Ask Me Anything w/ Cal Fussman at GrowGetters ONLY (GG #25)

Real Talk with GrowGetters Episode #25 with Cal Fussman.

Mastering the art of interviewing goes beyond asking questions. It’s about building genuine connections and creating an atmosphere where guests feel encouraged to share their most authentic thoughts and experiences.

In this exclusive “Ask Me Anything” episode from the GrowGetters Only community, we are honored to have Cal Fussman, an American journalist, host of the Big Questions Podcast, and author. Cal is also a writer-at-large for Esquire magazine, where he has interviewed influential figures who have made a global mark, including Kobe Bryant, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Seth Godin, Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, Dr. Dre, Quincy Jones, Woody Allen, Barbara Walters, Pelé, Yao Ming, Serena Williams, John Wooden, Muhammad Ali, and many others.

Cal shares his journey of building meaningful connections and recounts the unforgettable story of his trip around the world. Moreover, he discusses practical tips for interview preparation, how to identify the crucial moments in every conversation, and the qualities that set great interviewers apart.

Cal also opens up about his most memorable interview and explains why he interviews people and how it all began. Additionally, listeners learn how to overcome fear, build strong relationships with their audience, and create content that truly resonates.

 

During this episode, you will learn about:

[00:00] Introduction

[01:46] Free community: weallgrowtogether.com

[02:09] Join the GrowGetters community: https://growgettersonly.com/

[03:46] Building deep connections

[10:41] Current project

[16:17] Are good interviewers born or made?

[19:30] Interview preparation

[24:28] Memorable interview

[27:54] Traits of great interviewers

[31:39] Why interview people?

[38:15] Overcoming fear

[45:18] Relationship with audience

[49:47] Crucial bits in an interview

[52:58] Book writing

[58:00] Connect with Cal Fussman

• Website: https://www.calfussman.com/

[01:03:19] Artificial intelligence (AI)

[01:05:46] Curiosity

Key Takeaways:  

• People who struggle with interviewing can become great interviewers if they put in the work. ~Cal Fussman [16:32]

• The best questions make the person being asked just as curious about the answer as the person asking. ~Cal Fussman [23:58]

• A good question can get you access to the most powerful person on earth. ~Cal Fussman [36:53]

• If your story keeps readers curious to see what happens next, they’ll stay hooked until the very end. ~Cal Fussman [48:24]

• An authentic story carries a human touch that AI can never replicate. ~Cal Fussman [01:05:02]

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