Interview Podcast Tips from the Pros: How to Book and Conduct Amazing Interviews

Interview podcasts are among the most popular formats, but conducting great interviews is harder than it looks. Here's how to book amazing guests and conduct conversations your audience will love.

Part 1: Finding and Booking Guests

Where to Find Great Guests

Your Network:

• Colleagues and industry contacts
• Friends with interesting stories
• People you've met at events

Social Media:

• LinkedIn for professional experts
• Twitter/X for thought leaders
• Instagram for creators and influencers

Other Podcasts:

• Guests who've appeared elsewhere
• Podcast guest matching services

PR and Publicity:

• People promoting books, products, or services
• PR agencies representing speakers
• HARO (Help a Reporter Out)

Crafting the Perfect Pitch

What to Include:

• Your podcast name and brief description
• Why they specifically would be a great fit
• Your audience size and demographics
• What topics you'd like to discuss
• Logistics (length, format, scheduling)

Example Pitch:

"Hi [Name], I host [Podcast Name], a show about [topic] with [X] monthly downloads. I loved your recent [work/talk/article] about [specific topic]. I think our audience of [demographic] would really benefit from your insights on [specific angle]. Would you be interested in a 30-minute conversation? I'm flexible on timing and can work around your schedule."

Keys to Successful Guest Outreach

• Personalize every message
• Show you've done your research
• Make it easy to say yes
• Follow up once (not multiple times)
• Accept gracious rejections

Before the Interview

Guest Prep Materials:

Send guests a preparation document including:

• Topics you'll cover
• Sample questions (not a script)
• Technical requirements
• Interview length and format
• Your contact information

Technical Preparation:

• Test your recording setup
• Prepare backup recording method
• Have questions ready but be flexible
• Research your guest thoroughly

Part 2: Conducting Great Interviews

The Foundation: Active Listening

The biggest mistake new interviewers make is thinking about their next question instead of listening to the answer. Great interviews are conversations, not interrogations.

Tips for Active Listening:

• Make notes of interesting threads to follow
• React naturally to what they say
• Ask follow-up questions based on their answers
• Be comfortable with brief silences

Question Types

Open-Ended Questions:

"Tell me about..." / "How did you..." / "What was it like when..."

Allow guests to tell their story.

Follow-Up Questions:

"You mentioned X—can you expand on that?"

Shows you're listening and digs deeper.

Specific Questions:

"What specific steps did you take when..."

Gets actionable, concrete details.

Challenge Questions:

"Some people might say... How would you respond?"

Adds tension and interesting perspective.

Interview Structure

The Opening (2-3 minutes):

• Brief guest introduction
• Establish context for the conversation
• Put guest at ease

The Main Interview:

• Start with easier, comfortable questions
• Build to more challenging or vulnerable topics
• Allow natural tangents that are interesting
• Return to key themes

The Close (2-3 minutes):

• Give guest opportunity for final thoughts
• Ask about their projects/promotions
• Thank them genuinely

Common Interview Mistakes

Talking Too Much:

Your guest is the star. Resist the urge to share your own stories.

Interrupting:

Wait for complete answers. Brief silences are okay and often lead to deeper responses.

Reading Questions:

Know your questions well enough to ask naturally, maintaining eye contact.

Not Following Up:

The best moments come from follow-up questions, not your prepared list.

Being Too Agreeable:

A little pushback creates interesting conversation.

Part 3: Technical Considerations

Remote Interview Setup

Best Practices:

• Use platform like Riverside.fm or Zencastr for high-quality recording
• Record local backup audio on both ends
• Have guests use headphones
• Test everything before starting

Handling Technical Issues:

• Stay calm—it happens to everyone
• Have backup communication method ready
• Edit out major technical problems
• Be prepared to reschedule if necessary

In-Person Interviews

Setup:

• Quiet location away from interruptions
• Two microphones (one for each person)
• Comfortable seating facing each other
• Record room tone for editing

Audio Quality Tips

• Ask guests to find a quiet space
• Close windows and turn off fans
• Use AI noise reduction in post-production
• Record at proper levels (not too hot)

Part 4: Post-Interview Process

Editing Considerations

What to Remove:

• Technical problems
• Long rambling tangents
• Filler words (selectively)
• Sensitive content guest asks to remove

What to Keep:

• Natural conversation flow
• Genuine emotion
• Interesting tangents
• Real personality

Guest Follow-Up

Immediately After:

• Thank them for their time
• Confirm any follow-up actions

Before Publishing:

• Send them the release date
• Share promotional materials
• Offer to let them review if promised

After Publishing:

• Share the published episode
• Tag them in social media promotion
• Thank them again
• Keep the door open for future appearances

Part 5: Building Long-Term Relationships

Great guests often become repeat guests, collaborators, or friends. Nurture these relationships:

• Engage with their content
• Share their work with your audience
• Stay in touch between interviews
• Be genuinely helpful when you can

Conclusion

Great interviews combine preparation, presence, and genuine curiosity. Do your homework, show up ready to listen, and let your authentic interest guide the conversation.

The technical aspects matter—quality audio makes your content more enjoyable—but the human connection is what makes interviews memorable. Focus on creating a comfortable space where your guests feel valued and interesting stories will follow.