FREE EDITORIAL TOOLKIT · YOUR SHOW HAS A PROBLEM

A great guest ≠
a great episode.
Find the story before you book
the guest.

A great guest ≠ a great episode.

Find the story before you book the guest.

Not every great guest makes a great episode. This toolkit gives you a guest-scoring system and five pre-interview questions to help you identify stronger stories, avoid disappointing interviews, and give your audience a reason to watch.

GET THE FREE TOOLKIT

Free PDF · 2 pages · No email required

WHAT'S INSIDE

Score the Guest

Evaluate prospective guests against five editorial criteria. Identify strengths, warning signs, and whether there's a compelling episode worth pursuing.

Find the Story

Use five targeted pre-interview questions to uncover specific moments, revealing answers, and the conversation your audience needs to hear.

Develop the Episode

Turn what you discover into a clear working premise: what the episode is about, what makes it distinctive, and why someone should watch.

THE THINKING BEHIND THE TOOLKIT

Better questions.
Better conversations.
Better shows.

After conducting more than 1,000 interviews as a CNN Correspondent and journalist, Shannon Travis knows that the most revealing conversations rarely happen by accident. Today, he brings that experience to organizations developing podcasts and video shows, training interviewers, and preparing leaders for consequential conversations.