203 | Why Most Podcast Interviews Fail (And How to Fix Yours)

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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

#PodcastTips #IndiePodcaster #PodcastInterviews #PodcastMistakes #P