Use a single-page outline to calm guests and keep conversations sharp.
Great interviews happen when guests understand the arc of the conversation before they hit record. A simple one-page outline gives them confidence, reduces tangents, and keeps your production day on time.
Why an outline works
Guests arrive with sharper anecdotes because they have already jogged their memory on the core beats.
Your legal team can flag sensitive areas in advance rather than scrambling during edits.
The host can steer naturally instead of reading a script—the outline acts as a shared roadmap.
What to include in the one-pager
Show context: who listens, episode length, and release date.
Three chapter headings: the macro topics you’ll cover (e.g., Origin Story → Inflection Point → Lessons).
Sample prompts: two bullet questions per chapter to hint at depth without locking anyone into a script.
Housekeeping: recording link, tech requirements, release form link, and contact info.
Timeline
Send the outline one week prior with the calendar invite.
Follow up 24 hours before the session with the same PDF plus any last-minute news hooks.
Bring a printed copy or on-screen checklist so you can mark off sections during the conversation.
Template snippet
Send the outline as a branded PDF or Notion page, keep it to a single screen, and invite guests to suggest additions. The faster they buy into the structure, the more candid the interview will be.
