203 | Why Most Podcast Interviews Fail (And How to Fix Yours)
Episode description
Elevate your podcasting game with Riverside.fm's studio-quality recordings, lightning-fast editing, and enhanced streaming capabilities—try it today! Get 15% off with discount code Podtastic
If your podcast relies on guest interviews, but your episodes aren't landing the way you hoped—they might be failing for all the wrong reasons.
In this episode, we’re unpacking why so many podcast interviews fall flat, especially in the indie podcasting world, and how to turn them into engaging, valuable conversations your audience will actually care about.
You’ll learn:
- Why “just booking a guest” isn’t enough
- How guest interviews can dilute your voice—and how to stay in control
- The real reason your audience isn’t growing (even when guests are well-known)
- What separates a dynamic, story-driven guest from a flat, forgettable one
- The #1 myth about big-name guests and download numbers
- Simple, actionable ways to structure better interviews—without being a professional journalist
Whether you're brand new or years into podcasting, this episode will challenge how you think about interviews—and give you tools to level up your show.
🎧 Tune in and start making interviews that don't just fill airtime... they make an impact.
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00:00 - Why podcast interviews are usually boring
00:22 - Intro to Podtastic Audio
00:55 - Sponsor shoutout: Riverside.fm and the tools that make interviews easy
02:06 - Why everyone does interviews today
03:38 - A look back at how interviews used to work (RIP Skype!)
05:10 - The pros of doing guest interviews: networking, validation, community
06:02 - How Zoom and the pandemic made interviews explode
07:20 - The benefits of not being alone on mic
08:35 - The thrill of interviewing someone “bigger” than you
09:11 - The myth of guests sharing your episode with their audience
10:10 - How interviews help your podcast grow—if done right
11:04 - The catch: guests build *their* authority, not yours
12:22 - The problem with saying yes to every guest
13:24 - Why some interviews feel completely off-brand
14:36 - We’re not trained journalists—and that’s okay
15:28 - Mistakes indie podcasters make with interviews
16:17 - Interviews need prep, purpose, and audience focus
16:49 - What makes a *good* interview
18:13 - Why your guest must fit your niche and bring energy
19:30 - Great guests tell great stories
19:49 - What makes a *bad* interview (boring, off-topic, dry delivery)
21:14 - Why bad storytelling ruins even great content
22:25 - Prepping your guest for a smoother recording
23:11 - The biggest myth in podcast interviews
24:21 - Big guests ≠ big downloads
25:33 - The need vs. the name: value trumps fame
27:06 - Final thoughts: always serve your audience first
27:23 - Wrap-up and how to connect with me
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