Icebreaker questions are a great way to start off a podcast, they help melt the tension, build rapport and quickly create a connection with your guest.

Elevate your podcast’s interviews with our incubation program. Our expert guidance will help you create an effective methodology that aligns with your podcast’s goals and voice. Become a master interviewer and captivate your audience now.

Categories of Icebreaker Questions And Examples

“would you rather” questions:

1. Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button for your life?
2. Would you rather be able to talk to animals or speak all human languages?
3. Would you rather have the power to be invisible or to read people’s minds?
4. Would you rather have super strength or the ability to fly?
5. Would you rather live in a world with no internet or no air conditioning?
6. Would you rather be able to visit any planet or time travel to any era?
7. Would you rather have a lifetime supply of your favorite food or drink?
8. Would you rather be a famous celebrity or a powerful politician?
9. Would you rather spend the day with your favorite fictional character or a historical figure?
10. Would you rather have a photographic memory or the ability to forget anything you want?

 

“what if” questions:

1. What if you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life? What would it be?
2. What if you could switch lives with anyone for a day? Who would it be?
3. What if you could live in any time period? Which one would you choose?
4. What if you could have any superpower? What would it be?
5. What if you could travel anywhere in the world? Where would you go?
6. What if you could be any character from a book or movie? Who would you be?
7. What if you could trade places with any historical figure? Who would it be?
8. What if you could have any job in the world? What would it be?
9. What if you could be any age for the rest of your life? Which age would you choose?
10. What if you could live in any fictional universe? Which one would it be?

 

Open-ended questions:

1. What are some of your favorite hobbies or interests?
2. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
3. What is the craziest adventure or experience you’ve ever had?
4. Who is someone you admire or look up to, and why?
5. What are some of your favorite books, movies, or TV shows, and what do you love about them?
6. If you could have any talent or skill, what would it be?
7. What is one thing that always makes you laugh or smile?
8. What is your favorite way to relax or de-stress?
9. If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be, and what would you talk about?
10. What is something that you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t had the chance to yet?

 

Icebreakers relating to experiences:

Some interesting stories may transpire from asking these kinds of questions. Talking about our experiences are things we do with friends. Doing the same before an interview gives your guest a sense of familiarity which can be very comforting.

Try these questions:

• What was your most challenging class in high school?

• What is the best trip you’ve ever taken?

• Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever fallen asleep?

 

Personal Related Icebreakers

Asking such questions builds rapport in a matter of minutes. Nothing loosens one’s tongue faster than talking about themselves. Don’t be surprised at how much your interviewee’s eyes glitter when you throw a personal question.

Ask fun questions like;

• What’s your secret talent?

• If you could go back in time and change something, what will you do?

• Where is your happy place?

• What was your dream as a child?

• What’s your zodiac sign?

Wild Card Icebreakers

This one injects some humor into the interaction. Nothing breaks ice faster than humor (Well except for the titanic and that giant iceberg).

They elevate your guest’s mood right off the bat. Raising your guest’s energy at the start keeps things lively, and sets a good tone for the rest of the show.

Here are a few examples:

• What if you could never get angry?

• What was the silliest thing you believed as a kid?

• What would you do if you had a whole day to yourself without work?

• What’s the craziest prank you ever pulled off on someone?

Crafting the right icebreaker questions:

Crafting the right icebreaker questions can make all the difference in creating a fun and engaging podcast interview. Here are some tips for crafting the right icebreaker questions:

1. Consider your audience: Think about who your audience is and what they might find interesting or entertaining. This can help you tailor your questions to your audience’s interests.
2. Keep it light and fun: Icebreaker questions should be light and fun, not too serious or heavy. They should put your guest at ease and encourage them to open up.
3. Be creative: Try to come up with unique and creative questions that your guest may not have heard before. This can make the interview more interesting and memorable.
4. Avoid controversial topics: While it’s important to ask thought-provoking questions, it’s best to avoid controversial topics that could make your guest uncomfortable or offend your audience.
5. Mix it up: Don’t ask the same types of questions over and over again. Mix it up with “would you rather,” “what if,” and open-ended questions to keep the conversation fresh and engaging.
6. Practice, practice, practice: Once you have a list of potential icebreaker questions, practice asking them out loud to see how they sound. You may need to adjust the wording or order of the questions to make them flow more naturally.

Remember, the right icebreaker questions can set the tone for the entire interview and help you create a fun and engaging conversation. Take the time to craft the right questions and practice them beforehand, and you’ll be sure to have a great interview.

Incorporating them in your podcast:

Incorporating icebreaker questions into your podcast can help set the tone for an engaging and entertaining conversation with your guest. Here are some tips for incorporating icebreaker questions into your podcast:

1. Introduce the icebreaker segment (optional): Let your audience know that you’ll be starting with some icebreaker questions to help break the ice and get to know your guest better.
2. Keep it brief: Icebreaker questions shouldn’t take up too much time in your podcast. Aim for no more than 5-10 minutes to keep the conversation flowing and prevent the segment from feeling too forced or awkward.
3. Tailor the questions to your guest: As mentioned before, consider your guest’s interests and tailor your questions to them. This can help build rapport and make your guest feel more comfortable.
4. Be flexible: While it’s important to have a plan, be flexible with your icebreaker questions. If the conversation is flowing well, don’t be afraid to deviate from your list and go with the flow.
5. End on a high note: End the icebreaker segment on a high note to transition into the main part of the interview. This can help build momentum and keep your guest engaged.

Incorporating icebreaker questions into your podcast can help set the tone for a fun and engaging conversation with your guest. With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to create a great icebreaker segment that your audience will enjoy.

Dos and don’ts of using icebreaker questions:

Icebreaker questions can be a great way to start a conversation and create a fun and engaging atmosphere. However, there are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind when using icebreaker questions:

Dos:

1. Do tailor your questions to your guest’s interests: By asking questions that your guest is interested in, you’re more likely to create a relaxed and engaging conversation.
2. Do keep it light and fun: Icebreaker questions should be light and fun, not too serious or heavy. This can help put your guest at ease and encourage them to open up.
3. Do be creative: Coming up with unique and creative questions can make the interview more interesting and memorable.
4. Do mix it up: Ask a variety of different types of questions, such as “would you rather,” “what if,” and open-ended questions to keep the conversation fresh and engaging.
5. Do listen to your guest’s answers: Listening to your guest’s answers can help you come up with follow-up questions and keep the conversation flowing.

Don’ts:

1. Don’t ask controversial questions: Avoid asking questions that could make your guest uncomfortable or offend your audience.
2. Don’t be too personal: While it’s important to get to know your guest, don’t ask overly personal questions that could make them uncomfortable.
3. Don’t make the icebreaker segment too long: Icebreaker questions should be a brief segment at the beginning of the interview to help set the tone for the conversation.
4. Don’t stick to a script: While it’s important to have a plan, don’t be afraid to deviate from your list of questions if the conversation is flowing well.
5. Don’t dominate the conversation: Remember that the icebreaker questions are just a starting point, so make sure to give your guest plenty of time to share their thoughts and ideas.

 

In conclusion, icebreaker questions are an essential part of any successful podcast interview. By using creative and fun questions tailored to your guest’s interests, you can help set the tone for an engaging and entertaining conversation. However, it’s important to keep in mind the dos and don’ts of using icebreaker questions to ensure that the conversation stays on track and your guest feels comfortable.

If you’re interested in improving your podcast interviewing skills, be sure to check our article on running a smooth interview for your podcast.