I produce a number of different podcasts. Each one is different from the others in content, delivery and style. Today, I learned something about doing different multiple, unique shows.

It had been a while since I recorded a new interview for the Portrait format of Electric Sky. My approach is very much ingrained, though, and I did my usual research for what is typically a 10-15 minute interview for a final edit of 9 minutes (give or take 15 seconds). Great.

Then, I went to do the interview.

For Portait, given its very tight format, I’ve developed a specific flow and interview approach that works well within my production framework. What I learned is that when you take a break from that approach (it’s been nearly nine months since my last fresh interview for the show) you realize during the interview that you’re out of practice and the way you’re leading the interview is going to mean a lot of fancy editing.

That means, for the first time in about 40 episodes of Portrait, I’m going to have a measurable amount of editing to make it tight. Don’t misunderstand me. My guest was brilliant. I’m just out of practice with my questioning to keep things focussed for a 9 minute final cut and that resulted in about 26 minutes of audio to work from.

Your podcast is a muscle. Exercise it!