Flying Solo on a Live Show: Where’s My Jamie?

2026-01-09

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In this episode, I tackled a common issue solo podcasters face: what do you do when you need to reference a stat, date, or chart on the fly while recording while on a LIVE STREAM? I discussed some typical options: pausing to Google it (which can break your momentum), guessing (and risk sounding uninformed), or flagging it for post-production fixes (which adds editing time).But I pointed out a missed option: coming prepared! If you do your research ahead of time, you can minimize disruptions when recording....

In this episode, I tackled a common issue solo podcasters face: what do you do when you need to reference a stat, date, or chart on the fly while recording while on a LIVE STREAM?

I discussed some typical options: pausing to Google it (which can break your momentum), guessing (and risk sounding uninformed), or flagging it for post-production fixes (which adds editing time).

But I pointed out a missed option: coming prepared! If you do your research ahead of time, you can minimize disruptions when recording. However, I know that's not always possible—especially when recording live.

For example, on my weekly live show, Ask the Podcast Coach, I answer spontaneous questions from the chat room, so I can't always be ready with every fact.

When recording solo and I have a slip-up, I simply pause a few seconds to create a clear space in the audio. That pause makes it easy to spot and edit later. It’s a technique I use on all my solo recordings.

For my live show, Ask the Podcast Coach (askthepodcastcoach.com/live), I prepare as much as possible, but also rely on interacting with the chat. If I need to look something up, I'll edit the audio version but leave the video as-is since YouTube doesn't allow file replacement.

I also mentioned that preparation helps explain visuals for audio listeners, guiding them through what’s happening on screen. More planning always means less editing afterwards; if you wing it, expect more cleanup.

Running a live show is a juggling act—managing the sound, levels, chat room, and next questions. Thankfully, I have a co-host to help. If you're on your own, consider whether going live is the best option given your current workflow.

Finally, I shared some advice: practice any new tech or process before going live. Don't try something for the first time in front of an audience!

Websites mentioned:

Ask the Podcast Coach
School of Podcasting

If you want help not “wetting your pants” on your first try, check out the School of Podcasting where you get access to me for consulting, a supportive community, and step-by-step courses.

Thanks for listening—I'm here to help podcasters succeed!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

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