So You’re Gonna Be on the Podcast!

Preparation Notes for Guests

Below are my preparation notes for Podcast guests. If you would like to nominate yourself (or someone else) for the Podcast, you can contact me here.

Are you excited to hear your own voice on the Surrogacy Podcast? Bit nervous perhaps? No fear, think of it like a chat with a friend (me!). Here’s some tips to help you prepare:

The interview will likely go for 25-45 minutes. Longer interviews might lose the interest of the listeners.

I use first names only; if you would prefer to be anonymous, that’s fine too. We can pick a pseudonym together.

You can use first names of the other people you are referring to. You can also anonymise them, for example, ‘my intended parents’ or ‘our surrogate.’

I record over Zoom, which is similar to Skype. You will receive a Zoom invitation to your email account; simply follow the links.

The sound recording is better if you:

• Are on a computer rather than a phone;
• Are in a quiet room, such as a bedroom with carpet;
• Are not wearing jewelry that might clang and interfere with the microphone.

You can share as much, or as little, as you wish. This is your story, not my exposé. If you want to avoid talking about a particular issue, you are welcome to let me know, or not answer my question if I inadvertently ask – I have good editing software and can cut bits out if necessary.

The interview usually runs like this:

1. You introduce yourself with “My name is _______” and then go on to explain who you are. For example, “My name is Sarah and I’m an egg donor and a traditional surrogate, and I birthed a baby for her Dads in 2018. I live in Melbourne with my partner and our two children.”
2. I may then ask “How did you come to surrogacy?” You are welcome to launch into telling your story with as much or as little detail as you wish.
3. I might have questions or reflections on the way, or I might remain quiet and let you do most of the talking. It should flow naturally as much as possible.
4. Towards the end, I might ask you to give some advice to future surrogates/intended parents etc.

Podcast Regret is real. I have conducted many interviews that I think have been amazing, only to have the interviewee contact me the following day and tell me “I had so many other things I wanted to say!” You might like to make some notes of what you would like to say beforehand – but not too many notes! If it is too scripted, it will sound formal and won’t have a natural flow.

After the interview, please send me a photograph that you are happy for me to use in social media posts. It should be in focus, colourful and fun. You can include other people (your family, your surrogacy team, the baby etc) as long as you have permission from them.

I release Podcast recordings every Tuesday, on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts and on my website. I usually release each episode 3-5 weeks after recording; I won’t remind you of the release date unless you enquire.

My only other request is that you share the Podcast episode far and wide (if you’re comfortable). Please share it on Facebook and let your friends know to listen!