The Making of a Podcast: Behind the Mic With Smart Patients
That’s how Therese described the experience of recording her first podcast. Podcasting offers a chance to pause, listen deeply, and connect voice-to-voice. But what’s it like to actually make one? We asked Smart Patient members who are new to podcasting how it felt to hit “record.”
Hitting Record: “Like Having Coffee With a Friend”
When the recording starts, some people freeze. Others flourish. Therese wasn’t nervous. “I was excited! It helped that we all had previously talked and discussed the goals and set-up beforehand,” she shared. Her past as a public speaker and writer helped, too, as did the warmth she felt during the conversation.
Christine admitted to some early nerves. “In all honesty, I was a bit anxious,” she said, “but once the conversation began flowing, I was pleasantly surprised how easily Therese and I were able to bounce our thoughts back and forth. It really did feel like having coffee with a friend.”
For Robin, nerves didn’t enter the picture: “Public speaking is just talking to people. And that’s what podcasts are too.”
The Surprises: Glitches and Golden Moments
It wouldn’t be a first-time project without a few surprises. Therese reported that some “tech difficulties set us back a week,” and led to a platform switch. “It all worked out though,” she noted, and this is why it’s important to do a dry run with the tech setup a few days beforehand, “to alleviate tech difficulties the day of the interview.”
Christine was struck by the polish of the final product. “Once the podcast was recorded and edited, I was surprised how polished it sounded.”
And for Robin, the big surprise was how easy the whole thing felt. “If the people doing the podcast find the subject interesting, chances are good the listeners will too.”
Advice to Future Podcast Guests: Don’t Overthink It
All three guests had encouraging advice for others thinking about recording a podcast:
Click on this image to download “A Patient Advocate Podcast Toolkit”. This guide brings together what patients in our community have learned — the real, practical insights that make podcasting feel less intimidating and more empowering. Whether this is your very first interview or you’re finding your voice again, you’re not doing this alone.
Prepare a little: Review the questions in advance. Know the goal of the episode and the style of the moderator.
Don’t overthink: Take a deep breath and let your thoughts unroll.
Be yourself: If something comes up that you don’t know, just say you don’t know. Go with the flow.
Would They Do It Again?
All three guests said yes—without hesitation. Therese sees podcasting as a powerful advocacy tool. “As a Sjogren’s patient, I want to advocate and educate more people… I want to be a stronger voice for the Sjogren’s community.”
Christine called it a fun and interesting process: “I always enjoy sharing what I’ve learned since starting my crazy, unpredictable health journey.”
And Robin? “Any time. I think it’s fun! It’s a really good way to provide information in an entertaining and informal way.”
Why Podcasting Works: The Power of Human Voices
In the words of one Smart Patients listener: “It was so nice to hear your voices in this digital world of Smart Patients.”
Another shared that they planned to send the episode to family: “Sometimes I think if they hear it from someone else, it will give them a better understanding of what it is like to live with an invisible, chronic disease.”
That’s the magic of podcasting. No visuals, no filters. Just honest voices sharing stories and wisdom.
As their Podcast Moderator said: “We get to listen to the realness of human connection… I think this urge to value stories is part of what makes us uniquely human.” In other words, the story is the star.
Want to Hear (or Share) More?
Click here to hear the voices of your Smart Patients team: https://www.tabletalkonhealth.com/
Whether you’re a podcast fan, a first-timer, or a future guest, we hope this behind-the-scenes peek shows that you don’t need to be perfect to make a great podcast. You just need a story to share—and someone who’s ready to listen.
And here are a few podcasts recommended by our team:
Tara Brach’s podcast (for mindfulness and meditation)
Chasing Scratch (a golf podcast that’s actually a great human story)
Only Murders in the Building (fiction, maybe you’ve streamed this comedy-drama series?)
Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me (for witty answers)
Maybe your own story is next.
The Smart Patients: Patient Advocate Podcast Toolkit was created using community feedback to support anyone thinking about stepping behind the mic — or anyone who could use a few helpful tips and reminders.