How to Make a Podcast Interview More Equal
Dec 06th
Even if you are a confident podcaster, the power dynamics at play during interviews can lead to very awkward situations if you don’t manage them well. Francesca Turauskis shares how podcasters can make interviewers and interviewees more equal…
In my last article, I explored how interviewers and interviewees are never really equals – at least at the point the interview is agreed. There are always power dynamics at play that will affect your interview, and sometimes that can mean that you end up with recordings that don’t answer the questions you set out to ask.
The good news is that you can conduct an interview in a way that helps you gain more control over the situation, or in a way that lets your interviewee take some control themselves. Here are four ways to help make an interview more equal.
Choose the Right Location
One of the most important jobs for a podcast producer is picking the right location for an interview. This is true from a practical sense (e.g. picking the best option for good audio) but it also helps manage the dynamics of an interview.
If you want someone to have an easy experience, interviewing them at home can be a great way to meet them where they are. Sarah Koenig of Serial said during An Evening with Sarah Koenig that “sometimes it’s great to be in a source’s house.” However, she cautioned that “it is like you’re a guest. So sometimes it’s not the best venue, especially if you’re going to be confronting somebody.”
Picking a neutral space can be a good option and could also help keep the conversation civil if you are confronting someone. However, bear in mind that public spaces might be inappropriate for some conversations. In her class for the Broccoli BUILD series, broadcast journalist Alice Bloch pointed out that “if you’re going to be talking about something sensitive… don’t do it in the middle of a noisy café or co-working space.”
If you want to control the space, inviting someone into the studio can be a great choice for a professional and private venue. Do think about the vibe you want to give guests when they are there – you can keep it professional but you could also make it welcoming or relaxing. In the Structure of Intimacy panel at the International Women’s Podcast Festival this year, Natasha Miller from the Bitter/Sweet podcast talked about how she tries to make guests comfortable using different scents and candles.
Wherever you choose to do your interview, the main thing to remember is to choose with purpose, and think about how the guest might feel in that place with you.
Explain the Interview and Production Process
Explaining the interview and production process is a great idea with lots of guests, and I would recommend making this a regular part of your interview flow. If someone isn’t used to being interviewed, talking through how you edit the show can be a great way to reassure them or prepare them that only a small section of an interview might be used. This is something that producer Jess Shane covered in detail in Radiotopia’s podcast, Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative, and it helps avoid misunderstandings or upset when the interview is released.
Talking through the next steps can also help indicate your control over the show if an interviewee is trying to have more power over the conversation than you are comfortable with (such as if they avoided answering your questions). For example, explaining who else you are speaking to during an investigation might encourage a guest to be more honest with probing questions.
This is also where you can cover editorial or legal aspects such as the fact the interview will be edited or offering the right of reply. This is especially important if you are running an investigation but could also be useful to consider for other podcast styles.
Consider an Activity
When you think of an interview, you’ll likely picture two people sitting down but including an activity in your interview could be a great way to break up the Q&A style. It can add some interest for the listener as it shows a different side to your guest and has the potential to include sound beyond the conversation.
Producer Leo Hornak spoke about this method of interviewing at my recent Tremula Festival, and he calls it a ‘happening interview’. “I think it’s a whole tool that people use a lot but maybe don’t give enough thought to,” he said. “There’s just so many ways in which you can make something happen in your interview that goes beyond just words”.
This is also a place to consider the dynamics of the interviewer-interviewee setup. If you are speaking to someone who is shy or uncomfortable with the microphone, doing an activity they know well can help put them at ease. “They can forget that the microphone’s there,” Leo says, “and they can become their real self rather than wondering what everyone’s going to think when they hear this”.
On the flip side, if you are speaking to someone that makes you nervous or has been interviewed a lot (such as your favourite celebrity) doing an activity can give you something different to talk about, and help you feel more at ease in that conversation.
Consider If You Are The Best Interviewer
One last thing that I think is always worth considering is whether you are the best interviewer to get the answers that you are looking for from a guest. There are some situations where you could be the most considerate interviewer in the world, but pre-existing power dynamics mean that someone just won’t answer you in the way you need them to.
Social and cultural dynamics can sometimes make a guest feel uncomfortable or guarded, especially if their experiences differ significantly from your own. For example, if you’re discussing sensitive topics like racism or sexism and you haven’t personally experienced them, the guest may feel less open. In such cases, consider arranging what I call an “affinity interview,” where someone who shares more common ground or lived experience with the guest conducts the interview instead.
On the flip side of the coin, you might also find there are interviews you don’t want to undertake because of how it will affect you. If a subject or guest feels too uncomfortable or personal to you, think about if someone else might be able to interview them instead. Remember that no matter how important an interview is, always consider your safety and welfare when you are arranging it.
No matter what type of podcast you are making, considering the context and the options for your interviews is an important part of the process. We hope these tips can help you approach interviewing in a more purposeful way.
If you want more tips on successful interviewing, the video versions of the IWPF panels and workshops will soon be online, but in the meantime, make sure you are signed up to our newsletter to hear all our latest offerings.