Have you ever started your favorite podcast, eager to listen to the upcoming interview?
The episode starts and you settle in for the long drive or run. You are ready for this.
But then, five minutes later, you realize you’ve been zoned out. You weren’t listening to the interview at all.
Why?
It was boring.
The conversation wasn’t catching your attention. Or the host was monologuing in a monotone voice. Or the questions were just bland.
In this article, I want to teach you the main keys to conducting an engaging interview that not only keeps your listeners’ attention the whole time, but also makes them want to share it with their friends!
Key 1: Define Your Takeaways
The first thing you should do as a podcast host is ask yourself these questions:
What do I want my listeners to get out of this episode? What do I want my listeners to learn, believe, change their mind about or feel by the end of this show?
It is crucial that you figure this out before you click the Record button.
I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I’ve actually conducted a couple interviews without fully fleshing these questions out. And the result is always an episode that could have been better.
The interviews I’ve done that seemed to flow the best always started way before I entered the podcast studio. They’re the ones I took the time for to write out my questions and, if possible, talk with the guest beforehand and get a better feel for the lessons and stories they have to offer.
Make sure the questions you prepare beforehand draw out the kind of insights your audience wants to hear.
Remember, this interview has a purpose. It’s not a pick-your-brain opportunity. It’s a message.
Key 2: Tell Stories in Your Podcast Interview!
Ooh, this one is so crucial to engaging your audience.
Before every interview I conduct, I always ask the guest if they have any specific stories related to the topic we’re about to discuss.
People love stories.
We love reading them, listening to them and watching them unfold.
And—I find this so fascinating—we actually learn best when lessons are mixed with stories.
So if I’m interviewing someone for a health podcast, I’m going to ask them about their health journey. I’m going to ask them about that really low point in their lives when they felt terrible about themselves, and I’m going to ask what brought them out of that place.
Remember this: People don’t just learn from stories. People relate to stories.
That’s why stories are one of the most effective ways to conduct engaging interviews. In a way, they make the listener feel like they’re part of the interview. The listener puts themselves in the storyteller’s shoes to feel what they felt—and learn what they learned.
If your podcast topic is particularly subject-oriented (as opposed to story-oriented), make sure you ask for specific examples of any takeaways or lessons the guest offers.
“Do you know anyone who has experienced that? What happened?”
Key 3: Make Your Podcast Interview a Conversation
Podcast interviews are not an opportunity for the guest (or the host!) to simply provide one giant monologue.
I’ve had my fair share of podcast guests who, after the first question, didn’t stop to breathe until 20 minutes later.
By the time I got a word in edgewise, I knew my audience had zoned out.
This is actually one of my biggest struggles as a podcast host.
It’s so much easier for me to simply ask a question and then become invisible and let the guest completely take over the show.
But that’s a recipe for disaster. Trust me, I’ve tried it.
When a listener hears only one speaker go on and on for a while—unless the topic or story is especially fascinating and cohesive—they will likely tune out.
So if you’re the kind of person who likes to take the stage, be aware of this and try to back off a little so your guest has more speaking room.
And if you’re the type of person who would much rather disappear the entire interview, force yourself to engage with the guest like a friend and have a conversation.
This doesn’t mean the speaking time for you and the guest should necessarily be 50-50. But the interview should feel like a two-person conversation, not a sermon.
Sometimes it helps to explain to the guest beforehand the kind of feel you want the podcast to have.
If you invite a book author onto your podcast, you might want to reiterate that you are going for a conversational tone to the interview. (Authors and pastors are probably the most likely to take over the interview with a monologue. You know it’s true!!)
If you don’t have that conversation beforehand, don’t blame the guest when they take the entire 30 minutes to expound on their favorite point.
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I hope these three keys help you conduct more engaging podcast interviews that keep your listeners tuned in the entire time.
And now that you’ve conducted the most engaging podcast interview ever, check out my blog post on how to promote your special episode!
Comment below with your biggest struggles in conducting engaging interviews!
Jenny Rose is a freelance copywriter and content marketer specializing in B2B marketing, real estate, and accounting. She's written for clients like AAA, Edward Jones, Flyhomes, Guild Education, and more. Her writing has also appeared in publications like Business Insider and GOBankingRates.
