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The interview format has been a staple of many successful podcasts and radio shows. Done well, it offers an engaging way to probe someone’s insights, stories, and expertise. But there are some common pitfalls that stand in the way of doing an interview well. Whether you’re a first-time interviewer or veteran, being aware of these mistakes will help you create more compelling, insightful, and enjoyable content for your audience.
Table of Contents:
1. Not doing enough research on your guest
2. Asking Leading or Closed Questions
3. Talking Too Much
4. Lack of a Clear Focus or Flow
5. Not Creating a Comfortable Atmosphere
1. Not doing enough research on your guest
The worst thing you can do on the show is not having done your homework with a guest. By not knowing who your guest is, their background, and experience, it leads to extremely superficial conversations that don’t really reveal anything at all new or interesting about them. Your audience listens in anticipation of learning something special or insightful; guiding the conversation towards those places is partly your duty as host.
Research is key. That is, you have to know who your guest is, what they have done, and for what they stand: it means much more than reading their Wikipedia page or their most recent social media posts. Research their past work; watch or listen to previous interviews they’ve given; know what projects they have in the works right now. Thorough research lets you ask questions that are beyond the obvious-which can lead to responses that are more authentic and reflective.
Also, take the time to figure out what is different or unique about your guest. Everyone has a story to tell, but it’s up to you to discover what constitutes those parts of the story that no one else has told repeatedly. For example, instead of asking the famous musician how they got into the music world-something they have probably answered a hundred times-dig deep and ask them about a specific event that influenced their creative process or even shaped their career. Not only will it keep the interview fresh, but your guest will feel valued, too, since you did take the time to understand them.
More importantly, an unprepared attitude may give your guest an impression of being disrespectful. It is a cue to your guest that you do not care enough to talk about anything, and that will put your interviewee less likely willing to open up or be enthusiastic during the interview.
2. Asking Leading or Closed Questions
The quality of the questions you ask mostly determines the quality of the interview. A major error people make in this regard is leading questions, or closed questions. Leading questions subtly force the guest in the direction of a specific answer and prevent free flow in conversation. For example, instead of asking, “You must have felt great when you got that award, right?” give him an inch so he may actually tell you how he truly feels, or provide a more enlightening response.
Their alternative is the closed questions, which can be answered with either “yes” or “no”. It also closes up the conversation and doesn’t give room for the guest to elaborate or tell a story. On podcasts, or radio, you want to provide a flowing conversation that invites listeners in-not an interrogation. Closed questions again can give the interview the feeling of a questionnaire more than a rich dialogue.
Open-ended questions are those that unlock deeper insights and more interesting stories. This kind of question invites the guest to elaborate on his thoughts, experiences, or opinions. A good example of this would be, instead of asking, “Did you enjoy writing your latest book?” ask, “What was the most challenging part of writing your latest book, and how did you overcome that?” Because such a question calls for reflection and sharing of details, this is likely to be a far more engaging answer.
Also, some of the best interviews are follow-up questions. If your guest says something interesting, dig deeper by saying, “What happened next?” or “How did that make you feel?” It shows that you’re listening, and sometimes that conversation can go in unexpected but often rewarding directions.
3. Talking Too Much
It is so very easy to get caught talking too much when you’re interviewing someone, particularly when you’re quite passionate about the topic or have quite a bit to say. People really tune in for your guest’s insights, not just yours. That’s what makes you a great host-to guide a conversation, not to dominate one.
Equally banal are over-explanations of one’s questions. Sometimes, interviewers feel this irresistible urge to give too much context or share something of their opinion before they ask a question. This eats into the time and disrupts the flow of conversation. Instead, clarity and brevity are desirable when posing questions. Let your guest do most of the talking and allow them space to elaborate on their thoughts.
Also, avoid interrupting or talking over your guest. That can make the conversation choppy and get the guest not to fully flesh out their ideas. Sometimes, if you let them speak for free, something that may pop up could be some unexpected point or anecdote that made the conversation a lot more interesting. It is quite important in the context of a podcast/radio-type interview, as organic and dynamic conversations keep your listeners tuned in.
In the meantime, active listening does wonders here. By this, I mean this is not about waiting for your turn to talk, but rather truly listen to what your guest has to say. You will find that you can ask deeper follow-up questions and respond normally while you listen, which is going to make the conversation more organic and appealing.
4. Lack of a Clear Focus or Flow
Spontaneity at times can be very fine, but there should be some kind of structure or flow in the interview to hold listener interest. The subject of the conversation cannot just hop from one topic to another without an order of progression; otherwise, the discussion will sound disjointed and may confuse both guest and audience. Without this, it would prove much more difficult to have an interview well maintained.
It is good practice to, before the interview itself map out a rough structure. Identify the key subjects you want to cover, and identify the order of their logical coverage. One should not script every question, but having this road map ensures one stays on track and touches on all the key points.
Another important tip in an interview is to always keep the spotlight on what your audience wants to hear. Know who your listeners are and what topics are most relevant or of interest to them. This way, you will be able to tailor the conversation to their interests, and that will keep them coming for more.
On the other hand, rambling is one of the pitfalls if there isn’t a set focus. If there is no plan set for the interview, it might find its way into tangent topics that may cause your audience to be side-tracked from the conversation. Always keep in mind the purpose of the interview and try to steer the conversation back if it would go astray.
5. Not Creating a Comfortable Atmosphere
One of the biggest keys to a successful podcast or radio interview is trying to get your guest to feel comfortable. If a guest feels tense or uncomfortable, he won’t open up or share any entertaining stories. In return, when one is at ease, he is bound to be candid and, consequently, more genuine during conversations.
Break the ice; lighten the mood. In this way, lighter and less taxing questions might help put your guest more at ease before some deeper or possibly personal questions are asked. Avoid jumping into serious or challenging questions; it will feel stilted and formal.
Be sure to engage in building rapport with the guest. Really engage them; show interest, and let their responses spur more thoughtful questions. The guest will feel that you’re genuinely interested in what they have to say, which will then allow them to become more candid and delve further into their experiences or opinions.
Finally, be mindful of the timing of the exchange. Racing through questions puts pressure on the guest to hurry up; dwelling too long on one topic can make him feel that he’s babbling on and on. Balance letting the conversation breathe with keeping things moving to ensure the interview sounds organic and interesting.
Bonus: Screwing Up Sound Quality and Timing
In podcasting and radio, technical aspects such as the quality of sound and timing are weighted just as heavily as the conversation itself in how the program is perceived. Bad sound distracts your listeners and demoralizes what was otherwise a fantastic interview.
Guarantee good sound: take care of the equipment and environment. Be sure that you and your guest have clear, high-quality microphones and that background noise is minimized.
Pay special attention to the interview’s pace and timing. If a guest starts to go on a lengthy tangent that isn’t particularly worth hearing, it is your job to politely steer them back onto track. Be aware of time constraints and be sure to wrap up the interview in such a way that feels satisfying, rather than rushed or cut off.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you will create interviews that are engaging, insightful, and memorable to your guests and audience. Make your guest comfortable, ask open-ended questions, or keep a clear focus-all of these tiny adjustments might make huge differences in the quality of your podcast or radio interviews.
Premiere Podcast Studios is a bespoke podcast recording studio located in Shoreditch, London. Find a recording slot today or contact us for more information