Joe Rogan laid back and took the role of interviewee today. His discussion with Breaking Points' Krystal and Saagar opened up an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at podcasting. Whether you love or hate him, Rogan knows how to keep a show intact.
Not only that, but he also manages to engage his audience with guests far outside the typical pool of celebrities on which they keep tabs. Here's his trick to ensuring a well-flowed interview.
Headphones, Please!
Rogan told the two that talking over a guest, especially when there's more than one, is a major mistake. Awkwardly fumbling over whose turn it is to speak creates a pretty cringy listening experience.
Luckily, there's a fix for that. He pointed out that a small but essential tool makes a world of a difference. They're small enough to fit in your front pocket but big enough to avoid a skipped episode.
"I listened to a podcast recently and it was a friend of mine's podcast," Rogan shared, "He doesn't have the people wear headphones...When you have two or more guests, you must have headphones."
It's sporadic enough when you're on a Zoom meeting call and constantly cut off a coworker on accident. It creates a buzz of quick apologies and uncertainty. Headphones eradicate that problem, especially in video call interviews.
Rogan even referenced his own recent interview, "We just did three and a half hours, right. This weird dance we're doing where we all have something to say and it's kind of exciting. We're talking about all of these really intense subjects."
Without the need for pause and possibly losing one's train of thought, an interview can unfold into perfectly timed follow-up questions. This expanding world of podcasting can take notes from Rogan, considering his seasoned experience.
What Makes A Great Episode
Saagar then asked what makes the comedian decide whether or not a podcast episode was an entertaining one. His answer in a few words was, "smoothness of absorption." No clue what that means? Us neither, but he luckily explained it.
Rogan continued, "Whether or not it's easily absorbed into your mind. You're not uncomfortable, it doesn't feel gross. Sometimes people say things and even if they're honest, it'll sound braggy or it'll sound hyperbolic."
"You can fake humility and people can pick up on that too," he further emphasized the influence of tone and word choice, "They don't like that either, that's gross."