How can you write questions that build rapport with guests on your podcast?

Start by researching your guest's background, achievements, and interests. Tailor your questions to show genuine curiosity and appreciation for their work. Begin the interview with friendly and open-ended questions to establish a comfortable atmosphere. Incorporate compliments or references to their expertise to make them feel valued. Ask about personal experiences, anecdotes, or challenges, allowing the guest to share insights and stories. Use a conversational tone and avoid overly formal language to foster a relaxed environment. Be attentive and responsive during the interview, allowing the conversation to flow naturally.

A couple things that I've found helpful in building rapport with my podcasts guests are: 1. Asking them to complete a brief questionnaire prior to the podcast. This questionnaire asks them to share current projects they are working on and which topics they're most excited to share. I review this prior to our podcast episode and write 3-5 questions that can help guide the conversation based on what they've shared. 2. I conduct research. I check out their social media profiles and if there is anything I find particularly noteworthy or interesting, I note it. Guests love to feel seen and valued and commenting on something they previously shared is a great way to build rapport.

The first step in preparing for an interview with an influencer is to research your guest. Always do the research with what "will be interesting to your listeners" in the back of your mind. Take notes on their key points and perspectives, and identify any areas where you'd like to dive deeper during the interview. I always try to dig deep. I look at the information they provide, then go deeper. I try to find links to blogs, training, social media, etc. By looking in those places, I am able to find interesting things about them that nobody else probably talks about. For example, "Is it true you got lost three days in the Amazon jungle on vacation?" Things like that... I get told all the time, "Nobody ever asked me that before!"

As a creator, executive producer and host of my own television show and host, executive producer of pre game sports shows. I usually used the first time meeting techniques wherein i knew who the guest was going to be but never did any research, because i wanted the conversation to flow as it would when meeting a stranger for the first time. I asked open ended questions and built onto the foundation of each answer, people love to talk about themselves you simply need to ask the right question. And what is the right question one they would feel comfortable answering based on their own answer's you will get a great conversation that translates into an interview that informs and shares insightful thought exchange and entertain's.

When reaching out to a potential podcast guest, do your research and find common ground and a point of connection so that when you do reach out to them, it's clear that you've done some groundwork and there's a real interest in connecting with them specifically. Once they do agree to come on, before the podcast interview, send them a questionnaire so that you have all their information and make the process as smooth as possible for them, not forgetting to follow up after the interview, letting them know that you'll be following up with the podcast release date, if not already decided and the podcast assets for them to share the episode when it's ready to be promoted.

I've found the key to a successful interview is building a rapport with your guest. This means establishing a level of trust and comfort, and creating an environment where they feel comfortable sharing insights and experiences. To build a rapport with your guest, start by being warm and friendly during your initial interactions. Take the time to get to know them on a personal level, and find common ground that you can build on during the interview. I usually book an hour time slot and take the first 10-15 minutes just talking in order to create a rapport with the guest before launching into the interview. I share with the guest that my goal is to sound like, "Two friends having a conversation over coffee at the kitchen table."

One thing I've found helpful when the guest or host doesn't already know each other is to have a quick 20-minute coffee chat before the interview so that they can build rapport so that there is trust and connection through the lighter conversations before diving into the more serious stuff.

It's a conversation, not a podcast episode. If you lean in too heavily to the notion of doing a podcast with someone rather than having a conversation with them, you risk it becoming formulaic and mechanical. One of the reasons we love engaging in conversation so much is that it's one of the easiest ways for us to access a flow state — a space when you're locked in a trance, unaware and uncaring of the time, fully enveloped in the moment. And since a conversation takes min. 2, it's likely you and your guest will share this experience! But this only comes if you bring your whole self to the conversation, not just a mouthpiece for pre-meditated questions. Help your guest bring the best version of themselves to the conversation.

I always have an outline in front of me with about 8-10 questions I developed from my background research on the guest. I do not always ask all of the questions, but I have them in case they are needed to fill time. What I do do during the interview, is use active listening skills and show genuine interest in their perspective and experiences (even if you may not agree 100% with their point of view. Take this opportunity to ask questions to EXPAND your point of view)! Always remember to stay confident, be genuine in your approach, and stay focused on creating a valuable experience for your listeners. With practice and persistence, you'll soon be a pro at preparing for and conducting interviews with influencers in your industry.

A podcast episode is less of an interview and more of a conversation and that's why we love the medium so much. It feels like you're on the end of the couch listening to a friend who happens to be an expert in x or y. Because of this, using the same cue we would with a regular conversation is vital. Show interest, smile, node and engage. It's important to know in advance what the episode topic is and the direction you want to go, and you may even have some questions to keep you on topic but use this as a guide and allow the conversation to flow. Lately, even with an audio-only podcast, it's helpful to have the camera on to see the cues.

If you invite a guest onto your podcast, it's because you like their content, their views or something they stand for. So respectful and open questions are the way to go. If you lead with a question that could be interpreted as an attack on your guest, the audience will also pick up on that and unless that's what you're known for, it won't be received well.

We always end our podcast episodes with rapid fire questions that are silly and fun and that give our audience a little more insight into our guests personality and quirks. In addition, we ask our guest to share their how our audience can connect with them and we add this to our show notes as well. Lastly, we send a thank you email (which also includes a few social clips and when the podcast will be aired) and we mail a gift to express our appreciation of their time. We find that demonstrating our appreciation for their knowledge, experience and time goes a long way in building a positive relationship.

It's nice to end the podcast with something fun or personal about them and give them a chance to highlight something they're working on or how the audience to connect with them.

Listen more than you talk. Take a few notes while they’re speaking so you can ask them to elaborate on points that you or your audience would like to hear more about. Most importantly, treat it as a conversation between two people rather than drilling your guest with a list of pre-written questions. Pre-written questions are great to have in your back pocket, but don’t feel you need to hit every single one if they no longer fit in the actual conversation you’re having.

Podcast is the platform wherein we need to choose our words wisely, here more specific questions helps in more specific answers. And thus more specific questions doesn’t come impromptu always on a LIVE show, so it’s better to research about the guest and share them the specific questionnaire before you start recording the show. This also helps in the production time.