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What Do You Do When an Interview Goes Terribly Wrong?

It happens. You prep, you plan, you send the emails… and then you sit down with a guest and realize about five minutes in that this conversation is going nowhere good.

On this week’s Business Podcast Spotlight, I’m talking about the nightmare scenario every host eventually faces: the bad interview. The one where questions don’t land, answers don’t make sense, and both you and your guest leave the call wondering what just happened. (Yes, I recently had one. No, you’ll never hear it.)

On this show, I help business podcasters create smart, sustainable, and profitable shows. And sometimes that means figuring out how to recover – or at least learn – from the not-so-great episodes.

Why Interviews Bomb (and It’s Not Always You)

Sometimes guests don’t prepare. They don’t listen to an episode, skim the prep email, or don’t really understand the purpose of your show. That’s frustrating, but it’s not always malicious. People are busy, nervous, or just not used to the medium.

Other times? They’re more interested in pitching themselves than in having an actual conversation. That’s when you smile politely, hit stop, and vow never to release the recording. (Pro tip: keep an “emergency solo episode” in your back pocket for exactly this situation.)

And of course, sometimes hosts mess it up, too. I’ve caught myself sounding impatient or explaining things in ways that didn’t land. Interviewing is a skill, and like any skill, you only get better by practicing, usually with real humans who don’t always say exactly what you hoped they would.

How to Steer a Conversation Back on Track

If you’ve got a structured show with a set format, there’s less room to improvise – but you can still:

• Pause and give more context about your audience.
• Ask for stories or examples instead of one-word answers.
• Share what kind of response would be helpful (without sounding like a teacher handing back homework).

If you’ve got a looser, conversational format, you’ve got more wiggle room. You can detour into their personal stories, ask for advice, or even joke your way through the awkwardness. The important part is making your guest feel comfortable enough to share something worth listening to.

Prep Matters (But You Can’t Control Everything)

A few things that make a big difference:

• Prep calls. A quick 15-minute chat before the real recording helps everyone relax and sets expectations.
• Clear emails. Share your outline, your goals, and maybe a note that, yes, you really do expect them to listen to an episode or two.
• Boundaries. If your guest doesn’t align with your show’s format, it’s better to find out early.

But here’s the kicker: you can’t force people to prepare. You can only set the stage as best you can and then do your best in the moment.

Lessons from the Rough Ones

The hardest interviews are usually the ones that teach you the most. I can’t control if someone listens to an episode or reads the prep email, but I can control how I respond when things start going sideways.

In this case, I probably could have explained things in a way that felt less sharp and more collaborative. I also realized I might need to make it clearer, right from the booking form, that listening to at least one episode is not optional.

So yes, bad interviews happen. They’re uncomfortable in the moment, but they’re not the end of the world. You learn, you adjust, and you’re a better host the next time around.

Ready for the Next Level?