How I Work (BONUS) Behind the mic: the art of the interview, with Jessi Hempel
8 snips
May 13, 2026 
Jessi Hempel, journalist and Hello Monday host who covers work, creativity and careers. She explains why she often interviews without notes and the preparation habit that makes it possible. They recount an AI prep experiment that failed. They talk about getting past rehearsed talking points, handling short answers, and the moment an interview becomes a real conversation.
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Read The Book Yourself Before Interviewing
- Do read your guest's book yourself rather than relying on AI summaries.
- Jessi read guests' books in full after an AI-based attempt produced embarrassing inaccuracies and taught her that slow, curious preparation matters.
Curiosity Beats Notes For Presence
- Insight: Trusting your own curiosity can replace notes during an interview.
- Jessi says slow engagement with material builds a curiosity-led map that lets her be present and ask deeper questions without leaning on notes.
Poor Memory, Narrow Confidence
- Anecdote: Jessi admits she has a poor memory but compensates with confidence.
- She tells guests she read their book and will prompt details mid-interview, which also makes the audience feel comfortable about imperfect recall.
