For your class project, you will create a full question list for interviewing a podcast guest. This can be used for your first podcast guest or your next podcast guest. If you don’t have a guest in mind yet, you can prepare for a hypothetical interview of your best friend. Feel free to use the Question List Template as a base.

Start by identifying a primary objective for your interview.
Break your interview into sections in which you will explore different topics. Remember, it normally makes sense for the first section to be designated for laying background information – either about your subject, the topic, or both.
Use all three question types – open ended, closed ended, and leading. Use a thorough series of follow-up questions. When it makes sense, include a parenthetical note indicating what you are hoping to draw out from your subject with that line of questioning.

When you feel stuck, remind yourself of your primary objective for the interview. Think about what you would like to hear discussed or explained. The tried-and-true "who, what, when, where, and why" can help illuminate a new path of questions for you to go down.

Hypotheticals are another great tool in your arsenal. Place your interviewer in a made-up scenario or ask them to walk you through something from beginning to end.

Don’t forget about our emotion questions. Move beyond the facts and move into the feelings.

Aim to develop at least 5 conversation sections:

Intro/background section (5 questions)
Substantive section 1 (5 questions)
Substantive section 2 (5 questions)
Substantive section 3 (5 questions)
Closing section (5 questions)

Try to come up with at least 5 main questions, not including follow-up questions, for each section. This will mean 25 total questions, not including follow-ups.

Submit your question list in the Project Gallery for me to review and give feedback. And of course, feel free to ask questions. This is a big, tangible step in the creation of your podcast!

Thomas Piard

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