10 Tips for Interviewing Guests on Your Podcast

Podcasting has become one of the most popular forms of media consumption today, and the interview format is a central part of many successful shows. Interviewing guests on your podcast can be both exciting and challenging. A great interview can captivate your audience, provide valuable insights, and leave a lasting impact. However, the key to conducting successful interviews lies in preparation, understanding, and effective communication.

In this article, we will explore 10 essential tips that will help you conduct better interviews, whether you're a beginner or an experienced podcaster. These tips cover everything from pre-interview preparation to post-interview follow-up, ensuring your podcast remains engaging, informative, and professional.

Do Thorough Research on Your Guest

The first step in conducting a great interview is to understand who your guest is. Take time to research your guest's background, achievements, and recent projects. This will not only help you ask insightful questions but also make your guest feel respected and valued.

Why It's Important:

• Build rapport: Knowledge of their career, interests, and experiences shows your guest that you're invested in them, which creates a comfortable environment for open conversation.
• Ask intelligent questions: The more you know about your guest, the more specific and interesting your questions will be. This helps you steer clear of generic questions and creates a unique experience for your audience.

How to Do It:

• Read articles, books, or interviews they've done to get a sense of their perspectives.
• Check their social media to stay updated on their latest thoughts, opinions, and projects.
• Prepare specific questions based on your findings, which will allow you to explore interesting angles in the conversation.

Create an Outline, But Be Flexible

While it's crucial to prepare for an interview, being too rigid in your approach can make the conversation feel unnatural. An outline or a list of key topics ensures you stay on track, but it's also important to leave room for spontaneous discussions that arise during the interview.

Why It's Important:

• Structure without stifling creativity: An outline provides a clear direction, but flexibility ensures the conversation remains dynamic and engaging.
• Stay focused: Having a few key topics will help you navigate the conversation and keep things moving smoothly.

How to Do It:

• Prepare a list of open-ended questions that can guide the conversation but allow for flexibility.
• Prioritize key themes you want to discuss, but don't be afraid to pivot if a new topic naturally emerges.
• Don't script every word---let the conversation flow organically.

Start with a Warm-Up

Starting the interview with a casual, light-hearted conversation can set the tone and make your guest feel more at ease. This can be as simple as chatting about how their day went or discussing a shared interest.

Why It's Important:

• Put your guest at ease: People can be nervous or unsure, especially if it's their first time being interviewed.
• Build rapport: A warm-up allows for a natural connection and establishes a comfortable atmosphere.

How to Do It:

• Ask simple, easy questions like "How has your week been?" or "What's something exciting happening in your life right now?"
• Use humor when appropriate to break the ice and make your guest feel relaxed.
• Be mindful of your tone---make sure it's friendly and conversational.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

One of the biggest mistakes podcasters make is asking questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." To keep the conversation flowing, it's important to ask open-ended questions that encourage your guest to elaborate.

Why It's Important:

• Promote deeper discussion: Open-ended questions invite more thoughtful answers and allow your guest to share more insights and stories.
• Engage your audience: The more engaging the conversation, the more likely your listeners will stay tuned in.

How to Do It:

• Use questions like: "Can you tell me more about...?" or "What was your thought process behind...?"
• Avoid questions with a simple factual answer like, "What's your age?" or "Where do you live?"
• Encourage storytelling by asking your guest to explain their experiences and motivations.

Listen Actively

While it's essential to have a set of questions in mind, it's equally important to be a good listener during the interview. Active listening helps you stay present in the conversation, understand your guest's responses, and adjust your questions accordingly.

Why It's Important:

• Create a natural flow: Active listening ensures you're genuinely engaged in the conversation and not just waiting to ask your next question.
• Build a connection: Guests appreciate when they feel heard and understood, which leads to more authentic and open discussions.

How to Do It:

• Avoid interrupting: Let your guest finish their thought before jumping in with another question.
• Nod and show engagement: Small verbal cues like "That's interesting" or "Tell me more" encourage your guest to keep talking.
• Follow up on points of interest: If a guest says something intriguing, dive deeper into that topic instead of sticking strictly to your pre-written questions.

Maintain a Good Pace

Pacing is key to keeping your audience engaged and the conversation smooth. Make sure the conversation isn't too rushed or too slow. A well-paced interview allows for natural transitions between topics and avoids awkward pauses.

Why It's Important:

• Hold the listener's attention: Too slow and the conversation may become tedious; too fast, and listeners may miss key points.
• Allow for thoughtful answers: Pauses give both you and your guest time to process and respond thoughtfully.

How to Do It:

• Give your guest time to answer: Don't rush through the interview. Pause and let them speak.
• Steer the conversation if it drags: If you feel the interview is slowing down, gently nudge it in a new direction by asking an open-ended question.
• Avoid filler words: Minimize the use of "um" or "like" to maintain the conversation's fluidity.

Keep the Conversation On Topic

Although it's important to allow the conversation to flow naturally, it's equally essential to stay on track. If the conversation veers too far off-topic, it can lose focus and become disjointed.

Why It's Important:

• Maintain relevance: Keeping the conversation focused ensures the content remains valuable and relevant to your listeners.
• Respect your guest's time: Guests are often busy, and it's important to respect the time they've set aside for your interview.

How to Do It:

• Be mindful of time: If your guest starts veering off-topic, politely steer the conversation back to the main theme.
• Revisit key themes or questions if the conversation strays too far.
• Use transitions to move smoothly between different topics without losing momentum.

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Even the best-planned interviews can take unexpected turns. Whether it's a technical issue, a surprising answer, or an off-the-cuff remark, it's essential to be adaptable and handle surprises with grace.

Why It's Important:

• Maintain professionalism: How you react to unexpected situations can affect the mood of the interview and your relationship with the guest.
• Keep the flow of the conversation going: Surprises can lead to great moments, but you need to be able to adapt to them.

How to Do It:

• Don't panic: Stay calm and composed, even if something unexpected happens.
• Embrace the spontaneity: If something interesting or surprising happens, acknowledge it and go with the flow.
• Have a backup plan: Prepare for potential technical difficulties by ensuring your recording equipment is working properly.

End on a Positive Note

The way you end your interview can leave a lasting impression on your guest. Ending on a positive note not only ensures a good relationship for future collaborations but also leaves your audience with a sense of closure.

Why It's Important:

• Leave a lasting impression: A positive conclusion reinforces the value of the conversation for both your guest and your audience.
• Show appreciation: Thank your guest for their time and insights to make them feel appreciated.

How to Do It:

• Ask a closing question like "What's next for you?" or "Do you have any final thoughts to share?"
• Express gratitude: Thank your guest for joining and contributing to the conversation.
• Preview future episodes or topics: If appropriate, give a sneak peek into upcoming episodes or future topics that might interest your guest and audience.

Follow Up After the Interview

After the interview, it's important to maintain a relationship with your guest. Following up is a way to show appreciation and keep the door open for future collaborations.

Why It's Important:

• Strengthen your professional network: A simple follow-up helps build long-term relationships with guests and other industry professionals.
• Build goodwill: Expressing gratitude can help foster goodwill and encourage guests to share your podcast with their own audiences.

How to Do It:

• Send a thank-you note or email after the interview to express your appreciation.
• Share the episode once it's published and tag your guest on social media to show your appreciation.
• Ask for feedback: If your guest is open to it, ask for feedback on the interview experience to improve future episodes.

Conclusion

Interviewing guests for your podcast is an art that requires a combination of preparation, active listening, and adaptability. By following these 10 tips, you can ensure that your interviews are engaging, insightful, and enjoyable for both your guest and your audience. Whether you're conducting your first interview or you're a seasoned podcaster, these strategies will help you create meaningful and memorable episodes that resonate with listeners and build lasting relationships with your guests.

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