The Art Of The Interview

Like a photograph, the quality of the frame will make an interview better or worse. In this week's episode, I talk about the many ways I frame interviews before, during, and after the interview is complete, and how that makes for a better interview.

I break down my tried methods for creating a safe, comfortable environment for your interviewees while also maximizing the technical quality of your recordings.

From the emails you send before the interview to the final follow-up afterward, every step is crucial to ensuring a smooth and successful conversation.

Here are my framing emails, outlines, and bullets so you can use them for your own interviews.

Password: artoftheinterview

Ever gone on a date with someone who only talks about themselves? Me neither. But that would be obnoxious, on a date or while being interviewed.

In this episode, I talk about how much it's appropriate to talk about yourself, your story, your thoughts, and your agenda while interviewing someone. Surprisingly, it's more nuanced than you might think.

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg73E-2NebZvD0df2JCEt8w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2tzoxgGJLmzVfSg0vwFQz4

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-the-interview/id1542998239

Your mindset will influence how your interview. In this week's episode, I talk about three essential mindsets to practice to get better interviews.

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg73E-2NebZvD0df2JCEt8w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2tzoxgGJLmzVfSg0vwFQz4

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-the-interview/id1542998239

Everyone knows the experience of sitting across from someone who you disagree with and feel animosity towards. In this week's episode, I talk about five steps to help you step out of antipathy and into empathy so you can have better interviews and conversations with people who you just don't see eye to eye.

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg73E-2NebZvD0df2JCEt8w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2tzoxgGJLmzVfSg0vwFQz4

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-the-interview/id1542998239

The Art of the Interview is back! Starting in February 2024, I'll be hosting a weekly episode and releasing it every Tuesday.

In this week's episode, I talk about twelve reasons why I think asking better questions is essential to being human in 2024 (in addition to just giving me something to podcast about). From expanding empathy to increasing both tolerance and intolerance (yes, you heard me right), these are a few reasons among many I think asking better questions can help make the world a better place.

Also, the Art of the Interview is now on YouTube! You're welcome. You can now stare at my beardy face for a full quarter-hour plus as I quack on about doing better interviews :-)

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg73E-2NebZvD0df2JCEt8w

In this episode, I talk about why you should delegate your tech responsibilities and, if you do, how to go about it. I tell two stories from The Art of the Interview by Lawrence Grobel about times his delegation has gone wrong and talk about what we can learn from it.

Through this episode, you'll understand why it's important to give away as many of the technical responsibilities you can. You'll also get some on-the-ground tips for what to talk about with your tech crew so that they understand exactly what they need to do and that you're the one in charge.

In this episode, I talk more about why research is (for most interviewers) essential to getting the best interview you can. I also read a passage from The Art of the Interview by Lawrence Grobel about how research is essential to knowing the right questions to ask. 

Through this episode, you'll get some fresh ideas of how to do research on your interviewees no matter the subject you're interviewing them about. You'll also have a solid understanding of why this part of the process is essential to getting the interviews you want.

In this episode, I talk about why research is (for most interviewers) essential to getting the best interview they can. In it, I read a passage from The Art of the Interview by Lawrence Grobel about his research philosophy. 

Through this episode, you'll get some fresh ideas of how to do research on your interviewees no matter the subject you're interviewing them about. You'll also have a solid understanding of why this part of the process is essential to getting the interviews you want.

In this episode, I talk about how to be a better sports interviewer. I base my tips off of an anecdote in The Art of the Interview by Lawrence Grobel about ESPN interviewer Roy Firestone. The book makes two important points about Firestone's style:

By listening to this episode, you'll be able to be a more holistic and person-centered sports interviewer. You'll get better sound bytes from the athletes that you interview, plus you'll be able to expand these techniques into other types of interviewing that tend to be less emotion-centered such as business, technology, and news.

This episode explores one of the central interviewing techniques I talk about on this podcast: "holding the space." It answers the questions of:

This episode will unpack this somewhat abstract topic of holding the space. By the end of the episode, you'll also be better able to identify your own prejudices and preferences. You'll have some different techniques for not letting them get in the way of being totally present and safe for your interviewee. You'll also understand how to create safety and comfort and make room for anything that comes during the interview, no matter how difficult or how much you disagree with it!