How To Produce Better Interviews – PTC 453

Conducting interviews is an art. And, you can learn to produce better interviews with just a few steps.

Today, I'll give you four ways to create better interviews. I also have examples for you to help you make progress.

Then, I'm going to give you a great deal on my course How To Crush Your Next Podcast Interview Like A Radio Pro Without Decades Of Training And Hours Of Preparation. Just for being a listener, you'll get over half off the course.

STORIES

The first way to create great interviews is to not make it an interview.

In my course, pop star Jason Derulo says he hates interviews. He would rather have a conversation.

The key to engaging interviews is the art of the story. Get your guest to tell authentic stories.

Shane Sams is the host of the Flipped Lifestyle podcast. He helps real families create a membership site and make their living online.

In this episode, he shares a great story about his son Isaac.

Shane was being real and authentic. It takes courage to be that raw. That's why few people do it and why it will make you stand out from everyone else.

When you share your authentic self with your listeners, you show that you trust them. The law of reciprocity will kick in and they will begin trusting you.

THE SPACE

The next way to create better podcast interviews is that space that Shane left in his episode. So many podcasters want to edit out that silence.

When you edit out the silence, you sterilize the story.

The silence will cause your listener to lean in. It catches their attention.

Your listener will also try to predict what will happen next. That anticipation is exciting. They naturally want to close the loop.

Have you ever watched American Idol, America's Got Talent, or any of the other reality shows like it? You know the host is going to pause longer than natural. Yet you still lean in and want the answer even more.

The same is true with your podcast. Create anticipation by leaving in the pregnant pause.

Let me give you an example.

Alex Hormozi hosts a podcast called The Game. He published a fantastic book called "$100M Offers".

His new book "$100M Leads" will be released during an online event on August 19th. Get the details at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/100M.

Alex was recently interviewed on Diary of a CEO with host Steven Bartlett. He then repurposed an edited, shortened version of that interview on his podcast.

These two versions will give you a great example of how the conversation is affected by removing the silence.

Here is a bit of the original version.

Can you feel the emotion build up in Alex as he is talking about the impact his wife has had on him? You could cut that emotion with a knife.

The host Steven Bartlett did an amazing job NOT talking. Rather than jumping in because he was uncomfortable in the silence, Steven let it sit there. He let the listener feel the emotion. That was fantastic. True pro.

Now, this is a sterilized version from Alex's episode with the silence shortened. Notice how the anticipation is sucked out of this version.

Can you see how removing the silence completely wipes out the emotion.

INCLUDE YOUR LISTENER

Next, treat your listener like they are sitting right there next to you. Bring your listener in as the 3rd party to the conversation.

Your listener isn't part of a group or "everybody out there". They are listening to you typically with ear buds or alone in their car. Your podcast is a very intimate conversation.

They aren't "out there". You are in their head having this conversation.

When you say "everyone" or "hey guys" or use terms like "out there", you separate your listener from the conversation. They will think, "Who is everyone? I'm sitting here by myself."

Include them in the conversation. Don't leave them "out there".

Here is an example from the Flipped Lifestyle podcast again.

By using "everyone out there", the host just removed us from the conversation. We aren't part of the clique.

Now here is another example from the same episode. The host does a great job simply turning his focus from Jason the guest to us as the listener.

When the host says "do what Jason did", he is speaking directly to me as a listener. He speaks to one person rather than everyone.

This will make your interviews connect in a powerful way with your listeners.

FRAME THEN ASK

My final tip is regarding a misstep I hear many podcasters make.

When we are conducting an interview, we spend a lot of time thinking about our next question rather than having a conversation.

When there is a pause or the guest finishes their answer, we jump in with the next question. Then we try to add context to the question or we give multiple choice answers to help the guest better understand what we are trying to say.

By the time we are done qualifying the question, we've either asked two more questions and completely confused our guest, or they have forgotten the original question.

Instead, have a conversation. Give context and set up the question. Then ask it.

Here is a sample from Daymond John's podcast That Moment when he is interviewing Barbara Corcoran.

Daymond says, "Where does the tunnel vision come from?" He then offers a ton of clarifying comments. That eventually leads him to ask, "Do you realize that's a gift or no?"

Add the context and clarifying comments before you ask the question.

THE COURSE

These are just four tips to producing better interviews. If you would like to take your interviews to a whole new level and separate yourself from every other podcast in your niche, check out my interviewing course.

It is called Crush Your Next Podcast Interview Like A Radio Pro Without Decades Of Training And Hours Of Preparation.

If you are a podcaster who conducts interviews with guests on your podcast, this course is for you.

Others can copy your information, interview questions and formula. But when you use the principles you will discover in this course, you will create unique interviews unlike any other.

In this program, you will discover...

• Why we conduct interviews

• Your personal why

• The essential elements of unique interviews

• 17 most powerful interview questions

• How to ask great questions

This course was developed from my experience and interviews over 3 decades in radio. It include examples and tips from my interviews with Lady Gaga, Uncle Kracker, Carrie Underwood and many others.

Many coaches struggle to use their interview style podcast as a marketing tool for their business. Stand out in the crowd by using this powerful method to creating great interviews.

The course is typically $197. You can get it for just $97 until September 30, 2023 by using the coupon code SAVE100. You'll find the course at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/interviewcourse.

This course isn't incredibly long, but it is incredibly powerful. You don't need a lot of steps. You just need the right steps. This course will provide that roadmap.

And for a limited time, you can save $100 off the price by using the coupon code SAVE100.

When you visit www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/interviewcourse, you'll get all the details on the course. Click "get instant access" to get to the checkout page.

On the right side of the page right under the icon of the course, you'll see "add coupon code". Click that and enter SAVE100. The price will drop by $100 for you. But it is only available at this price until September 30th.

If you would like a free podcast strategy call with me to refine your podcast profit strategy, apply HERE.