On Brand Podcast Prep & Guidelines

First and foremost, thank you for being a guest on the On Brand podcast! This quick guide includes everything you need to look and sound your best. Please take five minutes to review so we can deliver a great experience for you and our audience.

Non-Negotiables

Here’s what we need from you before we record:

• External microphone + wired headphones or headset (no, earbuds won’t work—more below)
• Short bio for your on-air intro—just one paragraph, please.
• High-res headshot for use in our show art (here’s a sample)—ideally, that’s at least 1000 x 1000 pixels or 300 dpi (so it doesn’t get blurry when resized).

Let’s Make You Sound—and Look—Amazing

• First, the show is recorded via Zencastr. You will receive a link to join in your interview invite. NOTE: This link may be added to the initial invite later.
• We record both audio and video. The full episode will be released in both formats, and short video clips may also be shared on social media. Here are examples of full video episodes and short clips on YouTube.
• To make sure you sound great:
  • Use an external mic — USB or headset mic is great. Laptop mic? Nope.
  • Use wired headphones — No Bluetooth dropouts, no echo.
  • No earbuds or AirPods — They rub, rustle, and ruin your audio.
  • No built-in speakers or mics — Hello, cave echo.
  • Choose a quiet, soft space — Rugs, books, curtains = good. Bare walls = bad.
  • Close other apps and mute alerts — No pings in the middle of a great quote.
• To make sure you look great:
  • Put your light source (window or soft lamp) in front of you. Facing the light = great. Backlighting = witness relocation program.
  • Position your camera at eye level, about an arm’s length away, with your face centered (think TV news anchor, not ceiling fan selfie).

Here’s a Rundown of the Show’s Flow

Overall show length — approx. 25–30 minutes of recording (plan for five minutes before and five minutes after for an overall commitment of just under an hour).

• Nick introduces the guest (that’s you!)—1 minute
• Guest interview (we chat about you, your work, and brand building and storytelling in general)—20–25 minutes
• As we close, Nick will ask you to name a brand that has made you smile recently—2–3 minutes
• Nick will ask you to share link(s) where listeners can learn more about who you are and what you do—less than a minute
• Nick closes the show—about a minute

Sample Questions to Consider

• How does brand building happen today? What does the process look like?
• How has branding changed in the digital age?
• What role does storytelling play in brand building, communication, and/or leadership today?
• Which brands and brand builders do you look up to?
• What’s one thing that most are missing?
• What’s one tip you would tell someone building a brand today?
• Finally, what’s a brand that has made you smile recently?

After the Show: Promotion & Sharing

The On Brand podcast is published on Mondays and appears with show notes and links at OnBrandPodcast.com. All episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Amazon, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and more. Once your episode is live, you’ll receive:

• A custom link to your episode page
• Episode art for social sharing

Please feel free to share your interview on the show with your network via once the show is live. You can also connect with host Nick Westergaard and tag him using the following social media accounts:

• Nick on Facebook
• Nick on LinkedIn
• Nick on Instagram

If you have a book, event, or launch you’d like to mention, we’re happy to include it in the show notes and clips. If you’d like to send a review copy of a book or any other promotional materials, please use the following address:

Brand Driven, LLC
attn: On Brand Podcast
3284 Crosspark Rd
Ste C, Box 121
Coralville, IA 52241

Questions or Tech Concerns?

Need help with your mic or want to test your setup in advance? Just email me at [email protected]—I’m happy to help.

If you need to reschedule, please give as much notice as possible.