. Thoroughly Prepare:

• Research your guest and their work. Familiarize yourself with their background, achievements, and the topics they are knowledgeable about. This preparation will allow you to ask informed and relevant questions.

2. Craft a Strong Narrative:

• Think about the narrative or story you want to convey through the interview. Structure your questions to lead the conversation in a coherent and engaging direction.

3. Start with Open-Ended Questions:

• Begin the interview with open-ended questions that encourage the guest to share their insights and experiences. Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no."

4. Active Listening:

• Pay close attention to your guest's responses. Actively listen to what they are saying, and use their answers to guide the conversation. Avoid interrupting, and show genuine interest.

5. Follow-Up Questions:

• Based on your guest's responses, ask follow-up questions to dig deeper and extract more valuable information. This can lead to more profound insights and engaging discussions.

6. Be Flexible:

• While it's essential to have a plan, be flexible enough to allow for unexpected but valuable tangents in the conversation. These can often lead to interesting insights.

7. Manage Time Effectively:

• Keep track of time to ensure the interview remains within your desired length. Don't rush, but also avoid long-winded tangents that could lose your audience's interest.

8. Ask for Stories and Examples:

• Encourage your guest to provide real-life stories and examples to illustrate their points. Stories can be engaging and relatable for your listeners.

9. Empower Your Guest:

• Make your guest feel comfortable and valued. Let them know that they have the platform to share their expertise. This can lead to more open and insightful discussions.

10. Mind Your Tone and Pace: - Use a friendly and conversational tone. Avoid speaking too quickly or too slowly, and be mindful of your guest's pace to ensure a comfortable flow of conversation.

11. Use Silence Wisely: - Don't rush to fill silences. Sometimes, guests need a moment to gather their thoughts, which can lead to more profound responses.

12. Avoid Leading Questions: - Be careful not to ask leading questions that suggest the answer you want to hear. Instead, aim for neutral and open questions.

13. Respect Differing Opinions: - If your guest expresses a differing opinion, approach it with respect and curiosity rather than confrontation. It can lead to more informative discussions.

14. Promote Your Guest: - Give your guest an opportunity to share their work, website, or social media handles. This can be a great way to express gratitude for their time and expertise.

15. Post-Production Editing: - After the interview, consider post-production editing to remove any distractions, such as background noise or long pauses, to ensure a polished final product.

16. Continuous Improvement: - Reflect on your interviews and seek feedback from listeners or peers. Continuously strive to improve your skills as an interviewer.

Remember that practice is essential for improving your interviewing skills. The more interviews you conduct, the more comfortable and effective you'll become. Each interview is an opportunity to learn and refine your podcasting abilities, so keep honing your craft.