How to Conduct a Great Interview: Essential Tips for Podcast Hosts
Whether you're launching your very first podcast or looking to sharpen your skills as a seasoned host, the art of the interview is something worth mastering. A great conversation doesn't happen by accident — it's the product of preparation, energy, and intentional choices. Here's a comprehensive guide to conducting interviews that captivate your audience and leave your guests genuinely impressed.
Define Your Style and Format First
Before you sit down with a single guest, you need to determine what kind of show you're creating. There are audiences for every style of podcast, and the key is knowing which one is yours.
- Research-driven and informative: You dig deep into topics and aim to make your audience more knowledgeable.
- Laid-back and conversational: You crack open a drink, keep things loose, and let the conversation wander wherever it wants to go.
- Something in between: Most shows land on a spectrum, blending structure with spontaneity.
Whatever you choose, consistency matters. If one episode is an intensely serious deep-dive and the next is a total joke, you risk confusing — and losing — your audience. Listeners stick around because they know what to expect. Once you've defined your format, make sure your guests know what they're walking into. After you have a few episodes under your belt, you can simply send prospective guests a previous episode so they can see the vibe for themselves.
Do Your Homework on Every Guest
Regardless of whether your podcast is casual or academic, you should always do some level of research on your guest. Far too many hosts hit record and make it painfully obvious they've never heard of the person sitting across from them. Unless your show's entire premise is built around that randomness, a lack of preparation can feel almost insulting to your guest — and it absolutely diminishes the quality of the conversation.
Research pays off from the very first moment of your episode. Rather than opening with the lazy default — "So, can you describe yourself and your background for our audience?" — take the opportunity to read a thoughtful bio. Four or five well-crafted sentences about who your guest is will set the scene beautifully. Sure, your guest can probably explain their own background better than you can. But when you lead with a solid introduction, you signal to your audience that you know who you're talking to, and you make your guest feel valued and welcomed.
Here's a pro tip: include a detail in that bio that's hard to find. Not something from their website's "About" page or their Twitter profile — something you discovered by watching a previous interview, where they made a passing comment at minute 43 that most people missed. When your guest hears that kind of detail, you'll immediately build a deeper connection. They'll be impressed, appreciative, and far more likely to open up during the conversation.
Prepare More Questions Than You Think You'll Need
This lesson often comes the hard way — and it certainly did for me. About fifteen years ago, early in my career as a journalist, I was assigned to interview a company owner about the oil field industry. I showed up with six questions. They were also yes-or-no questions. The first answer? "Yes." The second? "No." Within five minutes, my interview was over, and I walked back to the newsroom with my tail between my legs and nowhere near enough material to write a story.
Podcasting is no different. Some guests give rapid, concise answers. Others will turn two questions into an hour-long monologue. You need to be prepared for both extremes:
- For the brief responder: Have a deep well of follow-up questions ready. Be prepared to hold your guest accountable to expand on their short answers.
- For the long-winded guest: Know when and how to interject — politely. As the host, it's your job to control the conversation. Your audience may be wondering why you're letting someone ramble when there are other important topics to cover. Look for natural openings to redirect the discussion without being rude.
In both cases, your preparation is what saves the episode. Always have more questions in your back pocket than you think you'll use.
Set the Energy from the Very First Moment
The tone of your interview is often established before you even hit record. When your guest joins the call, say their name right away. Welcome them warmly. Smile. Answer any questions they have about the process. Be genuinely enthusiastic that they're there.
Here's something critical to understand: your guest's energy will almost always mirror yours. If you're quiet, low-energy, and disengaged, don't expect a lively conversation. But if you bring warmth, excitement, and genuine curiosity, your guest will match that — and the result will be a conversation that's enjoyable for everyone, including your listeners.
Minimise Unnecessary Verbal Noise
One of the hardest habits to break as a new interviewer is the tendency to fill every pause with sounds: "Hmm," "Interesting," "Right, right," "Yeah, yeah." While these verbal cues are natural in everyday conversation, they become distracting background noise for an audience listening through headphones or speakers.
This doesn't mean you should sit in cold silence while your guest talks. If something is genuinely funny, laugh. If your guest asks a question, respond. On video, you can offer visual affirmation — nods and smiles — without cluttering the audio. The goal is to show you're engaged without becoming a distraction.
The fastest way to become aware of this habit? Edit your own episodes. The moment you hear yourself constantly humming and agreeing in the background, you'll be motivated to clean it up. A quieter host makes for a much cleaner listening experience.
Be Thoughtful About Sharing Questions in Advance
Some guests will ask to see your questions before the interview. How you handle this is up to you, but here's a word of caution: sharing every question word-for-word can backfire.
I learned this firsthand when I sent a guest the full list of questions ahead of an audio-only recording. During the interview, I could hear them reading pre-written answers. Their voice shifted; the cadence was wrong. It was clearly scripted, and the result was one of the least genuine conversations I've ever produced.
A better approach is to share general themes or topic areas so your guest can prepare mentally without rehearsing exact responses. Let them know that follow-up questions may come up naturally and that the conversation might wander a bit. This keeps things authentic while still giving your guest the comfort of knowing what's coming.
Keep Your Guest Informed About the Process
Great hosting doesn't end when the recording stops. If your interview is pre-recorded, let your guest know when you anticipate the episode will go live. This simple courtesy goes a long way — and it opens the door to a valuable promotional opportunity.
Here's a bonus tip: if you're a smaller podcast and your guest has an established audience, don't be afraid to ask them to share the episode when it drops. Most guests are happy to do this. After all, if they agreed to the interview, they probably want people to hear it. A single tweet or social media post from a well-followed guest can give your show a meaningful boost in visibility.
Conclusion
Conducting a great podcast interview is equal parts preparation, presence, and respect — for your guest and for your audience. Define your format, research thoroughly, bring abundant questions, set an energetic tone, and stay mindful of the listening experience you're creating. Whether you're recording your first episode or your hundredth, these fundamentals will help you deliver conversations that are engaging, authentic, and worth coming back for. The fact that you're investing in becoming a better interviewer already puts you ahead of the curve — so get out there, hit record, and make something great.