How to build a profitable podcast.
Here are some tips on how to craft podcast interview questions that will make your episodes stand out.
Running a podcast that constantly features guests is a balancing act.
You have to be prepared but also flexible enough to switch gears on the spot in the middle of conversations. And while it requires being so open, you also need to focus on getting juicy information and answers that you and your listeners actually need.
That’s why it takes so much more than superb communication skills, you also should have critical thinking skills to create an episode that constantly stimulates your guests and keeps your audience interested.
Having a list of great podcast interview questions handy can help you with that.
Before you hit record, it’s always best to study your guest and make a list of quality, relevant questions. Those questions make sure you never run out of topics and hit that awkward silence.
So, what questions should you ask?
Let’s break down how to come up with your own questions and produce exceptional podcast interviews.
A great podcast episode starts with well-thought-out and prepared questions. In a world where AI tools are gaining popularity, you can’t simply write down “write podcast interview questions for [guests]” and then call it a day.
Before you write down any of them, here are some quick checklists to make sure you’re on the right track from start to finish:
Your podcast goals are probably the most crucial factors in your podcast strategy. Having specific goals in mind helps guide your preparation for the interview. This allows you to research the subject thoroughly and create questions that are directly relevant to your goals.
These questions can help you decide what questions to ask your guest:
You can structure the interview around your goals, ensuring that the most important information is covered in a logical and coherent way.
After the interview, having clear goals allows you to evaluate the success of the interview and identify areas for improvement.
As a podcast host, you have a lot of homework to do. This includes researching and studying your guests and gaining a deeper understanding of their background, work, and areas of expertise.
Researching the guest shows that you have taken the time to prepare for the interview and value their contribution. This can help put the guest at ease and encourage them to open up during the interview.
Podcast topics run the gambit from serious to hilarious and academic to informal. The best way is to
Having a clear approach helps you stay focused and organized during the interview, and ensures that you are able to achieve your goals and deliver a high-quality podcast. This can result in a more engaging, informative, and well-received podcast for your listeners.
When defining your approach, consider the following:
Preparing the guests beforehand can help put them at ease and increase their comfort level during the interview. This can lead to more open and honest answers and a more relaxed and natural conversation.
This also helps you manage your time more effectively. By giving the guests a general idea of what to expect, you can avoid unexpected detours and ensure that you have enough time to cover all the topics you want to cover.
Creating great podcast interview questions requires a mix of preparation, understanding of the subject matter and the audience, and the ability to think on your feet.
Here are some tips that can help:
Start with a light-hearted pep talk introductory that is designed to help the guest feel more relaxed and confident. These questions can be like, “Where did you grow up?" and “How do you like [the city] so far?”
Starting with "softball" questions in a podcast interview means beginning with relatively easy and non-threatening questions to help build rapport and establish a comfortable atmosphere.
It can also help you smoothly transition into more in-depth and challenging questions later in the interview.
Podcasting means giving the guests time to talk, elaborate, and provide in-depth and interesting answers. You should get more than “yes” or “no” as an answer.
It’s best to use open-ended questions that start with “what,” “why,” or “how.” If your guest is an online coach, you can get a lot of useful information about the online coaching business with open-ended questions. These types of questions offer more flexibility, as they allow the guest to take the conversation in a different direction or provide more context for their answers. This can make the interview feel more natural and spontaneous.
You give the guests room to tell you new things that you may not anticipate because you can't read their minds. It would be much easier for you to create a more natural and conversational back-and-forth between you and the guest
If you find answers that need further explanation, ask follow-up questions—even if they're not on your script or questionnaire. Don’t rush to the next question.
By uncovering deeper insights and perspectives and encouraging the guest to elaborate on their answers, you provide your listeners with more in-depth and thought-provoking answers.
Follow-up questions can also improve the flow of the interview by keeping the conversation moving and avoiding awkward silences.
It is important to show the guest that you have done your research before the interview. Doing your research and demonstrating that you are well-prepared not only shows the guest that you respect their time and expertise, but it also helps to establish trust and credibility.
No podcast host wants to ask their guest the same tired questions they’ve been asked a million times before.
So, demonstrate that you have a good understanding of the guest's work, background, and interests—as well as their previous interviews. This is how you can create a more relaxed and engaging atmosphere.
This also leads to a more natural and informative conversation, as the guest is more likely to feel comfortable and confident discussing their work and experiences.
By understanding what your audience is interested in and what questions they want answered, you can ensure that your interview is both relevant and valuable to them.
Research your listeners' or your guest’s audiences by monitoring social media and online forums and conducting surveys and polls.
This way, you can determine what questions they mostly have, and you can provide direct answers for them.
Or, you can think about what your listeners would want out of the interview and, likewise, what you would want to hear as a listener.
Knowing when to go off-script during a podcast interview is an important part of being a flexible and effective interviewer. It can be beneficial in certain situations, but it's also important to approach it with caution.
Here are some situations where going off-script may be appropriate:
However, it's also important to consider the potential drawbacks of going off-script. It can disrupt the flow of the interview and lead to a disjointed and unorganized conversation. But if you’re well prepared and can get back on track soon, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Creating engaging and effective podcast interview questions requires a combination of preparation, research, and a thoughtful approach. A list of interesting questions is the key to an interesting podcast episode.
Remember, the best podcast interview isn’t the one that features a popular guest but one that answers listeners’ questions and provides deeper insights on a specific topic. No matter how brilliant your guest is, if you can’t uncover some interesting pieces of information from them, the episode will fall flat.
