Don’t Let Guests Hijack Your Podcast

If you do an interview-format show, do not let guests dictate the discussion. Work with them, yes. Hand them the wheel, no.

You’re not there to repeat talking points. You’re not there to avoid pushback when pushback is needed.

But “guest control” isn’t always this obvious and can sneak up on you …

1. Please send me the questions you’ll be asking, so I can prepare for the interview.

2. I don’t want to talk about _____________.

3. I’d rather focus on the new book (or product, or album, etc).

4. I’d like to approve the episode before it goes live.

5. Please make sure you mention these three points when you introduce me.

The same goes for publicists and PR agents. Don’t let them strong arm you. Don’t let them sit in the studio with you. Don’t let them be anywhere they can talk back to you during an interview, including on a remote connection.

Why this happens:

1. They don’t trust you.

2. They don’t trust themselves.

Being a guest is a vulnerable position. Even if the conversation is friendly and the host is respectful, the guest is still performing in public.

Guests don’t know what question is coming next. They don’t know if an answer will be clipped later or how their words will sound once the context is gone.

It’s understandable. Some hosts treat interviews less like conversations and more like raw material to chop up and feed to the algorithm.

That’s why guests, publicists, and agents get guarded.

Understand their fears, but never let their problems become yours. It’s still your show.