Thanks for agreeing to join us on My Pocket Psych as a guest! We look forward to chatting with you. This page sets out a few useful tips to get the most from the experience. But please, feel free to get in touch with your questions at any point, before or after the recording.

🖥 How we record

To keep things simple, we use an app called Zencastr, which operates via your browser. All you'll need on your computer is the Chrome browser. Zencastr doesn't install any software on your computer, it just uses Chrome to record your side of the conversation. Once we're done, it uploads your track to the cloud, where we can combine it with our end for the best possible recording.

If you don't already have it, you can down load Chrome here:

Google Chrome - Download the fast, secure browser from Google

✅ Before the recording

We'll have agreed a topic and area of focus with you in advance. We'll also have shared an episode outline, so you know what we're planning to cover. If you haven't received this from us, get in touch: [email protected]

Let us know how you'd like to be introduced and referred to during the interview. Things like pronunciation of names and getting titles, roles and personal pronouns right are important. Don't be shy about telling us how you want to be introduced.

🎧 Getting the best sound quality

We aim to get the best possible listening experience for our listeners, so here are a few tips to maximise the sound quality from your end.

• Please use headphones and a microphone. The ones that came with your smartphone are just fine - there's no need to go and buy anything. These help reduce any echoes and the risk of feedback while we record.
• Check that the cable running from your headphones isn't rubbing against your clothing and/or jewellery. Microphones really pick this up!
• Join the call from the smallest room you can access. The smaller the room, the less echo there is.
• If possible, use some soft furnishings (like cushions) around your computer and on the desk or table. These absorb sound well and again, help reduce the sound of being in a big echoing space.
• Let people you live or work with know that you're recording a podcast interview and ask not to be disturbed.
• But your mobile phone on silent and turn off any other apps on your computer that make noisy notifications (e.g. email, slack etc).
• Keep your hands free of anything that might bang against either your microphone, computer or table (e.g. a pen).

📢 During the recording

We don't record video, so don't worry how you look! Sit comfortably and just treat it like a conversation. If you'd like to stop at any point, or have another go at an answer, that's absolutely fine. We'll edit out anything you want to remove.

We have a very informal tone to the podcast, so it's okay to 'um' and 'ah' a bit! To keep it natural, by all means have some points written down you'd like to mention, but don't read from a script.