How to Interview “Almost” Anyone | Mike Dronkers | TEDxHumboldtBay

How to Interview “Almost” Anyone
Mike Dronkers is the program director, music director, and mid-day host at KHUM-FM. Dronkers’ popular radio program has a devout following locally and nationally, and his behind-the-scenes work has earned
him several national prizes, including an Edward R. Murrow award for radio documentary. Through his eclectic radio show he’s interviewed hundreds of people, including Grammy™ winners, Emmy™ winners, monks, authors, snipers, chemists, composers, lawyers, speed freaks, hobos and toddlers. He claims that they’re all equally interesting.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@guiabohol9525]

Making the other person tell you how they are the "good guy in their own movie" -- that blew my mind.

[@fernlulham8837]

I loved that quote too. Although I can imagine someone using it about another person who can never accept responsibility for their own actions: "He's always the good guy in his own movie!" Is that just my cynical mind? 🤔

[@limathiam]

100 💯

[@mutalemalama]

Aren’t ted talks great!

[@AkankshaThokade]

Agreed! I loved that part too! Also this one - "Bored people are boring. Interested people are interesting."

[@ThomasJordanTV]

Agreed! Great quote!

[@secondpsycho6577]

Step 1: Do Prep Work. Me, who is just trying to get some tips for an interview in 15 minutes: "Oops."

[@fernlulham8837]

Bonus tip: Find out tips on how to interview a good week in advance! 😃😉

[@LizY9271]

😆😆😆😆😆

[@Gloryfs]

I can relate but it is in 5 mins :|

[@anishathete4123]

So how was it? Also, how do get to interview people? I have a lot of questions for a lot of people but I am not sure as to how I can approach someone to sit down with me to answer them all

[@ExoticNibbles2]

@@anishathete4123 easiest answer is to just ask

[@calebbunch3990]

Before interview: 1. Do some prep. 2. Find interviewee's answers in other interviews for followup questions. 3. Find verbal interviews for social cues and intangibles that interviewee will bring. During interview: 4. Break the ice. 5. Listen. 6. Use dead air chicken. 7. Set the table for your guest to be comfortable. Make curiosity your hobby.

[@syedtaju]

Binx

[@thefootballplanet5784]

we coulda just watched the video.

[@alexwodi2245]

Caleb Bunch - You nailed it Bro.

[@iSpike]

Cheers mate 👍🏻

[@emilioflores8052]

Love this! Some really great tips here! I myself am a journalist for two local papers and am wanting to expand and have my own podcast and become a better interviewer. Some notes that I made: Curiosity is a muscle, strengthen it and be curious about EVERYTHING! -Find fascination in everyone you talk to. Set the table and show the uniqueness that every individual has. I loved the quote you left with: “Every man I meet is my superior in some way and in that, I learn from him.”

[@adamdeshon1275]

Great advice not just for interviewing but for life. I use the line that "only boring people are bored" with my kids (which they don't much care for!). When I speak to Middle / High School kids about being an engineer I always include the advice to be curious. It is hands down the best thing you can have to a fulfilled life. Great Ted Talk Mike!!!

[@theresnoi9792]

"how did you even know that" i immediately thought of hot ones

[@jasongiddings372]

Narduwar is the undisputed goat for this

[@lennon_richardson]

"Curiosity is a muscle" - Mike Dronkers

[@fernlulham8837]

I loved that quote too! I'm always gonna be flexing it now. 💪

[@AkankshaThokade]

Ain't that beautiful ✨

[@DJK-cq2uy]

How original..I too can tupe..u 🤪

[@seanwoodburn2616]

It's predictably brilliant... Mike is one of the best interviewers I ever had the privilege of listening to. Cheers!

[@tessayasmine3673]

Any journalism students here? 😄

[@AbdallahH2]

Here 😅

[@moshefabrikant1]

1:50 Just be quiet 2:03 Prepare. Show your guest how much you know about them. And if they have a book look at other podcasts that interviewed him 4:10 Find verbal interviews of them 5:20 Look at the smallest podcasts. That interviewed the guy 6:08 Ask small question that bring you to other big topics 6:56 Focus and be present. 8:35 Set the table for your guest. Be interesting, and have curiosity. 10:40 Good guy in there own movie.

[@user-cn2yq9by3z]

I like how it is short and to the point!

[@athathoitayenjam4770]

Thank you. This has been an eye opener

[@BuildLessons]

Awesome advice!!! I've noticed through my limited interviews for my social media videos how hard it is to shut up! thanks for the great advice.

[@davidberry3126]

My take away. Set the table for others and don't step on their answers. I think this is great advise.

[@MARK-hk7bh]

I'm really happy for you I'ma let you finish but nardwuar the human serviette is the best interviewer of all time

[@VeraciousVignettes]

Damn right!!!

[@reverbqtbullettproof4280]

A true human gem.

[@4GAudioPodcast]

Facts

[@rasktattoocraze5320]

Thnx sir..being a student it was of great use for me

[@nextcent]

Awesome content. Well delivered!

[@zach.bashir]

this guy was great, and straight to the point and flowed seamlessly

[@heneedssomemilk4156]

What he said: dead air chicken What he actually meant: minecraft chicken slowly falling

[@CarolCarolDoddDodd]

Or trying to catch a chicken so you can fly in Fortnite

[@coachclaudius8160]

Every person is worth listening to ... well said Mike

[@CalebErosa]

I think 10:24 is the most important unspoken rule… you have to genuinely care and be genuinely open to hearing and learning from your interviewee.

[@heyLORDitsme]

He’s so right about being curious about everything!!$

[@melvinbowen2nd]

Thanks Bryant for real love you bro!

[@losmisteriosdeltarot]

Awesome, ready to see some interviews on KZbin and to shut up. Thanks!

[@pattsoyao2056]

Awesome talk, very well said. I'm a Headhunter and I always tell my team that curiosity and enthusiasm is key to an interesting and engaging interview.

[@stephenjemyers]

Ask a question you fear being asked in an interview

[@LotusHoshi]

This was fantastic! God Bless!

[@fernlulham8837]

How many people have heard an interviewer who needed these tips? 😃 Loved this talk - so insightful and definitely something I will pull from in the future. Thanks, Mike! ❤️

[@Winwithmonifa]

I will be conducting interviews and I need some tips

[@socoden2732]

Good talk

[@RobertPlank]

I've never thought about using silence as a tool in interviews before. The idea of 'dead air chicken' is both amusing and genius. Can't wait to see how it works in practice.

[@pjgdba306]

Great vid, nice share. The Emerson quote is a great platform to use with anyone - being interested is being generous, too. That strong statement comes to mind "Are you listening or just waiting to talk?"

[@oursmallmajority]

This helped us improve our interview skills. Thanks a bunch!

[@GiadaValenti]

Very helpful tips.Thanks

[@evander7654321]

Great advice that I use for my interviews for my YT channel!

[@Ricadamu]

Great tips Mike. Cheers.

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Excellent advice. Especially the part about shutting up and letting your guest speak.

[@ThomasJordanTV]

Best tip ever!

[@steveshepherd333]

Good stuff ... thanks 🙏🙂

[@knight.jpeg.9334]

This is fantastic

[@auyabbaby]

I don't know if i can like this video any more! I am currently struggling with this topic more and more that now since I've been interviewing on the regular. The message is trully insightful. Thank you TEDx! Creator name: raunchy_tacos.

[@celebratelife865]

Thanks for the great talk, it was very inspiring. I watched the TedX with Nardwuar yesterday and it was equally inspiring. I recommend it!

[@NosebleeddeGroselha]

I’m doing an interview for my college assignment in a few hours, it’s the first time I interview someone so I’m kinda nervous, I don’t want him to feel uncomfortable and the interview is about a culture I’m not 100% expert about so I’m scared of saying or doing something offensive. I’ll come back later saying how everything turned out!

[@Anfangxs]

He was never seen again.

[@dylanr4854]

rip

[@ladykilljoy9864]

Yeah I’m doing the same thing! I’m so scared

[@bethanyhoo3307]

I’m still hoping for u to come back tho ....... what happened we wanna know lol

[@manufroster5851]

How did it go ?

[@sweetlife3623]

Interviewing makes you a better person

[@lisaholmblad2831]

Sound quality could have been better, but I loove the content!!

[@alexandrgretsky4395]

Very very useful. Thank you.

[@sweetlife3623]

Every single person is worth listening to

[@alexanderSnilsson]

Great tips - gonna go out practicing them today when im gonna record my rejection therapy challenge and ask random people about the meaning of life!

[@kulwamapunda4414]

Alexander Nilsson its a duration of living born to death. Its a big gift god has given to living creatures.

[@abrahamleancorne7852]

Thanks so much !!!!

[@sweetlife3623]

You are genuinely interested in your interview when you are learning from the person you are interviewing

[@ZertMusic]

Awesome killer speech!

[@civilizeddiva]

Step 1: Prep: Research your interviewee: online, print interviews Review curriculum vitae (academia) Step 2: LISTEN Don’t think of your next question or joke Listen intensely Look for connections: your background research and new information presented during your talk

[@mohammadsatidjoyo311]

thanks hombre for the tips

[@FeelingIsHealing]

"Just shut up" Love that!

[@dibyenduadhikary168]

Hi Tedx,I think it's an odd question. but for me it's important to know, can you help me out please. if I go for a Skype interview and my Webcam positioning at the bottom of the screen(like dell xps 9560). Then does it could spoil the interview impression?

[@MissLesy]

he reminds me of lew from ,unbox therapy

[@davidberry3126]

Awesome!

[@HaroldLathrop]

1A. just listen, be quiet 1B.I learned to sit back relax and listen. 2A.I think making curiosity m a hobby is great advice iy will allow me to learn and connect with a multitude of individuals.2B. I see myself prepping on various culture's and different activities to connect ct with clients.3A no questions about the interview process at this time.2B.I am looking forward to learning new things and how others think.3A. My concerns are that I may be to direct.

[@Na9rawi87]

Larry king one of the few interviwers who listens to his guests silently also Marc Maron in his podcast. You can how comfortable the guest is.

[@jt3512]

I have my first interview on camera tomorrow. I have done my prep questions, I have watched many of my guest's vids on KZbin, to get a real feel for her. The nerves are kicking in but I pray all goes well🙏

[@hellohappyvegan]

How did it go????

[@ThomasJordanTV]

@@hellohappyvegan Looks like we had the same question haha

[@hellohappyvegan]

@@ThomasJordanTV guess we’ll never know... hope it went well!

[@ThomasJordanTV]

@@hellohappyvegan Who knows, hopefully he replies sooner than later.

[@JOSHOCEANS]

Wow what a great vid

[@TheShutterSessions]

Great video

[@westieweardogkilts9715]

very helpful

[@itsaditya9832]

I have my first interview tomorrow and i don't even know who i am interviewing but gona try my best

[@ana_goncalves]

Jimmy fallon missed that first tip of "just SHUT UP"

[@imanilwilliams]

I got some good tips :) Thank you!

[@stephenjemyers]

Podcast ?

[@voidnerdvs7660]

Amazing advice, even for my school paper that no one reads.

[@UrbanCraftTv]

Very nice

[@WickN]

Sean Evans is a master of this.

[@ThomasJordanTV]

Yes he is! He asks the best questions!

[@ojaswiishani372]

I am going to interview people in few hours for my sociology assignment.

[@rishikachutani2508]

Chandler 😁

[@keepthemomentum]

Awesome job.

[@Gulchik_Art_pet_portraits]

Thank you!

[@jinamatcharia8027]

And I always thought I fall in love with humans after interviews

[@humblekellie7464]

He looks very good in those jeans , like they fit him perfectly

[@abdullahatif7854]

Thanks man, I just spent the last hour on similar topics, they had good content but they didn't have your style. Like seriously, as an interviewer or a starting-out interviewer I don't want to dehumanize the conversation with the traditional tactics.

[@jinamatcharia8027]

I always thought that 8:50

[@sweetlife3623]

Definitely use icebreakers

[@fatimazayed6010]

let curiosity be your hobby

[@frankie7275]

Holy ear bleeding loud clap....

[@chavanne3]

+Frankie rightttttttttttttt

[@bethesdasupport5846]

Bethesda approves

[@sweetlife3623]

As an interviewer you wanna hear from your guest "how did you even know that?"

[@davanmani556]

Trial and error

[@lucialu2x]

1 prep 2 relevant icebreaker 3 shut up and listen 4 be interested. Be curious.

[@leowhogoestothedojo8523]

Cool.

[@trshxgod8040]

I’m watching this bc my teacher made me

[@snvwflake]

same

[@MrMelnur]

S1me

[@PokeBaltz]

Bored people are boring, interested people are interesting.

[@drebr9721]

Tips: Study Nardwaur The end

[@iamryanman]

Dre Br doot doot

[@blueneckbeard47]

I've got an even bigger, better tip for you: 8=D

[@pabloalonsorodriguez8339]

I was going to add a thank you comment but I think I rather shut up

[@anishathete4123]

Hey guys, can you please tell me how you get people for you to interview them? I would love to conduct these kinds of interviews but I don’t know how to approach people to come and sit down to let me interview them.

[@anishathete4123]

What is a polite way of asking, can we make a video interview because your life intrigues me (This is for the not so famous people, like they’ll probably respond to my DMs but might get awkward and suspicious of my intentions)

[@wesleypatterson2284]

This is really late, but start small. Go for local entrepreneurs, politicians, media personalities, etc. As you gain more traction in whatever it is your conducting these interviews for, famous people will start coming to you

[@anishathete4123]

@@wesleypatterson2284 It’s not late at all, I’m still searching for ways, so thank you! I’ll be on the lookout for local newsworthy events and people to write about. Thanks again!

[@wesleypatterson2284]

@@anishathete4123 No problem! Good luck!

[@flashmodeify]

Speaking of curiosity, I wanna know why one side of his shirt is tucked in and the other side isn't.

[@sethbarbour6596]

Fashion.

[@pavanshinde1634]

Hisenberg lite

[@dracohendrix1668]

CURIOSITY!! BE INTERESTED AND YOU’LL BE INTERESTING! Research the interviewee before the interview! Prep and practice before the interview.

[@onlyguitar1001]

Lex Fridman watched this video.

[@perdykool]

Okay I'm here to do some prep work because I am planning to meet with a celebrity I look up to and I have no idea how to talk to this person who is way "out of my league". I need to know how to make a conversation flow and not make it awkward be the one rambling. I need to learn to "shut up"

[@gee2541]

Who was it and how did it go?

[@perdykool]

@@gee2541 was missing Amber Liu with her tour X starting I California. She was super chill, the sweetest personality and easy to talk to. Not awkward at all, just like meeting up with a best friend you haven't seen in awhile. Made a video of it to

[@gee2541]

@@perdykool Oh wow I hadn’t heard of her before but that must have been exciting :) Glad she was friendly and it went well! I’d love to do interviews like that in the future one day and get experience talking to public figures.

[@perdykool]

@@gee2541 I've met a few celebs before and it's always been fun, they're people to, with feelings and anxieties like anyone... just better looking and with more money. Lol. Jk but seriously had great times.

[@alexanderpadalka5708]

🗽

[@nicolelathrop8629]

1a.shut up. 1b.learned too shut up.2a,i think making curiosity a hobby makes sense so that I can connect with multiple individuals.2B.means I can better understand and help people.3a.looking forward gaining others insights.3b I do not have any concerns at this time,

[@queenk555]

In curious to see how 'dead air chicken' works. I'm the type if I'm being interviewed, I'll ask, 'Are you done or are we finished?" Instead of keep going. Lol

[@ThomasJordanTV]

Have you got to try it yet? If so, how'd it go??

[@einsteindarwin8756]

Dead air chicken doesn’t work for live tv.

[@adamdavis9343]

Joe Rogan breaks all of these rules. 😂

[@CamerieriZeppoleMix]

who is joe rogan? j/k

[@propertycentreuk]

Are you sure about that? He does prep.

[@chideraosih8214]

@@CamerieriZeppoleMix Joe Rogan is a podcaster hosting the highest paying podcast in the industry.

[@CamerieriZeppoleMix]

@@chideraosih8214 I know

[@stephenjemyers]

Apart from curiosity

[@eliasekstrand5149]

Joe Rogan is that good.

[@shannakelly7635]

I wish there wasn't cursing in this so I could use it in my classroom

[@goldtownmma]

Try teaching

[@100peopledislikedyourcomme6]

Takeaway: Shut up 😂😂