Good Podcast Questions to Ask

Preparing great questions for your podcast guests is an art form that requires thoughtfulness, curiosity, and a bit of strategic planning. Great questions not only illuminate the guest’s expertise and experiences but also engage the audience and make your podcast memorable. Here’s a guide to crafting questions that can elevate your podcast interviews:

Understand Your Guest

Research Thoroughly: Before the interview, delve deep into your guest’s background, work, and any previous interviews they’ve done. This helps avoid repetitive questions and uncovers unique angles for discussion.
Identify Key Themes: Pinpoint the main themes or topics that align both with your guest’s expertise and your audience’s interests. This ensures the conversation remains relevant and engaging.

Engage Your Audience

Consider the Audience’s Perspective: Consider what your audience wants to learn from your guest. Incorporating listener-submitted or frequently asked questions in your field can make the interview more engaging.
Mix It Up: Prepare a variety of question types—some that require detailed responses and others that might prompt stories or personal reflections. This variety keeps the conversation dynamic.

Craft Thought-Provoking Questions

Open-Ended Questions: Frame your questions to encourage detailed responses rather than simple yes/no answers. For example, ask “How did you approach…” instead of “Did you…”
Follow-Up Wisely: Be prepared to delve deeper based on your guest’s responses. Effective follow-up questions show active listening and can uncover fascinating insights.
Personalize Your Approach: Tailor your questions to fit the unique experiences and expertise of your guests. Personalized questions make for a more authentic and compelling conversation.

Podcast Questions For Experts or Professionals

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that helped shape your path?
What are some common misconceptions about your field of expertise?
What emerging trends will significantly impact your industry in the next few years?
Can you discuss a challenge you’ve faced in your work and how you overcame it?
How do you stay updated and continue to learn in your field?

Podcast Questions For Entrepreneurs

What inspired you to start your own business?
What has been the most challenging aspect of building your company?
How do you differentiate your product or service in a crowded market?
Can you share a failure or setback you’ve experienced and what you learned from it?
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

Podcast Questions For Authors and Creatives

What is your creative process like, and how do you navigate periods of writer’s block or creative droughts?
Can you share the inspiration behind your latest work?
How do you handle criticism or negative feedback?
What is one piece of advice you wish you had received when you were starting out?
How has your style or approach evolved over time?

Podcast Questions For Personal Stories

Can you share a defining moment in your life and its impact on you?
What obstacles have you overcome, and what lessons have you learned from them?
Who has been a significant influence in your life and why?
What are you most proud of, and why?
How do you find meaning or purpose in your life?

Podcast Questions For Thought Leaders

What do you believe is a critical issue the world is facing today, and how can it be addressed?
How do you envision the future of your field or industry?
What book or piece of media has significantly influenced your thinking?
Can you discuss a controversial opinion you have about your area of expertise?
What’s one change individuals can make to have a positive impact on the world around them?

Embrace the Light-hearted

Mix Humor with Depth: Combine playful prompts with questions that invite reflection on life experiences, beliefs, or personal growth. For instance, “If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be, and what life advice would you ask them for?”
Use Hypotheticals: Hypothetical questions can be both amusing and revealing. Try questions like, “If you woke up tomorrow as an animal based on your personality, which animal would it be and why?”

Keep It Relatable

Draw on Universal Experiences: Ask about common life situations with a twist of humor, such as, “What’s the most embarrassing fashion trend you followed, and would you ever consider bringing it back for a laugh?”
Incorporate Everyday Quirks: Questions about mundane quirks can lead to funny and relatable discussions. Consider, “What’s a ‘useless talent’ you have, and how has it surprisingly come in handy?”

Encourage Storytelling

Prompt Personal Anecdotes: Encourage your guests to share humorous or peculiar life stories with prompts like, “Can you share a ‘I can’t believe that happened’ moment from your life?”
Explore the ‘What Ifs’: Questions that explore alternate realities can be entertaining and insightful, such as, “If you could live in any sitcom, which would it be, and how do you think you’d stir things up?”

Balance Humor with Insight

Reflect on the Lighter Side of Life Lessons: Ask about lessons learned in a humorous context, like, “What’s the funniest piece of advice you’ve ever received that actually turned out to be wise?”
Navigate Through Nostalgia: Use nostalgia to create humorous yet insightful discussions, for example, “What’s one piece of ‘outdated’ advice from your grandparents that you find hilariously relevant today?”

Foster a Fun Environment

Create a Comfort Zone: Ensure your questions make your guests feel comfortable sharing fun and light-hearted aspects of their life without feeling self-conscious.
Adapt to the Guest’s Humor: Tailor your questions to match the guest’s sense of humor, ensuring they feel at ease and engaged in the conversation.

Continuous Engagement

React and Build on Responses: Show genuine amusement and interest in your guest’s answers to encourage a lively and interactive dialogue.
Invite Audience Participation: Encourage listeners to submit their own funny questions or life ponderings for future guests, creating a community feel.

Foster a Comfortable Environment

Build Rapport: Start with a few lighter, more personal questions to make your guest comfortable. A relaxed guest is more likely to share openly and engagingly.
Respect Boundaries: While asking challenging questions is important, be mindful of your guest’s boundaries and respect any topics they wish to avoid.

Continuous Improvement

Seek Feedback: After the interview, reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Feedback from listeners and guests can provide valuable insights for future interviews.
Practice Active Listening: Great questions often arise naturally during the conversation. Practice active listening to seize these opportunities and explore interesting tangents or deeper insights.

Creating great questions is a skill that improves with practice and experience. The key is to remain genuinely curious about your guest and their stories. Doing so can create a space where meaningful conversations flourish, adding value for both your guest and your audience.