Free tool · For hosts
Podcast Interview Question Generator
Tell it who is coming on and how long the episode runs, and get a timed interview plan in the order a good conversation actually goes, from a bank of 100 questions. No AI filler, no sign-up, nothing stored.
A short noun phrase works best. It replaces “your field” in the questions and leads the depth stage.
A 45-minute episode, 11 questions on tape.
Before you press record
- Is there anything you'd rather I didn't ask about?
- How would you like me to introduce you?
- What's the one thing you'd be disappointed if we didn't get to?
~0:00Warm-up
- How do you explain what you do to someone at a party?
- What's the last thing you changed your mind about?
~5:00Origin story
- Was there a point where you almost quit? What kept you going?
~9:00Depth
- What's an unpopular opinion you hold about your industry?
- What's the difference between someone who's good at this and someone who's great?
~20:00Stories
- Tell me about the hardest day you've had doing this.
- What's something you did that you'd never recommend to anyone else?
~32:00Contrarian
- What's a rule in your world that everybody follows and nobody can justify?
~36:00Practical takeaways
- What tools, habits, or resources would you not want to work without?
~41:00Closing
- Is there anything you were hoping I'd ask that I didn't?
- Where can people find you and your work?
In your pocket: follow-ups
- What did that feel like at the time?
- Can you give me a specific example?
- What would have happened if you'd done the opposite?
- You said that quite carefully. What's the uncarefully version?
Times are rough marks, not a schedule. Nothing is sent or saved: this runs entirely in your browser.
Now get the next guest to come to you
Add your show and you get a public page that takes guest pitches, so booking the next episode is not all outbound. Free while we’re in early access.
How it works
- 1
Describe the guest
Add their name and what they are known for, and pick the type of guest. A founder, an author and a first-time guest need different depth questions.
- 2
Pick the episode length
The plan sizes itself at about one question per 4 minutes of tape, in interview order: warm-up, origin, depth, stories, a contrarian turn, takeaways and a close.
- 3
Shuffle, then copy
Shuffle until the questions suit the guest, then copy the plan, pre-interview questions and follow-ups included, into your prep doc.
How many questions for a podcast interview?
Fewer than most hosts write. A real answer, plus the follow-up that turns it into a story, takes three to five minutes, so the plan budgets one prepared question per 4 minutes of tape. The pre-interview questions and the follow-ups are extra: one set is asked before recording and the other is only used when an answer stops short.
| Episode length | Questions on tape |
|---|---|
| 20 minutes | 5 |
| 30 minutes | 8 |
| 45 minutes | 11 |
| 60 minutes | 15 |
| 90 minutes | 23 |
For scale: among the public podcast feeds we read on September 16, 2026, the shows that are publishing, reachable and visibly booking guests have a median published episode of 41 minutes. That is the edited episode, so the recording behind it runs longer.
Where the questions come from
Every question is from our bank of 100 questions to ask a podcast guest, which explains why each stage of the arc exists. Pick a guest type and that type’s questions go into the depth stage, the way the guide says to use them. Before the recording, send the guest a pre-interview questionnaire, and open the episode with one of these podcast guest introductions. Still looking for the guest? The free guest invitation generator writes the email that asks them.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions should I prepare for a podcast interview?+
About one prepared question for every 4 minutes of tape: 8 for a 30-minute episode, 11 for 45 minutes and 15 for an hour. A real answer plus a follow-up or two fills that time, and the follow-ups are where the good material is, so plan fewer questions than you think and leave room to chase an answer.
How long is a typical podcast interview episode?+
Across the public podcast feeds we read on September 16, 2026, the shows that pass all three of our checks (publishing recently, reachable, and visibly booking guests) have a median published episode of 41 minutes. That is the edited episode, not the recording, which usually runs longer.
Does this question generator use AI?+
No. Every question comes from the same published bank of 100 questions on our guide to questions to ask a podcast guest. The tool picks from it for your guest type, puts the picks in interview order, and marks rough times for your episode length. What it adds is the selection and the structure, never a question nobody has checked.
What is a good first question to ask a podcast guest?+
Something easy that gets their voice going, not the question you most want answered. "For anyone who's never come across your work, what do you actually do all day?" works because anyone can answer it well. Save the turning point and the hard-won lesson for when the guest has settled in.
What should the last question of a podcast interview be?+
"Where can people find you and your work?" Every plan here ends on it, because a listener who enjoyed the episode needs to be told where to go next. Just before it, ask something that lets the guest land the conversation, like what they are most excited about right now.
Should I send my interview questions to the guest in advance?+
Send the themes, not the script. A guest who knows the three areas you will cover can prepare stories for them; a guest holding your exact questions tends to recite. The pre-interview questions in each plan are the exception: ask those before you press record, in the questionnaire or on a short call.
Is this podcast interview question generator free?+
Yes, completely free with no sign-up. It runs entirely in your browser: nothing you type is sent to a server or stored anywhere. Pick your guest type and episode length, shuffle until the plan suits the guest, and copy it into your prep doc.
