The Other Side of the Microphone: Being a Guest on Podcasts

Recently I was interviewed on the Systematic Podcast by Brett Terpstra on episode 168: Indie And Back With Rob Stenzinger: "Brett is joined by Rob Stenzinger---an Interactive Storyteller, and UX and Game Designer---to talk about autodidactic exploration, self-advocacy and marketing, and going from corporate jobs to indie (and then back)."

Brett has a laid back yet measured and analytical style of exploring topics and getting to know his guests. Lots of fun moments in our conversation, it's worth giving a listen and subscribing to his excellent podcast to hear stories, tips, and recommendations of useful tools from a wide variety of creative folks. I can't count how many times I've tried, bought, and still use apps recommended in the "top three picks" segment of his show.

Being the guest isn't something I frequently do. Mostly I podcast about making things, reflecting on them, and intervew others along the way. It feels great to draw attention to, amplify, explore sharing something from someone who's work I respect. Often toward making things - what ideas do they find helpful, how did they learned it, and sometimes surrounding topics. That's why I enjoy interviewing people with Lean Into Art Cast co-host Jerzy Drozd and from time to time on the Polytechnicast: to draw attention to guests ideas and work.

My logic works both ways, flipping the situation is worth doing, yet it's something I've only done a handful of times.

The first guest appearance I recall, I was on the Art and Story Podcast to talk about web comic user interfaces: "This episode we're joined by Rob Stenzinger to talk about web site:user interface and how to use your comics storytelling skills to create the most appropriate design for your site."

If you're into comics storytelling, it's worth diving through the archives of Art & Story - an excellent though now concluded podcast.

Last November I was interviewed on the Cognicast by Craig Andera: Rob Stenzinger - Cognicast Episode 090 — Cognitect Blog: "In this episode, we talk to Rob Stenzinger about entrepreneurship, interactive storytelling and building games."

We talked about practicing things, making video games, and working on a team built to test business concepts "minimum viable product" style. Also quirks that Craig knows about me since we've been friends for many years. Similar in benefits to Systematic, it's worth subscribing to hear Craig interview a wide variety of interesting people who use, build, and design with technology.

Either side of the microphone is a good place to be.

Get out there and share your work, you'll gain new insight on what you do both from performing as a guest, how you share, and seeing what you do through the lens of the interviewer's questions. It's also worth interviewing others, getting out there to share their work, gain insights, and discover the lens formed by your own questions as an interviewer.