Ever wondered how some podcast hosts manage to draw out the most captivating stories and insights from their guests? The secret lies in asking the right questions. Crafting well-thought-out interview questions for a podcast not only engages your listeners but also provides deeper insights into your interviewee’s experiences and expertise.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how to master the art of asking great podcast interview questions that keep your audience hooked and your conversations flowing smoothly.
Why Is It Important to Prepare Questions in Advance?
Preparation keeps the conversation focused and ensures all key topics are covered without veering off course or missing important points. Knowing your questions in advance boosts your confidence and helps maintain a smooth flow, reducing the chances of awkward pauses.
Using tools like a Facebook live poll before your podcast can help you identify topics your audience is most interested in, making your preparation even more targeted and effective.
Preparing thoughtful questions shows respect for your guest’s time and expertise. It demonstrates that you value their participation and insights, fostering a positive interview atmosphere.
Moreover, prepared questions lead to more engaging conversations. They enable you to ask probing questions that elicit detailed responses, providing your listeners with richer and more valuable content.
Are There Any Advantages to Improvising During an Interview?
Improvising during a podcast interview brings spontaneity and authenticity to the conversation. It allows you to respond to the flow of discussion in real-time, exploring unexpected topics that arise. This flexibility can uncover deeper insights and fascinating stories, making the interview more interesting.
Improvisation also creates a more conversational atmosphere. Reacting organically to your guest’s responses makes the interaction feel like a genuine dialogue rather than a scripted Q&A. This can put your guest at ease, encouraging more candid sharing.
Balancing preparation with improvisation ensures you cover essential points while allowing room for the unexpected, making the conversation sound more authentic.
Best Types of Questions to Include With Examples
Crafting a diverse range of podcast questions can help make your podcast interviews more engaging and insightful. Here are some of the best types of questions to ask podcast guests, along with examples.
Intro Questions
Intro questions set the tone for the interview and help your guest feel comfortable. They are usually light and straightforward, aimed at breaking the ice.
Examples:
- “Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in your field?”
- “What inspired you to pursue this career path?”
- “Can you share a memorable moment from the early days of your career?”
- “What are some key experiences that shaped who you are today?”
- “How would you describe your journey in three words?”
Tip: Consider checking your live viewer numbers during a Facebook Live session to see which types of intro questions keep your audience most engaged.
Personal Questions
Personal questions help listeners connect with the guests on a deeper level, revealing the human side of their story.
Examples:
- “What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your personal life, and how did you overcome it?”
- “Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?”
- “What personal values do you hold most dearly, and how have they influenced your career/life?”
- “Can you share a personal habit that you believe has contributed significantly to your success?”
- “What do you enjoy doing in your free time that helps you unwind and recharge?”
Expertise and Career Questions
These questions go deeper into the guest’s professional journey and expertise, providing valuable insights and knowledge to your audience.
Examples:
- “What are some of the key trends you’re seeing in your industry right now?”
- “Can you share a major milestone in your career and what you learned from it?”
- “What skills do you think are most important for someone entering your field today?”
- “How do you stay current with the latest developments in your industry?”
- “What projects are you currently working on that excite you the most?”
Problem-Solving Questions
Problem-solving questions showcase the guest’s critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, often revealing their unique approach to challenges. If that’s relevant to the topic of your podcast, here are some questions you can use.
Examples:
- “Can you describe a difficult problem you faced in your work and how you resolved it?”
- “What strategies do you use to stay innovative in your field?”
- “How do you handle setbacks and failures in your professional life?”
- “Can you share an example of a time when you had to make a tough decision and what the outcome was?”
- “What’s the most challenging project you’ve worked on and how did you manage it?”
Great Closer Questions
Closer questions help wrap up the interview on a strong note, often providing actionable advice or final thoughts.
Examples:
- “What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out in your industry?”
- “What are your plans for the future and how can our listeners stay connected with you?”
- “If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?”
- “What do you hope to achieve in the next five years?”
- “How do you want to be remembered in your professional career?”
Funny or Whimsical Questions
Adding a touch of humor with funny or whimsical questions can lighten the mood and make the interview more memorable.
Examples:
- “If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?”
- “What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done in your career?”
- “If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?”
- “What’s a quirky habit you have that few people know about?”
- “If you could switch jobs with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?”
Including a mix of these question types can help you create a well-rounded and engaging podcast interview that resonates with your audience.
Tips for Asking Great Questions for Podcast Interviews
Asking great questions during a podcast interview is an art that can significantly enhance the quality of your conversations. Here are some tips to help you master this skill:
1. Do Thorough Research
Before the interview, take time to research your guest’s background, work, and interests. Understanding their achievements and viewpoints will help you craft questions that are relevant and insightful. This preparation shows your guest that you value their time and contribution.
2. Listen Actively
During the interview, practice active listening. Pay close attention to your guest’s answers and be prepared to ask follow-up questions based on their responses. This not only shows that you are engaged, but also helps uncover deeper insights and stories.
3. Be Clear and Concise
Ask clear and concise questions to avoid confusion and ensure your guest understands what you’re asking. Avoid long or overly complex questions that can be difficult to follow, instead split longer questions into shorter ones.
4. Encourage Storytelling
Encourage your guests to share stories and personal experiences. Questions that prompt storytelling can lead to more engaging and memorable content. For example, “Can you tell us about a time when…” often elicits detailed and compelling narratives.
5. Balance Open-Ended and Specific Questions
Use a mix of open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses, and specific questions to gather particular information. Open-ended questions like “What inspired you to…” can lead to expansive answers, while specific questions like “What tools do you use for…” provide concrete insights.
6. Practice and Refine
Like any skill, asking great questions gets better with practice. Reflect on your interviews, seek feedback, and continuously refine your questioning techniques to become a more effective interviewer.
What Not To Ask Your Guests?
While it’s important to ask engaging and insightful questions, it’s equally crucial to know what to avoid. Certain types of questions can derail the conversation, make your guest uncomfortable, or alienate your audience. Here’s a guide on what not to ask your podcast guests:
1. Overly Personal Questions
This may sound obvious, but you should avoid questions that delve too deeply into your guest’s personal life unless they have previously indicated they are comfortable discussing such topics. Questions about family issues, relationships, or health problems can be intrusive and make your guest feel uncomfortable.
2. Leading Questions
Leading questions suggest a particular answer and can bias the responses of your guest. Instead of asking, “Don’t you think that…” try framing questions neutrally to allow your guest to express their genuine thoughts and experiences.
3. Irrelevant Questions
Keep your questions relevant to the topic at hand and your guest’s area of expertise. Asking irrelevant questions can confuse your audience and detract from the main focus of the interview. Ensure each question has a clear purpose and contributes to the overall narrative.
4. Questions That Put Guests on the Spot
Avoid questions that put your guest in an uncomfortable position or force them to defend their views. For example, “Why did your project fail?” can be rephrased to “What were some challenges you faced with your project, and what did you learn from them?” This approach fosters a more constructive and positive dialogue.
5. Questions with Obvious Answers
Avoid asking questions with answers that are common knowledge or easily found in your guest’s bio. Instead, dive deeper into their experiences and insights to provide your audience with new and valuable information.
6. Hypothetical or Abstract Questions
While some hypothetical questions can be interesting, avoid those that are too abstract or speculative unless they clearly tie back to the guest’s expertise or experience. Focus on real-world examples and practical insights that your audience can relate to.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced podcast hosts can make mistakes sometimes. Here are some common ones to avoid and ensure your podcast remains engaging and professional.
Listing Cliché or Overly Generic Questions
One of the most common mistakes is relying on cliché or overly generic questions. These questions often lead to predictable answers and fail to engage the guest or the audience. Questions like “Can you tell us about yourself?” or “What is your job like?” are too broad and do not encourage deep, meaningful responses.
Instead, aim for specific questions that relate directly to your guest’s unique experiences and insights. For example, “What inspired you to pursue this particular project?” or “Can you share a specific challenge you faced in your career and how you overcame it?”
Not Allowing Flexibility in the Conversation
While preparation is important, sticking too rigidly to your list of questions can stifle the natural flow of the conversation. Not allowing flexibility means you might miss out on interesting topics that arise spontaneously during the interview. Be willing to deviate from your script if the guest brings up a compelling point or story.
This adaptability can lead to more engaging discussions. For instance, if your guest mentions an unexpected aspect of their work, take the opportunity to explore it further, even if it wasn’t on your initial list of questions.
Failing to Listen Actively and Follow Up on Interesting Points
Active listening is crucial for conducting a successful interview. Failing to listen attentively can result in missed opportunities to delve deeper into intriguing points your guest mentions. It can also make the interview feel disjointed and less engaging.
Make sure to stay present and listen carefully to your guest’s responses. When they say something interesting or surprising, follow up with additional questions to explore that topic further. This not only shows respect for your guest but also enriches the content of your podcast.
The art of asking insightful questions is crucial for a successful podcast. By preparing questions thoughtfully, remaining flexible during conversations, and steering clear of common mistakes, you can create compelling episodes that resonate with your audience. Remember, the best podcast conversations stem from genuine curiosity, attentive listening, and a sincere interest in your guest’s unique experiences and insights.
FAQ
What are good questions to ask on a podcast?
Good podcast questions are those that elicit detailed and engaging responses from your guest. They should be relevant to the guest’s expertise, encourage storytelling, and provide value to your audience. For example: “What inspired you to pursue your current career?” and “Can you share a challenging experience and how you overcame it?”
What are funny questions for podcast interviews?
Funny questions add a light-hearted element to the interview and can make the conversation more enjoyable. Examples include “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?” and “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in your job?”
How to do a good podcast interview?
A good podcast interview requires thorough preparation, active listening, and the ability to adapt to the conversation flow. Prepare insightful questions, listen carefully to your guest’s responses, and be flexible enough to explore unexpected topics that arise.
