We get it, the sound of starting your own podcast that’s going to shoot you into internet stardom sounds great when you first hear it – but actually doing it is a very different story! When you’re sat down in front of your guest, it suddenly goes from “this is the best” to “what do I ask my guest?!” Today, we are going to break down topics, structure and tips for interviewing a guest on your very own podcast so you sound like a natural!
Topics
You must do a background check on your guests before you start recording. This isn’t to be rude, but the last thing you want is for your guest to say something outrageous that doesn’t reflect the message or topics that you want to cover. The guests you choose should be somewhat related to your podcast’s subject area so that it doesn’t confuse your audience. For example, if you run a podcast about Chess, audiences may be a bit confused when a Spanish tutor is featured who has no interest or knowledge of chess.
We assume that you yourself are also knowledgeable about the topic of your podcast (why else would you start the podcast if not?), so coming up with topics for each episode should be an easy one for the first 10 or so episodes. You can go as deep or surface-level as you want with topics, as actually having a range is better for reaching more people. For those who want to learn more about a topic they love, you want to provide them with new information or a unique viewpoint. After you have exhausted the topics, however, it can be challenging to keep up the momentum and find topics to talk about. Here is where we suggest finding guests who are knowledgeable about your topic in general, but may have different experiences from you. This brings in even more talking points and even more questions to ask your guest. Here is a list of questions that you can ask your guests to pad out your podcast:
- “What first got you interested in X?”
- “What are some of the challenges of working in X?”
- “Is there a piece of advice you would give to newcomers?”
These questions don’t just ask for a one-word answer; they look to get inside the head of the person and learn a bit about themselves and the way they think. From here, these questions are also designed to steer the podcast into a different direction, opening up even more questions that you can ask.
Confidence
A deer in the headlights is a feeling we have all had, no matter the industry we’ve worked in. Podcasting is no different. Sometimes when you invite a guest, it will be someone you’ve not met in person before, meaning you have to very quickly get a gauge on them and build a rapport fast. This is where confidence in your interviewing skills comes in handy. When bringing on a guest to the podcast, you have the easier job in a way, as most of the attention will be directed at them, not you. 80% of the time during the podcast will be your guest talking, so lean into that and let them talk whilst you think of your next question based on their response.
Being able to be responsive to answers is a skill that is taught with practice. Adam Walker, director of Darlington Stream Space and frequent podcast host, gives us this advice: “Podcasting allows you to get to the heart of stories. When interviewing someone for a podcast, you need to think of the general story that you anticipate. One podcasting framework I keep in mind is the simple beginning, middle, and end – the major milestones that I’m trying to dissect. The other thing to remember is to make sure that you take time to lean into areas, so if you hear something that’s of interest, the chances are that’s probably of interest to the listener, so it’s your duty as a host to make sure that you lean into that area, that subject matter and actually discuss it further.”
Response
Your response as a host is just as important as the answers your guest gives you. You want to show a real understanding of what your guest is saying, as if you’re showing boredom or disinterest – why should your audience stay tuned in? Another great way to generate questions for your interview is by getting a response from your audience ahead of time so that you have questions to ask. By putting out a poll or post on your social media, announcing that you will have a guest with a certain experience, and asking for questions to put towards them. This shouldn’t take the majority of your podcast, but it can be a fun way to end your episode, maybe dedicating 10 minutes to this.
Struggling to present your podcast or even get started? Darlington Stream Space are here to help, giving you training opportunities and guidance when it comes to sharing your stories online.