How can you make your podcast guest interviews unforgettable?

Here are 3 tips I would recommend when preparing for a podcast interview: 1/ send a personal video - two days before the interview, send a video letting them know how excited you are about speaking with them 2/ play favorite song – on the pre-interview form, ask what their favorite song is. Then, when they log in for the interview, they immediately hear their favorite song playing. I do this for my guests and it gets a smile on their face every time. 3/ give a compliment –giving a compliment makes other people feel good and makes them want to be around you. Many people will tune in to a podcast because they feel like they are hanging out with the host and the guests. But to conduct a great interview, there has to be good rapport.

A favorite podcast is TBOY ("The Best One Yet") - they clearly have analysts that provide such good detail for all of the topics. A few thought-provoking questions can make all of the difference - you don't always need this layer of detail

Doing your own research is critical to a great interview. After 500+ interviews my approach has changed over the years. I believe that any great interview all comes down to being a great listener. During my interview with the late Larry King he said, "I've never learned anything while I was talking." This is a quote that has always stuck with me: embrace being a quality listener in conversation and you will have a great interview.

In my experience, due diligence and knowing what your audience requires is critical. Bring the unknown information of the guest to your audience and bring out the best of them while answering your audience's questions.

For a masterclass in this I can't recommend Tyler Cowen's podcast — Conversations with Tyler — enough. Here's why: His podcast is unforgettable for his guests because not only is he asking them questions they've never been asked in an interview before, he's also asking high-quality questions that are highly relevant to them/ their work that they may have never considered before. Much of this ability comes from him marrying his aptitude as an information-superhighway to deep research on the guest and their work. So, his questions are usually high-quality thanks to the insights his scope of knowledge provides, and they're highly relevant thanks to focused research on the subject. When you have both, you're prepared.

Make it all about THEM! I learned the hard way”80/20 Rule” from the great Larry King. Spend 80% of the interview making it all about your guest and the remaining 20% with the questions you ask. Don’t talk over your guests. And for the love of all things podcasting, don’t flip the guest’s story by sharing your own personal experience of what they just shared.

Vulnerability is the key to a memorable conversation. As the saying goes, “people may not remember what you said, but they’ll remember how you made them feel”. Of course on a podcast, WHAT is said is important. But in my experience, it’s a combination of the subject at hand + the guest (and potentially host) showing up fully, ready and willing to talk about the things that may otherwise not get enough airtime.

Always have interesting people and you can’t go wrong! As the interviewer, always do your research and fact check it. Add photos, videos and music if video/audio is available.

Linkedin recommendations are a great place to start! Check out who’s left a recommendation for the person you are interviewing see if there is anything they’d want to ask … chances are they know that person and have possibly done business with them. Another great way is stalk their social media see how they respond to people online use the words they use in the questions you ask!

I've become great friends with many of my podcast guests and some are now like my chosen family around the world. This shows me and the world that my show is more than a podcast, its a movement - one we can all be a part of, understand and contribute to.

1. Forget about the podcast; imagine you're having a chat with the person. 2. Make sure the conversation is enjoyable; focus on making them feel at ease. 3. Avoid asking questions that might make them uncomfortable – be considerate of your guest or reflection. 4. Keep your body language and eye contact positive for a friendly atmosphere. 5. Steer clear of unnecessary interruptions during the conversation.

Active listening is a cornerstone of compelling interviews. It not only enriches the conversation but also often leads to unexpected insights and deeper connections. As a podcast host, cultivating this skill can transform a standard interview into a memorable experience for both the guest and the audience. It demonstrates to your guest that their story is important, and it encourages them to share more openly, creating a more engaging and authentic episode.

When you aren't actively listening you can't possibly ask a good intuitive follow up question. The conversation flows so nicely when the host isn't just reading a script but actively participating in the conversation.

Listening is where the true connection happens with your guest. While you may be the host, there is a time for you to shut your mouth and open your ears - you don't always need to be heard - especially when the guest is talking. When my guest is talking, my mind is forming thought trails on where I can pick up my next question from their message, getting curious about things others don't normally ask or talk about and also looking for humour underneath situations. Being clear on your purpose of the episode and show helps you keep on track and draw out what you need from the guest through true active listening and questions.

I like to play devil's advocate a lot with guests, but if I think it's too controversial, I raise it with them before we hit record so they can be prepared and so it flows appropriately. A great guest sometimes doesn't need to be forewarned, but if I think I am going to go against half the audience, then I want to preface it and prepare it. That being said, I do like to do it with humour and charm so it comes with the right intent.

Adding spice to your podcast interviews by challenging guests and exploring controversial topics can indeed make conversations memorable. However, it's crucial to maintain a balance to avoid alienating listeners or guests. I've found that the key is to approach sensitive topics with curiosity rather than confrontation, which fosters a more engaging and insightful dialogue that resonates with audiences and adds depth to the podcast.

Incorporating audience participation not only enhances the listener's experience but also provides the guest with a broader range of perspectives and questions, which can lead to deeper and more insightful conversations. This interactive approach can uncover unique angles and stories that might otherwise be missed, enriching the content and making the interview memorable for both the guest and the audience.

The podcast host/guest relationship is a symbiotic one. Both want to access the other's audience or network to grow their brand and the host hopes the guest's expertise creates value for their listeners. This relationship does not begin and end with a recording session. In post-production and distribution, podcast hosts must make it easy for their guest to share the podcast episode with their network. This includes not only a link to the episode (which is often limited to a single platform, a problem unto itself) but supplementary content like quote graphics, shortform videos, and pre-written social media posts. A personal gift like a branded coffee cup or stickers is also a small touch that can build goodwill with podcast guests.

I offer guests multiple opportunities to continue the relationship after the interview and multiple promotional opportunities for their message. Post interview is followed up with a thank you immediately, then another promo kit via email on release of the episode. We also connect personally via social media and in some cases we have met in person!

Begin with the end in mind. As a guest, if you do a great job, the audience is going to want to know more. That will be your call-to-action at the end of the interview. Everything from how you introduce yourself to the stories that you share should compel people to want to take that call to action.

Simple: Listen intently, then ask questions like you’re a newbie. Make them the star, not you. Everyone in the world has something to teach you, no matter how smart you might think you are. It’s amazing what you can do when you make other people take full credit for their unique brilliance.

Don't forget the person you're interviewing is a human just like you. A human who is made of complex emotions just like you. Also, we all have layers. To penetrate those layers to find the real person in your guest, be patient, and read up about your guest as much as possible. Create a space that makes your guests comfortable so that they can open up. Always do a pre-call with your guests before the final interview so that the guest is comfortable and you don't have to start with ice-breaking sessions. Empathy is a podcaster's biggest skill along with understanding human psychology. Lastly, make sure curiosity is real and not asking questions just for the sake of it. The unauthentic approach can be easily detected by the audience.

One can only learn, grow and bring out the best in others when they allow and encourage them to share their unique talents and insights, and allow them to shine.

Set the guest up for success ahead of time by framing the conversation; points to cover, questions to be asked and the length of the podcast. Prepare the guest as to what might resonate with your podcast audience, not just idle ramblings.