---
name: Interview Techniques
slug: interview-techniques
category: Writing
description: Provides question design, conversation flow management, and emotional arc design methodologies for drawing out deep conversations in guest interviews for podcast scripts.
github: "https://github.com/revfactory/harness-100/tree/main/en/02-podcast-studio/.claude/skills/interview-techniques"
stars: 1187
forks: 419
install: "git clone https://github.com/revfactory/harness-100"
added: 2026-07-20T06:49:17.553Z
last_synced: 2026-07-27T06:41:49.613Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/interview-techniques"
---

# Interview Techniques

Provides question design, conversation flow management, and emotional arc design methodologies for drawing out deep conversations in guest interviews for podcast scripts.

**Install:** `git clone https://github.com/revfactory/harness-100`

## README

# Interview Techniques — Podcast Interview Methodology

Specialist interview design knowledge used by the scriptwriter agent when crafting interview-format episode scripts.

## Why This Skill Is Needed

Podcast interviews are different from standard interviews. You must create tension and immersion **using only audio, with no visible audience**. Good questions yield good answers, and good answers determine listener retention.

## Question Design Framework: The DEPTH Model

| Stage | Acronym | Description | Example |
|-------|---------|-------------|---------|
| **D**oor-opener | Opening | An entry point where the guest can start comfortably | "What first drew you to this field?" |
| **E**xplore | Exploration | Follow-up questions that surface the story beneath the surface | "What was the hardest part about that time?" |
| **P**rovoke | Provocation | Challenge conventional wisdom or invite an opposing view | "Some people argue the opposite — what do you think?" |
| **T**urn | Transition | Shift naturally to a new topic area | "Hearing that makes me curious about..." |
| **H**eart | Core | A closing question that distills the episode's key message | "If you could sum up today's conversation in one sentence?" |

### DEPTH Application Rules

1. **D must be the first question** — never hit the guest with a tough question before they've relaxed
2. **E should be repeated at least twice** — asking "why?" three times gets you the real story (Toyota's 5 Whys principle)
3. **P no more than once per segment** — excessive provocation turns the interview adversarial
4. **T should quote a keyword from the previous answer** — starting with "You mentioned earlier that..." creates natural continuity
5. **H goes in the final 5 minutes** — anchor the core message at the conclusion

## Question Type Pattern Library

### 1. Story Elicitation Questions
- "If you could go back to that moment, what scene comes to mind?"
- "What was the most unexpected reaction you received?"
- "Right before you made that decision, what was going through your head?"

**Why they work**: Asking for specific scenes instead of abstract explanations produces sensory detail. Listeners engage with stories more than statistics.

### 2. Contrast Questions
- "How are you different now compared to when you started?"
- "What's something everyone in the industry agrees on, but you disagree with?"
- "What's the biggest gap between your public image and reality?"

**Why they work**: Contrast structures create cognitive tension. Listeners perk up and think, "Wait, what's that about?"

### 3. Specification Questions
- "Can you put a specific number or scale on that?"
- "Can you give me a concrete example?"
- "Could you walk through that process step by step?"

**Why they work**: Vague answers are deadly in podcasts. Listeners need to be able to paint a picture in their minds.

### 4. Emotional Access Questions
- "Honestly, how did that make you feel?"
- "What was the first thought that crossed your mind when you heard that news?"
- "Looking back now, what emotions come up?"

**Why they work**: Information enters through the ears, but emotion reaches the heart. Emotionally charged answers boost retention by 20–40%.

## Conversation Flow Design: The Emotional Arc

### Emotional Arc Rules

1. **Opening**: Start at medium intensity — too high leaves nowhere to go; too low causes drop-off
2. **Segment 1 Peak**: The first emotional high point — the moment listeners feel "this is good"
3. **Mid-Valley**: Intentional pacing change — sustained tension is exhausting. Use humor or lighter topics to give listeners a break
4. **Segment 3 Climax**: The most intense emotional moment — the peak of insight, surprise, or emotional resonance
5. **Closing Landing**: Bring the emotion down gently while leaving a lingering impression

### Segment Transition Techniques

| Technique | Phrase Pattern | Use Case |
|-----------|---------------|----------|
| **Bridge Summary** | "You just talked about X, and I think that connects to Y..." | Topic expansion |
| **Listener Proxy** | "I'm sure some listeners are thinking..." | Perspective shift |
| **Surprise Card** | "Actually, something really surprised me when I was preparing this question" | Energy reignition |
| **Callback** | "You said something in the first segment about... But now..." | Narrative connection |

## Episode Type-Specific Question Structures

### Solo Episodes
- Place 2–3 hypothetical listener questions: "A question I get asked a lot is..."
- Deliver personal experiences in story form (Before → Struggle → After)
- Address the listener directly every 5 minutes: "What about you?"

### Interview Episodes (1:1)
- Follow the DEPTH model precisely
- Always add 1–2 sentences of reaction after the guest's answer (no dead silence, but no excessive agreement either)
- Keep yes/no questions under 10% of the total

### Panel Episodes (3+ participants)
- "What do you think about X, [Panelist A]? [Panelist B], it seems like you might have a different view..."
- Pre-allocate question counts per panelist to balance speaking time
- Encourage direct dialogue between panelists: "Do you agree with [A]'s take?"

## Prohibited Patterns

| Prohibited | Reason | Alternative |
|-----------|--------|------------|
| "Could you introduce yourself?" | The quintessential boring opening | Start with an interesting anecdote about the guest |
| Repeated "yeah, yeah, exactly" | Adds no information for listeners — just noise | "That's interesting because..." |
| 3+ minute host monologue | Defeats the purpose of having a guest | Summarize in under 30 seconds, then ask |
| Reading the script verbatim | Kills spontaneity | Keep only keywords as notes and speak conversationally |
| All questions in order | Feels mechanical | Adapt the sequence based on the answer flow |

## Guest Pre-Research Checklist

Must-verify items before writing the script:

- [ ] Guest's activity over the past 3 months (talks, publications, interviews)
- [ ] Other podcast appearances (avoid repeating the same questions)
- [ ] Topics they frequently discuss on social media (their passion points)
- [ ] Any controversial statements or positions (material for Provoke questions)
- [ ] Personal anecdotes (material for humanizing questions)