How to Land--and Slay--a Radio or Podcast Interview

Written By Jonathan Smith

With a little preparation, you'll rock the airwaves!

Over the last 23 years, I’ve done dozens of radio interviews and podcasts locally, regionally, and nationally—in-person and on the phone and over Zoom. I’ve talked about topics as wide-ranging as raptor rehabilitation, adopting a former foster child, bibliotherapy, vaudeville, and volunteering for Backcounty Ski Patrol.

Radio and podcast interviews get your voice out to hundreds—maybe even thousands—of listeners. They’re a wonderful way to promote your books and essays and articles, as well as your day job and your volunteer positions.

But how do you land that coveted spot?

There are at least a couple of ways:

First, have a basic website so that radio and podcast producers can find you. You can make one for free in an hour on Wix or Weebly, or spend a bit more time and a little money and make one like mine on Squarespace. Include a photo, a bio, and an email address. If you’ve got published writing, put it on your website, as well.

Get familiar with local, regional, and national radio programs by looking at each station’s website. For instance, when I look at Radio KBOO’s site out of Portland, I find this show about books and authors. Just for fun, since I grew up near Los Angeles, I searched for “KCRW” and “book program” and found Bookworm!

But think beyond literary radio programs. Identify the key topics and themes in your book or your latest essay or article publication, and think about which radio shows would be a good fit. Are you an older adult author? Pitch your work to Aging Matters. Do you write about animals? Check out Pet Life Radio!

My newest book publishes on June 3rd. It’s Down Syndrome Out Loud: 20+ Stories about Disability and Determination. I emailed Daniel Smrokowski, host of Special Chronicles podcast and told him about the book, and he put me on his schedule for the day before World Down Syndrome Day (March 21st) to get listeners excited about the book and maybe even inspire advance sales!

Most radio shows and podcasts have a website with a contact form or email address. It’s absolutely fine to send a short, professional email to introduce yourself and explain what you’d like to talk about. This is also where you offer your website link.

But there’s another way to land a radio or podcast interview, as well! Sometimes, producers read something you’ve written and published, and they contact you!

Last month, I did a phone interview with the host of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Think Out Loud after he read my essay about my vaudevillian great-grandparents and Oregon’s historic Liberty Theatre in Hidden Compass Magazine and contacted me to appear on the show.
The next week, I spoke with the host of Oregon Grapevine in the KLCC studio; she found me after reading my weird little essay in The New York Times Magazine, and we had a great time talking about that story, plus my new book, and what it’s like to volunteer as a backcountry ski patroller.

Whether I’m talking online or on the phone or in person, I make sure not to have any dairy for several hours before the interview (it creates phlegm) and I warm up with these terrific vocal exercises. I make a cup of tea with lemon and honey, and I try to keep my voice in the chest (lower) region of my range because excitement makes it creep up into my head so that I sound like Mickey Mouse. No one wants to hear that.

Note that I wrote “excitement” instead of anxiety or dread. I love talking with people about my interests. Radio and podcast hosts ask thoughtful questions and listen deeply to the answers. Often, they’ll give you a list of their questions ahead of time so that you can think about—and practice—your responses. It’s very affirming.

But…stay natural and spontaneous. You don’t want to sound rehearsed. Don’t be afraid to add a humorous anecdote (as I did on OPB about the trapeze in my great-grandmother’s living room) or a ten-second-impassioned rant (as I did on KLCC when I told everyone in the world that I’d help them start writing and publishing political and social commentary as a form of protest, right now).

And think about who’s been historically missing from conversations and how you can showcase their work. When I pitch producers about Down Syndrome Out Loud, I ask if we can include a couple of people profiled in the book. In June, I’m doing an interview with Zack Gottsagen, star of The Peanut Butter Falcon, for The LowDown.

Radio and podcast interviews are one more way to get your stories out into the world!

What I’m Publishing

Where I’ll Be Soon

· April 15th—“Shindig at the Springs.” Pacific Northwest Bookseller Association Spring Pop-Up, 5:45-7:00 PM at Paulina Springs Books.

· April 22nd— “Breaking Barriers; Life Beyond Labels.” Central Oregon Disability Support Network. Redmond, Oregon.

· June 13-15 “DOWN SYNDROME OUT LOUD: Superstars from a New Book Speak Up” and “SHARE YOUR STORY: No matter how you tell it, your stories change the world!” Family Café. Orlando, Florida.

· July 31-August 3. Topic: TBA. Willamette Writers Conference. Portland, Oregon.

I’m always happy to speak at your conference, library, classroom, or book club—in-person or over Zoom. Email me at melissahartsmith(at)gmail(dot)com.

A Few Cool Resources for Writers

Grants, Scholarships & Calls for Submissions

Okay, that’s all for now. Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!

—Melissa

P.S. Here’s a photo of me finding the Brownsville, OR Stand By Me penny for Senator Jeff Merkley’s Oregon’s Treasures Quest.

Photo by Jonathan B. Smith. Picture of a brown-haired woman in a red and white striped hat and jeans, pointing at a penny embedded in the middle of a street.

Jonathan Smith
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