Hosting a podcast interview isn’t as simple as hitting “record.” It’s an intricate blend of preparation, empathy, curiosity, and show-running savvy. Whether you’re just starting your first corporate podcast or you’re an experienced marketer looking to up your interviewing game, mastering a handful of core skills will transform every guest appearance into a memorable, insight-packed episode that serves both your brand and your audience.
Below you’ll find eight deep-dive sections—each one expanded with real-world examples, practical frameworks, and insider advice from Max Conrad, Andreas Gebhard, and Florian Kondert. Dig in, bookmark, highlight, and share with your team—because great interviews don’t just happen; they’re crafted.
A compelling interview starts long before you press “record.” It starts with selecting a guest who can deliver true value to your listeners and align seamlessly with your brand narrative.
Create a spreadsheet mapping—Expertise × Audience Need × Storytelling Ability—to evaluate potential guests. Assign a 1–5 score for each column:
Focus on candidates scoring 12+. This quantitative approach helps you defend choices internally and shows guests why they’re the perfect fit.
Max Conrad: “Finding the right guest is part art and part science. Use data to shortlist, then trust your gut on chemistry—without chemistry, even a Nobel laureate can sound dull.”
Investing time up front to vet guests saves countless editing headaches later—and ensures your audience walks away enlightened, not eye-rolling.
Preparation is the superpower of every legendary interviewer. It fuels confidence, unlocks sharper questions, and—most important—signals deep respect for your guest.
Log nuggets in a shared doc so producers, hosts, and marketers can pull quotes for show notes and social teasers.
Use the classic “Setup → Struggle → Solution → Sign-off” structure. Even in B2B, a story arc keeps listeners engaged:
Andreas Gebhard: “I over-prepare a question bank—usually 25-plus prompts—even if we only need ten. It lets me flow with the conversation while ensuring we still hit our narrative beats.”
Before recording, send guests a concise PDF with:
By clarifying expectations early, you reduce pre-show jitters and get everyone rowing in the same direction.
Good questions are open, specific, and curiosity-driven. They set the stage for compelling stories instead of predictable sound bites.
Multi-part questions overwhelm guests. Break them up and listen actively between each part.
Florian Kondert: “A great question feels like an invitation to narrate, not a trap. If your guest can answer with ‘yes,’ rephrase it until they can only answer with a story.”
By weaving these prompts into your conversation, you’ll pull out vivid anecdotes that stick in listeners’ minds and make clips easy to repurpose across marketing channels.
While sharpened questions open doors, active listening keeps them open long enough for real insight to walk through.
Andreas Gebhard: “If a guest drops a gem—pause. Let it breathe. Those three silent seconds can turn a good answer into a profound one.”
Keep shorthand notes in a separate window (or physical notebook) so you can circle back to previous points without derailing the moment. Mark (!) beside threads you want to revisit during Q&A or follow-ups.
Active listening isn’t passive; it’s strategic. You capture the gold, guide the narrative, and demonstrate to both guest and audience that their words matter.
Comfort is the catalyst for authenticity. Nervous guests default to scripted answers; relaxed guests share gems.
Max Conrad: “Treat the first five minutes like you’re hosting someone in your living room—offer them water, ask how their day is going. That humanizes the process and deflates tension.”
Adopt an empathetic tone: “Take your time” instead of “Quickly tell us.” Use inclusive language—avoid jargon unless it adds clarity. Remember: authenticity is contagious.
Your brand might foot the bill, but during an interview the guest is the hero. Make sure the spotlight stays on them.
Aim for guests to speak 80 % of the time. Use your 20 % to bridge, clarify, and highlight value.
Florian Kondert: “When hosts dominate airtime, listeners tune out. They came for the guest’s expertise—your job is to light it, not eclipse it.”
When your guest feels heard and championed, they’ll share the episode enthusiastically—magnifying your reach.
A dynamic interview balances spontaneity with direction. Stray too far off course and you risk losing listener attention; stay too rigid and you kill the magic.
Break your outline into 15-minute segments:
If you’re running long in a segment, gracefully pivot: “I’d love to circle back to X, but let’s move to how you solved Y…”
Andreas Gebhard: “Time is the only commodity you can’t edit later. Manage it in real time or you’ll spend twice as long cutting in post.”
Editing is where flow is perfected; hosting is where flow is made possible.
Podcasting is iterative. Each episode is both a product and a rehearsal for the next.
Max Conrad: “Play back your own episodes—even the cringe moments. Those insights fuel compound growth. You’ll fix one habit per week and be unrecognizable in a year.”
Embrace experimentation—try video snippets, live Q&A sessions, or rotating co-hosts. Keep what enhances listener value; ditch what doesn’t.
Master these eight pillars—curated guests, thorough prep, engaging questions, active listening, guest comfort, spotlight sharing, focused flow, and relentless refinement—and you’ll turn every interview into high-trust, high-value content your audience can’t wait to binge. Your guests will rave about the experience, your brand will gain authority, and your podcast will rise above the corporate noise.
Now open your calendar, invite that dream guest, and start crafting conversations that resonate long after the outro music fades. Happy podcasting!
The Mic Drop is our co-founder & CEO Max's view on the world of corporate audio and podcasting. Get his insights and perspective every week in your inbox.
