100+ Podcast Interview Questions & Free Template [2026]

Unforgettable podcast interviews start with asking the right questions. 

Not sure what to ask your next guest? This guide gives you 100+ podcast interview questions, expert tips for stronger conversations, and a free template to plan every episode. 

Ready to make your podcast episodes more engaging and memorable? Read on.

Quick answer: What are good podcast interview questions?

Good podcast interview questions are open-ended, specific, and tailored to your guest. They encourage stories, opinions, and personal insights rather than one-word answers.

A strong interview usually combines warm-up questions, personal reflections, flexible follow-ups, and a memorable closing question. The best questions also leave room to explore an interesting answer as the conversation develops. 

Below, you’ll find 100+ podcast interview questions organized by category, along with a free template for planning your episode.

Best podcast interview questions to ask guests

Of our list of 100 podcast questions, these are the top 10. Adapt them to your niche and topic, and you've got strong conversation starters.

1. What moment completely changed/had the biggest influence on the path you’re on today?
2. What do people most often misunderstand about you or your story?
3. What belief have you completely changed your mind about, and what caused that change? 
4. What was the hardest lesson you had to learn in your life or work?
5. What was the biggest risk you’ve ever taken, and how did it ultimately pay off? 
6. What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started?
7. What piece of advice sounds great in theory but rarely works in practice?
8. What is one question you wish more interviewers asked you?
9. What challenge shaped you more than any success?
10. What should our listeners do right now if they want to follow in your footsteps?

100+ podcast interview question ideas for 2026

Here’s a list of 100+ ideas covering personal stories, industry insights, business, health, relationships, sports, lighthearted topics, and memorable closing questions. 

Best introduction questions

Use these introductory questions to warm up your  podcast guests and give listeners context before moving into deeper topics. 

1. Can you introduce yourself as if someone else were introducing you?
2. What brings you here today?
3. What's the story behind the name of your company/organization/show?
4. What inspired you to [name an achievement on your guest’s resume]? 
5. Have you been working on any new projects lately? Tell us about that.
6. What’s something our listeners might not know about you?
7. Is there anything you’d really like to talk about on today’s episode?

Best personal questions

Ask these personal questions to help your audience connect with the human side of your guest and explore their values. 

8. What do people misunderstand about you most?
9. What’s your favorite childhood memory? 
10. What was your biggest failure, and what did you learn from the experience?
11. If you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be?
12. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
13. What’s an insult you’ve received and been proud of?
14. How would your parents describe what you do?
15. What’s a funny story your family tells about you that you’d like to share?
16. What’s your favorite holiday movie, and what does it say about you?
17. What has been your favorite job you’ve held?
18. What has been your least favorite job to date?
19. If you could give your 18-year-old self some advice, what would you say?
20. Tell me about the three most influential people in your life and how they’ve impacted you.
21. What does your morning routine look like?

Industry-related questions

Dig into your guest’s expertise with industry-focused questions that uncover career lessons, practical advice, and fresh perspectives. 

22. What’s one thing about your career that you didn’t expect?
23. What was the turning point in your career path?
24. What’s a common myth about your job or area of expertise?
25. What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing in your career right now, and how are you tackling it? 
26. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career path so far?
27. In your opinion, what’s the most important strength or personality trait someone would need to be successful in your job?
28. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your field?
29. Who has been your most important professional mentor?
30. What’s one lesson your job has taught you that you think everyone should learn at some point in their life?
31. Did you always want to be a [guest’s profession]? 
32. What’s one thing about your area of expertise that no one agrees with you about?
33. What’s your favorite productivity hack for entrepreneurs?
34. At what time of day do you get your best work done?
35. What underrated tools are indispensable for your job?
36. If you could start a business tomorrow, what would that business be?
37. What occupation, other than your own, would you like to try?

Best relationship podcast questions

Use these questions to explore how relationships have shaped your guest’s life and personal growth.

38. How did you meet your spouse/significant other?
39. Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not? 
40. Tell me about some of the most important relationships in your life.
41. When did you fall in love for the first time? What was that like? 
42. What are some of your biggest challenges in relationships?
43. Do you remember your first date ever? Where did you go? 
44. What is the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for someone? 
45. Do soulmates really exist? What do you think, and why? 
46. What’s your best advice for someone navigating a breakup? 
47. How soon is too soon to tell someone you love them? 
48. What three things do you think are most important in a relationship?

Best health podcast questions

Bring up these health questions to explore your guest’s approach to physical and mental well-being with the habits and lessons that shaped their journey. 

49. What does health and wellness mean to you? 
50. What does your current self-care routine look like? 
51. Can you tell me about your nutritional program?
52. How do you stay on track with your dietary regime? 
53. What’s your favorite way to keep fit and active? 
54. What was your personal turning point in taking health more seriously?
55. Can you name a wellness hack you’d recommend to anyone? 
56. How has your perspective on mental health changed over time? 
57. What inspires you to stay fit and healthy? 
58. Are there any health or wellness resources you really love?
59. What’s the best decision you’ve ever made for your health journey? 

Best business podcast questions 

Dig into your guest’s career and business decisions, with these questions about starting, running, or managing a business. 

60. What prompted you to start your business?
61. Was there someone who helped you navigate early entrepreneurship?
62. If you could start over in business, what would you do differently? 
63. Do you have any tips for new entrepreneurs just starting out? 
64. What do you enjoy most about your business? 
65. Tell me about a major business challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.
66. Imagine you’re launching an outrageous business idea. What company would you bring to life? 
67. Can you speak to the ups and downs of managing a team? 
68. If you could rename your business, what would you call it and why? 
69. Which tools or systems help your business most day to day? 

Best social media podcast questions

Ask these social media questions to help listeners understand how to build and engage an online audience. 

70. Do you have a favorite social media platform? 
71. How much time do you spend on social media each day? 
72. Do you prefer text-based, photo-based, or video-based social media content?
73. Do you use any particular tools to keep up to date with social media?
74. What are the top three accounts you follow on social media right now? 
75. How do you navigate social media updates or algorithm changes? 
76. What was your first-ever social media handle, and which platform did you use?
77. Is there anything you wish you could change about the social media world? 
78. If you could start a new social media platform, what would it be? 
79. What’s next for social media? What do you think the future looks like?

Best sports podcast questions 

Use these sports-related questions to explore your guest’s training, mindset, and career highlights.

80. What are your top three favorite sports and why?
81. When did you first get interested in playing sports? 
82. What were your major sporting goals growing up?
83. Which moment in your sports career are you proudest of?
84. Who are your greatest sporting icons?
85. What’s your daily training regime?
86. If you could speak to any sports player in history, who would you choose? 
87. What’s a lesser-known sport you’ve always wanted to try? 
88. Did you always want to be involved in sports professionally? 
89. What tips would you give to someone starting out in the sports industry? 
90. How did school shape your relationship with sports?

Controversial podcast questions

Introduce these controversial questions carefully to explore sensitive topics and spark healthy debate. 

91. What’s a widely accepted idea in your industry that you think is flat-out wrong?
92. If you could ban one common practice in your profession, what would it be?
93. What trend do you think is completely overhyped right now?
94. Is there a movement or idea you think has gone too far, or not far enough?
95. Have you ever changed your mind on a major belief? What triggered that shift?
96. Is there a moment in your career you regret or feel ashamed of?
97. What’s a hill you’ll die on, no matter how unpopular it is?
98. What’s something your audience or fans would be surprised to hear you admit?

Whimsical and off-the-wall questions

Use these lighthearted questions to lighten the mood and add some spontaneity to the conversation. 

99. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
100. If you could have coffee with any historical figure, who would you choose?
101. What was your favorite subject in school?
102. What was your favorite trip you’ve ever taken?
103. What is your star sign? 
104. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
105. If you won $10 million tomorrow, what would you spend it on? 
106. If you had to write a book tomorrow, what would you write about?
107. What is your biggest pet peeve?
108. What do you think the world will look like in 5 years?
109. What do you think the world will look like in 50 years?
110. If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
111. What would be the title of the book about you–-if your worst enemy wrote it?
112. What’s your favorite color, and what does that say about you?

Great closing questions

Wrap up your episode with these closing questions to leave your audience with a memorable final insight.

113. What are three books/movies/podcasts you’d recommend to listeners and why? 
114. What’s one question you wish I’d asked you, and how would you have answered?
115. Where can listeners find you online?
116. Did I miss any questions? Do you have any final thoughts?

Podcast questions to avoid asking

Asking the right questions is paramount, but how do you avoid asking the wrong questions? Keep these things in mind!

• Steer clear of negativity: Ask your questions from a positive point of view and be careful about your phrasing. Even when you’re discussing negative experiences, like heartbreak or failure, try to avoid sensationalism and respect agreed boundaries.
• Don’t start with personal life questions: Even regular interviewees need time to warm up to you! Save personal and invasive questions for the end of the interview, when you’ve built up a sense of rapport and trust.
• Avoid asking more than one question at a time: No one likes to be overwhelmed in an interview. Avoid squeezing two questions into one in favor of asking one question at a time. This prevents your guest from having to decide which part to answer, and provides guests with more scope for meaningful responses.
• Don’t ask closed questions: The fastest way to stall an interview is by asking a yes/no question. You want guests to share an experience or tell a story. Instead of asking, “Was that difficult?”, ask, “What made that experience difficult for you?”

Free checklist: Did you plan your host interviews correctly? Use Project Umoja’s checklist to make sure you’re ready to record.

How to ask good podcast interview questions based on expert interviews

A reliable set of great questions keeps your interview on track so you deliver the most value. But coming up with solid podcast interview questions isn’t so easy. A few missteps can quickly make people click away from your content.

Let’s start with some advice on how to prepare interview questions that drive an engaging conversation and keep your target audience tuned in.

Learn more about your guests

Research your guest’s background, watch their recent work, and listen to past appearances. Check their social posts to see what topics they talk about most. Pay attention to questions they’re often asked and avoid repeating them.

“Our job as interviewers is to specifically pull out information that hasn't been shared on other shows.”- Travis Brown, HitPublish

Strong research helps you ask fresh, unique questions that make your interview stand out. This matters even more when your guest is a well-known thought leader and has been interviewed many times. For example, look at how Jay Shetty interviews Bill Gates.

Have a warm-up chat with your guest

To break the ice, schedule a quick, informal chat with your guest before the actual recording. Avoid asking them deep questions or anything you want to explore during the actual interview. 

This sets the stage for a natural, comfortable environment on the day of the interview. Plus, you’ll often pick up invaluable insights that you may want to explore in your actual recording.

For example, check this episode where Joe Rogan interviews Dr. Andrew Huberman. They start the episode mid-conversation with a relaxed exchange about dogs and genetics instead of a formal introduction.

Put a strong question near the start

Lead with one of your strongest questions while attention is highest. A brief introduction is fine, but move quickly to the angle most likely to spark curiosity or a revealing story. This is especially important for video interviews since retention drops over time, so your strongest questions shouldn’t come too late. 

Check this video where I analyzed many different interview styles:

Ask gamified questions

Tossing a few gamified icebreakers is a great way to make the conversation feel funnier and more dynamic. 

For example, in one episode of the Dead Meat Podcast, hosts play a fun round of rapid‑fire “Would you rather?” questions. Especially at the beginning of an interview, it loosens things up and reveals personality right away.

Don’t ask unnecessary biography questions

It’s tempting to ask simple biography questions like where a guest is from or where they went to school. But unless a specific biographical moment is a route into a story, just skip them. 

Instead, share a short bio in the first 10 seconds of the show. Listeners can easily find out more online if they want to.

Check how Lex Fridman quickly distills Sundar Pichai’s story into the details that matter most, then uses them to open a deeper conversation about how technology shaped his outlook: 

Ask for personal anecdotes

People love stories, especially when they’re personal and relatable. 

AAsking questions that build up a narrative is one of the most interesting things to talk about on a podcast. For example, enquire how your guest overcame a specific challenge they faced in their personal life. These stories are inspiring, memorable, and stick with listeners.

On the Colin and Samir Show, the hosts asked Tim Ferris to recall his very first guest. That anecdote was a turning point in his career and an anchor for the rest of the conversation.

Stay flexible

A great interview is never rigid; it follows the flow. Your question list should never be a script, but a flexible roadmap. If a guest says something intriguing, dive in, ask a follow-up question to explore, and spark an interesting conversation. Such an unscripted moment can easily become the highlight of the episode.

For example, in the Heavyweight podcast host Jonathan Goldstein often drives terrific conversations with simple but powerful follow-ups. Questions like “And how did that feel for you, at the time?” or “What did you learn from that?” may sound basic. But when dropped at the right moment, they open the door to incredible storytelling.

Pro tip: If you’re recording remotely, use teleprompter software so you can see your questions without looking down. Or, if you’re using Riverside, you don’t need extra tools. There’s a built-in teleprompter. 

Keep your goals in mind

When preparing for an interview, your episode goals are your guide. Are you expecting your interviewee to share life hacks, business advice, academic insight, or pure entertainment? Set your expectations, and use them to shape the questions.

For example, Andrew Huberman from Huberman Lab shapes every question and explanation around providing scientific insights rather than personal backstories. Check this interview with Dr. Andy Galpin from his Guest Series:

Find a signature question

A signature question makes your podcast feel more unique. It’s something that listeners come to expect and enjoy. It gives your podcast identity. Plus, you’ll give your guests the chance to answer a question they don’t hear every day. 

An example signature is the one that Guy Raz, host of the How I Built This podcast asks his guests every time: "How much of your success do you attribute to luck, and how much to hard work and skill?"

Our podcast interview question template

If you’re starting a new podcast, a template can help you ask good podcast questions until the process becomes second nature. 

Here is a flexible template you can adapt for any guest:

• Brief intro: Quickly recap who you are, what the podcast is about, and define the episode goal.
• Guest bio: Summarize who the guest is and why they matter for this episode in 10-15 seconds.
• Warm-up question: Use off-record or light on-record small talk to get the guest comfortable.
• Roadmap and icebreaker: Briefly explain the main themes you want to hit, then ask a low-stakes question to get their voice moving.
• Core questions: Choose 3-5 thought-provoking questions that serve the what, how, and why of the episode goal.
  
  • Question 1: ________________________________
  • Question 2: ________________________________
  • Question 3: ________________________________
  • Question 4: ________________________________
  • Question 5: ________________________________
• Follow-up questions: Prepare flexible questions based on your guest’s answers that you can use at any moment.
• Signature or closing question: End with a repeatable question that fits your show’s identity and gives guests space to reflect.

Free template: Download our podcast interview template and keep it handy for every episode!

FAQs on podcast interview questions

Why should I create a list of podcast questions?

You should create a list of podcast questions to give your podcast structure, keep the conversation on-topic, and avoid awkward pauses. Questions can also be arranged to help the interview unfold like a story, rather than jumping between unrelated topics. 

How do I prepare interview questions without sounding scripted?

To prepare interview questions without sounding scripted, use your list as a flexible guide rather than a fixed script. Write short prompts, group them by topic, and listen closely so you can ask natural follow-up questions.

You don’t need to read each question word for word, ask them in order, or cover every question you prepared.

Want to learn more about scripting? Read our full guide on podcast scripts.

How many questions should I prepare for a 30-minute interview?

You should prepare 6–10 open-ended questions for a 30-minute interview, including a warm-up question and a strong closer. That gives you enough material to drive an in-depth conversation, but still leaves room for follow-ups and intriguing deep dives. 

Just in case, always have a couple extra questions ready if the conversation runs shorter than expected.

What makes a podcast interview question “good”?

A good podcast question should invite a dynamic, truthful conversation while leaving room for unexpected answers and follow-ups. It should be many things at once:

• Open-ended: A good question should invite a discussion or a reflection rather than a one-word answer.
  ❌ Don’t ask: “Do you like your job?”
  ✔️  Ask: “What are the aspects of your job that you like the most, and why?”
• Specific: The better you frame your question and set a context, the more likely you’ll get a detailed response.
  ❌ Don’t ask: “How did you get started?”
  ✔️  Ask: “What was the first project you worked on that made you realize you were on the right path?”
• Emotionally resonant: Try to encourage your guest to share deeper reflections and personal experiences, instead of just surface-level facts.
  ❌ Don’t ask: “Was that a challenging time?”
  ✔️  Ask: “What was going through your mind in that moment, and how did it change you?”

Learn more in our guide on how to record high-quality interviews.

Should you send podcast interview questions to guests in advance?

Send guests the main topics you plan to cover, such as their background, key challenges, and lessons learned rather than a fixed list of exact questions. This gives them enough context to prepare and feel confident sharing without making the conversation feel rehearsed.  It can also help avoid rambling that could cost you hours in editing. 

You should send the complete question list only when a guest requests it or when you’re covering sensitive or fact-heavy topics. You should also confirm any subjects the guest doesn’t want to discuss.

Should podcast questions be personal or professional?

Podcast questions can be personal, professional, or a mix of both, depending on the guest and the purpose of the episode. 

Professional podcast questions center on expertise and knowledge, while personal ones reveal the human being behind the success. Blending them helps the audience connect with the guest on a personal level while still extracting valuable, actionable information.

How long should a podcast interview be?

A podcast interview should typically be 30-60 minutes long to keep the conversation focused and valuable. Shorter podcast episodes tend to work better for busy audiences or tightly focused topics, while longer interviews are better suited for deeper, more exploratory conversations.

Some podcasters, like Joe Rogan, regularly run 90+ minute episodes. But sustaining that level of raw, unfiltered conversation for that long takes real pro interviewing skills.