My early pandemic podcasting rig was dire. Fitting, really, as everything felt fairly dire at that point. Transitioning to remote interviews was a shock to the system after so many years of stubbornly insisting that they all be done face to face. Much like going into the office every day, however, I’ve gotten to a point where I can’t imagine going back.
That isn’t to say I no longer find value in real life interviews. I still believe you lose something important when you put thousands of miles and a couple of computer screens between yourself and your interview subject. Pandemic-induced agoraphobia may have gotten the better of me, but really, it comes down to convenience.
Booking a studio and factoring in an hour-long commute in either direction feels silly in hindsight. I’m also keenly aware of the many interviews I turned down, because I wasn’t in the same city as the other person. Big, interesting, important names. Turns out a big part of maturity is identifying...
