Here’s Our List of 9 Impactful Questions to Ask on a Podcast

Quick Summary

In this guide, we explore practical strategies for crafting meaningful, thought-provoking questions that go beyond surface-level topics.

From overcoming challenges to embracing emerging technologies, we provide actionable advice for seasoned podcasters.

With Cleanvoice’s cutting-edge tools seamlessly integrated, you’ll learn how to refine your production process while delivering compelling conversations that stand out in a competitive industry. Dive into our blog to discover more about elevating your podcasts.

Wondering What Questions to Ask on Your Podcast?

Podcasts thrive on engaging conversations. To captivate listeners, you must ask the right questions—those that spark insights, reveal stories, and keep our audience hooked.

It’s all about clarity and connection.

In this Cleanvoice guide, we’ll list 9 questions you can ask your podcast guests which will leave them with a lasting impression and create deep, engaging conversations. But first…

Why Listen to Us?

At Cleanvoice, we know the value of polished, meaningful dialogue. Beyond removing silences, stutter and background noise, our tools help streamline your episodes, letting your questions shine.

How to Come Up with Good Questions to Ask on a Podcast?

Good podcast questions start with thorough research.

Understand your guest’s work, values, and interests to craft inquiries that go beyond surface-level topics. Focus on themes they’re passionate about or less-discussed aspects of their expertise.

Frame your questions to invite storytelling. Instead of yes-or-no queries, use prompts like "Can you share an example of..." or "What was your thought process during...?" This approach uncovers depth and authenticity.

Lastly, adapt in real-time during the conversation. Active listening allows you to respond with follow-up questions that delve deeper, creating organic, engaging discussions that resonate with your audience and spotlight your guest’s unique insights.

Why Should You Ask the Right Questions on Your Podcast?

• Engagement: Thought-provoking questions are more likely to capture your audience’s interest.
• Storytelling: Questions can encourage your guests to share unique experiences and perspectives, adding authenticity and depth to your content.
• Expertise: Well-crafted questioning can help you highlight the guest’s knowledge, delivering actionable insights to your listeners.
• Connection: Asking personal or insightful questions builds a more authentic rapport with your guests.
• Clarity: Questions guide discussions, keeping episodes structured and focused on delivering value.

9 Impactful Questions to Ask on a Podcast

1. What’s a commonly held belief in your industry that you passionately disagree with, and why?

Challenging popular beliefs can spark meaningful discussions and uncover fresh perspectives. Asking this question invites guests to share unique insights and rethink conventions within their field.

While answering such questions, guests often explain their perspectives with pauses or filler words. Using our filler word remover can ensure the conversation flows more smoothly.

Why this question matters:

• Encourages critical thinking: It highlights gaps in conventional wisdom and pushes out more innovative ideas.
• Showcases expertise: Guests are more inclined to demonstrate their deep knowledge by addressing misconceptions.
• Adds value for the audience: Challenging assumptions inspires your listeners to question their own perspectives.

How to guide the response:

• Encourage your guests to provide specific examples or anecdotes to illustrate their viewpoint.
• Ask follow-up questions like, “What experiences shaped your belief?” or “How has this perspective benefited your work?”

This question offers opportunities to highlight originality and depth. By challenging industry norms, guests can bring in thought-provoking ideas to the conversation, enriching the audience’s understanding of the topic.

2. Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly influenced your professional trajectory?

Highlighting pivotal moments showcases transformative experiences that shaped a guest’s career or outlook. These stories often inspire and provide actionable takeaways for the audience.

Why this question resonates:

• Reveals personal growth: Guests are able to share how challenges or opportunities shaped their path.
• Connects emotionally: Listeners can relate to struggles and triumphs, making the conversation engaging and memorable.
• Provides lessons: These moments offer actionable insights and strategies that others can apply.

How to frame the discussion:

• Ask for specific turning points, such as a mentor’s advice, a bold decision, or overcoming a major challenge.
• Follow up with questions like, “What was your biggest takeaway from that experience?” or “How has it influenced your decisions since?”

A guest might describe how taking a risk—such as transitioning to a new industry—introduced them to opportunities they never imagined. They could elaborate on the fears, strategies, and eventual success, offering listeners encouragement to embrace calculated risks.

Sharing pivotal moments adds depth to conversations and offers practical insights. By exploring these defining experiences, your guests create compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and enrich the discussion.

3. How do you foresee emerging technologies reshaping your field in the next five years?

Exploring the impact of emerging technologies allows guests to discuss trends, opportunities, and potential disruptions in their industry. This question can encourage forward-thinking and offers valuable insights for staying ahead.

As guests discuss emerging technologies, our podcast transcription feature can provide accurate written summaries, ensuring listeners can easily revisit key insights and trends discussed during the conversation.

Why this question adds value:

• Spotlights innovation: Guests are able to share expertise on upcoming advancements and their implications.
• Informs the audience: Listeners have the opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of how to adapt to change.
• Encourages strategic thinking: It creates discussions on leveraging new tools and technologies effectively.

How to guide the response:

• Ask about specific technologies, such as AI, automation, or data analytics, and their role in the guest’s field.
• Follow up with questions like, “What challenges do you foresee with these changes?” or “How should professionals prepare for these shifts?”

For example, a marketing expert might predict that AI will revolutionize customer targeting by delivering hyper-personalized campaigns. They could discuss challenges, such as maintaining data privacy, and suggest actionable steps to leverage AI ethically and effectively.

Focusing on the future encourages innovation and adaptability. This question allows guests to position themselves as thought leaders while equipping the audience with strategies to navigate change confidently.

4. What strategies have you implemented to overcome major challenges in your work, and what were the outcomes?

Discussing strategies for overcoming challenges provides actionable insights and highlights resilience. This question allows your guests to showcase their problem-solving skills and share valuable lessons learned from their own journeys.

Why this question matters:

• Builds relatability: Guests can share their struggles, making their journey more relatable and inspiring.
• Offers practical advice: Listeners gain strategies they can apply to their own challenges.
• Highlights adaptability: It showcases how your guests navigate obstacles and evolve in their field.

How to frame the discussion:

• Ask for specific challenges, such as resource constraints, tight deadlines, or skill gaps.
• Follow up with questions like, “What unexpected benefits arose from overcoming this challenge?” or “How has this experience influenced your approach today?”

For instance, a business leader might share how a major project failure forced them to re-evaluate team communication. They may have implemented collaborative tools and streamlined processes, resulting in increased efficiency and stronger team morale.

This question uncovers meaningful stories that resonate with the audience while offering actionable strategies to tackle difficulties. It’s a compelling way to illustrate perseverance and growth in any field.

5. Can you discuss a project where you took an unconventional approach, and the lessons you learned from that experience?

Unconventional approaches often lead to breakthroughs, making this question a compelling way to explore innovation and adaptability. Your guests can share stories of taking risks, challenging norms, and achieving unique outcomes.

Why this question adds value:

• Showcases creativity: Guests demonstrate their ability to think outside the box.
• Provides actionable insights: Listeners learn how to approach challenges with fresh perspectives.
• Inspires innovation: Sharing unconventional strategies encourages audiences to embrace bold ideas.

How to guide the discussion:

• Ask for a specific project where the guest deviated from standard practices.
• Follow up with questions like, “What risks were involved, and how did you mitigate them?” or “What unexpected results came from this approach?”

Let’s say a designer might describe using AI tools to create a crowdsourced art piece. While risky due to concerns about originality, their approach could have encouraged collaboration and received widespread acclaim, showing how innovation can amplify creativity.

This question highlights the power of creative problem-solving and motivates listeners to explore unconventional strategies in their own work.

At Cleanvoice, our AI-powered Podcast Question Generator assists podcasters in creating engaging and relevant questions like this tailored to their specific topics. By inputting a brief description of the podcast or subject, you’ll receive a curated list of conversation starters designed to elicit insightful discussions.

This tool streamlines interview preparation, ensuring you can facilitate compelling conversations with their guests.

6. How do you stay ahead of industry trends, and can you recommend any resources or practices that helped you with this?

Staying ahead of trends is vital for remaining competitive and innovative. This question allows guests to share their strategies and resources that keep them informed and adaptable.

As guests share strategies for staying ahead of trends, our podcast summarization feature could provide listeners with a concise summary, helping them quickly grasp key points and resources mentioned, ensuring they stay informed.

Why this question is impactful:

• Encourages thought leadership: Guests can demonstrate their ability to anticipate and adapt to change.
• Offers practical advice: Listeners gain actionable steps to stay relevant in their own fields.
• Highlights resourcefulness: It showcases how to take advantage of tools and networks effectively.

How to guide the discussion:

• Ask about specific habits, tools, or communities that help guests track industry changes.
• Follow up with, “How do you determine which trends are worth following?” or “What’s one resource you consider indispensable?”

For example, a consultant might emphasize using professional networks and attending webinars to spot trends early. They may also recommend platforms like LinkedIn or industry-specific newsletters for staying informed and suggest trialing new tools to maintain a competitive edge.

This question creates actionable dialogue on growth and adaptability, equipping the audience with the tools and mindset to keep pace with an ever-evolving landscape.

7. What ethical dilemmas have you encountered in your profession, and how have you addressed them?

Ethical dilemmas are common in any profession, and addressing them thoughtfully builds credibility and trust. This question invites your guests to reflect on challenging situations and how they navigated them responsibly.

Why this question adds value:

• Reveals integrity: Guests can showcase their commitment to ethical practices.
• Encourages transparency: Listeners gain insights into the complexities of decision-making in challenging scenarios.
• Provides actionable lessons: Real-life examples inspire others to approach dilemmas with care and responsibility.

How to frame the discussion:

• Ask about specific ethical challenges, such as balancing transparency with confidentiality or making decisions that prioritize long-term impact over short-term gains.
• Follow up with questions like, “What values guided your decision-making?” or “How did you communicate your stance to stakeholders?”

A tech executive, for instance, might discuss facing pressure to release a product before thorough security testing. By delaying the launch and prioritizing user safety, they upheld ethical standards despite risking short-term losses, ultimately earning customer trust.

This question encourages thought-provoking discussions, highlighting the importance of ethical behavior while providing practical frameworks for resolving dilemmas.

8. Can you describe a time when a failure led to a significant personal or professional growth opportunity?

Failures are often turning points that spark growth and adaptation. This question allows guests to share how they turned setbacks into successes, offering valuable lessons for the audience.

Why this question matters:

• Showcases resilience: Guests can highlight their ability to adapt and overcome challenges.
• Provides relatable stories: Listeners connect with authentic accounts of failure and recovery.
• Offers actionable insights: Guests are able to share strategies for navigating adversity and learning from mistakes.

How to guide the discussion:

• Ask about a specific failure and its immediate consequences.
• Follow up with questions like, “What did you learn from the experience?” or “How did you use that lesson to move forward?”

For example, an entrepreneur might recount a failed product launch due to insufficient market research. They could explain how the experience taught them the importance of validating ideas early and led to the creation of a successful product based on customer feedback.

This question underscores the value of perseverance and adaptability, inspiring listeners to view setbacks as opportunities for growth and transformation.

9. How do you balance innovation with practicality when introducing new ideas into your work?

Balancing innovation with practicality ensures sustainable progress and effective implementation of new ideas. This question invites your guests to share how they navigate this delicate equilibrium in their field.

Why this question is valuable:

• Showcases strategic thinking: Guests can demonstrate their ability to innovate while maintaining realistic expectations.
• Provides actionable guidance: Listeners learn methods to balance creativity with resource constraints.
• Encourages thoughtful risk-taking: It highlights how calculated risks have the potential to lead to impactful outcomes.

How to frame the discussion:

• Ask about specific instances where the guest introduced a new idea and how they balanced risks and rewards.
• Follow up with questions like, “What factors helped you decide whether to pursue this idea?” or “How did you mitigate potential challenges during implementation?”

For example, a nonprofit leader might discuss implementing a digital fundraising campaign despite initial resource concerns. By starting with a small-scale pilot, they measured its impact before fully committing, ensuring a practical and scalable approach to innovation.

When discussing the balance between innovation and practicality, different voices or soundscapes might be involved in the conversation. Our podcast mixing feature ensures that all speakers are balanced, making the conversation cohesive and easily understood, regardless of the complexity.

This question offers insights into strategic decision-making, helping the audience understand how to embrace innovation without compromising practicality or effectiveness.

Generate Better Podcast Questions with Cleanvoice

The right questions lead to engaging episodes that stand out. To maximize this potential, streamlined editing and production are essential.

At Cleanvoice, we simplify podcasting with AI-driven tools that remove filler words, silence gaps, and distractions. By automating tedious tasks, we empower creators to focus on crafting insightful questions and delivering polished, professional episodes.

Ready to streamline your podcast production? Sign up at Cleanvoice today and experience the difference.