Podcast Interview Mistakes: How to Avoid Awkward Silences & Keep Your Guests (and Listeners) Engaged Artwork

Podcasting Unlocked: Tips and Growth Podcast Strategies for Impact-Driven Entrepreneurs

Are you a purpose-driven business owner ready to make a real difference in the world? Join Alesia Galati, founder of Galati Media, as she shares actionable strategies to help you leverage the power of podcasting for positive change.

Alesia understands the unique challenges and opportunities marginalized voices face and is passionate about helping you amplify your message, grow your audience, and create a podcast that truly matters.

In each episode, you'll discover podcast growth strategies, impactful content creation ideas, authentic storytelling tips, marketing and audience growth tactics, and hear inspiring interviews.

Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, Podcasting Unlocked will equip you with the tools and strategies to create a podcast that grows your business and contributes to a better world. Learn more about Alesia at helpmypod.com

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Podcasting Unlocked: Tips and Growth Podcast Strategies for Impact-Driven Entrepreneurs

Podcast Interview Mistakes: How to Avoid Awkward Silences & Keep Your Guests (and Listeners) Engaged

June 16, 2026 • Alesia Galati

0:00 | 11:51

With over 2,000 episodes under our belt as an agency, we have seen the good, the bad, and the awkward when it comes to interviews. Regardless if the guest showed up unprepared or you as the host made some mistakes, an awkward interview can be difficult to navigate and promote. Let’s avoid this by diving into the common interview mistakes we have seen before, during, and post-interview, and how you can avoid them. This week, episode 39 of Successful Podcasting Unlocked answers the question: How can I avoid awkward interviews?

In this episode, I share:

Do your research on the guest before the interview to avoid shallow conversations.
Ask focused, specific questions that showcase the guest’s expertise.
Avoid dominating the conversation, letting the guest speak the majority.
Practice active listening, making the guest feel heard and valued.
Address technical issues right away to ensure high audio quality.
Follow up with guests and ask for feedback to improve future interviews.

I want to hear your podcast interview stories! Send me a DM or a voice note on Instagram with your most cringe-worthy podcast interview or guesting moments. Let’s laugh together about our mistakes.

Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips, tricks, and advice as I answer all your podcasting questions. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

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LINKS MENTIONED:

Ep 36: Finding Your Perfect Podcast Format: A Guide for Business Owners

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