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

1. Show context: who listens, episode length, and release date.

2. Three chapter headings: the macro topics you’ll cover (e.g., Origin Story → Inflection Point → Lessons).

3. Sample prompts: two bullet questions per chapter to hint at depth without locking anyone into a script.

4. 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.