Firstly, a heartfelt thank you for considering joining our podcast family.
At 'The Future is Freelance', we aim to not only uncover and celebrate the wonders of the freelancing and remote work world, but to also create an environment where stories are shared in their most authentic form. If you're new to the world of podcasts, don't worry, you're in safe hands. And if you're a seasoned pro, know that your expertise is valued and welcomed - I learn something new from every episode!
Here are a few things I would appreciate your attention to, before our recording date.
🎙️ Audio is the #1 priority!
While our video following is growing, most of our downloads are in pure audio form, via the various podcast apps. People take us with them while they work, travel, exercise, and do chores 🥰 Our listeners tune in for your insights, experiences, and wisdom. To ensure they get the best experience, we encourage you to:
Bring Your Best Microphone: If you have an external microphone (USB or XLR), it will almost always sound better than built-in computer or phone mics. Remember, the clearer your voice, the deeper the connection with our audience - and the greater the impact of your message. Even a simple USB headset, or the mic in your phone earbuds (cabled, not Bluetooth!), is better than nothing (but only if you both: 1) plug it in; and 2) select it for use within the Streamyard settings.)
And you must use headphones, because otherwise audio will leak out of your speaker and back into your mic, and create a horrible unusable mess 😟 Bluetooth is fine for headphones (e.g. airpods)
Quiet Please: Do find a quiet indoor spot, where there is minimal background noise and interruption, and minimal room noise as well. I shall be banishing CatGPT and her sisters from the room in good time, and turning off fans, closing windows, etc.
Also, we kindly ask you to put your devices on 'do not disturb', and log out of any apps or programmes likely to emit unexpected beeps and bings during our conversation.
If there's a helicopter rescue going on outside or your neighbours start tile cutting without notice, then don't worry, we'll simply reschedule for another date. There are some things we can easily fix in the acoustic environment, and other things simply have to avoid.
🎥 Smile, You’re On Camera!
Yes, our primary focus remains on audio. However, we also record and publish video to reach a broader audience, and to give a more personal touch to our conversations. So, we invite you to show up in any way that makes you feel confident and authentic - there is no dress code or expectation! Think about your backdrop and lighting too – natural light works wonders, and please avoid the 'witness protection' backlit experience.
We will record in Streamyard, and I'll share the link shortly before we go live. You may be familiar with Streamyard as a live-streaming platform, which it is - but, unless very explicitly discussed and agreed beforehand (as in, I never say never), we are not streaming. Streamyard just happens to offer a very straightforward and user-friendly recording environment too 😉.
🌱 It’s All About Authenticity
Perhaps you're feeling those pre-recording jitters, or maybe you're wondering how to best present yourself. Here's my most important piece of advice: just be yourself. It's the raw, unfiltered experiences and stories that truly resonate with listeners. While I will drop some talking points into the calendar note ahead of our call, some of the best episodes have been those where we have gone off in entirely unexpected directions!
So long as we keep our audience in mind - freelance, flexible, creative and independent people, or those who aspire to join us - we'll be creating great content together. And don't worry, I have absolutely no agenda to challenge or corner you into tricky questions. My role is to facilitate a genuine conversation where we dive into the heart of freelancing and our unique takes on the changing ways we create and define our work.
By the way, as we're not live-streaming, we can and do edit recordings.
However, our policy on this show is for very light clean-up only. We're offering listeners a sincere and natural-sounding conversation, not a BBC radio play, and we won't attempt to filter our every intake of breath. The edit is there to cover a connection sputter or slamming door. That said, we definitely can clear some things up in post-production, and if you want to go again at a particular response or wish you'd expressed something differently, just say so. Everything is fixable - but please tell us straight away.
🍵 Before We Start…
Keep an eye on the calendar note where we scheduled the recording, as that is where I will add talking points and the studio link, in the run-up. You will find my email address there too of course, so if you have any queries or concerns, just drop me a line. There are no absolutely silly questions, and my top priority is to make sure you are happy with everything. We won't hit record on the day until you're totally happy.
Before we go live, grab a cup of tea or your preferred beverage, take a few deep breaths, and remember that our listeners are here for YOU. They're eager to learn from your journey, mistakes, successes, and everything in between. You’re not speaking to a crowd, but to a friend – and that friend is genuinely interested in what you have to say. People only listen to podcasts because they are curious and engaged, and it's almost always a one-to-one experience.
🎧 What happens next?
After your recording, please leave the browser window open, until your local recording has completely uploaded. We may or may not be able to tell you exactly when the episode will be released, but we can usually narrow down to a time window. And you can be sure that when it's 'out there' we will be sure to tag you and amplify the links and destinations you have shared with us.
We kindly ask you to do the same, so that our mutual followers can mingle and expand, and between us we can continue to share our respective visions for the future of work, life, and everything that matters! Our goal is to make 'The Future is Freelance' a platform where everyone feels heard and valued.
I’m personally thrilled at the prospect of having you on board, and look forward to talking to you very soon,
Warm regards,
Maya Middlemiss
PS: If you're not booked to appear with us as a guest, but you've stumbled on this post anyway - then take a look at our application form here.
