For me, insisting on a pre-interview with podcast guests is a best practice that enhances the quality of the podcast.
It builds rapport, sets clear expectations, gathers crucial information, tests compatibility, and establishes boundaries. By investing this time upfront, hosts can significantly improve the interview experience for both themselves and their guests, ultimately leading to more engaging and insightful content for their audience.
I have a firm policy regarding pre-interviews: I will not schedule a guest on the show who refuses to participate in this initial conversation. While it is rare for guests to decline, this policy is essential for ensuring that both the host (me), the guest and the audience receive the best possible experience. The pre-interview serves multiple important purposes that enhance the overall quality of the podcast and the guest's experience.
Primarily, the pre-interview is about establishing a connection with the guest. Some guests may not have extensive experience with podcast interviews, so this informal chat helps them feel more at ease. By engaging in a casual conversation, the host can create a relaxed atmosphere, which can lead to a more authentic and engaging interview later on. In fact, magic often happens during that first conversation! Guests frequently leave feeling excited and ready to share their stories, and many will head over to social media to alert their audience about their upcoming appearance on the show, keeping them posted along the way. I love that excitement, as it not only energizes the guest but also helps to build anticipation among their followers.
Side Note: Over the years I have become known as a podcaster who loves to read and loves authors and I have the incredible opportunity to engage with talented guests who share their stories and insights about their books. Often, during our pre-interview, really, they are conversations that will flow into the actual interview, they share so much about their work that I find myself eagerly anticipating the arrival of their book at my front door and it is not unusual for that book to be in the mail before they are even fully scheduled on the show. I am a voracious reader, and my three bookshelves are filled with hundreds of books gifted to me by these wonderful guests. This allows me not only to read and review their work but also to discuss it on my show, creating a vibrant dialogue around literature that I find truly exciting. It’s a rewarding experience that combines my passion for reading with the joy of connecting with authors and sharing their stories with the world!
During the pre-interview, the host can outline what the guest can expect during the actual recording, discussing the interview structure, key topics, and any specific questions that may arise. Clear communication about the process helps alleviate any anxiety the guest might have, ensuring they come prepared and confident.
Additionally, pre-interviews allow hosts to collect valuable background information about their guests, including their expertise, experiences, and unique stories. Such insights enable the host to craft more relevant and engaging questions, leading to a richer conversation during the actual interview. Moreover, the pre-interview serves as a screening tool to assess whether the guest is a good fit for the podcast. It allows the host to evaluate the guest's conversational style and storytelling ability, ensuring they can engage listeners effectively. This step is crucial, as not all guests may translate well into compelling audio content. In my 16 years of podcasting, there have only been a handful of times where, during the pre-interview, I discovered that we were just not a good fit personality-wise or that the topic was not going to work for my show. These instances underscore the value of pre-interviews, as they allowed me to gracefully decline moving forward with the full interview, saving time and potential awkwardness for both parties. It also provided me the opportunity to introduce them to other podcast hosts where they might be a better fit. And for sensitive topics, the pre-interview also provides an opportunity to discuss any boundaries or topics that the guest may prefer to avoid. This consideration fosters a sense of safety and respect, making the guest more comfortable during the recording.
Sometimes the answer is simply "no." There are rare occasions when I encounter a few well-known individuals who absolutely refuse to take the time for a pre-interview and insist that we can just jump straight into the episode. While I appreciate their interest, that approach doesn’t work for me and I will wish them well and move on.
So, what about you? Are you a yay or nay on pre-interviews? Do you think they add value to the podcasting experience, or do you prefer to dive right into the conversation? I’d love to hear your thoughts!