Asking your guests engaging questions is pivotal to the success of interview podcasts and helps differentiate your content from other shows.
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This guide breaks down how to come up with great questions so you can nail your interviews and keep listeners hooked.
A little preparation goes a long way toward an engaging conversation. Follow these interview tips to get the most out of each interview-style podcast.
Knowing your goals for your episode can help you figure out the type of questions you should ask.
A little time spent on this step can go a long way toward keeping the conversation productive and avoiding awkward silences.
Ask yourself:
It's up to you how much research you want to do on your guest beforehand.
If your podcast listeners are beginners or new to your podcast topic, doing too much research might lead you to ask in-depth questions that are a bit above their head. For introductory podcasts, the best questions are probably a bit more basic.
If this is your podcast audience's area of expertise, go deeper:
Once you're done with your research, write your podcast intro and your show notes.
If you aren't a natural question-asker, you can always go back to who, what, when, where, and why.
If you're interviewing a podcaster, it could look like this:
In this case, "where" isn't relevant. You can choose which of the five Ws fit your topic and target audience best.
Ask plenty of clarifying questions to get more information out of your guest and keep the conversation natural.
Clarifying questions can be:
A great interview requires some structure but also allows for spontaneity.
Depending on your guest's answer, you might need to ask follow-up questions or veer slightly off-topic before asking the next question.
This is especially important if you're asking open-ended questions where you probably won't know how your guest will answer.
Your template can help you stay on the right track but shouldn't box you in.
Asking a signature question every podcast episode is a great way to set your content apart.
Here are some examples:
A good interview follows many of the same rules as everyday conversation.
Try to be natural, curious, and unstilted while also avoiding:
There's no requirement to send your guest a list of questions before the episode, but it's considerate to at least share the topics you plan to cover. It helps your guest think through some of their answers and sets you up for a successful podcast episode.
Preparation also depends on the kind of guest you have.
High-profile guests might want to see the questions beforehand so they can walk through them step-by-step through their team, but most are okay simply hearing your general vision for the interview.
It's not always easy to think up unique questions on your own. Use this list to help you pinpoint the right questions for your interview.
1. Where did you grow up, and did that affect who you became?
2. What is your morning routine?
3. What's your favorite funny story to tell people?
4. What's the best compliment you've received?
5. What is your favorite pastime and why?
6. What did you want to be when you were a kid, and why?
7. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
8. If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which would it be and why?
9. If money wasn't a factor, what would you do with your time?
10. What's your favorite movie, and what does it reveal about you?
11. What's your biggest pet peeve?
12. What's your biggest passion?
13. What's your most embarrassing memory?
14. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
15. What star sign are you?
16. What's your Myers Briggs type or number on the Enneagram?
17. What was the last thing you searched for on Spotify?
18. What would you do if you won the lottery?
19. What's one of your biggest challenges in life?
20. Why are you passionate about what you do?
21. Who is the most influential person in your life, and how did they impact you?
22. What do people misunderstand most about you?
23. What is your favorite thing about yourself and why?
24. Did you have siblings, and if so, how did they affect your life?
25. What were you like as a child?
26. How are you different than your old self last year?
27. How do you want to be remembered?
28. What character traits do you most respect in other people?
29. What would change about yourself if you could?
30. What is your biggest fear?
31. Where do you see yourself in five years?
32. What makes you passionate and gets you motivated?
33. What's something surprising you've learned about yourself?
34. What's the most important lesson you've learned in life?
35. What do you think is your biggest failure?
36. What are you proudest of in your life?
37. What was the most significant turning point in your life?
38. What is a unique thing about you?
39. What's something people would be surprised to know about you?
40. What things excite you?
41. Do you have any regrets?
42. How did you meet your significant other?
43. Do you have a life motto?
44. What is one thing you want to change about yourself in the next year?
45. What keeps you up at night?
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46. What challenge in your life shaped you the most?
47. What's your favorite quote?
48. When did you know you wanted to choose this career path?
49. What's the best advice a mentor ever gave you about the industry?
50. What have you learned from being in this field that people should know?
51. What's the most difficult part of being a _______ ?
52. When are you most productive?
53. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be?
54. What are the most helpful resources that have helped you along the way?
55. Do you have advice for those interested in your field?
56. What do you wish you knew before starting your career?
57. What is a common myth about your job or industry? (This is one of our favorite questions).
58. What's your favorite thing about what you do?
59. Who do you talk to when you feel stuck?
60. What gives you motivation?
61. What networking methods have worked for you?
62. Who do you consider to be your biggest competitor?
63. How are you different than other thought leaders in your space?
64. How do you define success in your field?
65. Are there any business podcasts that have helped you to succeed in your field?
66. What is the most crucial trait someone needs to possess in your role?
67. What surprised you most when you first started?
68. What's your top strategy for success?
69. What made you want to start a new podcast (or video podcast) about your topic?
70. How long did it take you to grow your audience to its current size?
71. What are your best content marketing strategies?
72. What's your best tip for consistent content creation?
73. Do you have any monetization tips?
74. What's your most successful episode and why do you think did well?
75. How do you make your podcast stand out from others in its category?
76. What's your favorite recording software?
77. Do you have any gear recommendations?
78. What's one piece of advice you can share with my listeners?
79. Can you share your top three book recommendations for the audience?
80. What are the best podcasts related to your field?
81. Is there any question you wish I'd asked you?
82. What's the biggest takeaway you hope listeners learn?
83. What's next for you?
84. Where can listeners sign up for your course or purchase your product?
85. Where can listeners learn more about you?
Did you know that 44% of podcasters follow an interview format over other styles?
This means it's important to stand out, and with interviews it all begins with the questions you ask.
A reliable set of questions can keep you on topic, ensuring you get the most value out of your interview.
Preparing questions ahead of time can also give you time to do your research properly. This can make your interview more unique, allowing you to ask your guest questions they haven't heard before. Did you plan your host interviews correctly? Check this checklist from Project Umoja to know if you are!
Searching for dynamic and interesting podcast interview question ideas you can add to your list right now?
Here are more than 100 ideas to get you started!
No matter what your podcast is about or who you're interviewing, your goal should be the same. You need questions that will encourage your podcast guests to reveal who they are, how they think, or what they know in ways that provide value for your audience.
'Our job as interviewers is to specifically pull out information that hasn't been shared on other shows.'- Travis Brown, HitPublish
Hopefully, this list of podcast questions has kicked your mind into gear. But chances are, you may need to tailor your approach so that your interview is specific, both to your niche and to your interviewee.
So how do you come up with great questions for a high-quality remote podcast?
Know the basics!
Researching your guest ahead of time helps you demonstrate professionalism and respect for the interviewee's time. You can also use this information to spark more tailored, specific question ideas.
Before you start your interview, check out your guest's social media profiles, and research their professional achievements. Listen to past interviews to make sure you're not repeating questions.
Instead, bring up a unique perspective and expertise your guest can offer your audience.
When it comes to creating a successful podcast episode, your goals are your guide. Remember to focus on providing value for your audience while ensuring your guest enjoys a positive interview experience.
Are you expecting your interviewee to share life hacks, business advice, academic insight, or pure entertainment?
Set your expectations, and use them to select interview questions that align well.
Make your podcasts unique with your very own signature question! This is a great way to maintain branding consistency. Plus, you'll give your guests the chance to answer a question they don't hear every day.
Think about the unique perspective your podcast interviews bring to the market. Frame your question around your niche.
For example, if your podcast is all about productivity, you can ask each guest to share their favorite productivity tricks!
Podcasts are interesting because of the interplay between interviewers and interviewees, not to mention listeners! Staying flexible allows you to host organic conversations that adapt and change as you go.
If your social media followers want to ask questions, consider adding some of these to your interview!
If your guest says something interesting during your conversation, don't be afraid to follow up and ask more. Listen to your guests when they speak, and allow your interview to run as a two-way interaction.
Asking the right questions is paramount, but how do you avoid asking the wrong questions? Keep these things in mind!
While you don't have to send your guests a copy of your questions list ahead of time, it is polite to give them a heads-up as to the topics you want to discuss. Some high-profile guests might even insist on reviewing questions before they'll take your call!
Remember, podcast interview preparation offers benefits for you both. When guests know what to expect, they can prepare thoughtful responses and avoid rambling that could cost you hours in editing. They'll also feel more confident, making them more likely to share!
Are there any disadvantages to this kind of planning? Maybe. Over-preparation might make your interview sound more scripted and less from the heart, so you'll need to be careful to keep prioritizing authenticity.
If you're worried about skipping over important questions or missing steps from your script, don't panic. You can rely on the Riverside teleprompter tool to remind you of what's up next and keep your chat on track.
An interview episode is only as good as the questions you ask ' and, of course, the audio quality of your production.
Prepare carefully planned questions that set you and your interviewee up for success. Take steps that put your guests at ease and provide the value that keeps your listeners coming back for more.
Play your cards right, and you'll be able to produce informative, dynamic podcast interviews with an amazing point of difference. Find more tips on the blog, or get started recording your next podcast episode with Riverside!
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