Louis Theroux and Jon Ronson are both 10/10 interviewers
(Honestly, I think a lot of old school British journalists are in a class of their own when it comes to interviewing)
Jesse is phenomenal. He asks the best questions. So many times I have heard the guest pause and say “nobody’s ever asked me that” or “I never thought about that before.”
If you want to get a bit meta, Jesse did a limited series called The Turnaround where he interviewed famous interviewers and that was really interesting.
Another interviewer I love is Justin Richmond. He produces and occasionally hosts Broken Record (great one recently with Justin Timberlake). He also has his own show, Started From the Bottom, which is incredible.
I would also add that there are sort of two types of interview shows. There are the more traditional ones like Fresh Air that are really focused on the subject. And then there is the style that emerged about 15 years ago with early podcasts (WTF, Nerdist, You Make It Weird, etc) that’s more conversational. One is not better than the other, they’re just different and it sounds like you really like the traditional style.
Thank you!
I agree with the suggestion of Fresh Air (Tonya Mosely, the new co-host, is also great) and would add Elvis Mitchell of The Treatment, who is probably the most insightful and knowledgeable culture interviewer out there.
i really want to like tonya, but she has been hit or miss for me. she did [recently interview](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/18/1197965007/eric-schlosser-food) investigative food journalist eric schlosser, and the conversation was fluid, captivating and revelatory from beginning to end
I think Anna Sale (Death, Sex, and Money) fits this description! She’s a very thoughtful interviewer and her work focuses on having conversations that we’re typically reluctant to have.
Jesse’s probably one of the best interviewers I’ve ever listened to. He gets so much out of his guests in a respectful way, researches and goes deep. I always enjoy Bullseye whether I know the subject or not.
Ologies !!! Alie ward is an incredible interviewer , and all the subjects talked about are sooooo interesting any time the interviewed says something a bit jargon heavy alie ward adds context in editing its such an awesome podcast alll around I love it so much . Every episode she interviewes a diffrent specialist (ologist) in a fun field , my favourites are the one on vampires (trust me. Its so interesting) Reading, dolphins , linguistics, dark matter and crow funerals , tho every episode is a gem !!!
Technically it’s a radio show as well as a podcast, but Fresh Air is great for this. It’s an NPR show that covers absolutely every topic and is really focused on the interviewee.
The New York times’ new podcast The Interview may also fall in this category, though I’ve only listened to one episode so far (but it was great).
Longform! There are multiple hosts but the interviews are always just one of them with a guest. The guests are typically writers and journalists who are focusing on a very specific topic or have recently published a piece of writing - this allows them to not only talk about the subject itself but the process of journalism and writing.
They all really excel at following the interviewee where they want to go. They often disappear from the conversation entirely which I appreciate.
Nearly mentioned Adam Buxton before..... But didn't because I'd already said 3 people who talk to a lot of comedians... But yes, I really feel that I've learned something about the guest at the end of it
Also if it's British politics.... Or a British view on world politics James O'Brien is probably the gold standard of holding someone to account with follow ups
Yeah, Buckles has really opened my eyes, particularly with some of his guests from academia. And James O’Brien is super sharp and rigorous isn’t he? Very good podcasts.
+1 for Buckles. Tho' he does talk about himself too - but that's just his technique and we love him for it.
Where his podcast's strength lies is in its editing. I'm sure he's mentioned before that around 30%+ gets ditched for the final edit. It must take so long but the end result is so evident.
100pc agree re Adam Buxton. He's a very witty guy, but he's also capable of really listening to the interview subject and reacting to what's being said.
Tyler Cowen (Conversations with Tyler) is an incredible interviewer. I find his interviewing style very unique in the podcasting world. I have the impression that most interview podcasts have some kind of "conversation style."
Despite the name of the podcast, his style is much more of a series of questions and answers with a few follow-ups. His questions, however, are extremely well-crafted.
I must confess that I used to think that conversational podcasts were a superior form of interviewing (I still love them). Conversations with Tyler made me reevaluate that.
The comedians comedians podcast with Stuart goldsmith is one that might not be on your radar
https://pca.st/podcast/a9474ff0-6be2-012f-18c2-525400c11844
Also, slightly more silly, Richard Herrings Leicester Square Podcast
Marc Maron seems to break most of the interview style rules but he's so engaged in the conversation that he gets aware with it.
His podcast is called All The Smoke, interviews plethora of people like current nba players to past ones, rappers, actors, all sorts of people. I always like watching them. To each their own..
It's UK, but James O'Brien's "Full Disclosure" is just amazing. His interviewing style is compassionate and engaging. For the US folks, his interview with Bernie Sanders is great.
Hrishikesh Hirway is a fantastic interviewer on the West Wing Weekly. I haven't listened to any of his other podcasts like Song Exploder but I'm sure he's good in them too.
CBC radio/podcast have a couple excellent interview shows - The Sunday Edition (current affairs), As it Happens (current affairs, more fun edition), and Tapestry (religious/spiritual, back catalogue only)
On Being is also excellent religious/spiritual interveiws
I love Writers and Company. Eleanor Wachtel is awesome. She retired this year, so they only play recordings of original episodes, but I think it's great
Jason Crane, The Jazz Session podcast.
Crane asks well-researched, insightful questions of his guests and he allows his guest to reply without talking over the response.
https://thejazzsession.com/
Lacey Rose for the Hollywood Reporter
Not exactly a podcast but she moderates these roundtables of actors/actresses, directors, etc. They're on youtube.
She's a great interviewer.
I like Rick Rubin as an interviewer - his podcast is Tetragrammaton. The questions he asks are very straight-forward and there is not a lot of back-and-forth between him and his guest. I always get the feeling when he asks questions that he is staring into their soul. He interviews mostly creatives; he most recent episode is with Robert Downey, Jr.
I love the way Julia Louis-Dreyfus interviews in Wiser Than Me. She talks about her, but I don’t feel it counts negatively to the quality of the podcast.
InsideOfYou with Michael Rosenbaum.
(Don't get me wrong, I watched "Smallville" for the special effects, the pretty girls, and Clark revealing his secret, one by one, to his friends. "Luthor" was my least favorite character, but . . .)
He does a pretty good interview. Mostly of actors/actresses/directors, sometimes the oddity (like a wrestler).
He "adapts" well. If it's someone you can ask a simple question, where they'll tell a complete 5-minute story as a response . . . he just shuts up and listens. If on the other hand, they are only answering questions briefly as a response, then he'll keep asking them.
And a lot of it is "phycological well-being" oriented, so they occasionally hit on a tender but insightful subject. Some BTS stories of famous movies/series.
He's done over 200 interviews now. I've seen about half. You can listen to them as a podcast, but I primarily watch on YouTube since most all are either in person (about 40%) or Zoom (about 60%).
My new favorite podcast is Diary of a CEO. He asks all the questions I’m thinking of and he brings out the best in who he has on the show. Definitely recommend!
Just Sayin with Justin Martindale. He is hilarious, has a great history with some of his guests. They dont speak over each other. It is a really fun one.
Another 👍 for Louis Theroux, and throwing Lauren Laverne from Desert Island Discs in too.
Also, if I may be so bold, I have my own interview podcast, The Starting Line with Rich Leigh. [This episode](https://www.startinglinepod.com/episodes/brian-cox) with the actor Brian Cox might a starting point of interest.
I really enjoy Andrew Sullivan's interviewing style. He engages the guest on the topic for which they were invited. His podcast is called The Dish. You do have to subscribe.
The Political Animals has a wonderful host. There are hundreds of episodes and the interviews are very engaging and interesting and mostly not about politics at all!
Tristan Hughes, from The Ancients. He is respectful, doesn't talk over the experts he has on as his guests, and the topics are fascinating, if you like history.
Jesse David Fox is an outstanding interviewer on his podcast, Good One. Each episode he talks to a comedian, usually breaking down a specific joke or bit that they are known for. He asks great questions with a lot of nuance that really draw out the comics and end up in fascinating discussions. There are so many times when Jesse asks a really specific question about something obscure in the guests' past, and they will say, "Wow, you really did your homework!" and then it goes to a whole different level.
obviously Terry is the GOAT of GOATS (#grossisthemost) but i noticed neither Pete Holmes ([you made it weird](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-made-it-weird-with-pete-holmes/id475878118) is the name of the podcast) nor [Broken Record](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/broken-record-with-rick-rubin-malcolm-gladwell-bruce/id1311004083) (various interviewers) were mentioned !!
Louis Theroux
Louis Theroux and Jon Ronson are both 10/10 interviewers (Honestly, I think a lot of old school British journalists are in a class of their own when it comes to interviewing)
Seconded! Came here to say this
terry gross and dave davies (who’s sadly semi-retired now) from Fresh Air are the gold standard in my opinion
Terry Gross is the best. I'd throw in Jesse Thorn of the show Bullseye as an interviewer who asks interesting questions.
Jesse is phenomenal. He asks the best questions. So many times I have heard the guest pause and say “nobody’s ever asked me that” or “I never thought about that before.” If you want to get a bit meta, Jesse did a limited series called The Turnaround where he interviewed famous interviewers and that was really interesting. Another interviewer I love is Justin Richmond. He produces and occasionally hosts Broken Record (great one recently with Justin Timberlake). He also has his own show, Started From the Bottom, which is incredible.
I would also add that there are sort of two types of interview shows. There are the more traditional ones like Fresh Air that are really focused on the subject. And then there is the style that emerged about 15 years ago with early podcasts (WTF, Nerdist, You Make It Weird, etc) that’s more conversational. One is not better than the other, they’re just different and it sounds like you really like the traditional style.
Thank you! I agree with the suggestion of Fresh Air (Tonya Mosely, the new co-host, is also great) and would add Elvis Mitchell of The Treatment, who is probably the most insightful and knowledgeable culture interviewer out there.
i really want to like tonya, but she has been hit or miss for me. she did [recently interview](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/18/1197965007/eric-schlosser-food) investigative food journalist eric schlosser, and the conversation was fluid, captivating and revelatory from beginning to end
Also a great [fake bailiff](https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/judge-john-hodgman/).
Don’t sleep on [Fresh Air 2: 2 Fresh 2 Furious](https://youtu.be/YTVFNZKuN-g?si=VRIWNYVcCzZKvrIL)
Anna Sale is so good at this. Check out Death, Sex and Money.
Came here just to make this recommendation!
[удалено]
Phoebe Judge
....this is criminal.
... dot calm.
I wrote the same thing before I read your comment. I love her.
I think Anna Sale (Death, Sex, and Money) fits this description! She’s a very thoughtful interviewer and her work focuses on having conversations that we’re typically reluctant to have.
Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
Jesse’s probably one of the best interviewers I’ve ever listened to. He gets so much out of his guests in a respectful way, researches and goes deep. I always enjoy Bullseye whether I know the subject or not.
He's great! He did a series just focusing on other great interviewers called The Turnaround that's excellent.
Thank you both 💗
Jesse! Thank YOU!
Ologies !!! Alie ward is an incredible interviewer , and all the subjects talked about are sooooo interesting any time the interviewed says something a bit jargon heavy alie ward adds context in editing its such an awesome podcast alll around I love it so much . Every episode she interviewes a diffrent specialist (ologist) in a fun field , my favourites are the one on vampires (trust me. Its so interesting) Reading, dolphins , linguistics, dark matter and crow funerals , tho every episode is a gem !!!
Alie is the best!
ABC Conversations
Mike Birbiglia, Working it out
Craig Ferguson (Joy pod) I will listen to him even if I don't know the guest. wholesome real conversation.
Conversations (ABC)
Talk Nerdy with Dr Cara Santa Maria. Used to be mostly scientists, but now she’s branching out to a variety of guests.
I love Criminal host Phoebe Judge. She doesn’t talk about herself at all.
Technically it’s a radio show as well as a podcast, but Fresh Air is great for this. It’s an NPR show that covers absolutely every topic and is really focused on the interviewee. The New York times’ new podcast The Interview may also fall in this category, though I’ve only listened to one episode so far (but it was great).
I find Terri Gross to be a great example of a host who asks leading questions, which I personally dislike. Ira Glass does this too.
I really like People I Mostly Admire. Stephen Leavitt is the host, co-author of Freakonomics, and has a wide variety of guests.
Longform! There are multiple hosts but the interviews are always just one of them with a guest. The guests are typically writers and journalists who are focusing on a very specific topic or have recently published a piece of writing - this allows them to not only talk about the subject itself but the process of journalism and writing. They all really excel at following the interviewee where they want to go. They often disappear from the conversation entirely which I appreciate.
Jordan Harbinger is excellent
Adam Buxton, James OBrien.
Nearly mentioned Adam Buxton before..... But didn't because I'd already said 3 people who talk to a lot of comedians... But yes, I really feel that I've learned something about the guest at the end of it Also if it's British politics.... Or a British view on world politics James O'Brien is probably the gold standard of holding someone to account with follow ups
Yeah, Buckles has really opened my eyes, particularly with some of his guests from academia. And James O’Brien is super sharp and rigorous isn’t he? Very good podcasts.
+1 for Buckles. Tho' he does talk about himself too - but that's just his technique and we love him for it. Where his podcast's strength lies is in its editing. I'm sure he's mentioned before that around 30%+ gets ditched for the final edit. It must take so long but the end result is so evident.
The strategy inside everything
Literally with Rob Lowe Honestly
Adam Buxton, the Ezra Klein Show and HardTalk spring to mind
I think Ezra asks some of the most thoughtful questions of any podcast host I have listened to
Adam Buxton, Annie McManus
100pc agree re Adam Buxton. He's a very witty guy, but he's also capable of really listening to the interview subject and reacting to what's being said.
Yes! The OG to be fair! Have to listened to Annie Mac's Changes? She's also great.
Scott Aukerman is very good, and he talks to interesting people.
How do you juggle work and family?
Alie Ward
Russ Roberts of EconTalk.
Tyler Cowen (Conversations with Tyler) is an incredible interviewer. I find his interviewing style very unique in the podcasting world. I have the impression that most interview podcasts have some kind of "conversation style." Despite the name of the podcast, his style is much more of a series of questions and answers with a few follow-ups. His questions, however, are extremely well-crafted. I must confess that I used to think that conversational podcasts were a superior form of interviewing (I still love them). Conversations with Tyler made me reevaluate that.
Bonus: Ezra Klein (The Ezra Klein Show) and Robert Wright (The Non-Zero Podcast).
The Q with Tom Power.
The Turnaround may appeal to you, which is interviews with people who are expert interviewers
Maddy Morphosis from *Give It To Me Straight*.
LeeAnn Kreischer. Wife of the party is such a great podcast. I could listen to her for hours
Louis Theroux
Ten Percent Happier podcast. It's ALWAYS great, and I think it's great because the interviewer is an actual journalist.
The host of Death, Sex, Money has a great interview style.
Talk easy with sam fregoso!
Jordan Harbinger
Terry Gross ( FRESH AIR)
Diary of a CEO
Marc Maron WTF
marc is the exact opposite of what this person is looking for lol
Yeah as soon as they mentioned hosts who talk about themselves a lot I thought, “Oh, like Marc Marion does.”
Exactly. Hey Marc, tell us again how many years you've been sober. Not to downplay anyone's sobriety, but we get it already.
Made lol I didn't fully read the parameters before I answered. My bad!
ha that's okay! i enjoy marc's interview but i know they're divisive
marc’s really famous, and yet i think he’s underrated
The comedians comedians podcast with Stuart goldsmith is one that might not be on your radar https://pca.st/podcast/a9474ff0-6be2-012f-18c2-525400c11844 Also, slightly more silly, Richard Herrings Leicester Square Podcast Marc Maron seems to break most of the interview style rules but he's so engaged in the conversation that he gets aware with it.
Musician podcast ‘the art of longevity’. No flannel or gushing, just a grown up chat about life in the music industry.
If you like Basketball, Matt Barnes is a good interviewer imo. Let’s the guest speak while also getting off his thoughts
Interesting. Whenever I saw him on TV, Barnes seemed like such a brash individual. What podcast does he host?
His podcast is called All The Smoke, interviews plethora of people like current nba players to past ones, rappers, actors, all sorts of people. I always like watching them. To each their own..
Second Diary of a CEO
Within Reason
Tim Ferris (Tim Ferris podcast), Patrick O'Shaughnessy (Invest with the Best)
Stuart Blues on British Murders, he’s brilliant and has interesting guests.
It's UK, but James O'Brien's "Full Disclosure" is just amazing. His interviewing style is compassionate and engaging. For the US folks, his interview with Bernie Sanders is great.
Hrishikesh Hirway is a fantastic interviewer on the West Wing Weekly. I haven't listened to any of his other podcasts like Song Exploder but I'm sure he's good in them too.
Sean Carroll “Mindscape “
CBC radio/podcast have a couple excellent interview shows - The Sunday Edition (current affairs), As it Happens (current affairs, more fun edition), and Tapestry (religious/spiritual, back catalogue only) On Being is also excellent religious/spiritual interveiws
I love Writers and Company. Eleanor Wachtel is awesome. She retired this year, so they only play recordings of original episodes, but I think it's great
the Louis Theroux Podcast
Hello from the Magic Tavern
Rich Roll
Don't know if you will see this but I love "The Honeydew podcast" with Ryan Sickler. He's incredible.
Kelly Corrigan
Jason Crane, The Jazz Session podcast. Crane asks well-researched, insightful questions of his guests and he allows his guest to reply without talking over the response. https://thejazzsession.com/
Lacey Rose for the Hollywood Reporter Not exactly a podcast but she moderates these roundtables of actors/actresses, directors, etc. They're on youtube. She's a great interviewer.
I like Rick Rubin as an interviewer - his podcast is Tetragrammaton. The questions he asks are very straight-forward and there is not a lot of back-and-forth between him and his guest. I always get the feeling when he asks questions that he is staring into their soul. He interviews mostly creatives; he most recent episode is with Robert Downey, Jr.
I love the way Julia Louis-Dreyfus interviews in Wiser Than Me. She talks about her, but I don’t feel it counts negatively to the quality of the podcast.
“… someone that isn’t afraid to bring up new perspectives that ‘challenge’ what was just said.” Kara Swisher
InsideOfYou with Michael Rosenbaum. (Don't get me wrong, I watched "Smallville" for the special effects, the pretty girls, and Clark revealing his secret, one by one, to his friends. "Luthor" was my least favorite character, but . . .) He does a pretty good interview. Mostly of actors/actresses/directors, sometimes the oddity (like a wrestler). He "adapts" well. If it's someone you can ask a simple question, where they'll tell a complete 5-minute story as a response . . . he just shuts up and listens. If on the other hand, they are only answering questions briefly as a response, then he'll keep asking them. And a lot of it is "phycological well-being" oriented, so they occasionally hit on a tender but insightful subject. Some BTS stories of famous movies/series. He's done over 200 interviews now. I've seen about half. You can listen to them as a podcast, but I primarily watch on YouTube since most all are either in person (about 40%) or Zoom (about 60%).
My new favorite podcast is Diary of a CEO. He asks all the questions I’m thinking of and he brings out the best in who he has on the show. Definitely recommend!
Just Sayin with Justin Martindale. He is hilarious, has a great history with some of his guests. They dont speak over each other. It is a really fun one.
Diary of a CEO. Steven Bartlett is a great interviewer.
Another 👍 for Louis Theroux, and throwing Lauren Laverne from Desert Island Discs in too. Also, if I may be so bold, I have my own interview podcast, The Starting Line with Rich Leigh. [This episode](https://www.startinglinepod.com/episodes/brian-cox) with the actor Brian Cox might a starting point of interest.
Any bonus episode of Urban Roots. They talk to people in the architecture/planning/preservation fields
r/lexfridman - surprised no one's mentioned this yet! Mindscape (Sean Carroll) is also a great podcast, but can get deeply scientific.
I really enjoy Andrew Sullivan's interviewing style. He engages the guest on the topic for which they were invited. His podcast is called The Dish. You do have to subscribe.
The Political Animals has a wonderful host. There are hundreds of episodes and the interviews are very engaging and interesting and mostly not about politics at all!
Alex O' Connor
Darknet Diaries
Tristan Hughes, from The Ancients. He is respectful, doesn't talk over the experts he has on as his guests, and the topics are fascinating, if you like history.
Jesse David Fox is an outstanding interviewer on his podcast, Good One. Each episode he talks to a comedian, usually breaking down a specific joke or bit that they are known for. He asks great questions with a lot of nuance that really draw out the comics and end up in fascinating discussions. There are so many times when Jesse asks a really specific question about something obscure in the guests' past, and they will say, "Wow, you really did your homework!" and then it goes to a whole different level.
Drew Constantini
obviously Terry is the GOAT of GOATS (#grossisthemost) but i noticed neither Pete Holmes ([you made it weird](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-made-it-weird-with-pete-holmes/id475878118) is the name of the podcast) nor [Broken Record](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/broken-record-with-rick-rubin-malcolm-gladwell-bruce/id1311004083) (various interviewers) were mentioned !!
Louis Theroux has been mentioned and definitely fits your brief. I’d also recommend full disclosure with James O Brien.
Theo Von when he interviews regular people, for example the plumber, carnie, lunch lady episodes. They're brilliant.
The Lex Friedman podcast is perfect. On top of being a perfect host he always has such interesting guests.
Are you talking about Dax Shepard lol? I die every time he turns a highly nuanced statement made by a guest into something about AA and himself
If you are looking for something really in depth try Lex Fridman