How can you make your podcast guests excited to be interviewed?

To make your podcast guests excited about being interviewed, create a positive and engaging experience. Begin by expressing genuine enthusiasm for having them on your podcast, highlighting their expertise and contributions. Clearly communicate the value they bring to your audience. Provide a brief overview of the interview format, discussing the topics you'll cover and any exciting or unique aspects. Foster a relaxed and conversational atmosphere to put them at ease. Share your listenership statistics and the potential reach of your podcast, emphasizing the opportunity for them to connect with a broader audience. Lastly, assure them that the conversation will be enjoyable and focused on showcasing their knowledge and insights.

To excite podcast guests, research their background, tailor questions to their expertise, and highlight how their insights benefit listeners. Keep the conversation comfortable by explaining your podcast format, maintaining a relaxed tone, and expressing appreciation for their contribution. This builds a connection and encourages return appearances.

In my experience, thorough research on guests not only shows respect for their work but also uncovers unique angles for discussion (esp. about their lesser-known projects or anecdotes) - looking at their featured LinkedIn posts can be a helpful place to start!

Ask them what they want to talk about. It doesn't need to be overcomplicated. You can identify topics that align with your objective and then hone in on what lights up your guest.

A huge piece of ensuring your podcast guests are excited to be on your show is giving them clear expectations. I recommend a few things that go a long way: 1. Show them you have done your research and that they are not just "another guest" but that you want THEM on the show for a specific reason. 2. Show them that you care about the show. If they know you will promote it and you have an audience that is waiting for new content, they will be ready. 3. Give them clarity on what to expect. This includes tech expectations, timing, question expectations, and what to expect after the interview. Guests (and most humans) want clarity about the experience.

The key to building excitement with your podcast guests is clear communication. Share with them a link to your podcast so they can listen to previous episodes of the show and get an idea for the flow and energy. For remotely recorded podcasts, whether audio and video or strictly audio, provide them the link they need to join to record at least one day in advance. Sending a link last minute can create nervousness with guests feeling as though they have been forgotten.

Let them know what to expect ahead of time. One question that comes up often is whether it will be audio only, video only or both. Video can affect the way they dress, as well as equipment and location choices. You have given them all of the information well ahead of time, but a reminder the morning of is always nice. Confirms for them that things are still moving forward, and might save them from scrambling to find the link.

Building rapport can start with something as simple as a shared hobby or a mutual connection - before bringing someone on, always see if you lived in an overlapping geo, have mutual LinkedIn connections, or spot anything from their experience that you can relate to

What I put in place to bond with my guests on my podcast is that before the day of the recording, I make a call with them. Why? To break the ice, to learn more about them, to understand their mindset, see how I can make them comfortable to share about them. This will not only help you build a trust relationship with your guests but it'll also help you better prepare the episode.

I don't really have this issue. They're all excited for the most part to come on. Many know me from before, but not all. I make it my prerogative to be 1000% invested in them and they're sharing their story of who they are, what they went through in their lives, what they do today, and their overall ideology on life. I truly feel blessed to do what I do.

Post-interview appreciation is crucial - something I love to do (coming from the world of consumer brands) is send my guest a product from one of my favorite brands (some even want to send it for free b/c it's free promotion!)

Firstly, active listening requires the elimination of all distractions. Turn off your phone, in-office messaging applications such as Slack, and create a quiet, calm environment void of pets, colleagues, or family members to minimize any interruptions or distractions. Remember that your audience is there to listen to your guest's perspective and expertise. It's important to listen attentively to what your guest is saying so that you may ask thoughtful follow-up questions and uncover a deeper conversation.

Ask them about something they rarely get to talk about! If they are guests often, they probably get asked the same questions over and over. Find out something they don't usually get to talk about but would like to. Let them show off!

Something I do is send people a care-package from my favorite brands. I reach out to my brands and ask them if they'd like free, genuine placement with leaders that I bring on my show. They say yes & "gift" product to these people for free. It's a win-win-win scenario

Your guest’s experience begins well before you hit record. From the emails and calls before recording day clearly describing what they can expect to recording day itself. You (host and producers) should be ready well before the guest joins you. Do all your technical troubleshooting and prep early so when they arrive, you appear calm and ready to go. They may be nervous, and you need to demonstrate that everything is ready.