If you have ever watched a podcast and wondered why some conversations feel natural while few others sound rehearsed, the answer is almost always the same: the camera changes everything.

The moment when a big lens is pointed at someone, even the most confident person may stumble. And founders, especially first timers know this more than anyone and the nervousness they have makes sense because their work is usually behind the scenes and not in front of an audience. They are builders and not performers. So, asking them to just be themselves while a few cameras and studio lights stare them down does not work.

Most founders I have spoken to on my podcast, be it in the healthtech field or any other industry, one thing they have in common is that they are introverts, camera-shy and first-timers. I have been that founder too.

When we began building the studio for Techzila, we were obsessed over a single question: “How do we make guests forget the camera exists?”

I wanted to make a space where founders introverted, camera-shy, thoughtful founders could talk like they do in private. Not like they do on camera. And the answer came from a deceptively simple idea: Hide the cameras. Literally. No giant lenses, no bright lights and no intimidating equipment but only just two people in a room having a conversation.

Why Hidden Cameras Work

When people forget that they are being recorded, that is when the real stories flow. There is a concept in behavioural science called the “observer effect” , the idea that people change their behaviour when they know they are being watched. It does not matter how confident, charismatic or experienced someone is, the moment a camera turns on, your mind switches modes:

• From natural to presentational.
• From expressive to controlled.
• From honest to polished.

Big podcasts with elaborate lighting techniques often assume that these setups create professionalism. But in reality, what they really create is performance pressure. Guests start thinking about how they look instead of what they want to say. Micro-hesitations will start to creep in, and their authenticity in speaking may start to drop.

A founder’s best stories rarely come from prepared talking points. They come from the messy, vulnerable and emotional parts of their journey such as the moment the challenges they faced at the beginning of their founder journey, the nights they doubted themselves and the driving force for them. These are the stories that inspire, teach and resonate to us. But they do not surface in a staged environment.

The Result: Real, Raw & Relatable Conversations

Once the guest stops thinking about being observed, the entire dynamic changes:

1. Their voice becomes natural.

You can hear their real personality and not their polished one. They forget they are being recorded and unfiltered stories begin to flow, like two friends having a conversation.

2. Their stories become honest.

They open up about failures and fears without feeling judged. The brain switches to real talk mode and unleashes vulnerability that in turn builds an unbreakable trust with the audience.

3. Their pacing becomes human.

There is no pressure to speak in a perfect tone. Robotic pacing is replaced by human pacing which creates episodes that feel alive. This also persuades the audience to stay hooked.

4. Their insights become deeper.

When someone forgets the camera, their guard drops and their wisdom emerges.

As a host, I have watched this transformation dozens of times. Guests who walk in nervous become completely immersed in the conversation. An hour passes, sometimes two, and then they look at me surprised to see how long it has passed without knowing. And this is the magic of Techzila.

What This Means for the Future of Founder Conversations

Make it better for the guest, and it becomes better for the viewer.

If a guest is comfortable, the audience feels it. If a guest is vulnerable, the audience connects. If a guest is relaxed, the audience stays engaged. Authenticity is to be not created in the stage of post-production, it has to be created in the podcast room. And hidden cameras allow authenticity to happen naturally.

I believe that the next generation of founder-focused content will prioritize intimacy over spectacle. Audiences do not want polished personas, they want real people. Also, founders do not just need spotlights to shine, they need space where their real voice could be heard and not the rehearsed version in the studio rooms.

People often ask what makes Techzila different, what makes guests open up so easily, what makes the episodes feel personal, or why the conversations sound like two people talking off camera.

A small and simple innovation became one of the most important decisions we made while building Techzila from scratch. Because founders deserve a space where they can tell their story without pressure. They deserve a spotlight that does not blind them, and they deserve a platform that respects their vulnerability.

So, what’s a podcast you watch regularly?