Asking follow-up questions
The pre-written list is a backup. The real gold in any interview comes from follow-up questions — short prompts that pull the thread on what your guest just said.
Your guest just told you they built a time machine, travelled back 70 million years, and shot a T-Rex. You glance at your sheet and ask, "So, what's your favourite WordPress plugin?"
Interviewers who actually listen to their guests and ask good follow-ups find the real gold. Things like "What was that like?" "Why do you think that?" "Could you explain what this means?" These can lead to fantastic content.
Always pick up on threads that seem interesting or curious. Even if you know the answer, your listener might not — and you're here to bring them value, not to make them feel left out.
Have your pre-written list, sure. Use it as a framework or backup when things fall flat. But the conversation lives in the follow-ups.
5 follow-up phrases you'll actually use
Keep them short. Put the list next to your mic.