By Barry Kantz, Blubrry General Counsel and CFO
I’ve been podcasting since 2005. Over the past 20 years, I’ve conducted hundreds of interviews with guests across all kinds of industries and disciplines. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: a great interview doesn’t happen by accident.
Whether you’re recording audio-only or producing a video podcast, interviews are one of the most popular — and powerful — formats in the content world. They let you borrow the credibility of your guests, deliver value to your audience, and create dynamic conversations that keep people coming back.
But none of that happens without skill. Interviewing is an art, and it’s one too many creators sleep on. If you want to grow your show, get better guests, and engage your audience, you need to master three core skills:
Preparation. Rapport. Active Listening.
Let’s break them down.
1. Preparation: Do Your Homework Like a Pro
If you don’t know your guest before you hit record, your interview is already doomed.
Preparation means more than reading their bio. You need to understand their work, their perspective, and how they connect to the topic you’re covering. Do a deep dive — read their articles, listen to other interviews they’ve done, check their social profiles, and pull relevant background from LinkedIn or company websites.
Preparation also means crafting smart questions that align with the goals of your episode. For example, I once interviewed an expert on dark sky parks. My audience at the time? Travel agents. So my questions weren’t just about astronomy — they were focused on how dark sky parks could be marketed as travel experiences. That’s strategic preparation.
Pro tip: You won’t get through all your questions — and that’s a good thing. Real conversations have detours. Start with your most essential questions first, the ones that hit your episode’s core theme. Let the rest flow naturally.
2. Rapport: Make Your Guest Feel Human
Nobody opens up to a stranger with a microphone shoved in their face. Interviews work best when they feel like conversations—not interrogations.
If you’re interviewing in person, set the scene: quiet space, comfortable chairs, maybe some coffee or water. But most of us are working remotely these days, so focus on what you can control—your tone, your energy, and the time you spend before the interview officially starts.
Small talk matters. Ask them where they’re based, how their day’s going, or what their dog’s name is. Explain how the interview will flow and how long it’ll take. Set expectations. Build trust. The more relaxed your guest is, the more authentic and valuable their responses will be.
3. Active Listening: This Is Where the Magic Happens
Here’s where most amateur interviewers crash and burn: They don’t actually listen.
They’re too focused on their next question or filling the silence. Big mistake.
A good interviewer asks great questions. A great interviewer knows when to shut up and let the guest shine. Don’t interrupt. Don’t dominate the mic. This isn’t your TED Talk — it’s theirs.
Want a real-world example? I once listened to a podcast where the host did 90% of the talking. The guest barely got a word in. I stopped listening halfway through and unsubscribed. Don’t be that host.
Active listening means being fully present. Pay attention not just to what your guest says, but how they say it. Watch for subtext. If they light up talking about a particular project or sound hesitant about a certain topic — lean into it. That’s where the gold is.
Also: follow-up questions are more powerful than scripted ones. They show you’re engaged and create richer, more organic conversations.
Here’s a trick I picked up years ago: when someone’s talking, pretend you’re listening to someone you deeply admire. Doesn’t matter who — Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou, David Attenborough — just imagine you’re hanging on every word. It’ll rewire the way you listen. And it works.
Final Thoughts
If you want to stop sounding like a rookie and start running interviews your audience actually remembers, master these three pillars: Preparation, Rapport, and Active Listening.
Practice them. Sharpen them. Use them in everyday conversations with your friends, your spouse, your barista — whatever. The better you get at these skills, the more natural they’ll feel behind the mic.
Your audience will notice. Your guests will appreciate it. And your show? It’ll grow.
Now go ask some damn good questions.
Whether you’re aspiring to be a top-tier interviewer or a sought-after guest, check out Blubrry’s Guest Match Pro and start making high-level connections!