructions for Podcast Interviewees

Information for Prospective Guests

Summary of the Opportunity:
In June 2014, we launched a podcast featuring American healthcare entrepreneurs and execs. Since you meet this description, we'd love to invite you to be a guest on the show.

The target audience includes leaders in pharma, devices, payers, providers, patient advocacy, and health care business. We send the show link to around 2000 healthcare executives in addition to posting it on Linkedln and other social media outlets. Response has been heartwarmingly enthusiastic thus far. Episodes are getting hundreds of downloads, and the numbers continue to grow.

Our host, Stacey Richter, would like to ask you questions about your story: how and why you came to your current role, what exactly you do, and how it ultimately provides healthcare value, improves patient care, and/or reduces cost or inefficiencies. We can also get into advice you might want to give, generally overlooked factors that you know are important from your unique perspective, and how you gain your insight and inspiration. Anything else you'd like to bring up is also certainly a possibility.

We ask nothing of you financially—only that you promote the show within your own social circles and media outlets, as we will do the same. Your featured podcast will air for 1 full week on all media channels.

We hope that this summary contains the information that you are looking for. Let me know if you or someone in your organization is interested in becoming a featured upcoming guest!

Technical and calendar need-to-knows:

• We’ll do the actual podcast over Skype. If you need help setting up Skype, go to the next tab, “Getting Your Audio/Skype Set Up.”
• During our first 30-minute phone call (the “pre-interview”), we will discuss what it is we might want to talk about during the actual recorded podcast interview. We schedule the interview a week or two following the pre-interview at a mutually convenient time.
• An interview outline will be sent to you after the pre-interview.
• The podcast interview itself usually takes about 45-60 minutes to record.
• The podcast is recorded (not live) and is usually published a month to 6 weeks after we record the interview. We will let you know the exact date of publishing.
• The only request we make of you as a guest is that you promote your episode to your mailing lists, social media networks, etc. Our mission to transform health care is only as strong as our reach and ability to communicate to those in our industry with the position and motivation to inspire positive change.
• The final edited interview length is approximately 25 minutes.

Goals of our conversation:

• We want your story and expertise to inspire listeners.
• We want listeners to learn something they can make actionable and further their success within the current healthcare landscape.
• The best interviews with the most downloads and results are the ones where our guest gives advice and actionable knowledge and tells stories about his or her experiences. The episodes with the least play and poorest results are those where the guest turns the interview into a commercial. To be very blunt, if your interest is more about pitching your company and less about helping transform our industry with the knowledge you have accumulated, this is not a fit for you.

Eventually, you will need to send:

• Your Skype username. For more information about Skype, see “Getting Your Audio/Skype Set Up.”
• Your bio in a document that can be cut and pasted onto the podcast page. This will not be edited, so please write it as you want it to appear.
• A .png, .gif, or .jpg headshot
• Links to how people can reach you or your company ... or whatever you want to link to
• Listen to some of our recent podcasts to hear how your interview could sound.

Getting Your Audio/Skype Set Up

Get the right equipment and environment:

1. You will need:
   
   1. A computer or smartphone (one you can download an app onto)
   2. A microphone that plugs into the computer, or earbuds with a microphone like the ones that may have come with your smartphone
      
      1. Audio quality is everything when it comes to whether or not people will listen to your interview.
      2. If you are using your computer for the interview, consider buying this microphone: http://amzn.to/2cbuL2B Alternately, you can plug earbuds into your computer (see below).
      3. If your earbuds are old, now would be a great time to treat yourself to some new ones. What matters here is not the quality of the sound coming out of the earbuds; it’s the quality of microphone. Normal Apple earbuds (new ones) work well. Alternately, if you’d like a recommendation, here’s a pair I like: http://amzn.to/2cbtBUO
   3. Excellent Wi-Fi (all the bars, all the way to the top)
   4. A quiet room: no fans, A/C, or heat blowing on you; buzzing lights; people talking; etc; and the smaller the room, the better to reduce echo

Get a Skype account:

1. Get a Skype account. It’s free.
   
   1. Go to skype.com.
   2. In the upper right, click to sign up for a free account.
   3. You will need to select a Skype username when you sign up. Remember this username. It is basically your Skype “phone number” and the only way we will be able to find you in Skype so we can call you.
2. Download the Skype app onto your smartphone (this is the easiest). Or you can use your computer. Select the option in Skype to “Use Skype online.”
   
   1. You do not need to load up any money. The only reason you need to spend money on Skype is if you are calling someone’s phone number with your Skype account, and you will not be doing that, at least for the purpose of this podcast interview.
3. Optional, if you’re feeling confident: In the upper search bar, search for “staceyrfranklyn.” This is my username. Select the “Add a contact” option when that comes up. After you see my account appear below, hit the little green circle with the + sign to add me as a contact. This is the easiest way to let me know your username.

Test your setup:

1. Either on your smartphone or computer (whichever you intend to use):
   
   1. Make sure you are hooked up to good Wi-Fi.
   2. On the left side of the screen, there is a button that says “Contacts.” Click on that and find the contact named “Skype test call.”
2. Make sure you can hear the Skype lady speak. When she asks you to, talk and your voice will be recorded.
3. Listen to how you sound. Your voice should be clear and sharp and very loud. You should not hear buzzing, digital noises, or other audio defects.
   
   1. If Skype is blipping in and out, it is likely because your Wi-Fi connection is poor.
   2. If you hear buzzing, it’s probably because your earbuds are old, or you are sitting in front of an air vent, or your computer fan has turned on. (If your computer is old and loud, you might consider going the smartphone route.)
   3. If you can barely hear yourself, adjust the volume on your microphone or get it closer to your mouth. If this doesn’t work, your earbuds might be old and damaged.

Day of the Interview Checklist

• Please test your audio prior to the time of the interview. Even if you tested it before, please do one final check. Follow instructions at “Getting Your Audio/Skype Set Up.”
• Turn off your email notifications or anything that beeps or rings on your computer, desk, etc.
• Don’t type while you are talking. It will sound like you are being trampled by clog dancers.
• If any Skype weirdness occurs, a plane flies overhead, or an ambulance drives by, stop and wait until it’s over. We’ll regroup on the other side; no worries, since the show is edited.