Resources
The gear and the lessons
Nothing here is sponsored. It's just what I use and what I wish someone had told me before I hit record the first time.
What I record with
Dynamic broadcast microphone
One per person. Dynamic mics forgive untreated rooms — that matters more than the brand.
Portable audio interface / recorder
Records each mic on its own track, so one loud laugh doesn't ruin the whole episode.
Mirrorless camera + prime lens
A single 35mm or 50mm prime, wide open, gives that documentary depth.
Two soft key lights
Warm, low and slightly behind. Faces should look like a room, not a studio.
Editing setup
DaVinci Resolve for picture, and a loudness pass so every episode lands at the same level.
For anyone starting their own
Book the person, not the résumé
The best episodes come from people who have never been interviewed. Titles make bad conversation; specifics make good ones.
Do your homework, then forget it
Research so you can follow, not so you can perform. If your next question doesn't change based on their answer, you're reading, not listening.
Protect the silence
The truest sentence in most interviews arrives three seconds after you would normally jump in. Wait.
Audio first, always
People forgive soft footage. Nobody forgives bad sound. Record a backup track on a phone if that's all you have.
Publish before it's perfect
Episode one exists so episode ten can be good. Consistency teaches you faster than planning does.