You have said yes to a podcast, and now the nerves have started. That is normal. Knowing how to prepare for a podcast interview is mostly about doing a few small things early, so that on the day you can simply talk. At Oskillo Studio in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur, we host guests on our sets regularly, and the ones who look relaxed on camera are usually the ones who did their homework.
This guide is written from the guest’s side of the table. If you are a founder, doctor, CA, coach or professional invited onto a Hindi or English show, this is your plan.
Key takeaways
- Start one week before. Day 7 is for asking the host questions, not for writing answers.
- Prepare three stories of under 90 seconds each, not a script.
- Write a 30-second intro and a one-page list of your key numbers.
- Get format, length, clip rights, edit approval and release date confirmed before you record.
- Plan your own LinkedIn and Instagram posts before the episode goes live.
Podcasts are now a real habit for Indian audiences. PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2025-29 puts India at about 177 million monthly podcast listeners in 2024, with listeners spending roughly 7.5 hours a week on podcasts, according to this summary of the report. A good guest appearance can reach people who would never see your website.
How do you prepare for a podcast interview? A one-week plan
Prepare for a podcast interview over seven days: confirm the details with the host first, then build your stories, intro and numbers, then sort your outfit and gear, and rehearse out loud. Do not memorise answers. Memorised answers sound stiff on camera and fall apart at the first unexpected question.
| Day | What to do |
|---|---|
| Day 7 | Message the host with the checklist below. Ask for topics or questions. |
| Day 6 | Pick three stories from your work. Note the lesson in one line each. |
| Day 5 | Write your 30-second intro. Record it on your phone and listen back. |
| Day 4 | Make a one-page key-numbers list: years, clients, revenue range, dates, prices. |
| Day 3 | Decide your outfit. Sit and talk in it for ten minutes to check comfort. |
| Day 2 | Rehearse stories out loud with a friend asking random questions. |
| Day 1 | Confirm time, route and parking. Sleep well. Skip heavy food. |
What should you ask the host before you say yes?
Ask the host about format, length, language, questions, clip rights, edit approval, release date and promotion. Hosts expect these questions from careful guests. Rephonic notes that hosts often send questions in advance, especially if you ask, so there is no harm in asking.
Copy this checklist into a WhatsApp message:
- Format: audio or video? Live or recorded? Hindi, English or mixed?
- Length: how long will we record, and how long will the episode be?
- Topics or questions: can you share a rough outline?
- Clip rights: can I use clips and the full episode on my own channels? Will you share raw clips?
- Edit approval: will I see the final cut before it goes live? Is there a window to request corrections?
- Release date: when will it publish, and on which platforms?
- Takedown: if I need a line removed later, what is the process?
- Promotion: who tags whom, and what will you share?
- Cost: is there any fee or sponsorship expectation from the guest’s side?
Get the answers in writing, even if it is only a WhatsApp chat. It keeps the relationship clean. If you are curious how a show is set up from the host’s side, our guide to starting a Hindi business podcast shows what hosts plan for guests.
Which three stories and what 30-second intro should you prepare?
Prepare three short stories, each under 90 seconds, plus a 30-second intro. Prep guides such as Talks.co suggest three to five talking points, and Convince & Convert says a good guest tells stories rather than only answering questions.
Choose stories that have a beginning, a problem and a result. For example: a mistake that cost you money and what you changed, a client or patient situation you can describe without naming anyone, and the moment you decided to start your own work. Pick three different ones. Shantanu Deshpande of Bombay Shaving Company has argued that some Indian podcasts repeat the same founder story across shows. Others disagree, but the lesson for you is simple: bring something the listener has not already heard from you.
One host’s tip, shared by Riverside, is to write out likely answers and then cut them in half. Short answers sound confident.
Build your 30-second intro in this order:
- Your name and what you do, in plain words.
- Who you help, or what you have built.
- One specific proof point, like years of work or a real result.
- One line about why you are on this episode.
Skip your full CV. The host will add your credentials in the episode description.
How do you say numbers and manage your pace in Hindi or Hinglish?
Say numbers the way your audience says them, in lakh and crore for an Indian audience, and round them. Slow down slightly at every number, name and date. Listeners cannot rewind a live conversation in their head, so give them a second to catch up.
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| “5,000,000 rupees” | “fifty lakh rupees” |
| “10,000,000 in revenue” | “around one crore in revenue” |
| “We grew 3.7x” | “We grew almost four times” |
| “In FY 2022-23” | “In the year 2022-23, from April to March” |
Stick to one unit system through the whole episode. Switching between lakh and million confuses people. If a figure is private, say “a few lakh a month” or “I’d rather not share the exact number” and move on. That is a perfectly acceptable answer.
Code-switching is natural in Hinglish, so do not fight it. Just keep technical terms consistent. If you say “conversion rate” in English once, do not translate it halfway through. There is no single ideal speaking speed for Hindi, so do not chase a number. A better test: record your intro on your phone and listen for places where words run together. Add a short pause at the end of each sentence.
What should you wear and how should you sit on camera?
Wear solid, medium-tone colours that you are comfortable in, and sit slightly forward with your feet flat on the floor. Avoid tiny stripes or checks, which can flicker on 4K video, and avoid green if the set has a green wall or screen.
- Colours: navy, maroon, teal, charcoal and earthy shades work on most sets. Pure white can glare under studio lights.
- Fit: pick something that does not ride up when you sit. Do the ten-minute sit test from Day 3.
- Accessories: avoid jewellery that clinks against the table or a mic. Keep a watch or bracelet off the table edge.
- Posture: lean a little towards the host, keep shoulders relaxed and do not rock or swivel in the chair.
- Hands: use them naturally, but keep them below the mic and away from the table so they do not thump.
- Eyes: look at the host, not at the camera, unless you are told otherwise.
What happens on the day at a Jaipur podcast studio?
On the day you arrive, settle in, get mic-checked, do a short test recording and then start. Reach about 20 minutes early. Early arrival gives you time to meet the host, which Rephonic also recommends.
- Park, come up to the studio and settle in the waiting area. Keep water nearby.
- Switch your phone to silent, or better, switch it off. A buzz on the table gets into the mic.
- Sit on the set while the team checks mic, light and camera.
- Do a short test, then the host starts. If you stumble, stop, breathe and restart the sentence. It can be cleaned up in editing.
- After the last question, ask the host about the release date and clips before you leave.
At Oskillo: what a guest sees
Oskillo Studio is open every day from 10 AM to 8 PM at 3rd Floor, VR Theme Park, 1/9 Gandhi Path Road, Vaishali Nagar, near Mall of Jaipur. Vaishali Nagar sits between Queens Road, Delhi Bypass, Ajmer Road and Sirsi Road. According to 99acres, the airport is about 14 km away and Jaipur Junction about 8 km.
Our founders are present at every shoot to guide you. The rooms are soundproof and acoustically treated, and you choose from sets like the Blue Theme, the classic wooden library or the grey vintage set. We also have a comfortable waiting area, a clean washroom, a makeup and dressing room, high-speed Wi-Fi, charging points, secure parking and tea or coffee. Hosts can see our podcast studio pricing or look at studio rental details.
How do you repurpose your appearance on LinkedIn and Instagram?
Post short clips directly on each platform, add burned-in captions, tag the host and share one lesson from the episode in your own words. Callix advises posting natively, since external links can reduce reach, and captioning because most social video plays on mute. That is vendor advice, not platform data, but it matches common sense.
- Ask for clips: request two or three short vertical clips and the full episode link when you confirm clip rights.
- LinkedIn: one clip plus three or four lines on what you learned. Put the episode link in the first comment.
- Instagram: a reel with a Hinglish caption, like “Ye galti humne 2 saal tak ki”, and tag the host and studio.
- Carousels: SocialOrbit suggests keeping each slide under 40 words.
- Timing: post on release day, then again a week later with a different clip.
How do you get invited to a podcast as an expert?
Pitch hosts a specific topic, a short proof of your work and one story they have not heard. You do not need a huge following. Some Hindi business shows say openly that they care more about clarity, traction and mindset than follower count.
Start with shows your own clients actually listen to. Write a four-line message: who you are, the topic, why it suits their audience and a link to something you have said or written. Tier-2 city experts, including those in Jaipur, can stand out by offering local, practical angles.
Do guests get paid in India? We could not find reliable public data on guest fees in India, so never assume anything and ask the host directly. Be careful with any show that asks you to pay to appear. Critics like Shantanu Deshpande have questioned the credibility of paid promotions, so ask for clear terms in writing and look at the host’s earlier episodes first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prepare for a podcast interview as a guest?
Start a week early. Ask the host about format, length, clip rights, edit approval and release date. Prepare three short stories, a 30-second intro and a list of key numbers. Choose your outfit, rehearse out loud with a friend, and confirm travel and timing the day before.
How long should my answers be on a podcast?
Aim for 30 to 90 seconds for most answers. Stories can run a little longer if they have a clear point. If you notice yourself going past two minutes, wrap up with one line. Short answers also make better clips for social media.
What questions should I ask the host before a podcast interview?
Ask about the format, language, recording length, rough questions, clip rights, whether you can review the edit, the release date and platforms, takedown requests, and how the episode will be promoted. Also confirm whether any fee is expected from the guest.
What should a first-time podcast guest do?
Treat it as a conversation, not an exam. Prepare three stories, not a script. Reach the studio early to meet the host and see the set. Keep water nearby, look at the host rather than the camera, and ask for a retake if you stumble.
Do podcast guests get paid in India?
Usually not. Most guest appearances are unpaid and the benefit is visibility and trust. Some shows are sponsor-led or ask guests to pay, so ask directly about money before agreeing. Read any terms in writing and avoid anything unclear about editing or clip rights.
Can I get the raw footage or clips after the episode?
Only if you agree it with the host beforehand. Many hosts will share the published episode and a few clips. Raw footage is a separate request. Ask early, and mention how you plan to use it, for example on LinkedIn or Instagram.
Podcast mein pehli baar jaa rahe hain, kya tips hain?
Pehle host se format aur topics poochh lijiye. Teen chhoti kahaniyan taiyaar rakhiye, script nahi. Apna 30 second ka intro practice kijiye aur important numbers ek page par likh lijiye. Studio samay se pehle pahunchiye aur aaram se baat kijiye, sab theek hoga.
Book your session at Oskillo Studio
Soundproof sets, 2 Sony 4K cameras, Shure mics and an on-site technician in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur. Studio rent starts at Rs 2,000 per hour.
WhatsApp +91 96101 80066 | See all prices | 3rd Floor, VR Theme Park, Gandhi Path, Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur
