100 Great Podcast Interview Questions to Ask Your Guests

Good podcast interview questions are like the main ingredients of a dish. Without them, the conversation may lack flavor and fail to deliver valuable or intriguing content to your audience.

In this blog, we will:

• List 100 podcast interview questions in 5 categories (business growth, personal development, social issues, global trends, and the podcast industry itself)
• Share 10 best practices that can help you craft and deliver thought-provoking questions

Let’s get started.

Podcast Interview Questions on Business Growth

The following podcast interview questions will help you delve deeper into the journey of a business owner while uncovering their insights on growth and development.

1. What inspired you to start your business?
2. What were the biggest challenges you faced during the early stages of your business?
3. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a failure or setback in your business?
4. Can you discuss a time when you had to make a difficult decision to achieve business growth?
5. How do you stay ahead of industry trends and changes in the marketplace?
6. How do you prepare for potential challenges or disruptions that could impact your business?
7. How do you balance innovation with maintaining core business values?
8. How do you leverage your online presence to build your brand and attract clients?
9. How do you cater to the unique needs and preferences of your local market?
10. What role has networking played in your business growth, and how do you approach it?
11. How do you communicate your growth vision to stakeholders and investors?
12. How do you incorporate feedback from your employees in your growth strategy?
13. What are your strategies for attracting and retaining top talent?
14. How have you embraced digital tools and technologies to upgrade your business operations?
15. How have you adapted your company culture and operations to accommodate a remote or hybrid workforce?
16. How do you measure the social and environmental impact of your business?
17. What role does corporate social responsibility play in your growth strategy?
18. What is the most significant investment you’ve made in your business, and how has it paid off?
19. Can you share a success story of how a particular growth strategy significantly impacted your business?
20. What has been the most surprising factor that contributed to your business growth?

Podcast Interview Questions on Personal Development

From dealing with setbacks to embracing lifetime learning, these podcast interview questions will shed light on individual experiences and their path to self-development.

21. What is your personal definition of success?
22. How do you reflect on and evaluate your progress in personal growth?
23. How do you handle setbacks and failures on your journey to personal growth?
24. What strategies do you use to deal with procrastination and stay productive?
25. How do you stay motivated and focused when facing long-term goals?
26. How do you create and maintain healthy habits?
27. How do you balance productivity with rest and relaxation?
28. How do you practice self-compassion and self-care?
29. How do you build self-confidence and resilience?
30. How do you nurture your creativity and self-expression?
31. How do you incorporate new learning or skills into your daily routine?
32. How do you find inspiration or motivation when you feel stuck or uninspired?
33. How do you celebrate small victories or milestones on your journey to personal growth?
34. How do you incorporate personal development into your relationships and interactions with others?
35. What are your favorite books, podcasts, or other resources for personal development?
36. How do you ensure continuous learning and personal development throughout your life?
37. How do you address and overcome fears or anxieties related to personal change?
38. How do you leverage technology or tools to support your personal growth?
39. What role does community or social support play in your journey?
40. How do you navigate conflicts between personal development goals and professional demands?

Podcast Interview Questions on Social Issues

Podcast interview questions on social issues address topics ranging from inequality to environmental disasters, providing potential solutions for current global challenges.

41. What are the most pressing current global issues in your opinion?
42. How do you define equality and equity?
43. What roles can individuals play in addressing global challenges?
44. How can we support marginalized communities effectively?
45. How can we encourage and support youth engagement in social and political activism?
46. How can we address the gap between the rich and the poor?
47. What are the most significant environmental challenges facing our planet?
48. How can individuals contribute to environmental conservation?
49. What are the ethical implications of emerging technologies?
50. How can we ensure that technology is used for the benefit of all?
51. What strategies can be used to combat misinformation and promote accurate information?
52. How do social media and digital platforms impact social movements and activism?
53. What strategies can be used to amplify the voice of activists and leaders?
54. How can we promote mental health awareness and support?
55. What are the challenges facing human rights defenders right now?
56. How can we create more inclusive practices and policies in the workplace and institutions?
57. What does corporate social responsibility play in addressing social issues, and how can businesses be more accountable?
58. What role does arts and culture play in addressing and reflecting social issues?
59. What strategies can be used to promote ethical consumerism?
60. What are the implications of overpopulation on global resources and how can they be managed?

Podcast Interview Questions on Global Trends

From the rise of AI to the future of work, the following podcast interview questions can show us how global trends are reshaping our world.

61. What are the major trends shaping our world right now?
62. How is the global balance of power changing?
63. How is the future of work evolving?
64. How are global financial institutions adapting to the challenges posed by decentralized finance?
65. How are trends in global consumer behavior and preferences influencing market strategies and product innovations?
66. What are the implications of urban sprawl and suburbanization?
67. What are the implications of the rise of global digital nomadism?
68. How are shifts in global energy infrastructure influencing national and international energy policies?
69. What are the strategic responses of global powers to the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters?
70. What role does international collaboration play in addressing biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation?
71. What lessons have been learned from global responses to crises like pandemics, and how can they be applied for future challenges?
72. How is the rise of personalized medicine and health data analytics transforming global patient systems and health outcomes?
73. How is the growing emphasis on mental health and wellbeing influencing workplace policies?
74. What are the impacts of emerging educational technologies on the traditional school system?
75. What are the effects of changing dietary trends on agriculture and food security?
76. What are the implications of space exploration and commercialization for international collaboration and competition?
77. What is the growing influence of tech giants on international policy and regulatory frameworks?
78. In what ways are advanced technologies like AI and machine learning redefining competitive advantages for nations and corporations?
79. How can we address the ethical implications of emerging technologies like AI and biotechnology?
80. How can we prepare young people for the changing job market?

Podcast Interview Questions on the Industry

Podcasters best learn from each other, and these podcast interview questions can highlight key practices and lessons that contribute to success in the podcasting industry.

81. What inspired you to start your podcast?
82. How do you come up with ideas for your episodes?
83. How did you build and grow your audience?
84. What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a podcast?
85. What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with growing their audience?
86. How do you promote your podcast on social media?
87. What is your podcast production workflow like?
88. How do you manage technical aspects of podcasting like sound quality and editing?
89. How do you choose guests for your podcast, and what do you look for in a potential guest?
90. What are the key elements of a successful podcast episode?
91. How do you measure the success of your podcast?
92. What strategies have you found most effective for monetizing your podcast?
93. How do you handle feedback and criticism from your audience?
94. What are some common misconceptions about podcasting you’ve encountered?
95. What are the biggest challenges you face in podcasting, and how do you overcome them?
96. How do you stay updated with the latest tools and technologies in podcasting?
97. What are the biggest trends in the podcast industry right now?
98. How has the podcast industry changed over the past few years?
99. What are the opportunities for growth in the podcast industry?
100. What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned from hosting a podcast?

How to Ask Podcast Interview Questions: 10 Best Practices

Before we conclude our blog, let’s take a look at 10 best practices you can adopt when developing and asking podcast interview questions.

• Do you research thoroughly. Know your guest’s background and look for unique aspects of their work. 
• Make your guest feel comfortable. Create a welcoming atmosphere to encourage open conversation.
• Ask open-ended questions. Start with “What”, “How”, or “Why” to promote deeper thinking.
• Clearly state what you want to know. Avoid vague questions and refer to specific cases. (e.g. “Can you elaborate on the challenges you’ve faced during [experience]?”
• Leverage answers as a starting point. Build on your guest’s responses to explore topics further.
• Use hypothetical scenarios. Present “what if” situations to understand their thought process. (e.g. “If you could change one thing about [industry], what would it be?”
• Practice active listening. Engage fully with their answers and avoid interrupting to allow them to express their thoughts completely.
• Avoid getting overly personal. Respect boundaries and steer clear from personal questions that might invade their privacy.
• Show respect and empathy. Acknowledge their experiences and approach sensitive topics with care and consideration.
• Prepare for possible difficulties in the conversation. Think about how you might respond to unexpected answers and adapt as needed.

Bonus tip: After recording your podcast, transcribe the episode with AI so listeners can easily review answers and search for specific information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

This blog listed 100 podcast interview questions in 5 categories, and highlighted 10 best practices hosts can use to refine their questioning techniques. During this process, it’s important to let your curiosity lead the way and stay passionate about your craft. Embrace the challenge of each interview, and use it as an opportunity to draw out compelling stories, new perspectives, and valuable takeaways.