How to Be a Good Podcast Host: A Conversation with Elaine Appleton Grant - Part 1

<p>What makes a good podcast host? That's a question many of us ask!&nbsp; What gives a Podcast its "hostiness" and makes you want to come back for more again and again?</p><p><em>“There's almost nothing about hosting and really by implication producing and that, that quality – I did not coin the term 'hostiness,' that comes from I believe PRX many years ago – but it's, it's this ineffable quality that makes us go 'oh, I love listening to Ira Glass,’ or Jad Abumrad of Radio Lab, or Anna Sale, or Brené Brown, or whoever we connect with, and different people obviously connect with different hosts. But what is that makes us connect?”-- </em>Elaine Appleton Grant</p><p>My next guest has actually been on this podcast before. She's an award-winning journalist, audio producer, and on-air talent who worked for three NPR affiliates before founding Podcast Allies, LLC in 2019. She hosts the podcast <em>Sound Judgment</em>, a master study in great podcast hosting, and I’m certainly honored to have her here. In fact, you might have heard her review of this podcast read out on a recent show. Her show features today's best hosts, and producers, including Glynn Washington, host of <em>Snap Judgment,</em> John Barth, founding producer of <em>Marketplace</em>, Ann Bogel of <em>What Should I Read Next</em>, and Stephanie Wittels Wachs of <em>Last Day</em>. Her production company, Podcast Allies, develops narrative and conversation podcasts for social impact organizations, such as the Environmental Defense Fund and the American Academy of Pediatrics, so her background in audio is pretty extensive.</p><p>Her name is Elaine Appleton Grant, and I’m looking forward to getting her take on what she feels makes a good podcast and a great host. With all the interesting people she’s interviewed, she’s bound to have a very informed opinion.</p><p>As always, if you have questions for my guest, you’re welcome to reach out through the links in the show notes.&nbsp; If you have questions for me, visit <a href="http://www.audiobrandingpodcast.com