In this episode, I take you through my process, how I recruit guests, record, produce, and market about IBD. If you are curious to learn how About IBD is produced, or if you’re interested in being a guest or a sponsor, this episode should answer many of your questions.

Find Amber J Tresca at:

• AboutIBD.com: About IBD
• Verywell: Verywell Health
• Facebook: @aboutIBD
• Twitter: @aboutIBD
• Pinterest: @aboutibd
• Instagram: @about_IBD
• YouTube: @AboutIBD
• Threads: @about_IBD

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

• Facebook: @maccooneycomposer
• Instagram: @maccooneycomposer
• Web: Cooney Studio
• YouTube: @MacCooneyComposer
• Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.

These show notes may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript

[Music: IBD Dance Party]

[00:00:00] Amber Tresca: I am Amber Tresca, and this is about IBD. I’m a medical writer and patient educator who lives with a jpo due to ulcerative colitis. It’s my mission to educate people living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis about their disease and to bring awareness to the patient journey. Welcome to episode 169.

[00:00:21] Amber Tresca: I’m doing something a little different with this episode. I get a lot of questions about how I actually make this show. Everything from how I find guests, to what kind of mic I use to how I edit and get the episodes out into the world. In short, it’s a lot of work. Which I think you already know. This is especially true of the way I podcast because I’m really focused on not only the content, but also good audio quality, plus hosting a podcast about health brings other concerns.

[00:00:47] Amber Tresca: I’m very aware that my guests are sharing personal and emotional stories. I take care to make sure that guests are as comfortable as possible. I say that episodes are co-created because it’s a collaboration between myself [00:01:00] and my guests. I also work to be a gentle entry into the podcast space, so my approach is focused on integrity and empathy.

[00:01:07] Amber Tresca: In this episode, I’m gonna take you through my process, how I recruit guests, record, produce, and market about IBD. If you are curious to learn how about IBD is produced, or if you’re interested in being a guest or a sponsor, this episode should answer many of your questions, part one. How I get started on an episode four about IBDA podcast episode starts in one of a few ways.

[00:01:32] Amber Tresca: The first is with a topic or a question I want to explore. I look for an expert or someone who can give their experience. For instance, when I wanted to cover cannabis and IBD, I reached out to Dr. Jamie Kuchin, who specializes in that topic. I asked her to come on my show, and we created an episode together.

[00:01:49] Amber Tresca: The second is when I meet someone in person or virtually who has an important story. What I look for are topics I haven’t already covered, or someone who has learned from their [00:02:00] experiences and wants to share it to help others. I will reach out usually via email, but sometimes with a dm. If I can’t find an email, I explain who I am about the show and about the time commitment involved.

[00:02:12] Amber Tresca: Not everybody says yes, but that’s okay. A third way is when people reach out to me and ask to be featured. I have a form on about ibd.com that people can fill out to give some basic information. I can’t feature everyone, so I have to make some choices. I often have a backlog because I receive so many requests and I produce episodes only every other week.

[00:02:33] Amber Tresca: But I do my best to work with people when I can. Once someone agrees to be on an episode, I schedule a pre-call. This call is for some technical troubleshooting, talking over the direction of the episode, answering questions, and deciding on a date for the actual recording. Once that’s all decided, I sent my guest a calendar invite some tips on how to create good audio and an outline of how the conversation is structured.

[00:02:59] Amber Tresca: The idea is [00:03:00] to make the whole process smooth and respectful of their time and energy. Part two, my recording setup. I started podcasting with a microphone that connected to my phone and a SoundCloud account. I didn’t know anything about the podcast industry, but I knew I wanted to get started. I jumped in with both feet and was building the plane while I was flying it.

[00:03:19] Amber Tresca: Over time, I upgraded my setup. I invested in some better equipment, but it’s in a space that’s cozy and familiar, which is my home office. I use a road caster duo, which helps me control sound levels and prevents clipping when I get too loud. My mic is a professional grade one, and I’ve added some basic soundproof into my space, including foam panels, rugs, and curtains.

[00:03:41] Amber Tresca: These things make a big difference in keeping the audio clean. Most of the time I record remotely. I use squad cast, and we always start with a quick tech check. I help my guest with mic placement and room tone, which are big parts of setting the stage for a smooth conversation. That also sounds good. [00:04:00] I don’t want guests to feel nervous about the gear.

[00:04:03] Amber Tresca: I just want them to feel at ease and sound like their best selves. But for anyone who is interested in getting a microphone, I will give some suggestions. When I record in person, I use different gear. I have a laptop, a scarlet compressor, and some portable microphones. When I travel, that all fits in my backpack, and if I’m flying, I usually have to answer a lot of questions at TSA part three, how I prepare for interviews.

[00:04:29] Amber Tresca: I do research before I go into an interview. If I’m reaching out to a potential guest, I will do the research before I even do that when someone reaches out to me. I will do some background research before setting up a discovery call. I read what a guest has written. I listen to their talks or other interviews, and I think about what unique perspective they can bring to an episode.

[00:04:51] Amber Tresca: I’m looking for something fresh, something real, something that I haven’t covered before, and something this particular guest hasn’t covered on podcasts [00:05:00] similar to about IBD. Then I put together a topic list. It’s not a script, but more like an outline. I send the topic list to the guest ahead of time, usually about a week before we record.

[00:05:10] Amber Tresca: That gives them a chance to prepare and also lets them flag anything they’d prefer not to discuss. When doing a podcast where people are telling their personal stories, it’s important to build trust and give guests the chance to show up authentically during the interview. I use the outline as a framework, but I’m always ready to follow the conversation wherever it wants to go.

[00:05:32] Amber Tresca: Part four, editing the episode. After recording, I move into editing. This is where the story really takes shape. I do the content edit myself. This is because I am closest to the source material. I would have a hard time finding an editor that understands IBD and the IBD community well enough to complete content edits.

[00:05:53] Amber Tresca: This means I cut anything that maybe didn’t come out quite right or could be misinterpreted because I want the content to be [00:06:00] really clear and also evidence-based. I also delete any long pauses, filler words, false starts and stops, or if anything technical happened during the interview, like losing a connection.

[00:06:11] Amber Tresca: I use a variety of tools for editing, and I keep the focus on clarity, pacing, and tone, but I also leave in the moments that feel genuine, like laughing, stumbles, or unexpected tangents that make the episode feel alive. While editing, I might move sections of audio around to help tell a cohesive story. I also find places for transitions where a little music breaks up the discussion and gives the ears something different to listen to.

[00:06:39] Amber Tresca: Most people don’t like hearing their own voice. I’ve had thousands of hours listening to my own voice, so the cringe has largely worn off, but there are days when it’s a little more challenging. Editing is both technical and creative, and I actually really enjoy that balance. Part five, music and Sound Design.

[00:06:59] Amber Tresca: [00:07:00] The music I use is original and created specifically for about IBD. I feel like it gives the show its own identity when it comes to music. There’s no such thing as fair use and many online composers don’t license for podcasts. For that reason, it is much easier and legally safer to have dedicated music.

[00:07:18] Amber Tresca: I don’t do the mix and sound design myself. I hire an audio engineer and composer who handles the finishing touches. This includes removing any weird background noises. Making sure the voices are at the same volume and adding music, plus more stuff that I’m sure that I don’t even know about. Podcasts are MP threes, so they are smaller files so that they can be downloaded quickly.

[00:07:38] Amber Tresca: This means that the quality is also reduced to a certain extent, but we try to make sure that there’s a balance between quality and the size of the file. Part six, marketing about IBD. Once an episode is edited and uploaded, it’s time to share it. Marketing is a whole job on its own. I don’t have a background in marketing [00:08:00] or social media, but I do my best to promote my guests and their episode.

[00:08:04] Amber Tresca: I pull quotes or soundbites that stand out and turn those into audiograms or graphics. I use tools like Canva and Headliner for that. Then I post them on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms. They change weekly. I have a dedicated page for each episode on my website@aboutibd.com. I include a rough machine generated transcript there, as well as information about my guest and links to research or more information about the topic.

[00:08:29] Amber Tresca: I also write a short summary and include that in my newsletter. My newsletter includes everything new from about ibd.com, but I also include content from other small creators in the IBD space and nonprofits. I keep tabs on what’s going on and what’s new because that’s part of my job. So I wanna pass the great stuff I find along to my subscribers.

[00:08:48] Amber Tresca: I don’t stop marketing with launch day. I share different parts of the episode over a period of about two weeks. I will also reshare older episodes when the topic becomes timely again. This is [00:09:00] all about keeping the conversation going and making sure that the right episode finds the right person at the right time.

[00:09:08] Amber Tresca: Part seven, the hardest part. If you’ve ever reached out to me to ask about starting a podcast, you know that I will try to talk you out of it. There’s a phenomenon called Pod fake. Many podcasts start strong, but after six or eight episodes, the enthusiasm wanes the real sense of how much work it is sinks in, and people stop producing episodes.

[00:09:31] Amber Tresca: Some of my guests have told me that they won’t agree to appear on a podcast unless they see it has a number of episodes, usually over 20 and sometimes over 50. This is because it is an investment in their time to be a guest. And if their episode disappears or they aren’t finding new audiences, that’s time and effort.

[00:09:51] Amber Tresca: They won’t get back. There’s always something to pull your attention away. Scheduling, editing, delays, tech issues, or for me, IBD [00:10:00] fatigue. Some weeks I feel like I’m on top of everything. Other times it’s frankly a scramble. And then there’s that inner critic that pops up and says, is this good enough? Are people even listening?

[00:10:12] Amber Tresca: I’ve learned to ride these waves. I have systems to help me stay on track, and most importantly, I have to admit that I’m human and give myself grace. It’s not about perfection. It’s about showing up and doing the work consistently. Part eight, the most rewarding part on the other side of doubt and self-criticism is the most rewarding aspect of podcasting, and that’s the people.

[00:10:39] Amber Tresca: An experience I’ve had over the years is that whenever I get deep into the self-doubt, there’s always someone who sends me a DM or an email and lets me know that they appreciate my work. It feels like the universe is intervening, and who am I to go against what the universe is telling me. I also love the connections I’ve built with guests.

[00:10:59] Amber Tresca: These are [00:11:00] real conversations and over time they’ve led to friendships, more collaborations, and a growing sense of community. Podcasting can be a lonely process when making creative and technical decisions, but the relationships it creates are anything but part nine answers to some frequently asked questions.

[00:11:21] Amber Tresca: These are some questions that I’ve been asked over the years. Number one, how are episodes recorded? I record virtually over a podcast tool called Squad Cast. It is made specifically for podcasting, so it has features to better support audio quality. I do love to record in person, so I take advantage of that whenever I can.

[00:11:41] Amber Tresca: Number two, how long are episodes? I always allow for an hour of recording time, but episodes generally wind up being between 30 and 45 minutes. Number three. Do you record video? Yes, I record video. Currently, I use video for clips on social media. I would love to release full [00:12:00] video episodes, but that can only happen if I receive more funding.

[00:12:04] Amber Tresca: Number four, how long after a recording session does an episode publish? Episodes take about a month to produce. So for time sensitive topics, it’s important to get a head start of about six weeks to make sure the episode is ready before the event. Number five. How do I become a guest? On about IBD? I do take pitches@aboutibd.com.

[00:12:25] Amber Tresca: I have a form for potential guests. It asks for some basic information. I can’t work with everyone who applies to be a guest, but for pitches that are a good fit, I try my best to get you on the pod. Number six, are you only going to cover IBD? Yes. However, I also cover topics that are important to people who live with IBD, such as learning how to get organized.

[00:12:48] Amber Tresca: I have lots of ideas, but I’m limited by time and resources, and specifically funding because I do writing, editing, and fact checking work. To fund the podcast, and one of the reasons why I try to talk people out of starting their own podcast is because you are not going to earn a living podcasting, unfortunately.

[Music: IBD Dance Party]

[00:13:12] Amber Tresca: Hey, super listener. That’s a wrap on this behind the scenes episode of about IBD. I hope this gave you a clearer picture of how I make the show and maybe it sparked some ideas for you if you’ve got questions. Feedback or wanna share your own podcasting journey. I’d love to hear from you, as always, links to a written transcript, my social media handles and more information is in the show notes and on my episode 1 69 page on about ibd.com.

[00:13:40] Amber Tresca: Thanks for listening and remember, until next time, I want you to know more about IBD.

[00:13:49] Amber Tresca: