3 Questions to Ask in Every Interview

Hi! This is Elena with your weekly newsletter about the craft and art of podcasting. This time I'll discuss what questions to add to your conversational podcast script.

I hope this post helps you feel more confident and sparks your curiosity.

Shall we begin?

Ask 3 basic questions

When training podcast hosts, I focus on teaching them to ask three types of questions:

1. About stories: "Can you give an example?" "Has this happened to you?" "Is this hypothetical or has it happened to you?" "Have you ever experienced...?" These questions prompt specific stories from the interviewee's life, replacing generalizations with specific personal story.

2. Visual scene descriptions: "Can you describe how it happened?" "Can you paint a picture so I can imagine it like a movie?" "What was it like?" It's cool when, at a turning point in a story, time suddenly slows down and a person is described within the scene. To slow down the narrator and encourage thoughtfulness at this moment, one needs the ability to ask such questions.

3. About emotions: "Oh, and how did that feel?" "What were your emotions at that moment?" "How were you affected?" These questions elicit emotional responses, transforming a simple broadcast into an engaging podcast.

An entire interview could consist of just these three question types and be excellent.

Conversely, to improve your storytelling skills, practice answering these questions even when unprompted. For every situation, find ways to tell a story, describe a scene, and express emotion.

Examine insightful questions from your colleagues

I like to read great interviewers to understand what questions worked for them and learn from their experience. For example:

• Larry King advises: After small talk, take an interest in what is dear to your guest - and show that you've learned about them and their company in advance.
• Another tip is to talk about the present moment: What is it like right now? This stage aims to break the ice, help the guest relax, and gain their trust.
• One interviewer suggested asking, "What important thing have I not asked you about yet?" In her experience, this often prompts guests to discuss what truly interests them.
• Questions that work well for me include "What moment in this story felt like the darkest?" or "When did you feel like you succeeded?" These often evoke emotional stories.

If you study great interviewers like Larry King or Oprah and consult other podcasters, you'll soon have a solid list of questions. This list will grow and expand.

However, the truth is that these lists are merely starting points.

Why question lists don't work

When I conduct an interview, I aim for the subject to perceive it as a normal conversation: to relax, engage, and lose suspicion. I know this approach elicits more interesting information. However, nothing works if I start reading questions from a sheet. Even without a physical list, it's obvious when questions are pre-prepared: "What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?" People don't typically speak like that.

Conversation is contextual and situational. A list of questions can't adequately prepare you; it's too simplistic.

To help the guest lose suspicion, you must achieve a balance of tension and relaxation. The interviewer is like a duck: gliding majestically on the surface while paddling frantically underwater. You must do the same: converse as if chatting with a friend at a bar while following the thread, moderating, and filling gaps.

Outwardly, the host appears to be having a casual conversation, but mentally they're calculating: "Ah, I've found a topic! They skipped a stage here - we'll need to come back to it. Wow! There's a hidden story - we must dig deeper! We need a specific figure here." It's mentally taxing, but we're not launching rockets - we're doing serious work.

Yes, you could prepare a list of questions at home, read them to your guest, and record the answers. But that's more like a questionnaire than a conversation. To succeed in an interview, you must engage in the conversation and maintain focus. It usually takes me two hours to get real good substantial material.

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That's all. Follow your curiosity, ask questions, and write to me about your findings. I will be very glad to know how you manage to get the most interesting stories from your subjects.

Don't forget that you can always entrust us with conducting interviews - we'll have your back. For example, listen to our ongoing podcasts:

Crossing the Desert: How Businesses are Setting and Growing in the Emirates

This is the first reality podcast about business in the UAE. You're about to discover the journey of an enterprising individual who unexpectedly found himself in Dubai and is now striving to establish his roots here. Prepare for dozens of incredible stories!

https://pod.link/1741309259

Everything is Personal: Career Pathways in UAE

Navigate the ups and downs of successful tech professionals with "Everything is Personal," a conversational podcast presented by Fortis and hosted by Victoria Belousova, Fortis' Chief HR Officer.

https://smartlink.ausha.co/everything-is-personal-career-pathways-in-uae

If you want to read more posts and tips, check out our blog at https://hatchupstudio.com/blog

Have a good weekend!