My podcast creation process is as follows: I organize the interviews, write the questions, record the interview, and finally, edit the material. This process is more challenging, but also, more rewarding than I imagined. Each step requires a high level of planning and attention to detail.

I begin the process by organizing and preparing for the interview. This step entails tailoring each question to the individual interviewee. I reflect on what kinds of information I am looking for based on my prior knowledge of the person I am interviewing. For example, when I interviewed my middle school basketball coach James Samuels, I wanted to know more about his background as well as his coaching philosophies with his students. During the interview, I asked him about his experience at Sacred Heart and Adelphi University, the schools he attended. Then I asked questions about how he became a coach and what inspired him to become one. I continued by prompting him to discuss his approach and style when he coaches as well as what he wants to instill in his team, not just as basketball players but as people. 

When I set up the interviews, I contact the interviewees to find a day that we are both available to speak. On the day of the interview, I create a Zoom meeting where I ask my questions and facilitate engaging conversations for the podcast. Before I begin recording, I give the interviewee an overview of the project and make sure they feel comfortable and ready for our conversation. Once the interview starts, I record the Zoom session. Once the interview ends, I import the recording into the software, Logic. While these steps are purely logistical, they are an integral part of ensuring that I have a clean, professional final product. 

Once I’ve finished the interview, I begin the editing process. The first step of the editing process is to listen to the interview. Typically, I edit out awkward pauses or conversations that did not go anywhere. It is important to edit these moments out because I want the listener to have a cohesive experience when listening to my podcast. Awkward silences and moments where Zoom glitched interrupt the flow of the podcast and make for a less pleasant listening experience. 

For the second step of the interview process, I record myself giving an NBA recap. I then add the recording to the interview. During the week approaching the interview, I research the current stats and which players and teams are doing well. This step of the process is important to me because I aim to market the podcast to basketball lovers. A recap keeps the podcast current. Not only does the listener gain a more personal perspective on the game from the interviewee, but they will walk away with the most up-to-date information on the NBA. 

During the final step of the editing process, I add intro and outro music. I use a song called “Underwater” that I created with my friends Jack Trowbridge and Zander Lu. I include this song because I think it adds a more personal touch to the podcast. The intro music builds, which I believe will help the listener feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the podcast. The outro music fades out, signaling the end of the podcast. I then export the podcast to itunes and listen to it one more time to make sure there were no problems when exporting and edit the last minor details. 

Throughout this process I have discovered that editing in particular takes a lot longer than I originally thought. However, I am most satisfied when I know that I put hard work and detailed thought into my project. During my senior project process, I have gotten more comfortable interviewing and editing. I know that I can apply these skills to projects that I take on in the future.