I was interviewed today by a student from College of DuPage. She has an interest in podcasting, so her prof recommended she talk to me.
I’m always intrigued by the way people conduct their interviews. Every “reporter” does it a little bit differently. I like to prepare, conduct research, send questions ahead of time and meditate on the subject. When it comes time to interview, I record the conversation (with permission) and take handwritten notes along the way.
My interviewer was more spartan in her approach. She did not send me the questions in advance but simply and politely set up the interview for 10:00 this morning. I emailed her at 9:40 a.m. and let her know I was available if she wanted to go early. My cell phone rang within 20 seconds of hitting “send.”
“Good morning, this is Connie.”
“Hi Connie,” the interviewer said. Then she introduced herself.
“Wow, you’re fast!”
“I wasn’t doing anything,” she said.
Such candor! I immediately respected her and she immediately started asking questions.
“What are the three most important things about podcasting?” she asked.
“Trust yourself; hydrate and warm up your voice; do your research.”
“Can you make money as a podcaster?”
“If that’s your primary goal, yes.”
“What’s the difference between a profitable podcast and an artistic podcast?”
“If you work for a profit, you and your colleagues will direct and answer and interview according to your marketing department. You won’t share anything new or insightful. You’ll repeat talking points,” I said. “If you are working with artists – good artists who can speak and act without self-interest – they’ll direct and answer honestly, courageously and insightfully.”
Some people have a “freak flag.” I have an “arts bias flag” and I let it flap and fly nice and high this morning.
She didn’t record our conversation but I could hear her clacking away on her keyboard, presumably taking notes. Similar to when I talk to a doctor, I don’t know what she heard, or what she thought. I will say I thought she was bright. I enjoyed talking with her and I hope she got what she needed.
After the interview, Jesse and I went out for coffee before he headed out of town. On our little date, he told me he overheard me say “Anything an artist pursues is their career” when I was on the phone. He asked me for some context.
“She asked me if I recommended podcasting as a hobby or a career. I told her everything an artist does is their career.”
He looked at me, smiled and nodded his head. That right there is everything you need to know about either one of us.
Thanks for reading my ridiculously biased blog. -Connie
P.S. My blog entries will be short for a few days because I am under a deadline to finish the first ten pages of a new play I am penning.
Connie Kuntz 