Tim Ferris’s Tips for Engaging Interviews
8 Tips from the Author, Blogger, and Podcaster
Author, blogger, podcaster and tech entrepreneur Tim Ferris has interviewed podcast guests for close to 20 years. The Tim Ferris Show has 900 million downloads and his book The 4 Hour Work Week defined the digital nomad era. Colin and Samir - a channel “about creators for creators” - spoke with Ferris about podcasting, fame, advertising and more. Near the 1 hour 30 minutes mark Ferris shares some tips for successful and engaging interviews.
8 Bullets from Tim Ferris on how to have engaging interviews:
Remote, audio-only interviews. These are easier & simpler for the everyone. No cameras, no pressure, less editing.
Do your homework. Review your subject’s previous interviews and ask questions about stuff that wasn’t previously covered.
Make the guest feel comfortable. Remind them that they can take breaks, re-state points, and have approval over the final edit.
Ask how you can make their time well-spent. Ask if there’s any specific topics they want to cover. Make this interview their favorite.
Let them know how you’ll begin. Give the guest an opportunity to think about their talking points and if this is a comfortable place to begin.
Get warmed up. Start with some conversation before launching into questions. Interviewing is a marathon, not a sprint.
Start with the easy questions. Give guests a chance to get comfortable. The first ten minutes usually sets the tone of the interview.
Do your homework but be willing to go off script. Find the middle ground between preparation and improvisation.
These tips can be applied across disciplines from podcasting, to reporting, to oral history. Ferris is a master at optimizing efficiency in his projects and his tips for interviewing are a perfect example. He sets himself up for success by making the guest feel comfortable. He warms up by having some conversation, covering a few housekeeping items and then begins, giving his guests time to get into the mental space of an interview. Ferris does his best to make sure that the beginning of the interview is as smooth as possible as the first ten minutes determines the outcome. With one of the longest-running, most-downloaded podcasts in the business, Ferris knows the blueprint for a successful interview.