Best Interview Podcasts: 10 Shows Every Podcaster Should Study 

thepodcastconsultant
19 min read
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Best Interview Podcasts.

According to a PodMatch report in August 2025, there are 577,231 interview-based podcasts in the world, but only 21% of them (121,760) are actively produced. That means it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd with an interview-style show: a whopping 578 podcasters quit every day.

There might not necessarily be a ‘proven success path’ for interview podcasters, but there is such a thing as ‘copying what works.’ That’s why this guide rounds up the 10 best interview podcasts you can study, including takeaways, suggested episodes, and ways to implement interview techniques easily.

💡Sidenote: There are many different ‘best of’ podcasts depending on the topic in question. But as the Podcast Consultant serves financial service companies and marketing firms, we’ve elected to focus on business, investing, and financial podcasts below.

This checklist provides an overview of everything you should think about when launching a new podcast.

Why Should I Study Great Interview Podcasts?

You could always pioneer an interview-style podcast on your own, but you might miss the benefits that come from standing on the shoulders of giants (or at least listening to them talk). 

For one thing, great interview podcasts attract equally great guests. You’re not likely to get a high-profile guest such as Tim Ferriss or Warren Buffett unless you have a track record of great questions and great care for guests.

You can also use examples to better understand what your audience wants to hear. That way, you can develop an interview style that improves audience engagement, including the questions that should go along with it.

Another reason to study is to look for gaps in the market. 

  • What questions are other podcasters missing? 
  • Where is the true ‘best’ niche for your show?

Of course, the final reason for studying great interview podcasts is ultimately to build your show. This makes it easy to grow a subscription base, boost download numbers, and otherwise expand your monetization options. 

You just need to know which interview format and structure to follow.

Let’s take a peek at the options available. 

What Are the Different Interview Formats and Structures?

Most interview-style podcasts follow three different interview formats. 

Perhaps the most common is 1:1 Interviews. This is where a single podcaster interviews a single guest about a deep-dive topic, personal experience, or expert knowledge. 

The second option is co-hosted shows. These describe podcasts where two hosts work together to interview one or more guests. This might work well for debate-style shows or podcasts following informal or chatty formats. You just need a little extra planning to avoid talking over one another or asking the same questions twice. 

The final format is podcasts with multiple guests. For example, you might decide to interview more than one guest to bring multiple perspectives to your show. This typically works well in roundtable discussions, but you’ll also see it used heavily in reporting or investigative formats (more on this later). 

Now that you have these formats in mind, you can decide which angle you’d like to make your show unique. Then, can replicate the strategies provided below based on the angle, mission, and intent of your podcast.

What Are the Best Business and Finance Interview Podcasts?

This section takes a closer look at top shows in the finance niche, particularly business podcasts that interview guests for their expertise, competence, or unique experiences in a specific financial industry.

Capital Allocators

Alt: Capital Allocators is the best interview podcast for follow-up questions. 

Capital Allocators interviews top institutional investors to explore the processes, strategies, and decision-making frameworks of market leaders. Each conversation with Ted Seides digs into the art and science of investing, although it often touches on leadership, culture, and personal development as well.

Ted’s superpower lies in his follow-up questions and ability to engage with guests far beyond most routine podcasting questions. Rather than moving to the next item on his outline, he listens closely to find the threads worth pulling and isn’t afraid to pause his planned flow to dive deeper. 

Capital Allocators Takeaways

  • Listen for ‘doorway’ phrases. When a guest hints at something intriguing, like “…that was a turning point,” it might be an opening to explore further with a pointed question.
  • Keep a mental list of dangling questions. If your conversation moves on too quickly, for example, remember to circle back later before wrapping up.
  • Use reflective phrasing. It’s best practice to repeat a guest’s key phrase before asking your follow-up question to help them dig a little deeper. For example, you might say something like: “You mentioned that [action] was the hardest decision you’ve made. Why?”

Best Capital Allocators Interview Episodes to Study

Invest Like the Best

Alt: Invest Like the best is the best interview podcast for learning interview techniques. 

Hosted by Patrick O’Shaughnessy, Invest Like the Best is an interview-style financial podcast specializing in deep, long-form interviews with investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. Each episode lasts about 1.5 hours, which gives guests the opportunity to field tough questions and give unique insights. 

Patrick’s biggest interview skill is facilitating conversation by cutting out small talk and jumping directly into the topic. Each episode is a masterclass on basic interview techniques that create value-driven episodes even when covering complicated topics. 

Invest Like the Best Takeaways

  • Avoid yes or no questions. This means anything that takes guests more than two seconds to answer. So instead of, “Do you feel strongly about this?” try, “Why do you feel so strongly about this?”
  • Be responsive to guests as they talk. That doesn’t necessarily mean interjecting or cutting them off. Rather, show you’re invested in the conversation with nonverbal cues such as nodding, raising your eyebrows, smiling, and/or whatever else you do to communicate engagement. 
  • Avoid the small talk. As Patrick himself says, “To me, conversation is kind of like a game. I’m always interested in how much more interesting I can make a conversation that I’m in. I don’t do small talk well. If I’m at a party, I’m always interested in how interesting something could get relative to the baseline.”

Best Interview Episodes to Study from Invest Like the Best

The Insightful Investor

Alt: The Insightful Investor is the best interview podcast for preparing questions for guests. 

Alex Shahidi’s Insightful Investor Podcast provides a conversational ‘fireside chat’ approach to interviewing financial experts. Each hour-long episode features a unique twist on conventional wisdom with questions and conversations not found anywhere else. 

Alex wants every podcast interview to provide “perspectives and frameworks you might not have considered and learn the flaws [of] conventional investment advice.” To do this, he asks hard-hitting questions to the biggest names in finance, including how the inner workings of the industry operate, how today’s advisors think, and the challenges of going against the grain.

Insightful Investor Best Takeaways

  • Ask tough questions clearly. Alex prepares his interviewees beforehand to share unique knowledge that goes beyond the usual fare. This sometimes means asking tougher questions, without shying away from potentially controversial opinions.
  • Push the envelope: Browse the podcast history of your guests and look for angles, subjects, or other questions that haven’t yet been asked.
  • Spend as little time talking as possible. Remember: listeners want to hear from your special guest; they get to hear from you much more often. 

Best Interview Episodes to Study from The Insightful Investor 

Educational Alpha Podcast

Alt: Educational Alpha is the best interview podcast for creating natural dialogue flow. 

The Educational Alpha Podcast is run by Bill Kelly, a longtime financial services executive who believes “we must always be the CMO of ourselves.” To do this, he uses the EA Podcast to highlight the personal and professional journeys of some of the biggest names in finance. 

Bill often walks guests through the story of their lives, pulling out career and life advice, as well as their unique perspectives on the industry. Notice how he develops such a natural dialogue during interviews. He might have a ‘laundry list’ of questions, but he allows his guests to guide the flow of conversation.

Educational Alpha Podcast Best Takeaways

  • Jot down ideas as they come (if you can’t keep everything in your head). This allows you to queue up the next question without interrupting guests or potentially going down a rabbit trail. And speaking of trails…
  • Avoid distant rabbit trails. It’s not always a bad idea to let guests take the reins, but make sure neither you nor your guest gets more than three degrees away from your topic.
  • Share personal stories to build rapport and trust. If you find a natural place to insert a relatable story, sprinkle in a few lines to help set up the next questions, round out an answer, or otherwise show guests you’re invested in the conversation. 

Best Interview Episodes to Study from Educational Alpha 

The Investors First Podcast

Alt: The Investor’s First Podcast is the best interview podcast for managing rotating hosts. 

The Investor’s First Podcast was developed by the CFA Society of Orlando to explore cutting-edge topics from the perspectives of founders, CEOs, CIOs, and other GPs. You’ll find a rotating cast of voices leading each episode, which brings a variety of interview styles, perspectives, and areas of expertise to the table. 

Notice how the format of The Investor’s First Podcast creates a dynamic listening experience where no two conversations feel the same. Each episode explores fairly high-level financial discussions while still delivering consistently valuable insights, as each host can tailor the conversation to their strengths.

Investors First Podcast Best Takeaways

  • Do your homework. Come prepared with a clear understanding of your guest’s background and recent work. You can even sort through publicly available interviews to go beyond the obvious and craft even more compelling questions. 
  • Layer your questions. Start broad to give your guest room to share their perspective, then drill down with follow-ups that challenge them to think deeper or give specifics.
  • Ask the uncomfortable, but tactfully. A well-timed tough question, as long as it’s respectfully framed, can lead to some of the most memorable and valuable moments in an audio interview.

Best Investors First Podcast Interview Episodes to Study

Conversational-Style Interview Podcasts

Conversational-style interview podcasts feature long-form episodes that are focused on building rapport and rounding out natural-sounding conversations. You’ll notice a few common techniques like guest-led commentary, but there are a few unique methods worth noticing in each show (like 

There are three iconic financial podcasts that execute this to perfection:

The Meb Faber Show

Alt: The Meb Faber Show is the best interview podcast for learning to facilitate long-form conversations. 

The Meb Faber Show offers casual yet in-depth conversations with investors, authors, and finance pros about markets, trends, and personal wealth strategies. Each hour-plus episode gives guests space to share their thoughts in a relaxed, spacious conversation that never feels rushed. 

You might want to take notes on Meb’s ability to blend casual rapport with driving questions that point to what his audience wants to hear most. The 60 to 90-minute format may feel like a long commitment at first, but you’ll notice the spacious timeframe allows guests to grow more comfortable over time. Most episodes feel like a conversation between old friends who just happen to be top experts in their field(s).

The Meb Faber Show Best Takeaways

  • Adapt questions to guests as necessary. Some may need encouragement to open up, while others may benefit from tightening their focus on key points.
  • Let silence work for you. This doesn’t have to be 15 seconds of awkward silence. In fact, a brief three-second pause after a guest answers your question may lead them to meaningfully expand on their thoughts.
  • Bring in timely market events. Especially helpful for shyer guests. That way, you can keep the conversation relevant without derailing the planned discussion.

Best Meb Faber Interview Episodes to Study

The Investor’s Podcast (We Study Billionaires)

Alt: The Investor’s Podcast is the best interview podcast for learning how to build rapport with guests. 

The Investor’s Podcast (specifically the We Study Billionaires series) breaks down top strategies from the world’s best investors. Not two, but three hosts command this show, although typically just one host (either Stig Brodersen, Kyle Grieve, or Clay Finck) runs a single episode. 

One of the biggest takeaways from We Study Billionaires is the ability to quickly create trust and rapport with guests. Listen or watch as the hosts weave in personal asides, reference the guest’s past work in detail, and ask follow-up questions that make it clear they’ve done their homework. You’ll notice how this encourages guests to share candid perspectives you might not otherwise find in a press release or panel talk.

The Investor’s Podcast Best Takeaways

  • Listen actively and respond with curiosity. For example, referencing something a guest mentioned five minutes earlier shows you’re engaged and encourages them to open up.
  • Try using Storyteller Tactics. That way, interviews will naturally sound engaging, hit important questions, and otherwise lead to a natural conversational process.
  • Share a small personal insight or anecdote early in the interview. This can help guests relax and see you as a conversation partner, not just an interviewer.

Best Interview Episodes to Study from the Investor’s Podcast

BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Alt: BiggerPockets Money Podcast is the best interview podcast for learning dual-host strategies. 

The BiggerPockets Money Podcast offers relaxed conversations with entrepreneurs, financial experts, and everyday people who have achieved financial independence. The dual-host format is co-hosted by Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench, which allows for a dynamic back-and-forth that keeps episodes lively and varied.

You’ll notice how Mindy and Scott have mastered the art of “tag-teaming” interviews; one host might dig deep into a topic while the other observes, ready to jump in with clarifying questions, personal reflections, or a pivot to the next subject. Take notes on how their coordination makes for a more delightful podcasting experience, including how they keep conversations moving to maximize value with their guests.

BiggerPockets Money Podcast Best Takeaways

  • Lean into contrasting perspectives. If you’re co-hosting, for example, take advantage of your different backgrounds or expertise and feel free to approach interview questions from multiple angles.
  • Practice handoffs. You might develop subtle cues like a glance, a gesture, or another pre-agreed signal that make switching between hosts seamless. Just keep in mind this could get tricky if you’re recording video, so smoothness and subtlety will be key.
  • Keep both voices balanced. Even if you designate a single host to take the lead on certain topics, be sure that every co-host on the roster has at least a few moments to shine and connect with your guest.

Best BiggerPockets Money Podcast Interview Episodes to Study

Investigative and Deep-Dive Interviews

Some finance podcasts take a more journalistic approach to learning about interviewees and discussing current events. This presents a unique set of challenges for learners, including (but not limited to) how to balance technician questions with a story, idea, or topic. 

Here’s a closer look at the best investigative and deep-dive interview podcasts that might help you glean some ideas for your show. 

Planet Money

Alt: Planet Money is the best interview podcast for studying research and preparation methods. 

Planet Money by NPR turns complex economic topics into approachable stories that blend narrative journalism with expert interviews. As you might imagine, the show relies heavily on meticulous research, whether it’s explaining how a t-shirt is made or unpacking the fallout of a global banking crisis.

What’s most impressive about Planet Money is how naturally the hosts integrate deep background research into an accessible and conversation-based story format. Rather than overwhelming their listeners with data, they set the stage with well-prepared narratives, expert snippets, and interviews to add both texture and nuance.

The Takeaways

  • Overprepare, then simplify. Research twice as much as you think you’ll need so you can speak with authority and confidence while completing your story. 
  • Build a ‘story spine’ before you hit record. That way, you can rest easy knowing you have a narrative structure to guide your podcast (and/or craft questions for your interviewees, if applicable). 
  • Frontload context for the listener. A well-placed fact or statistic early on can help guests get a sense for your story, even if they don’t have every piece of background.

Best Interview Episodes to Study from Planet Money

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Odd Lots

Alt: Odd Lots is the best interview podcast for asking tough questions. 

Hosted by Bloomberg’s Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, Odd Lots dives into the often-overlooked corners of the global economy. Episodes cover anything and everything from shipping container logistics to the intricacies of soybean futures, which sometimes requires them to ask challenging questions surrounding politics, the economy, and standing administrations. 

You’ll probably notice right away that Joe and Tracy excel at weaving more difficult questions into each conversation. They never ambush guests, but they don’t shy away from pressing when necessary, especially when an answer leaves key details fuzzy. 

Odd Lots Takeaways

  • Frame hard questions with curiosity rather than confrontation. This makes it easier for guests to open up and respond honestly.
  • Ask for real-world examples (with anonymous details, if possible). This can help to move guests’ answers out of the abstract and into concrete territory where listeners can dig into the details. 
  • Circle back if you believe a guest misspoke or didn’t understand your question. Sometimes the most revealing answers come from gently re-asking a question in a slightly different way. It might even lead to some of the richest answers in your episode by redirecting guests to what was actually asked. 

Best Odd Lots Interview Episodes to Study

Implementing Interview Techniques

Now that you have your ‘textbooks’ to study from, how do you implement the knowledge you’ve gleaned?

It mostly boils down to hands-on learning. But to avoid expensive pitfalls and simple mistakes, you’ll want to make sure you’re:

  • Picking solid guests early. There are approximately 99,912 podcasts currently seeking guests, and a whopping 4,690,063 guests looking for placement on said podcasts. In other words, it’s not hard to find someone to volunteer for your show, so be sure to look for high-quality interviewees who can strategically support and draw interest to your podcast.
  • Practicing tough questions beforehand. You can do this in the mirror, with your cohost, or with the guest in advance (depending on the setup of your show). You may also need your guests to sign a waiver, letting them know you might ask uncomfortable questions. 
  • Preparing guests well in advance. Again, you might want to send a list of general questions so guests have an idea of what to expect. You could also ask questions about what they can or can’t disclose, so you don’t need to worry about awkward conversations on-air.
  • Finding a recording and production workflow. This might involve partnering with a team like The Podcast Consultant to streamline audio or video production, podcast recording, marketing, and more.
  • Marketing each interview episode correctly. You might release social media posts, upload short snippets of each podcast, and/or encourage interviewees to promote your podcast to their audience(s). 
  • Staying on the straight and narrow. Research shows it takes most interview-style podcasters around two years to achieve results (or at least 100 episodes published weekly). That means you shouldn’t expect to see overnight success; you’d be better off pacing yourself and aiming for consistency with guests.

This, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Learn more about interview hosting best practices here. 

Learning from the Best: Key Takeaways

There’s no simpler path to success than just emulating what works, starting by listening to the best interview podcasts. We hope these 10 unique options have given you plenty of content fodder to study and one day, become a successful interview podcaster in your own right.

Ready to jump into ‘Master’s level’ work? You might benefit from one of the resources below:

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