My First Time Being a Podcast Producer

Working at Praxis is more than just about doing PR; it’s also about learning PR, and often beyond. We're constantly encouraged to explore new things and try different formats. Although it’s not always easy to juggle that alongside client work, it is one of the things I like about being here.

Speaking of new things, there’s a new kid in the block: podcast.

Mas Mercy, a partner at Praxis, recently launched a podcast called Proxemics. Together with Kak Stephanie, our Director of PR, they host conversations about all things communication, PR, media, advertising, and digital marketing. Every couple of episodes, they also bring in guest speakers from various industries, adding fresh perspectives and real-world insight into the conversation. To make things more interesting, they also invited Praxis team members to get hands-on experience by taking turns as producers. For episode six, that opportunity was given to me.

From Listener to Producer

Now, to be honest, I wasn’t that familiar with the world of podcast production. Sure, I have been listening to podcasts, and even hosted a few episodes back in college for my student organization’s podcast, SiarANT. But this was different. Producing a podcast from behind the scenes is a whole other world. Suddenly, I wasn’t just thinking about what to say, but also how to say it, when, why, and what needed to happen to make the episode run smoothly. It was challenging, yes, but also super exciting.

My journey as producer began with one key task: develop the episode’s theme and outline. Thankfully, the guest was already confirmed. He is Dominikus Susanto. Better known as Pak Kentos, he is the Senior Manager Business Development at Qualcomm Indonesia. As a tech enthusiast, I was already familiar with Qualcomm and their renowned Snapdragon chipsets. So naturally, I was excited. For this episode, I also worked with Nada, one of our interns (thanks Nada!), to develop the outline.

We started by researching Pak Kentos, including his background and previous talks, to brainstorm potential themes and talking points. We also did a deep dive into Qualcomm to understand more about the company and what they have been doing. Each of us then created a rough script and question flow, keeping in mind both the guest’s expertise and our audience’s curiosity. Once our ideas were ready, we pitched them to Mas Mercy and Kak Stephanie. During the pitch, they gave us feedback, highlighting what might work, what needed rethinking, and where the flow could be improved. We then refined the structure, merged ideas, and finally produced a solid script. Honestly, the process was quite similar to how we prepare talking points for a client’s media interview or PR event.

Script: done. Now, on to the recording day.

Behind the Lens

Recording day also marked the first time I met Pak Kentos in person. As we waited for Mas Chris (our all-in-one editor, sound engineer, and cameraman) to set up the equipment, we sat down for a casual chat. More than just small talk, it was a chance to build chemistry, align energy, and look for potential topics that would enrich the conversation later on.

Once recording began, I took my place behind the camera next to Mas Chris. While he managed the cameras and audio, I kept an eye on the monitor, tracked the flow of conversation, and made sure everything aligned with the script. I also took a few behind-the-scenes photos for documentation.

Although we had a script, the conversation flowed naturally. As expected, not everything went exactly in order. Some questions were skipped, others improvised. I think that is what’s interesting about podcasts: they’re structured, but not rigid. The goal is to keep the energy real and the discussion engaging. Everything else can be fixed in post.

Unfortunately, I had a cold that morning, so I spent a good part of the session trying hard not to cough or sneeze. Thankfully, I survived the recording session noise-free!

Reflecting on the Experience

In many ways, producing a podcast episode felt like managing any other PR activity. You start with research and ideation, move on to building a narrative, handle the preparations, and then monitor everything during execution. I’m grateful for this experience, and also for the chance to geek out over tech with someone like Pak Kentos. That was a bonus I didn’t know I needed.

Producing a podcast may not have been on my radar at the start of the year, but here we are. Another new day, another new challenge, and another new skill unlocked. Is it perfect? Definitely not. There are plenty of things I could improve in the episode I produced. But it was my first try, and first attempts are rarely perfect. Yet, if there’s one thing I learned, it’s that good conversations take work. But when you get them right, they’re worth every bit of effort.

If you’re interested in the podcast I produced, you can watch it here!