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50 Podcast Interview Question Templates

October 28, 2026 · 6 min read · By the DollarWise team
50 Podcast Interview Question Templates
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A great podcast interview rarely comes from a great guest alone — it comes from questions that give the guest something real to answer. Yes-or-no questions get yes-or-no answers, but an open question about a turning point, a failure, or a lesson learned gets a story. These fifty question templates are built for podcast hosts at any level, from a first episode recorded in a spare room to a long-running show looking for fresher conversations. Use them as written, or adapt the bracketed parts to your guest’s world, and your interviews will sound less like a Q&A and more like a conversation worth listening to.

What’s inside this resource

The templates are grouped by the job each question does: warm openers that settle a guest, story questions that draw out real moments, turning-point questions that reveal decisions, craft questions about how they actually do the work, advice questions listeners can use, and closers that end on a high note. Every template is open-ended and starts with what, how, or why — the words that invite a story instead of a sentence. Mix three or four types in one interview and you get a natural arc: easy start, deep middle, useful ending.

The resource

  1. Opener — What are you working on right now that has you most excited?
  2. Opener — How would you describe what you do to someone meeting you for the first time?
  3. Opener — What is a typical day in your work actually like, start to finish?
  4. Opener — What drew you to [field] in the first place?
  5. Opener — What is something about your work that surprises most people?
  6. Story — Can you take us back to the moment you first realized [topic] mattered to you?
  7. Story — Tell us about a day in your career you will never forget — what happened?
  8. Story — What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you while doing [activity]?
  9. Story — Describe a time when everything went wrong and what you did next.
  10. Story — Who was the first person who believed in your work, and what did they say?
  11. Turning point — Was there a moment when you almost quit? What kept you going?
  12. Turning point — What decision changed the direction of your career most?
  13. Turning point — Looking back, what would you do differently about [event]?
  14. Turning point — When did you know [project] was going to work?
  15. Turning point — What was the hardest conversation you had to have in your career?
  16. Craft — Walk us through how you actually create [thing], step by step.
  17. Craft — What tools or routines could you not do your work without?
  18. Craft — How do you handle a creative block when a deadline is close?
  19. Craft — What does your preparation look like before a big [event or launch]?
  20. Craft — What skill took you the longest to learn, and how did you finally get it?
  21. Challenge — What is the biggest challenge facing [field] right now?
  22. Challenge — What is a common myth about [topic] that you wish people would stop believing?
  23. Challenge — Have you ever failed publicly? What did you learn from it?
  24. Challenge — What criticism of your work taught you something valuable?
  25. Challenge — What would you change about how [industry] works, if you could?
  26. Advice — What advice would you give someone starting out in [field] today?
  27. Advice — What do you wish someone had told you when you were starting?
  28. Advice — What is one habit that has made the biggest difference in your work?
  29. Advice — What book, tool, or resource do you recommend most often?
  30. Advice — How should a beginner practice [skill] in their first month?
  31. Perspective — How has [field] changed since you started, and where is it going?
  32. Perspective — What trends in [field] excite you, and which ones worry you?
  33. Perspective — How do you think [topic] will look ten years from now?
  34. Perspective — What do outsiders usually misunderstand about your work?
  35. Perspective — If you could work on any project in the world, what would it be?
  36. Personal — What are you reading, watching, or listening to right now?
  37. Personal — How do you recharge when work gets intense?
  38. Personal — What is something you are proud of that has nothing to do with work?
  39. Personal — Who has influenced your thinking more than anyone else?
  40. Personal — What does a perfect day off look like for you?
  41. Rapid fire — Coffee or tea?
  42. Rapid fire — Early mornings or late nights?
  43. Rapid fire — One word to describe your work style?
  44. Rapid fire — Favorite place you have ever visited for work?
  45. Rapid fire — The best advice you ever received, in one sentence?
  46. Closer — What are you most looking forward to in the next year?
  47. Closer — Where can listeners find your work and follow what you do next?
  48. Closer — If listeners remember one thing from this conversation, what should it be?
  49. Closer — Is there a question you wish interviewers would ask you more often?
  50. Closer — What would you like to say to someone listening who wants to follow your path?

How to use this resource

  1. Before recording, read your guest’s work and pick eight to ten questions that fit their actual story, not just their job title.
  2. Replace every bracketed placeholder with your guest’s details, so questions sound researched rather than generic.
  3. Open with a warm-up question and save the hardest or most personal question for the middle, once trust is built.
  4. Listen for the interesting detail inside an answer and follow it with one unscripted question before moving on.
  5. Close with a forward-looking question and a clear invitation for listeners to find your guest’s work.

Download the 50 Podcast Interview Question Templates

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Frequently asked questions

How many questions should I prepare for one episode?

Eight to twelve solid questions usually fill a 30 to 45 minute conversation, because good answers lead to follow-ups. Over-preparing a long list makes hosts rush; a shorter list with room to listen produces better episodes.

Should I send questions to the guest in advance?

Sharing broad topics in advance helps guests prepare stories and relax, but sending the exact word-for-word list can produce rehearsed answers. A middle path works best: share themes, keep a few questions as surprises.

What if a guest gives a very short answer?

Follow up gently with a story prompt, such as asking for an example or a moment when that changed. Short answers usually mean the question was too abstract — make it concrete and the guest will usually open up.

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Written by the DollarWise team

We turn confusing money topics into plain-English guides for beginners. Every article is written to be actionable on day one — no jargon, no hype, no sales pitch.

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