How Top Hosts Hook Listeners in 60 Seconds or Less
As hosts, we have very little time to hook new listeners. We know this, because as listeners ourselves, we make decisions to listen to a new show—or abandon it—almost instantly. Likewise, we may have only half a minute for someone new to decide our show isn’t for them. So how do the best hosts hook their listeners—and what can we learn from them? In this solo-hosted episode, I explore four elements of effective intros through the insights and practices of Last Day’s Stephanie Wittels Wachs; Crime Show’s Emma Courtland; and Anne Bogel of What Should I Read Next?
Sound Judgment · Stephanie Wittels Wachs, Emma Courtland, Elaine Appleton Grant, Anne Bogel
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Show Notes
Listeners to Sound Judgment know I’m on a quest to unpack how today’s best hosts make their magic — and to define the universal skills and qualities of “hostiness.” What makes some hosts stars, while we don’t remember the rest?
Today, we name and explore the first of these universal skills:
#1: Sparkling, Attention-Grabbing Intros
Compelling hosts know how to grab and hold listeners' attention from the very first seconds of an episode. A great intro, also called a "lede," relies on the elements of:
— Surprise
— Curiosity
— Scene setting
— For interview and conversation shows, stating your purpose
We explore how three hosts, of two narrative podcasts and one interview show, use these elements in dramatically different ways to create remarkably effective ledes.
(Please note: This episode includes the sounds of guns and a brief discussion of some tough topics, including suicide, during my exploration of Stephanie Wittels Wachs’ lede into the Last Day episode, “A Love Story.” The third season of Last Day is about guns. If you’re a host or producer thinking about the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting yesterday, and how to report movingly and sensitively about guns, Last Day is a model of how to do this beautifully and ethically.)
The episode(s) discussed on today’s Sound Judgment:
Last Day, A Love Story, from Sound Judgment Ep. 1, “Emotional Bravery on Last Day with Stephanie Wittels Wachs”
Crime Show, Paging Dr. Barnes, from Sound Judgment Ep. 4, “Cinematic Storytelling with Crime Show’s Emma Courtland.”
What Should I Read Next, Ep 350: “Book mail keeps us together” and
Ep 351 “Book Club Favorites: LIVE from Bookmarks!”, from Sound Judgment Ep. 7, “Secrets of Hosting Live and In-Studio with the Queen of Book Podcasts, Anne Bogel.”
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Here’s a unique, last-minute gift idea for you or the podcast host in your life!
Make sure you’re doing everything you can to hook your listener with a personalized Hook-Your-Listener Audit. You or your podcaster will share an episode with us. We’ll examine the intro, sound quality, structure, relatability, credibility, pacing and more, all through the lens of hostiness. For the holidays, this 45-minute session, filled with action-packed takeaways specific to your show, is only $149. If your loved one (or you) has resolved to grow their show in 2023, this is a quick and painless way to transform your show – and more importantly, you as a host – from good to great! Get one of the last remaining sessions now through New Year’s Eve and schedule your audit for January or February. The price goes back up to $300 on January 1. What could be a more personal gift? Click here for this special holiday Hook-Your-Listener Audit.
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Credits
Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. For more information on our production and training services, visit us at www.podcastallies.com.
Host: Elaine Appleton Grant
Project Manager: Tina Bassir
Sound Designer: Andrew Parrella
Illustrator: Sarah Edgell
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Help us find and celebrate today’s best hosts
Who’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: [email protected]. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment.
Credits
Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC.
Host: Elaine Appleton Grant
Podcast Manager: Tina Bassir
Production Manager: Andrew Parrella
Audio Engineer: Kevin Kline
Production Assistant: Audrey Nelson