The Art of Keeping Your Podcast Guest Engaged

Author

Rich Cardona
March 28, 2025

As we always start…proof that AI didn’t write this:
My wife doesn’t think any IG reels I find funny—are actually funny.

  1. What’s wrong with her? My sense of humor is amazing.

  2. There’s a lesson here. And we’ll get to it in a second.

  3. Also—both my daughters have spring break next week and we’ve decided to go back to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Ever been? It’s freaking stunning. And there are bears everywhere.

    PS: I’m also rushing to send this out because I have a million things to do. Let me know if you enjoy it!

Anyway… today we’re talking about how to spot the moment a guest checks out—and more importantly, how to pull them back in.

Welcome back to UNFLTR Weekly

The weekly email that helps you untangle your podcast & content holdups and get to work.

In today’s UNFLTR:

  • Why podcast guests get bored on your show (and what to look for)

  • How to resuscitate them

  • Ways to shift the energy and get the conversation flowing again

Quote of the week

“To be interesting, you have to be interested.”

- someone

When a Guest Checks Out on the Mic

You’ll 100% feel it when it happens:

The guest starts to drift.

Their answers get short and bland.

They stop making eye contact. (This isn’t a problem if they’re awkward like me and don’t make a ton of eye contact.)

They’re giving you less and less to work with.

This shift can turn the episode to sh*t if you don’t fix it.

So why does this happen???

Why Guests Go to LaLa Land Mid-Interview

  1. You’re asking them the same questions they’ve answered 100 times.
    (Your fault)
    If your questions are generic, their energy will be too. Do better research. Trust me almost no podcasters want to research in the spirit of being “authentic.”

  2. They’ve got something else on their mind.
    (Not your fault—maybe their dog is sick)
    You never know what anyone has going on in their lives. This obviously isn’t limited to podcasting. It could be the same for the crappy customer service you got at your favorite coffee place.

Try and be empathetic instead of offended.

  1. They’re not sure who the episode is really for.
    (Your fault)
    If they don’t understand your audience, they don’t know how to tailor their answers—and that’s on you.

  2. They didn’t want to be there in the first place.
    (Not your fault… ish)
    They said yes, but maybe it was a favor, an obligation, or just bad timing. Either way, now you’ve got to deal with it.

    Quick story. I once interviewed Andy Frisella (BIG podcaster) at his 1st Phorm HQ. He came in with low energy until I found a connection about flying and his grandfather (a WWII veteran) that immediately shifted everything into a ton of fun.

Good times. My wife filled in as videographer… that was fun.

How to Pull Them Back In (while trying to NOT make it awkward)

1. Call it out—gently.

“Hey, I know you’ve probably been running around today. You good to be here right now?”


Sometimes, that alone resets the energy. Trust me, this gives me anxiety thinking about it doing it - but it’ll show you’re a pro. I’ve done it.

2. Throw a freaking curveball!

“What’s something people always get wrong about you?”


or


“What’s something people don’t know about you that you want them to know?”


Something personal or unexpected can be a good little shock to get back to being interested in … themselves … again. We all love talking about ourselves.

3. Kill the format. It’s already dead actually.


If it feels stiff, go off-topic.

Talk about where they grew up, what their kids are like, the weirdest job they ever had.
At this point, spontaneity is desperately needed.

4. Use their own language or “mirror” them (as FBI negotiation expert Chris Voss would say).

Chris Voss author of Never Split the Difference


You can also repeat the last few words they said—in the form of a question—so they keep going.

Example:

Guest: “[…] and overall it wasn’t a fun time in my life.”


You: “Wasn’t a fun time in your life?”


Guest: “I mean… losing my spot as the President of the neighborhood Pickleball League led me to start hard drugs...”

5. Remind them who they’re serving.

We kind of hit this last week, but here’s a refresher:

“We’ve got a lot of people listening who really look up to you—what would you tell someone in their shoes?”


Reframing the episode as a chance to help someone might spark a sense of personal responsibility.


And honestly? That’s usually why they said yes to being a guest in the first place.

Content You Should Check Out

I posted a testimonial on LinkedIn recently from one of my clients—it’s a great look at what happens when guests actually show up prepared and present.

It’s quick, but worth your time.

If you’re going to get a testimonial—get it immediately- while your… | Rich Cardona

If you’re going to get a testimonial—get it immediately- while your client is still engaged and feeling the impact of your work. The longer you wait, the…

www.linkedin.com/posts/richcardona_if-youre-going-to-get-a-testimonialget-activity-7311359721523793920-QwJn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABMv6sEBCxOayXPLclIhWbxEX8UuKHkm680

Resources

Useful links from the web that you’ll find handy:

How to start a podcast playlist - here

The starter camera I recommend - Sony ZV-E10

Lens I recommend: Sigma 30mm f1.4

USB Mic - Shure MV7

Connect with me on Linkedin

Connect with me on Instagram

Check out my totally mid website

Final Thoughts

There’s always going to be a balance of responsibility when it comes to a guest drifting or lacking attention during the interview.

But regardless of why it’s happening—it is absolutely your job as a host to reel it in.

If you’re running interviews (or thinking about it) and want to get better at keeping your guests locked in, I coach people on this all the time.

No pitch—just hit reply if you ever want to talk about it.

Next week: Getting to the Right Topics—How to Ask Better Questions.Thanks for reading UNFLTR today - I’ll see you again next week!

— Rich

P.S. ways to work with me:

  • 1:1 Coaching

  • Podcast Strategy and Management (Audio only, Video, Full Service, etc)

  • Filming Day here at the UNFLTR studio in Wilmington, NC

If you want to learn more, get in touch with Ellie at [email protected]