Your Guests Aren't Your Growth Plan

Hey Reader

Let's talk about the most popular kid in the podcasting school: the interview show.

It’s easy to see why everyone loves this format. You get to connect with amazing people, learn new things, and let's be honest, it can feel a lot easier than scripting a solo show every week.

Many podcasters also bet on the interview format as a golden ticket for growth. The thinking goes: "If I land a big-name guest, their audience will flock to my show!"

Sound familiar?

But if you’ve been at this for a while, you’ve probably learned a tough lesson... that flood of new listeners rarely arrives.

So, Where's the Disconnect?

Here’s the hard truth: Most interview shows are a tough sell. Why? Because listeners aren't necessarily there for your guest; they're there for the value your show provides. Simply having an interesting person on the mic isn’t enough to make your episode stand out.

Too many interviews follow the same predictable path: a long-winded backstory, a laundry list of questions, and a conversation that meanders without a clear destination. The result? An episode that’s nice, but not compelling enough for a new listener to stick around or subscribe.

But what if you could flip the script? What if you could turn your interviews from a "who's on this week" format into a "can't-miss value" experience?

​

A New Approach: Start With the Title

Instead of starting with a list of questions, try reverse engineering your episodes.

Here’s how it works:

• Craft a Compelling Title First: Before you even think about questions, decide on the episode's title. Make it a promise to the listener: what will they get from listening to this episode?
• Make Your Guest a Co-conspirator: Share the title with your guest beforehand. Frame the interview as a shared mission: "Hey, our goal is to deliver on the promise of this title for the listener." This transforms the dynamic from a Q&A into a collaboration.
• Focus on the "How": With a clear goal, your questions become more focused. Every question should serve the title, guiding the conversation toward delivering specific, actionable insights that your audience craves.

​

When you lead with the value proposition, you create an episode that's not just about who you're talking to, but about what your listener will get. You create a show that solves a problem, sparks curiosity, and delivers on a promise every single time.

​

Give it a try on your next episode. You might just find it's the key to turning casual listeners into loyal fans.

​

Until next time,

Steve