Here are my epic notes. Make your own rules.

Never use questions provided by a guest.

I don’t want canned responses, and I’m not interested in Real Men Feel just being another stop on a promotional tour with the same content as all prior interviews. Usually, I don’t read submitted questions until after the recording to see if I happened to touch any of them. If I’m ever in a pinch for time, I might scan the supplied questions and look for the primary content they cover, but I never use an exact question.

Play Dumb

Empty your cup and ask lots of questions. Assume your audience knows nothing about the subject. Ask for definitions. Even if I know what a word means, if a guest focuses on something, I’ll ask them to define it. I want to make sure the guest, host, and audience are all on the same page.
If I’m interviewing an author, I don’t read their book. I see the show as their opportunity to convince the audience and me that it is worth reading. I simply don’t have time to read every book and listen to every podcast sent my way.

Do Your Homework

This keeps playing dumb from being dumb. Scan guest bio, website, and offerings. What do you truly want to know more about? I’ll prepare 3-5 questions to get me started. Sometimes only 1 or 2 will get used based on the responses.

Be present. Listen. React.

I’ll also have 2-3 questions to end with. The last question is always how people can learn more about you.
I have a mental list of a dozen questions I can ask anytime with any guest who is running out of steam. This was written out in the beginning.

Why?

The easiest follow-up question and a way to get deeper is: Why did they do something? Why should I do something? Why? Why? Why?
Being inquisitive and curious will lead to great shows.

Take notes

During interviews, I jot down phrases and details of answers I want to get back to. Sometimes, a guest might speak for 10 minutes straight, but something early caught my attention, and I don’t want it forgotten. This also lets me control the agenda. A well-practiced guest might end at a point that references their own work and invites an obvious follow-up about it, but I might be more interested in something else.

Own Your Show.

Claim your space psychologically, energetically and physically. I have a number of rituals I do before each show. I also stand up. I find it keeps me energized and engaged. Don’t be afraid to cut a long-winded guest off or ask the same question again if it was ignored.

Always introduce yourself and give CTAs. Assume most listeners are tuning in for the first time.
Don’t be afraid to charge guests to be on. I often do this to PR companies and agencies. I have no shortage of guests, so I will let someone cut the line for $100.