88: How to be Better at Interviewing - Sam Harris

Hosting a podcast interview is a lot harder than it sounds. It’s not a simple as having a friendly chat in front of a pair of microphones. If you don’t prepare, you could end up with a boring interview that fails to entertain your listeners and entails you into receiving bad reviews.It can be scary to start a conversation with someone. You might be wondering “what do I say?” or “what if I say the wrong thing?” or “what if people think I’m stupid?”How do you make sure you host a great podcast interview or hold a simple conversation with someone? Sam Harris compiled his top four tips for killing it in an interviewABOUT THE HOSTMy name is Sam Harris. I am a British entrepreneur, investor and explorer. From hitchhiking across Kazakstan to programming AI doctors I am always pushing myself in the spirit of curiosity and Growth. My background is in Biology and Psychology with a passion for improving the world and human behaviour. I have built and sold companies from an early age and love coming up with unique ways to make life more enjoyable and meaningful.Sam:Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/samjamsnaps/)Quora (https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Harris-58)Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Sam's blog - SamWebsterHarris.com (https://samwebsterharris.com/)Support the Show - Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/growthmindset)Top TipsTip #1 - Listen, Listen, ListenListen to the guest, don’t fill your head with what you want to say next because, in reality, it will be a response to something they haven’t said yet.Good listening allows us to demonstrate that we are paying attention to the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of the other person (seeing the world through their eyes). This is crucial to maintaining productive relationships, and sometimes the only way to establish communication.Tip#2 - Make Notes but Try Not to have a Load of QuestionsDon’t pack multiple questions into one unless they are closely related. They can be confusing, especially if the guest has a lot to say. Ask your questions one at a time as you would in natural conversation.Tip#3 - Ask Interesting QuestionsBasic questions are a no-noAvoid asking basic questions. Asking basic questions make it seem like you don’t know the person you’re interviewing. These are bad: “What are you best known for?” or “What book are you promoting?” Instead, set up good questions by establishing a premise or hypothesis beforehandTip#4 - Recursive QuestionsRecursion is a challenging concept. If you're a programmer, then you would have an idea of where I am going. If you don't, I'm happy to explain to you how this goes.Being able to think recursively is very important because solving a problem with recursion is cleaner and easier to implement. It can also be used to break down problems into smaller components — a recursive pattern known as Divide and Conquer.Understanding how asking recursive questions is, this strategy allows you to provide different angles for listeners by opening doors that could lead to an insightful conversation with your guest.Bonus Tip #1- Encourage Healthy DebatesBonus Tip #2 - Find Inspiring Role ModelsBonus Tip #3 - Consider your Guest's Feeling Towards a Personal TopicHoping these tips, which are quite different from what you'll hear or read, help aspiring and experienced podcasters alike be better at their craft of interviewing or conversing, in general.Subscribe!If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Special Guest: Sam Harris. Don't Forget to leave a comment on this episode See podvine.com/privacy-policy for podcast listener privacy info. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/growth-mindset-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives. WHY LISTEN? Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it? This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change. WHAT YOU'LL GET Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism. Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be. We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system. WHAT YOU DON’T GET No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn. Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health. THE APPROACH Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development. Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life. YOUR HOST I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives. This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation. PREMIUM Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord. Growth Mindset Premium PAST SERIES Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum. Past series: — Psychology vs Stoicism — Time Management for Busy Mortals — Independence and Knowing Yourself — Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking — Psychology of Connection and Relationships — Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets — Addiction and Behaviour Change — Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory — Mental Strength and Self-Discipline