Guest Post

Putting a Radio Show Together
By Irene Conlan


I had never considered hosting a radio show until my son came home one day with the announcement, "Mom, you're going to do a radio show!" After a good bit of thought and a lot of trepidation, I agreed. I had started The Self Improvement Blog in 2007 so a show on self improvement seemed to be a good choice for a topic. The blog and the show together could offer a "double whammy." I was asked to put thirteen shows together as a starter and the first show aired on November 4, 2010.


This is me, three years and a hundred and seventy shows later, loving my job as host of The Self Improvement Show.


What do I love about it? Well, a lot of things, but I am blown away by my guests, their stories, their accomplishments and their triumphs, and I now have friends all over the world. In the beginning I didn't know where to find guests—that was the scary part. Francine Silverman came to my rescue a couple of times, helping me fill in some of those early gaps. Now I am booked six months in advance and have a waiting list of people who will come at a moment's notice. Gotta love it!


For me, the show is serious business. I want to showcase my guest and also make it fun for my guest and listeners. If I'm not prepared, the show won't be successful much less fun. I think each host needs to find what works best for them and their particular outreach. In the beginning there was a lot of trial and error (mostly a lot of error). After a few months I developed a routine that I follow and I'll share it with you so you have some idea what goes into preparing for a show. Keep in mind that each host is unique and does it in a way that works for him/her.

Once the guest and I have agreed on a date, here's what I do to get it ready for the air:

• I gather the needed information to put the show together—most of it supplied by the guest or their PR firm. It includes:
Contact information (we broadcast live via phone or Skype)
A bio
A headshot
Questions they want me to be sure to ask..(I formulate my own questions but I want their input as well.)


• Most of my guests have written a book so I do a book review. Yes, I read the book from cover to cover and post a review on my blog, Amazon.com and other sites that take book reviews.

• I do an extensive search of the Internet, including YouTube and Vimeo, to find any information I can about my guest. By the time the show airs I know them well.

• I write a brief biography and a description of the show. Based on this information, VoiceAmerica prepares an e-card which I send to the guest and/or their PR firm to e-mail to their lists. I send it to my list also.

• On the Sunday before the show I post their picture, bio and a description of the show on The Self Improvement Blog. I will also post any videos that are available—up to three. All this stays up until the following Sunday when I post information about the next guest.

• A day or two before the show, I write my introduction and formulate the questions.

• On the day of the show I post the book review, Tweet, and post an article either written by the guest or pertaining to the topic of the day. Then I relax so I can enjoy the show, too.

• The day following the show I send the guest a link to the show that they can use on their website, blog or newsletter if they wish to do so.

• Their show is automatically played on the home page of my blog and remains there for the week.

• I listen to every show to see how I can improve. I'm still working hard to remove any "ums" and "you knows" from my vocabulary and it's proving to be an uphill battle.

• As soon as last week's show is "put to bed" I start working on next week's show.


While I certainly don't consider myself a professional show host, I know I bring value to both my guest and my listeners. I had no idea it would take this much time and effort, but would I do it again? Absolutely! If you have any thought of doing a radio show, DO IT. If I can, you can. And as I say at every station break, "Stay tuned for more."



Irene Conlan has a Master's Degree in Nursing and a Ph.D. in Metaphysics. Now retired, she manages The Self Improvement Blog and hosts The Self Improvement Show. She has two sons, three grandsons, and a crazy dog in Scottsdale, AZ