Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Body of work
35% weight
Ask for published feeds they produced end to end: episode counts, format (interview, narrative, daily news), download trends, and which segments or cold opens they personally cut.
Evidence to listen for
Has work that exists publicly and can be checked
States what they made versus what they contributed to
Can talk about range as well as their signature style
Knows how the work was received and by whom
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Nothing finished or public; describes intentions rather than output.
2
Needs Improvement
Small or unverifiable body of work; unclear personal contribution.
3
Satisfactory
Real output with adequate range; reception described vaguely.
4
Very Good
Substantial verifiable work with clear ownership and range.
5
Excellent
Names specific shows and episode links, cites download or completion figures, and explains their exact role in each release.
02
Evaluation factor
Craft and technique
25% weight
Probe their editing stack: Pro Tools, Reaper, Hindenburg or Descript, plus loudness targets around minus 16 LUFS, noise removal, multitrack Riverside or Zoom recordings, and mix notes.
Evidence to listen for
Can discuss technique concretely rather than in terms of feel or vibe
Names influences and what they took from each
Explains a deliberate choice and the effect it was for
Knows their own weak areas and what they do about them
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
No technical vocabulary; cannot discuss choices behind the work.
2
Needs Improvement
Talks in generalities; choices sound accidental.
3
Satisfactory
Solid craft with some ability to explain decisions.
4
Very Good
Articulate about technique and deliberate about effect.
5
Excellent
Discusses gain staging, LUFS normalisation, and repairing bad remote audio with named plugins rather than vague talk of polishing.
03
Evaluation factor
Reliability and process
25% weight
Check how they run the pipeline: guest booking and prep docs, run-of-show scripts, publishing to Megaphone or Buzzsprout, show notes, chapter markers, and hitting weekly drop dates.
Evidence to listen for
Meets deadlines and briefs, with evidence
Handles revisions and direction without ego
Describes how they work when the brief is vague or changes late
Has repeat clients, bookings, or collaborators
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Misses commitments; cannot take direction.
2
Needs Improvement
Inconsistent delivery; defensive about revisions.
3
Satisfactory
Reliable on clear briefs; struggles when direction shifts.
4
Very Good
Consistently delivers and adapts; repeat collaborators.
5
Excellent
Describes a repeatable weekly calendar with buffer episodes, tracked guest pipeline, and zero missed publish dates across a long season.
04
Evaluation factor
Presence with an audience
15% weight
Judge instinct for listener retention: how they test cold opens, cut tangents, handle host feedback, read drop-off data in Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and shape narrative arcs.
Evidence to listen for
Comfortable performing or presenting on demand, including cold
Reads a room and adjusts
Handles a bad night, a difficult client, or a hostile crowd without unravelling
Represents the employer well in front of others
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot perform or present on request; unravels under pressure.
2
Needs Improvement
Rigid delivery; no read of the room.
3
Satisfactory
Competent in familiar settings; less adaptable in new ones.
4
Very Good
Strong presence and adapts to the room.
5
Excellent
Cites a concrete change (trimmed intro, restructured act two) and the retention or review shift that followed it.
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