Introduction
Every podcaster faces a crucial decision in their guest interview strategy: should you send questions to guests before recording? This common dilemma impacts everything from guest comfort to content quality, thorough preparation, including sending pre-interview questions or surveys, is a common practice among professional podcasters to ensure engaging and informative episodes. Let’s explore the pros and cons of different podcast guest preparation approaches and help you determine the best strategy for your show.
The Benefits of Advance Question Preparation
Sending questions to your podcast guests in advance offers several significant advantages:
Better Research and Preparation
- Guests can gather relevant data, statistics, and examples
- Stories and anecdotes can be selected and refined
- Technical terms and complex concepts can be clarified beforehand
Increased Guest Confidence
- Reduces anxiety about unexpected questions
- Allows guests to organize their thoughts
- Creates a more professional impression
Content Quality Control
- Ensures key topics are covered comprehensively
- Helps maintain episode structure and flow
- Enables guests to fact-check their responses
When Spontaneity Works Better
Sometimes, keeping questions under wraps until recording can lead to more engaging content:
Natural Conversation Flow
- Creates authentic reactions and genuine surprise
- Encourages more dynamic dialogue
- Prevents rehearsed or overly scripted responses
Fresh Energy and Excitement
- Maintains spontaneous enthusiasm
- Captures genuine emotional responses
- Creates more relatable content
Organic Discovery
- Allows for unexpected insights and revelations
- Enables natural follow-up questions
- Creates moments of genuine connection
Finding the Right Balance: A Hybrid Approach
Most successful podcasters find that a balanced approach to podcast interview tips works best. Instead of sending a complete question list, consider:
- Sharing broad topic areas or themes
- Providing 2-3 key questions as examples
- Outlining the episode structure
- Including any specific data points you’ll discuss
This approach combines the benefits of preparation with the energy of spontaneous conversation.
Essential Podcast Guest Preparation Checklist
✅ Pre-Interview Communication:
- Send a welcome email with show format and audience overview. Recommend your guests to listen to your most recent episode
- Share episode goals and target listener takeaways
- Provide technical requirements and recording platform details – this can be done in pre-interview run down (think the first 5 or so minutes prior to recording)
- Include topic outline or discussion points
- Request bio and headshot (LinkedIn is a great resource for this information in a B2B setting)
✅ Technical Setup:
- Schedule equipment test run (optional)
- Share recommended audio setup guidelines (many platforms like Riverside allow you to see your guest’s audio settings and adjust them if needed.) Remember you also need to act as your sound engineer or partner with Autozy
- Provide backup recording instructions (worst case scenario, you will need to record segments)
Best Practices for Remote Guest Interviews
Remote interviews present unique challenges. Follow these podcasting best practices:
Technical Preparation
- Conduct a pre-interview tech check 24 hours before recording (optional)
- Take the first 5-10 minutes to walk your guest through the platform you are recording with. This will help build rapport & allow you to do a tech recheck
- Request headphone use to prevent audio feedback
- Set up backup recording options
Communication Protocol
- Establish clear signal for technical issues
- Define time cues for segment transitions
- Create emergency backup plans
- Set expectations for post-recording edits
Expert Tips for Better Interviews
Industry experts share their proven guest interview strategies:
“The key to great podcast interviews isn’t just in the questions—it’s in creating an environment where genuine conversation can flourish.” – Sarah Chen, Host of Tech Talk Weekly
“We send topic areas but keep specific questions private. This balance helps guests prepare while maintaining authentic reactions.” – Michael Torres, Producer of Business Insider Podcast
How Professional Podcast Services Can Help
At Autozy, we specialize in optimizing every aspect of podcast guest preparation and interview execution:
- Customized pre-interview briefing materials (we can arrange your guests and all pre-interview questions)
- Professional question flow optimization
- Technical setup assistance (our team can live produce your call)
- Post-production editing and enhancement (Autozy will handle all edits, post-recording communications, and even release your episodes for you)
- Guest coordination and scheduling
Our done-for-you podcasting services ensure every episode maintains professional quality while capturing engaging, authentic conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I send questions to podcast guests?
Ideally, share your topic outline or questions 24 – 48 hours before recording. This gives guests time to prepare while keeping the content fresh. Make sure to ask if they have any edits or additions to the questions.
What if my guest insists on having all questions in advance?
Consider their perspective and comfort level. You can provide complete questions while reserving the right to ask natural follow-ups during the conversation. Remember the questions are just a guideline for you and your guest, you can be spontaneous but also come back to the questions if there’s a lull in the coversation.
How many questions should I prepare for a 30-minute interview?
Prepare 8-10 core questions, allowing time for follow-ups and organic discussion. This typically provides good pacing for a 30-minute episode.
📩 Ready to elevate your podcast interviews? Contact Autozy today for professional podcast production services that take the guesswork out of guest interviews.