For guests
Guest Prep Guide
Everything you need to know before you sit down in the Open Up studio — so you feel ready, relaxed, and free to tell your story.
Before you arrive
Pick your story
Think about the moments that shaped you — the failures, the pivots, the lessons. The best interviews come from specifics, not résumés.
Dress for the camera
Solid colors work best. Avoid busy patterns, pure white, and logos that aren't your own. Bring a backup layer in case the studio lights change the tone.
Rest your voice
Skip heavy dairy or alcohol the night before, drink water, and arrive ready to talk. The interview is a conversation, not a speech.
Send your talking points
If you have a project, book, business, or cause to mention, share it with us 48 hours ahead so we can weave it in naturally.
The day of filming
Arrive early
Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time. We'll handle sound checks, lighting, and a quick mic test before we start.
What to bring
A photo ID, water, and any small props you want on camera (book, product, award). Leave the script at home — this is unscripted.
Relax into the conversation
There's no live audience. The interview is edited later, so you can pause, restart, or take a breath whenever you need to.
We capture everything
We film the full conversation, B-roll of the studio, and behind-the-scenes moments for social clips and promotional assets.
After filming
Editing timeline
Most episodes take 2–4 weeks to edit. Complex edits or multi-guest episodes may take a little longer. We will share a release date when it's locked.
Release and promotion
Your episode will be released across podcast platforms, YouTube, and social clips. We encourage you to share it with your own audience.
Clips and B-roll
Short clips may be published as Reels, Shorts, or feed posts. These help promote the episode and introduce new audiences to your story.
Content rights
You share your story. We take it from there.
By joining us in the studio, you grant Open Up the right to record, edit, publish, distribute, and promote the interview — in full or as clips — across all platforms, now and in the future. This includes audio, video, photos, transcripts, quotes, and behind-the-scenes material.
Once filming is complete, Open Up retains full editorial and release control over the final episode. We may edit for time, clarity, pacing, or platform requirements. While we welcome your input on factual accuracy, guests do not have final approval over the edit, release date, or promotional use.
This arrangement protects the creative independence of the show and keeps every conversation honest, unscripted, and true to the Open Up format.
If you have questions about this before filming, please ask the team ahead of time. We're happy to walk through it with you.
Quick checklist
- I shared my bio and headshot with the team.
- I confirmed my recording date and arrival time.
- I know the studio address and parking instructions.
- I picked a few stories I want to make sure we cover.
- I have my outfit ready and any props I want to bring.
- I understand the final edit and release decisions are made by Open Up.
Ready to film?
If you haven't applied yet, start the guest intake process and the team will reach out with your date, time, and studio details.
Apply to be a guest