When you’re interviewing someone for your podcast, how do you make sure it’s a great conversation? And how do you make sure your listeners stay engaged? In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of conducting a successful podcast interview – from start to finish.
We’ll give you tips on how to introduce your guests, how to keep the conversation flowing, and how to create attention-grabbing moments that will keep listeners hooked. So whether you’re a first-time interviewer or a seasoned pro, read on for some valuable advice!
Before the Show
Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of how to conduct a great interview, let’s take a step back and think about the bigger picture. Specifically, let’s talk about how to prepare for an interview.
Find Guests You’re Interested In
The first step to conducting a great interview is finding someone you’re really interested in talking to. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning because it’s so important. If you’re not genuinely interested in your guests, it will come through in the conversation and your listeners will be able to tell. So take some time to find people who you’re truly curious about and eager to chat with.
Do Your Research
Once you’ve found your ideal guests, it’s time to do your research. This step is key because it will help you come up with questions that are both interesting and relevant. A good place to start is by reading any articles or interviews they’ve done recently. This will give you a sense of what they’re passionate about and what they like to talk about. You can also check out their social media accounts to see what they’ve been up to lately.
When you’re researching your guests, it’s also important to keep your audience in mind. Think about what kinds of questions your listeners would want to know the answer to. This will help you come up with questions that are both informative and entertaining.
Prepare Your Questions
Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to prepare your questions. Again, keep your audience in mind as you’re doing this. You want to ask questions that are going to be interesting and informative for them.
It’s also important to avoid yes or no questions. These types of questions will only lead to brief answers and won’t give you much material to work with. Instead, try to ask open-ended questions that will encourage your guests to share stories and insights.
And finally, don’t forget to prepare some follow-up questions. These will come in handy if your guest doesn’t answer your question the way you were expecting. By having a few follow-up questions in your back pocket, you’ll be able to keep the conversation going even if it takes an unexpected turn.
Conducting the Interview
Now that we’ve covered how to prepare for an interview, let’s talk about how to actually conduct one. The first step is the introduction.
Introduction
The introduction is your chance to make a good first impression. So take some time to think about how you want to introduce your guests. You want to be both friendly and professional.
When introducing your guest, it’s important to give listeners a little bit of background information. This will help them understand who your guest is and why they’re qualified to speak on the topic at hand. But don’t go overboard – you don’t want to bore listeners with too much detail.
There are a few things you’ll want to do in your introduction. First, you’ll want to give your listeners a brief overview of who your guest is and why they’re interesting. This will help your audience understand the context of the conversation and get them excited about what’s to come.
Next, you’ll want to introduce yourself. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to do nonetheless. Remember to keep it brief – you don’t want to spend too much time talking about yourself. The focus should be on your guest.
Finally, you’ll want to give a brief overview of the conversation. This will help listeners know what to expect and follow along more easily. You can even tease a few of the topics you’ll be discussing to pique your audience’s interest.
The Concept of Cold Open
A cold open is when a podcast host begins an interview without any introduction or small talk. This can be a good way to jump right into the heart of the conversation, especially if the topic is time-sensitive or controversial. However, it’s important to make sure that both the host and the guest are on the same page before starting the interview, as a cold open can be disorienting for both parties. Additionally, a cold open can sometimes come across as abrupt or even rude, so it’s important to use this tactic sparingly. When used correctly, though, a cold open can help to create an engaging and thought-provoking conversation.
A cold open can be anything from a funny story to an interesting fact about your guest. The key is to make it engaging and relevant to the topic at hand.
One of the best ways to create a cold open is to ask your guest an attention-grabbing question. This will help listeners get invested in the conversation right from the start. Just make sure you avoid yes or no questions – you want to encourage your guests to share stories and insights.
Once you’ve grabbed your audience’s attention, it’s time to move on to the meat of the conversation. This is where you’ll ask your prepared questions and get into some back-and-forth with your guests.
Asking Questions
When asking questions, it’s important to be both respectful and professional. You want to make sure you’re giving your guests the opportunity to share their stories and insights. But you also don’t want to monopolize the conversation.
It’s a good idea to start off with some easier questions. These will help your guests get comfortable and give you a chance to warm up as well. Once you’ve broken the ice, you can move on to more probing questions.
Asking follow-up questions is also important. These will come in handy if your guest doesn’t answer your question the way you were expecting.
Creating Attention Grabbing Moments
Throughout the conversation, you’ll want to create attention grabbing moments. These are moments that will make listeners sit up and take notice. They can be anything from a funny story to interesting insights.
The key is to keep them relevant to the conversation. You don’t want to get too off-topic or you’ll risk losing your audience’s attention. Instead, focus on creating moments that add value to the conversation and help listeners understand your guests better.
There are a few different ways to create attention grabbing moments. First, try to find interesting or unique stories that your guest can share. Everyone loves a good story, so if you can get your guest to open up and share something personal, you’re likely to keep listeners engaged. Secondly, try to ask questions that will provoke thoughtful responses. Again, avoid yes or no questions, and instead ask questions that will get your guest thinking and talking. Finally, be sure to keep your energy level up throughout the interview. If you sound bored or uninterested, your listeners will tune out. So keep things lively and engaging, and you’re sure to create some attention-grabbing moments during your conversation.
Wrapping Up
Knowing how to end a podcast interview is just as important as knowing how to start one. After all, the ending is the last thing your listeners will hear, so you want to leave them with a strong impression. There are a few different ways to do this. One option is to simply thank your guests for their time and tell them where people can find more information about them (such as their website or social media accounts). Another option is to recap the highlights of the conversation and offer some final thoughts. You could end with an inspiring quote or call to action. Or, you can mix and match these methods to create your own unique ending.
No matter which approach you choose, remember to keep it short, sweet, and interesting. Leave your listeners wanting more, and they’ll be sure to tune in next time.
Conclusion
And that’s it! By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to conducting a successful podcast interview. The more relaxed you are, the better the conversation will flow.
Happy interviewing!