A Fresh Batch

Do you record podcast episodes in batches?

Batching (recording a batch of episodes all at once) is something that, despite my best intentions, I’ve never been able to get a handle on.

The idea is that you get your equipment all set up once (or make just one trip to your recording studio) and you record an entire month’s worth (or season’s worth, or year’s worth) of episodes in one sitting. It’s a really smart idea, and it SOUNDS immensely helpful.

But whenever I try to record multiple episodes of the Write Now podcast at once… by the end of the first episode, I’m worn out. (I know, this doesn’t make me sound so tough.)

I think this happens for a couple reasons.

I get worn out very quickly by performing or being “on”. I’m an introvert, and my default mode is Stealth Mode.

I give ALL of myself to every single podcast episode I record. I don’t know how to do it otherwise — I don’t know how to pace myself, how to expend my energy bit by bit and save some for later. It’s like I’m trying to run a marathon — and I start off at full speed. (This is also why I don’t run marathons.)

I don’t do a lot of preparation for each episode of the Write Now podcast. I have a topic in mind, and perhaps 2-3 talking points, but usually I podcast in a meditative state, learning and feeling out what I want to say as I go. I’ve found that this is the most enjoyable way for me to record — I get the most out of this process, personally, and it leads to extremely thoughtful, authentic episodes. It’s just difficult to record more than one of these episodes in one sitting.

What about you? Do you batch your podcast? (Caveat: I’ll be batching Season 2 of Girl In Space since it’s a fully scripted fictional show.) What’s been your experience — good or bad?

Words & warmth,

Sarah