Hey there. Let’s make a great show!

So excited for our interview! Here are just a few details for you to know about prior to our chat so you feel prepared:

FIrst thing’s first— the heart of our interview

The biggest takeaway I hope you leave with when it comes to my overall philosophy as an interviewer is that your message is your own, and giving your voice and story is a gift that humbles and inspires me as well as our listeners. I take your opting in with a ton of gratitude, and my hope is that what we make together is something you’re proud you spoke to. So, while I’ll be asking you the questions, I want you to know that you have a great deal of power in using your voice.

With that in mind, we'll keep the conversation pretty casual and organic, so if things come up that you didn’t plan to share and don’t want aired, you can let me know. At any point during or after our chat, if you tell me that something's off the record, I will not use it in the final cut.

Lastly, I like to make the most of our listener’s time, so if you (or I!) have any awkward coughing or long pauses to think about your responses to questions, that’s a-okay. I’ll be editing that stuff out. Verbal fillers (um’s, like’s, sort of’s, and so on) will also be cut if they are easy to remove and would otherwise distract from your message. We want you to sound like you, and we also want listeners to be able to get to the heart of your story in the short period of time we have.

getting scheduled for your interview

The button below will take you to my online scheduling service, so find a time that works best for you and let’s get our talk on the calendar!

How to DIAL IN

I use Skype to record all podcast conversations and will wait for you to ring me up so that my recording device picks up the incoming call.

Check to make sure you have a good internet or cell phone connection, and when you’re ready ring me up via either of the following methods:

  • Cell phone: I have a Skype number so you can call me directly at 425-296-6061.

  • Skype: If you’d prefer to use Skype (on desktop or mobile app) you can audio dial me at laura.hughes.a.

HOW WE MAKE YOUR VOICE SOUND SO GREAT

The platform I use for our chat will record our entire conversation which is nice-- however, if you'd like to record your side of the conversation and send it my way after our chat, it's really appreciated. Recording your own audio creates really crisp sound on their side and you can use the mic already installed on your computer, so it's pretty easy! I'll have a backup recording on my side, but if we can get audio from you it will dramaticaly improve the quality of the show.

Here's how to record audio on Quicktime for Macs:

  • Open Quicktime (already installed on Macs).

  • Choose File > New Audio Recording.

  • To change the recording settings, click the arrow next to the Record button. Then choose your microphone (the one on your computer, unless you're fancy!) and recording quality.

  • To monitor audio while it's being recorded, use the volume slider.

  • Click the Record button to start recording. Click it again to stop recording.

Have a Windows device?

  • Go to your start menu.

  • Search for "Sound Recorder" or "Voice Recorder".

  • Open the free, already-installed app.

  • Record your voice using your computer microphone.

SOME THOUGHTS ON BACKGROUND NOISE

I'm not sure what a typical day looks like for you but you can call me from anywhere that's relatively quiet-- it doesn't need to be a soundproof box (unless you have one, ha!). Just not a coffee shop or a busy street, etc. Use your best judgment— as a traveler and remote worker I understand that situations are continually changing, so if someone’s dog starts barking or a helicopter flies overhead during the interview, we’ll roll with it!

LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTIONS

I'll ask you these questions at the end and they will be used as either bonus content or as a wrap up to the episode. You can come prepared with these or have a loose idea as to what you want to say because we'll keep the answers relatively short compared to our more flowing conversation.

  • What has your biggest learning been from pursuing your passions?

  • Any mantras, mission statements, quotes, or words of wisdom that currently resonate with you?

  • What do you do (or tell yourself) on days that you feel down about your direction?

  • Who is one woman/non-binary person you think would make a good interviewee for this show and why?

  • What question do you wish I had asked you? (I’ll ask it so be ready to answer!)

LAST THING! COULD YOU ALSO SEND ME:

  • 5-8 photos from you that we'll share out on social media and online to promote the episode and podcast

  • A brief bio-- 3ish sentences is great!

  • Please send over the top 2-3 links to your website or social media links you would like to direct listeners to.


That's all for now! Please let me know if you have any questions and I so look forward to our chat!

Best,
Laura