Podcasting Hacks

Build a Great Review Podcast

Create a review show that tells your listeners about the best movies, music, and books, with insight they can find nowhere else.

Podcasting is perfectly suited for the review format, and such shows became popular quickly. Putting together a review show is straightforward, assuming you do some homework first. When podcasting first got started, I jumped in with the first movie review, commentary, and discussion show, called Reel Reviews—Films Worth Watching (http://reelreviewsradio.com/). While my goal was to talk about great films readily available on DVD, the lessons I learned in producing the show hold true for any review format show.

Using my experience, let’s examine how to produce a great review show.

Talk About What You Know and Enjoy

Roger Ebert is such a mainstay among movie reviewers because you can tell he has a passion for film, and he enjoys talking about it, studying it, and critiquing it. As is often the case, subject matter for which the presenter has enthusiasm can often lead to compelling listening. When setting up a review show, make sure it is a topic about which you can speak with some authority and enthusiasm.

Creating a podcast involves a commitment to your listeners; they are counting on the fact that you will continue to produce shows. If your subject matter is not something that you get excited about, rethink whether you should proceed. In my case, I have been talking about film for years to anyone who was interested. As such, making ...