As I prepared for my first podcast interview, I kept thinking about three acquaintances from college. They were close enough to be "Facebook friends," but not close enough that we shared phone numbers.

I kept wondering, "What will they think if they hear this episode?"

Well, I knew what they'd think. They'd think I was too earnest, too cringe, and so full of myself that I thought, "I have to start a podcast!" 

But years later, the reality is that those acquaintances never listened, and if they did, they never said anything mean about the podcast to me. It was really my own self-doubt running through my mind asking, "What makes me so important that I should be the one doing this interview?" 

And the answer was because I was excited to do the interview! I'd found somebody super interesting, I wanted to ask them questions, and they said yes! If you want to interview somebody, it doesn't have to be any deeper than that. 

Now, after hosting hundreds of podcast episodes and listening to thousands more, I’ve figured out it takes to record a great interview, even if you're starting with some self-doubt.

In this guide, I’ll cover:

Podcast Interview Prep

Curiosity-first prep

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to chase a guest you're not excited about because you think they'll bring in new listeners.

Here's a quote from one of my favorite podcast interviewers, Dwarkesh Patel.

"I've interviewed people like Mark Zuckerberg and Satya Nadella... They are not my most popular guests. My most popular guest is Sarah Paine. Before I interviewed her, she was not a publicly well-known person. [... But] I loved her books."

Instead of chasing big guests, find the people you find the most interesting, and your audience will, too.

Scheduling an interview

Booking an interview two months out sounds organized, but for me, it just kills momentum. I start to lose interest, my questions get stale, and when we finally get to the recording date, somebody has to reschedule.

My goal now is to record ASAP. I shoot for a day in the next week, do tons of prep, write my questions, and record while there's a lot of momentum.

Research

Before I record an interview, I start by doing a ton of research. 

And I try to keep my audience in mind. If your podcast listeners are beginners or new to your topic, going too in-depth might lead you to ask questions that are over their head. 

If this is your audience's area of expertise, you can go deeper:

• Review their Instagram, TikTok, or other social media profiles
• Read through their work history on LinkedIn
• Find your guest's previous podcast interviews on apps Apple Podcasts or Listen Notes

Ask yourself:

• What is the primary goal of this episode?
• How can my guest help my listeners solve a problem?
• What is the one thing I want to accomplish or convey?

Knowing the goal for your episode can help determine the questions you should ask and give you a map for the episode.  

A little time spent on this step can go a long way toward keeping the conversation productive and avoiding awkward silences.

What Makes a Good Interview Question

When I started interviewing people, I assumed I just needed to be curious. Ask the question, listen to the answer, and repeat.

But my best interviews have never come from just being curious. They came from questions that were informed and written with intention.

A good question does a few things:

• It leads to a story
• It gives the guest space to reflect
• It helps listeners connect with the topic
• It pushes the conversation somewhere new

That last one is important. If you’re just covering the same ground your guest has already shared on ten other shows, you’re not giving your audience anything new. And that can be taxing on your guest, too.

When you plan your questions, think about where each one is going to take you. Know what story you’re trying to tell in the episode, and then write your questions so they build toward that story.

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:

• Who: "Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do?"
• What: "What do you do in the podcasting space?"
• When: "How long did it take to grow your show to its current size?"
• Why: "Why did you decide to switch your career?"

In this case, "where" isn't relevant. You can choose which of the five Ws fit your topic and target audience best.

Why Open-Ended Questions Matter

If you ask yes/no questions, you're going to get yes/no answers. They're not interesting and they often shut down the conversation.

Instead, I try to ask questions that evoke stories and emotion. "Tell me about the time you launched your coffee shop." "What were you thinking when you changed careers?"

That has helped me start many more interesting conversations. Which led to asking clarifying questions.

Clarifying questions can be:

• What do you mean by that?
• Can you give an example?
• How did that experience affect the trajectory of your life?

These help to keep the interview moving and give your guest space to elaborate.

Lessons From Great Interviews

If you want to improve as an interviewer, I recommend studying interviewers you admire. 

The best hosts don’t just show up and hope it goes well. They prepare, they listen, and they build a story. Here are a few standout podcasters to learn from:

Terry Gross – Fresh Air

Terry Gross is known for her unique perspective and deep research. In her interview with Lin-Manuel Miranda, she doesn’t just ask about Hamilton, she explores his childhood, creative process, and values.

Guy Raz – How I Built This

This is Megan, Buzzsprout's Content Marketing Specialist's, favorite interviewer. Every episode is built around a clear narrative arc. He starts with the early days for entrepreneurs, works through the biggest challenges, and ends with reflections. His prep gives him the freedom to ask in-depth follow-up questions without ever losing the storyline.

PRO TIP: He also asks a signature question at the end of every episode. Asking a signature question every podcast episode is a great way to set your content apart.

Krista Tippett – On Being

Krista Tippet has the ability to explore spiritual and philosophical topics without ever veering into cliché. She asks thought-provoking questions, and then gives space for her interviewees to answer.

Oprah – Super Soul

Oprah is a listener first. She is known for asking personal questions without making things feel awkward. Her guests trust her which leads to powerful, emotional interviews about personal experiences.

Book Recommendations for Becoming a Better Interviewer

Listening to the pros is a great place to learn, but there are also some great books that offer tips on storytelling, listening, and crafting questions that lead to meaningful conversations.

Here are a few of the Buzzsprout team's favorite books:

• The Art of the Interview by Lawrence Grobel

A classic on interviewing celebrities, politicians, and authors with tips on flow, pacing, and control.

• Talk to Me by Dean Nelson
  A practical guide on how to ask better questions, listen well, and navigate difficult interviews.
• Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks
  Focused on storytelling, this book helps interviewers recognize, and draw out, powerful stories from guests.

You don’t have to read them all at once. But even one or two of these can give you new tools for your next podcast episode.

Host Etiquette

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.

Final Thoughts

A great podcast interview feels effortless, but it rarely is.

The best podcast hosts spend time getting to know their podcast guests, thinking about their audience, and shaping the arc of their episodes before ever hitting record.

It's not always easy to think up unique questions on your own. So I created this list to help you pinpoint the right questions for your interview:

Icebreaker / Intro Questions

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?

Personal Questions

1. What's one of your biggest challenges in life?
2. Why are you passionate about what you do?
3. Who is the most influential person in your life, and how did they impact you?
4. What do people misunderstand most about you?
5. What is your favorite thing about yourself and why?
6. Did you have siblings, and if so, how did they affect your life?
7. What were you like as a child?
8. How are you different than your old self last year?
9. How do you want to be remembered?
10. What character traits do you most respect in other people?
11. What would change about yourself if you could?
12. What is your biggest fear?
13. Where do you see yourself in five years?
14. What makes you passionate and gets you motivated?
15. What's something surprising you've learned about yourself?
16. What's the most important lesson you've learned in life?
17. What do you think is your biggest failure?
18. What are you proudest of in your life?
19. What was the most significant turning point in your life?
20. What is a unique thing about you?
21. What's something people would be surprised to know about you?
22. What things excite you?
23. Do you have any regrets?
24. How did you meet your significant other?
25. Do you have a life motto?
26. What is one thing you want to change about yourself in the next year?
27. What keeps you up at night?
28. What challenge in your life shaped you the most?
29. What's your favorite quote?

Career & Expertise Questions

1. When did you know you wanted to choose this career path?
2. What's the best advice a mentor ever gave you about the industry?
3. What have you learned from being in this field that people should know?
4. What's the most difficult part of being a _______ ?
5. When are you most productive?
6. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be?
7. What are the most helpful resources that have helped you along the way?
8. Do you have advice for those interested in your field?
9. What do you wish you knew before starting your career?
10. What is a common myth about your job or industry?
11. What's your favorite thing about what you do?
12. Who do you talk to when you feel stuck?
13. What gives you motivation?
14. What networking methods have worked for you?
15. Who do you consider to be your biggest competitor?
16. How are you different than other thought leaders in your space?
17. How do you define success in your field?
18. Are there any business podcasts that have helped you to succeed in your field?
19. What is the most crucial trait someone needs to possess in your role?
20. What surprised you most when you first started?
21. What's your top strategy for success?

Podcasting-Specific Questions

1. What made you want to start a new podcast about your topic?
2. How long did it take you to grow your audience to its current size?
3. What are your best content marketing strategies?
4. What's your best tip for consistent content creation?
5. Do you have any monetization tips?
6. What's your most successful episode and why do you think it did well?
7. How do you make your podcast stand out from others in its category?
8. What's your favorite recording software?
9. Do you have any gear recommendations?

Wrap-Up & Closing Questions

1. What's one piece of advice you can share with my listeners?
2. Can you share your top three book recommendations for the audience?
3. What are the best podcasts related to your field?
4. Is there any question you wish I'd asked you?
5. What's the biggest takeaway you hope listeners learn?
6. What's next for you?
7. Where can listeners sign up for your course or purchase your product?
8. Where can listeners learn more about you?

Story-Driven / Flexible Formats

1. Can you walk us through that moment?
2. What was going through your mind when that happened?
   How did that change the way you see things now?
3. What story am I trying to tell in this episode? (Host prompt)
4. What does my audience want to learn, feel, or take away? (Host prompt)
5. What’s something this guest hasn’t talked about enough? (Host prompt)
6. What’s a story only they could tell? (Host prompt)