How to Co-Host (+ Guest) Like a Pro - Without Stepping on Each Other’s Mics | 260

Thinking about co-hosting a podcast? 

Already sharing the mic—but it’s starting to feel a little messy?

Feeling a bit off as a guest because you don't have chemistry with the host?

Co-hosting sounds fun (and it totally can be). But without structure, roles, and rhythm—it can easily become frustrating for both you and your listeners.

You can co-host and share the microphone like a pro—especially for duos who: 
↳ Swap hosting duties
↳ Share mic time 50/50
↳ Want to sound tight and aligned without over-planning

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ The #1 convo every co-hosting pair needs to have
✅ A simple way to prep separately but stay in sync
✅ How to pass the mic smoothly—without awkward overlaps

If you’re launching a co-hosted show (or want to clean yours up), this one’s for you.

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Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

Transcript

Simplify Podcasting
Jen Rogers | Creator of the 90-Day Sprint | Certified Coach | Keynote Speaker

I teach experienced Christian entrepreneurs how to leverage podcasting so they can grow their impact, influence + income.

If you’re a successful business owner and you haven’t launched a show, it’s time to talk about how to put your voice and proven offers to work for you!

📲Book a call with me when you're serious about monetizing podcasting.

2025 is the year of PODCASTING WINS with explosive growth + booming sales! www.coachjenrogers.com/VIPCoach

How to Co-Host (+ Guest) Like a Pro - Without Stepping on Each Other’s Mics | #260

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: What did you do on Friday nights as a kid? One of my cherished memories? Watching Friday night TV shows with my family. My favorite show came on right before the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. If you know, you know! Do you know? It was the Donny Marie Osmond Show!

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: I loved it when Marie, who was a little bit country, would trade off singing a country music song with Donnie who was a little bit rock and roll. 

What is it about a show that keeps you coming back for more? What had us coming back Friday night after Friday night? I believe it involves two things. Number one, the consistency of the star!

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Hey, podcaster, that's you. And two, the edutaining value of the content. How's your show coming along? How do you educate and entertain? What's your strategy for hooking throughout your episode? If you co-host each show, you are going to love this episode.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Are you a co-host? If so, what steps do you take to avoid interruptions if you swap out hosts in your episodes? What strategies do you have to maintain consistency so a listener knows they're in the right place when a different host shows up? Hint, this starts with setting the expectations upfront for your audience.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: if it feels like the lights from your co-host, star outshine your contributions. This episode is for you. 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: if you guest on shows, which I highly recommend, and you want to avoid being received as one of those low luminosity dwarf stars, this episode is also for you.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: When there's more than one person manning the microphone, you can shimmer together while illuminating your mutual genius and focus on listener outcomes when you implement [00:02:00] three powerful shifts. Today's episode, number 260, Woof!! Of Simplified Podcasting, certainly has a spotlight on co-hosting.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Know this! Whether you fly solo in the sky or you share the spotlight, this episode will guide you to get clear on how to prepare creative episodes that commingle that tension of what could be with the solution you provide so your listener stays glued to your show, just like I was as a little kid, eyes and ears glued to the TV For those Friday night TV shows. 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Every podcaster who shares the microphone needs to co-host like a pro without monopolizing the microphone. Today's mission aligns with every episode of how we simplify podcasting. When we focus on the foundational elements of putting a really good show together, 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Your confidence accelerates because you know what it takes to create quality episodes every single time. My goal is to help you do it simply. Hey there. I'm Jen Rogers, your hostess with the Mostest. As I simplify my own podcast, I regularly research best practices and share them here with you.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: I also share some of those epic fails in hopes you can learn the easier AKA faster way from them. Recently, at a live event, I was asked the deeper why behind why I do what I do. The answer surprised me and literally brought me to tears. I'll share that answer at the end of today's episode. The answer is the reason why I am so passionate about your podcast succeeding.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: You are here because you want to leverage podcasting for your business. Your voice is required, obviously. So is a strategy, and this is where most business owners miss the mark. They avoid putting together a solid strategy for what their [00:04:00] podcast is going to do for their business and how it fits into their offers.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: If you are unclear about what to do next or how to leverage podcasting, or your podcasting is not performing the way you were hoping it would, then there are two ways I can help. One book a free no pressure consult with me at www.coachjenrogers.com/VIPCoach . That's how we'll learn if we're a good fit to shine brightly together.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Option two. Ensure you've got a solid plan before you ever press the record button. Snag the standard operating procedures for podcast hosting and guesting. In the words of my friend Geo Maria on LinkedIn , when you use these SOPs, they just might blow your mind.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Head on over to www.coachjenrogers.com/podcastsop. Alright, ready to rumble with episode number 260 where we talk about co-hosting, sharing it takes more than chemistry to make a show work for you.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: How do you pull off an episode without stepping on each other's microphones? Well, we're going to talk about that. I've got three things, three main things for you to consider and you know, it's kind of like those Russian nesting dolls, that there are things within the things! Okay. The first thing is to define the vibe and your rolls up front.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: You can have great chemistry. If you don't have a purpose for this experiment of the two of you coming together to do a show, then that lack of clarity, not knowing how to put that chemistry to work for you and your business and your listener. I. It's going to fall flat. So good chemistry is important, but it is not the only ingredient to success.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: So I have a few questions for you to think about when it [00:06:00] comes to establishing your chemistry and your vibe on the show. Just like Donnie and Marie Osmond had their normal roles, note that from time to time you may want to shake things up. I do like shaking things up! Before you get to the shakeup.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: You have to know what the not shaken up is, so you can establish your vibe with the chemistry that you have, with the person you're sharing the microphones with. Here are some questions to explore. 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: What is your common co-hosting game plan? Whether you're doing audio or video, you both have a role or, well, I say both. It could be more than two of you co-hosting a show. Each one of you has a responsibility to contribute to the vibe of the show.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: What is that dynamic among each person behind the microphone? Is there a lead and a support? Are you doing 50/50? Are you swapping duties from time to time? 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Let me interject here. The reason for this episode is because I had several conversations last week about co-hosting, and each situation was a little bit different. The question started that I got from Cassie was about the co-hosting situation she's finding herself in is one person will take the lead for one episode and one person will take the lead for the next episode. So they're very clear on different people are leading the episode. This is where we need to set the expectation for the listener so they know they are in the right place.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: If you've been around these parts for a while or you're brand new here, I'm going to share this with you. And if you're new here, welcome! I'm really excited that you're here. Hey, here's the thing. When you have a guest on your show, people are not familiar with that person showing up on your show. A lot of hosts like to highlight the guest reel and have the guest share some insight before they jump into the show.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: What I teach my clients is a little bit different than that. Well, it's a lot bit different than that. I teach the opposite. [00:08:00] When someone listens to your show, they need to hear you first. You are the creator. You are the one they are coming to listen to. They are trusting you. When you bring a guest on.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: They are trusting you that that guest has some expertise to offer. This is why I teach your audience hears you first every single time. So in Cassie's situation where she's not going to be there on, let's say if it's her and her co-host every other episode, then there needs to be some sort of handover in between episodes.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: So for example, if Cassie is doing the second show and her co-host is doing the first show. Her co-host can weave in a couple of different points in the episode about what's coming up in the second episode. for example, if you are going to talk about how to boil eggs versus how to fry eggs. So this episode, the, the topic is how do you fry eggs?

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Hey, in the next episode, you are going to learn to boil eggs. Since this is not my area of expertise, Cassie's going to hop on in and she's going to lead the charge in that episode.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: . Be sure you have us in your podcast feed so you don't miss out on this very important skill of boiling your eggs. you're setting the expectation that in the next episode it's going to flip. That is one way to handle it. And then of course, when Cassie's doing episode number two, then whatever episode three is going to be, then she's going to seed a couple of those ideas in the current episode to set the expectation that she's handing it off in the next episode.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Now, if we fry eggs and boil eggs, then maybe the third episode could be on how to peel those eggs without half the egg coming off. That would be wonderful.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Let's keep moving forward with defining these [00:10:00] vibes in your roles upfront. So now that you know who's in charge or you've talked a little bit about your vibe and who's leading and supporting, as you share the microphone, you need to talk about who owns what.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Who owns the intro? Who owns any of the transitions, any of the calls to action. Is there someone who is solely going to lead the interviews because they are really good at asking powerful questions? Who's going to wrap up the episode? Are these things that will stay consistent throughout the episode, or will they shift?

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: So you do need to plan for these. It doesn't mean that you need to have every word scripted. I don't have every word scripted here. I have main points, and then as I mentioned, those Russian nesting dolls. I have points underneath the points. I'm sharing these things with you, knowing I need to cover these three main points.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: It's the same for you and your co-host. Each person with a microphone needs to be aware of what they are responsible for. who is responsible for the intro, the transitions, the interviews, the calls to action, those types of things.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: You need to know who's doing what and whether or not that is consistent for each episode, or you're mixing it up a little bit. The third question, after understanding the common co-hosting dynamics of who's leading and what kind of support you're offering as you record episodes together, and you've talked about who's owning what parts of the podcast episode, here's an important question.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: How do you want your listener to feel when they spend time with you? A value I hold dear is fun. I also have other values, and they come out in each podcast episode, your values will come out as well, and you typically draw in and attract those people who can relate to the way that you're sharing and the values that you [00:12:00] hold.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: So how do you want your listeners to feel about the experience of pressing play and listening to you and your co-hosts with your microphones.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Those are the three main things to take into consideration as you define who's doing what when. Okay. Let's move on to the second point. Preparation! Preparation, preparation, preparation. We cannot escape the fundamentals. I could get up and riff a podcast episode, and if I did, it might be good.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: However, without starting with the end in mind, what is the outcome? What are the calls to action? What do I want this to do for my business, and what do I want this to do for my listener? I'm going to be all over the place! after a while, that's going to wear you out and you're not going to want to come back when you don't understand what each episode's purpose.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Is, that's why I share it up front. That's why I have a strategic introduction for every single episode I do. So, you know, you are in the right place with me. And the purpose of this episode, what you're going to walk away with. this episode. It's very clear that we're not going to step on each other's microphones, whether we're wondering how to pull off a podcast with co-hosts successfully, or whether we're guesting because we have to share the space with the microphones.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Okay, preparation.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: If you're like me, you do like to do things a certain way, yet coordination is key to your success as co-host. So I have a few questions for you to consider so you can prepare successfully and be in alignment with your co-host. All right, number one, do both co-host. Prep the show notes or does just one?

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: So who's doing that administrivia that comes with the transcripts, the show notes, the social posts? How are you ensuring there's a [00:14:00] shared vision for each episode? Earlier I invited you to download the podcast SOPS at www.coachjenrogers.com/podcastsop. The reason for that is that it guides you through planning your episodes in alignment with your offers.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: That way when you're sitting down with your strategy partner on how you're going to do this episode, you know there is a specific business purpose, and you know that the question you're answering is something that your audience is struggling with and you want to resolve it for them, and you want to invite them to come into work with you.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: This is why I'm going to invite you at several different points in each episode to a call to action, knowing what are the calls to action for each episode? 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: There's one final thing when it comes to planning and being in alignment. You need a game plan for when the game plan isn't working. What's your exit strategy? Do you know how long you're going to co-host together? Do you know what happens when one host is on hiatus for a bit? 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: If you are here because you want to get better at guesting, what are you going to do when you show up and the host blows you off? How are you going to handle that? Knowing what your game plan is when things don't go according to plan, is a great way to avoid decision fatigue. So you have, let's say, vacations planned.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Is the co-host going to cover while you're on vacation? Are you going to prerecord content so it doesn't matter if you're on vacation? What matters is that you have set aside the time that your content is already created in advance. So what does that support system, between you and all of your co-hosts, what does that look like?

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: These are conversations to have upfront. It's not exactly a, uh, premarital agreement, [00:16:00] but having some sort of agreement upfront, I highly recommend it! when we know what to expect and we come together and we agree together, well that just makes podcasting and recording each episode much easier! When we know who is responsible for what.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: That's where that good preparation comes in, and that preparation is a reflection of your vibe. If you're truly in it to win it together, you will take the time to have these conversations upfront. Those are the two points that prepping and your vibe, which takes us into point number three. The third thing to share with you, when you're thinking about what do I do to share the microphone well? 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: How do I be a good co-host? How do I get the best thing out of my co-host Here's the answer. Learn how to pass off the microphone to the other person. The best co-host around. It's a lot like coaching. We talked about this when I was studying to get my certification for coaching. I remember this, that it's like a dance.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: There's not a script per se. There's a structure you follow to create the client conversation, and there's a structure you follow to create the podcast episode, but as you're moving through that structure, there's a bit of a dance. Instead of this being a hot debate and who's got more intel than the other person or who's right and who's wrong, unless that's kind of show that you're creating, you want to have more of a connection, an opportunity for connection.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: In another co-hosting conversation where I was working with a client in the dms, we were talking about remembering to include the listener. Far too often it can feel a little bit awkward, like you walk in on a conversation and you feel as [00:18:00] though you don't belong.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: If the conversation does not refer to the listener throughout your conversation, the listener is going to feel like that fifth wheel. ensure as you're going through your episode there are questions and ways that you engage your listener, so they feel very much a part of the conversation you are having.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Speaking of checking in with your listener. I've done that several times throughout this episode. Did you catch it? I'm doing it right now. How are you doing? What is one of your takeaways? I'd love to hear one of your takeaways. 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: What's one tip that surprises you so far about navigating co-hosting? What's something that you're walking away with that you know for sure you want to implement so you can create an even better experience, not just for your listener, but also for you and your co-host?

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: We started talking about passing the mic gracefully and homed in on the fact that it's more like a dance. Well, what specific questions could you ask your co-host to make sure that you are in sync? I'll share those with you. Before I do, I want to take a moment to invite you in the next Profitable podcast bootcamp.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Where you'll learn how to structure your podcast episode, so it creates an experience that keeps your listener coming back for more. In addition to that, we're going to talk about the importance of having a plan to monetize every episode, tying your episodes into your upcoming offers, live events, your webinars, your courses, whatever it is that you have on tap. 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: there's definitely a strategy involved in every call to action. We kick off the Profitable Podcast Bootcamp may 13th at noon Eastern. Head on over to www.coachjenrogers.com/podcastbootcamp to get registered.  

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: I promised to share with you a couple of questions that you could ask the other, and again, if [00:20:00] you are guesting, these are questions you can ask your host to make sure you are in sync. A really great question, by the way, is if it's not a live event, how do you let the host know that you want to go back and say something a little bit differently?

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Okay, here's something, here are a few other questions that you can ask. How are you going to plan to avoid stepping over each other or stealing the other person's punchlines? Are you going to use hand signals? Are you going to have some sort of visual cues? Are you going to hold up a red card? Are you going to follow your script notes?

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: What things will you have in place to let your co-host know that you need to back up the bus a little bit? Then who is responsible for audience engagement? 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: I. How are you going to keep the energy balanced? You might use a, an expression like this. Well, why don't you take this one over or I'd love your take on it. Particularly if you're co-hosting and you have a guest and you get asked a question that you're really not prepared to answer.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: You can punt it over to your co-host. Now, you'll need to talk about what happens when you do a double punt, and this is the great thing about editing. I highly recommend editing! When you first start out co-hosting, it might feel a little clunky and that's okay. It's going to take practice just like this.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Episode number 260 sounds absolutely nothing like episode number 1 0 6 or definitely not. Like episode number one or number two, you iterate your way to awesome. You give yourself permission and some space. When you start out with the end in mind, knowing the general framework for how you're going to create episodes, what's in it for your business and what's in it for your listener, you will experience a lot more joy when you plan in advance, and that is the whole purpose of this episode. So there isn't a microphone hog, so that you're not stepping over [00:22:00] one another as you co-host shows.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Remember, the three main things to take into consideration are defining the vibe in your roles up front. What do you want to be known for? Who's responsible for what aspect of podcasting? Point number two is to prepare, prepare, prepare, and then align your individual preparations to your collective preparations, so you're both in sync. And the third point is practicing passing the mic gracefully.  

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: If you've heard it once, well, let me back up and say, if you've said it once, you've said it way more than one time. We know that just talking about things does not create any change. We've got to take action on it. What is one thing you can implement from this episode?

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: In the next few hours. I mean, I can give you 24 hours, but really there, there's likely one, probably more than one thing that rose to the top for you to say, I need to talk to my co-host about this very thing. What is that one thing?

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: I'll have a post published on release day about this very thing. If you want to take action immediately and skip ahead to the line, 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Send me an email at jen@coachjenrogers.com . Share the one thing you are taking action on in the next 24 hours so you can get clarity and 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: continue to iterate your way to Awesome when it comes to co-hosting your podcast episodes. P.S. Jeff, are you listening? Message me on LinkedIn.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Are you still here? Remember at the very beginning I promised I was going to share that why? When I was at a live event wrestling about what I wanted to share on social, that I didn't want to get overly personal, that I wanted to talk about the things that were important to me without revealing all the things that I was [00:24:00] doing every moment of the day.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: My coach asked me this question, what is it that drives you? What is the why that has you wanting to podcast, it has you wanting to teach others how to podcast. And I took a moment and realized I had forgotten the deeper why, And that answer that brought me to tears was because when I was little, my voice was stolen from me.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Now I am on a mission to help podcasters share their healing transformation with others. That is the power of your voice. Every time you decide to record an episode, you are serving. You're serving first. That's the beauty of podcasting. Whether or not your listener takes any action to reach out to you, to buy your services, to connect with you on the socials, please know this.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: People are listening! Your message is transformational. You have the power to heal. Alright, that's going to do it for this week's episode. Thank you for joining me, and thank you for asking this great question. If there are other questions you have about podcasting, this is my favorite thing to do, is to answer what keeps popping up for you as you're going through your podcasting journey.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Let's make your next episode the best episode yet. 

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Alright. God bless you. Thank you for joining me. I will catch you in the next episode.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: PS, how many PSS can you have in a podcast? Hey, if today's episode gave you insights on how to uplevel your podcasting game, I invite you to share this episode with a friend. If you want to earn some extra bonus points, some podcaster love. If you want to give some podcaster love, I am definitely open to receiving it.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Will you leave an honest review on your favorite [00:26:00] podcasting platform? Your voice does indeed have the power to transform other people's lives, and when you listen to this episode and share it and leave a written review on any platform where you can leave a written review, it draws other people. There's nothing like the podcaster community.

Jen Rogers, Storytelling Podcast Host + Coach: Thanks so much for the podcast love. Okay. Really, This is the last PS of this episode. I promise! I'll catch in the next one.