Published: November 7, 2026 · Last updated: November 7, 2026 · 7 min read
This collection provides podcasters with structured prompts to research guests, craft insightful interview questions, and prepare for high-quality conversations. These tools are designed to save time during your production workflow, much like our resources for independent podcast episode planning. Whether you are a solo creator or part of a production team, these prompts ensure you enter every recording session feeling prepared and professional.
How to Use These Prompts
- Copy the prompt text from the block below.
- Replace every [PLACEHOLDER] with the specific details of your guest and episode topic.
- Paste the completed prompt into your chosen AI chat assistant.
- Review the output and refine the result with a follow-up message if the tone or depth needs adjustment.
Prompt Builder: What to Fill In
| Placeholder | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [GUEST NAME] | The full name of your interviewee. | Jane Doe |
| [GUEST EXPERTISE] | The primary field or professional focus. | Sustainable urban architecture |
| [EPISODE GOAL] | The main takeaway for the audience. | Explain how green roofs lower city temperatures |
| [TARGET AUDIENCE] | Who is listening to this show. | Early-career city planners |
| [TONE] | The desired style of the conversation. | Conversational, investigative, professional |
Researching Your Guest
The Expert Deep-Dive
Use this prompt to generate a comprehensive overview of your guest’s background and recent work.
Act as a professional podcast producer. Research [GUEST NAME] who specializes in [GUEST EXPERTISE]. Provide a detailed summary of their background, notable achievements, and common talking points they are known for in their industry. Ensure the summary is relevant for a [TARGET AUDIENCE]. List their core philosophies or arguments they typically present. Keep the output organized with bullet points for readability and limit the response to 400 words.
SAMPLE OUTPUT (AI-generated by running this prompt with example details filled in; your results will differ)
Dr. Elena Vance is a leading cognitive neuroscientist specializing in the intersection of digital habit formation and focus architecture. With a decade of clinical research, she has become a primary voice for professionals seeking to reclaim cognitive autonomy in an era of constant connectivity.
Background and Achievements
- Published author of seminal work on attention depletion.
- Lead researcher at the Institute for Behavioral Optimization.
- Frequent keynote speaker at international productivity summits.
Core Philosophies
- Digital Minimalism: True focus is not about willpower but environmental design.
- The Friction Principle: Increase the effort required for distracting tasks to naturally decrease their occurrence.
- Cognitive Rest: Intentional periods of inactivity are essential for sustained creative output.
Common Talking Points
- Strategies for mitigating the dopamine-feedback loops found in mobile applications.
- How to structure the workday to align with natural ultradian energy cycles.
- Practical techniques for reclaiming deep work sessions in open-office environments.
Before you use it, check: Verify the relevance of these strategies to your specific podcast audience.
Why it works: By assigning the role of a producer and setting a specific audience, the AI filters out irrelevant information and focuses on angles that resonate with your listeners.
Finding Hidden Angles
Use this prompt to find unique perspectives that go beyond the guest's standard interview topics.
Act as an experienced journalist preparing for an interview with [GUEST NAME]. Given their expertise in [GUEST EXPERTISE], identify three unconventional or contrarian viewpoints related to this field that are rarely discussed in mainstream media. Explain why these angles would be interesting for a [TARGET AUDIENCE] and provide a brief justification for each. Avoid generic talking points and aim for depth. The output should be a structured list of themes with brief explanations.
Why it works: The instruction to avoid generic points forces the AI to look for nuance, helping you create a more memorable conversation compared to standard industry interviews.
Recent Work Synthesis
Use this prompt to stay updated on your guest's recent publications, projects, or public appearances.
Act as a research assistant for a podcast. Based on the known professional history of [GUEST NAME], outline potential areas of inquiry regarding their most recent work in [GUEST EXPERTISE]. Assume they have recently released a project or paper. Formulate three high-level questions that connect their past work to their current project. Ensure the questions are open-ended and designed to prompt a long-form, thoughtful answer from the guest. Limit the output to 300 words total.
Why it works: Linking past work to current projects creates a narrative arc, which is essential for professional, storytelling-driven podcast episodes.
Developing Interview Questions
The Core Interview Script
Use this prompt to build a comprehensive, structured list of questions for your episode.
Act as a veteran podcast host known for a [TONE] interview style. Create a list of 10 interview questions for [GUEST NAME] regarding [GUEST EXPERTISE]. Organize the questions into three sections: introductory "warm-up" questions, deep-dive "technical" questions, and closing "forward-looking" questions. Ensure the questions are crafted to help the audience understand [EPISODE GOAL]. Do not use yes/no questions. Format this as a clean, easy-to-read list.
Why it works: By categorizing the questions, you create a logical flow for your conversation, while the restriction on yes/no questions ensures better content for your show.
Handling Difficult Topics
Use this prompt when you need to ask sensitive or complex questions professionally.
Act as a diplomatic interviewer. I need to ask [GUEST NAME] about a challenging topic within [GUEST EXPERTISE]. Write three variations of a question that addresses this potential controversy while remaining respectful and objective. The goal is to get an honest response without making the guest feel attacked. The tone should remain [TONE]. Provide a brief note for each variation explaining why it might be effective for a [TARGET AUDIENCE].
Why it works: Providing variations gives you choices in how to approach the subject, and asking for the rationale helps you decide which version fits your brand best.
Rapid-Fire Segment Creation
Use this prompt to design a fun or fast-paced closing segment for your interview.
Act as a creative director for a podcast. Create a list of five short, "lightning round" questions for [GUEST NAME] related to [GUEST EXPERTISE]. These questions should be punchy, thought-provoking, and slightly playful to end the episode on a high note. Ensure they are suitable for a [TARGET AUDIENCE]. The output should be a simple list of five questions with a one-sentence instruction for the host on how to introduce this segment.
SAMPLE OUTPUT (AI-generated by running this prompt with example details filled in; your results will differ)
Host, transition into our final segment by telling our guest that we are moving into the lightning round to wrap things up with some rapid-fire insights.
1. If you could gift one piece of architectural wisdom to a historical builder, who would it be and what would you tell them?
2. What is one common design trend you secretly hope disappears by next year?
3. If your signature style was a weather pattern, would we be packing an umbrella or sunscreen?
4. What is the most underrated material in modern construction that deserves more time in the spotlight?
5. If you had to design a tiny house on Mars, what is the one non-negotiable feature you would include to keep it feeling like home?
Before you use it, check: Verify that the tone of the questions aligns with the specific level of formality required by your target audience.
Why it works: Defining the segment as "lightning round" limits the scope, preventing the AI from generating overly complex questions that would kill the pace of your show.
Audience-Focused Inquiries
Use this prompt to ensure your guest speaks directly to the needs of your specific listener base.
Act as a community manager for a podcast. Review the profile of [TARGET AUDIENCE] and identify their biggest pain points regarding [GUEST EXPERTISE]. Develop five questions that [GUEST NAME] should answer to directly address these pain points. The questions should focus on actionable advice and practical takeaways. Ensure the language is accessible to the target audience. Format as a bulleted list of questions with one sentence per question explaining the intent behind it.
Why it works: Focusing on pain points shifts the interview from abstract theory to actionable utility, which is a key trait of successful podcasts that build loyal followings, similar to how one might approach newsletter content creation.
The "Why" Behind the Guest
Use this prompt to understand the personal motivation behind a guest's career choices.
Act as a biographer. Research [GUEST NAME] and create a list of questions that aim to uncover the "why" behind their career in [GUEST EXPERTISE]. I want to know about the defining moments, mentors, or failures that shaped their current approach. These questions should be introspective and lead to storytelling. Avoid basic resume-style questions. Limit the output to 200 words and provide five high-quality, open-ended questions.
Why it works: By framing the AI as a biographer, you encourage it to look for narrative-driven questions rather than transactional ones, leading to deeper emotional connections in your interview.
Mini Walkthrough: From Placeholders to Result
- Select the "Core Interview Script" prompt.
- Replace [GUEST NAME] with "Dr. Elena Vance".
- Replace [GUEST EXPERTISE] with "urban micro-gardening".
- Replace [EPISODE GOAL] with "helping apartment dwellers grow food in small spaces".
- Replace [TARGET AUDIENCE] with "city-dwelling millennials".
- Replace [TONE] with "encouraging and practical".
- Check that the questions avoid "yes/no" phrasing.
- Verify that the questions directly serve the "EPISODE GOAL".
- Ensure the tone matches your show's established brand voice.
How to Get Better Results
- Provide context about your previous episodes to help the AI understand your show's style.
- Ask for multiple options for each question so you can pick the ones that feel most natural.
- Set a specific format for the output, such as a table, bulleted list, or numbered script.
- Iterate by asking the AI to rewrite a specific section if the tone is too formal or too casual.
- Give the AI a "negative constraint," such as "do not use jargon," to keep the language accessible.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to define the audience, which leads to generic or overly technical questions.
- Accepting the first output without verifying that the facts about the guest are current.
- Using too many placeholders in a single prompt, which can confuse the model.
More prompt packs: 12 Fill-in-the-Blank Prompts for Short-Form Vertical Video Hooks
Frequently Asked Questions
Can these prompts be used for different types of podcasts?
Yes, the placeholders allow you to adapt the research and questioning style to any niche, from business to hobbies.
What if the AI provides incorrect information about a guest?
Always cross-reference biographical details and specific claims with the guest's official website or recent interviews.
How do I make the output sound more like me?
Include a sample of your own writing or a transcript of a past interview in your prompt and ask the AI to match that specific style.
Is it okay to use these prompts for live interviews?
You can use them to prepare, but always keep your own notes and be ready to pivot if the conversation takes an interesting turn.
Final Notes
These prompts are starting points, so you should always review the output before using it to ensure accuracy and relevance. Never paste confidential or personal data into an AI tool.
About this prompt pack. Published by Morfeli on November 7, 2026. Prompts are drafted with AI assistance and checked by automated rules; they are starting points, not guaranteed results. Output quality varies by AI tool, model and settings, so review everything before you use it, and never paste confidential or personal data into an AI tool. See our Editorial Policy.
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