All right, you’ve got your podcast, you’ve decided on a format, you have your structure and now you want to interview people, what next? Well, you're in luck! I'm here to give you some tips on how to conduct engaging podcast interviews that will keep your listeners hooked.
1. Do your research.
Before you even start interviewing your guest, it's important to do your research. This means learning as much as you can about their background, their work, and their interests. The more you know about your guest, the better equipped you'll be to ask them interesting and insightful questions. Read any articles they have written, books, or research papers. Check on Youtube for other interviews they’ve given.
2. Prepare your questions.
Once you've done your research, it's time to start preparing your questions. This is where you can really get creative and come up with questions that will get your guest talking. Avoid asking yes or no questions, and instead focus on questions that will elicit detailed answers. Ask open-ended questions that they want to answer. Vinh Giang, a motivational speaker explains this best by stating that one should ‘Listen to understand not to respond.’ Here is a bonus, tip 2.2–if you can find a question that no one else has asked them--something of particular interest to them, they will open up to you like no one else!
3. Be prepared to go off script.
No matter how well you plan, things don't always go according to script in a podcast interview. Be prepared to go off script and adapt to the flow of the conversation. If your guest says something interesting, don't be afraid to follow up on it with a follow-up question. If it goes on too long, that’s ok. You can always edit it down. Your goal is to have a conversation with your guest, not an inquisition! Joe Rogan is a master of this, he allows his guests to steer the conversation in areas that they find interesting.
4. Be a good listener.
One of the most important things you can do as a podcast interviewer is to be a good listener. Pay attention to what your guest is saying, and ask follow-up questions that show you're interested in what they have to say. But like noted above, listen to understand, not to respond. Be aware that there may not be a good follow-up question. Sometimes a non-sequitur can add an unexpected bit of humanity to your conversation. Also, don't interrupt your guest, and don't try to dominate the conversation. You are there to get your guest to speak!
5. Be yourself.
The most important thing is to be yourself and let your personality shine through. If you're trying to be someone you're not, it will show. Your listeners and guest will know it immediately and tune out. If you are not authentic or interested in the subject or person you are interviewing–no one else will want to listen to it either.
Here are a few additional tips:
Practice your interview. Once you've prepared your questions, it's a good idea to practice your interview with a friend or colleague. This will help you get comfortable with the flow of the conversation and make sure you're asking the right questions.
Use a podcast recording software. A podcast recording software will help you record your interview and edit it later. Some popular podcast recording software include Audacity, Garageband, and Adobe Audition. As cool as it would be to use an old cassette tape recorder, transferring that file to digital just sucks. Also, the quality of the audio would be meh.
By following these tips, you can conduct engaging podcast interviews that will keep your listeners hooked.
If you're thinking about creating a podcast, MW Studio Services can help you with all aspects of your creative endeavour, including conducting interviews. We have a team of experienced podcast producers, writers, actors and a whole host of professionals who can help you create engaging and informative interviews that will keep your listeners coming back for more.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your podcast.
We're here to help you make your podcast a success!
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