Binge Factor Media

Richard “Capt’n” Henderson of the Home Business Podcast: Draw Podcast Listeners through Your How-to Format and Real-World Stories

As part of my series of interviews about “5 things you need to know to create a very successful podcast”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Richard “Capt’n” Henderson.

Richard “Capt’n” Henderson is the founder and host of the Home Business Podcast, which shares cutting-edge advice for home-based entrepreneurs and interviews renowned company leaders. This podcast helps you succeed in a home-based business and in working from home.

Can you tell us a bit of your “personal backstory? What is your background and what eventually brought you to this particular career path?

I’ve been the publisher of Home Business Magazine for over two decades, and the podcast was a natural outgrowth of the magazine. In my opinion, podcasting is a content channel that every magazine, content provider, and niche leader should have.

Can you share a story about the most interesting thing that has happened to you since you started podcasting?

My experience in launching and hosting Home Business Podcast has been wonderful, as it has opened up a new channel for featuring small business entrepreneurs. They always share such inspirational stories and provide tried-and-true tips for our audience that needs how-to advice.

Can you share a story about the biggest or funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson or takeaways you learned from that?

During one episode, my microphone was accidentally turned off. The podcast was recorded with the computer mic, so the sound was very weak. The lesson learned from this mishap was to create a podcast checklist so that I never miss any key steps. You can’t do it all by memory, as there are too many important steps!

How long have you been podcasting and how many shows have you aired?

I have been podcasting for almost three years now and have aired over 100 episodes.

What are the main takeaways, lessons or messages that you want your listeners to walk away with after listening to your show?

Home Business Podcast is really a how-to show. After each episode, our audience will walk away having learned new ways to better start up and succeed as a small business/home-based business owner. Our audience members will also be inspired by other entrepreneurs’ success. They also learn the lessons better when listening to another entrepreneur’s real-world story.

In your opinion what makes your podcast binge-listenable? What do you think makes your podcast unique from the others in your category? What do you think is special about you as a host, your guests, or your content?

My podcast is binge-listenable because all of the subjects/lessons learned during each episode are different. Each podcast episode is relatively short (much less than 30 minutes), and there are few small business podcasts out there. Home Business Podcast is also anchored/linked to a well-known and established magazine. Our home business podcast is unique, as few podcasts target this niche.

Doing something on a consistent basis is not easy. Podcasting every work-day, or even every week can be monotonous. What would you recommend to others about how to maintain discipline and consistency? What would you recommend to others about how to avoid burnout?

I recommend setting up a future schedule of podcast segments, which you will record at approximately the same times each week. Choose a time of day with the least distractions that is easiest to accommodate for you, where you won’t have to cancel the podcast recording. Also, plan for the podcast to take much more time than the amount of time that it takes to record the episode. You need time for writing a script, editing the podcast, publishing the podcast, etc. Budget the time ahead of schedule.

What resources do you get your inspiration for materials from?

I get my inspiration from incoming press pitches to Home Business Magazine. My tip is to let the proposed guests give you the best ideas! In addition, be ready to take their podcast angle and tweak it/shape it to make it more appealing.

Is there someone in the podcasting world who you think is a great model for how to run a really fantastic podcast?

No. I don’t listen to any other podcasts, as I want to keep my style unique. If I start watching other podcasters, then I might subconsciously copy what they are doing and I won’t be authentic. Every podcaster should have their own style.

What are the ingredients that make that podcast so successful? If you could break that down into a blueprint, what would that blueprint look like?

My advice is to set up a professional studio — you can do this for well under $1,000! Record your podcast in both audio and video versions. Have a script, at least for the introduction and the questions to guide the discussion. Make sure to also be conversational, but have an outline that moves the discussion along. Ensure that the guests are prepped on the questions, so there are no surprises.

Use a simple video production program like PowerDirector, so you can edit the final version, edit any sound issues, remove bloopers, and then output in the different formats you need, such as MP3 file and YouTube video. Always start with a script and review the discussion with your guest before you start recording.

Can you share with our readers the five things you need to know to create an extremely successful podcast?

1. Create a script for your podcast and keep the discussion moving so that you hit your main points in the time allotted. Also, keep your episodes to less than 30 minutes long.

2. Configure your podcast episodes onto a syndication platform, such as Libsyn, and spend time configuring the episodes through as many podcast channels as you can.

3. Learn the art of “cutting in/not talking over them” to keep your guest and the conversation moving along. Keep the podcast conversational but structured and let your guest do most of the talking.

4. Have your podcast in both a video and audio format. Tape your podcast as a video and then output it as an audio version. Augment soundtracks as needed, and also edit out any “bloopers”.

5. Create an article post on a website for each podcast episode, with links/embeds for video and audio podcast formats. In this post, include a short write-up/intro to the podcast. Make sure to also include good graphic images, including a screenshot of you and the podcast guest. In addition, have a single web page with a summary link for each of these podcast episodes. This should be your initial landing page for your podcast.

Check out the full interview in Tracy Hazzard’s Authority Magazine Article about Richard “Capt’n” Henderson! 

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Podcast Influencer, Richard “Capt’n” Henderson of the Home Business Podcast shares the best ways to:

1) Book Great Guests. Have an email template to use when replying to pitches. Then give the interviewee scheduling options for recording the podcast.

2) Increase Listeners. Utilize best SEO practices for each podcast episode’s website post.

3) Produce in a Professional Way. Use a home office studio with a virtual background. Then use a recording platform like Zoom and edit the segment with a program such as PowerDirector to bring out the sound and edit out bloopers. After this, syndicate the podcast through platforms like Libsyn.

4) Encourage Engagement. Have a script to introduce the guest and 6–8 questions to keep the conversation moving along. Allow the guest to do most of the talking.

5) Monetize Your Show. Get a sponsor for the overall podcast and for each episode. Recognize the reality that most all but a small handful of podcasters will successfully monetize their podcasts. Podcasts are designed to expand the brand and promotion of the podcaster. As your podcast grows, your personal brand and reach grows. You can then monetize that in other ways (i.e. book sales, website traffic, influence marketing, etc.).

What makes your podcast binge-listenable? What do you think makes your podcast unique from the others in your category? What do you think is special about you as a host, your guests, or the content itself?