Richard Milligan recalls Larry King explaining his interview technique: thorough research plus four scripted baseline questions about family, career entry, hobbies, and ten-year goals. This framework freed King to listen and ask better follow-ups, the real secret to getting unique stories from guests.
I came across an interview. It was Larry King, is no longer here. I mean, he died a couple years ago, but I watched an interview with him after he left CNN. And they asked him the question, why were you so great at getting people to share stories that no one else could get people to share? And he said verbatim almost exactly what I'd read 25 years ago. He said, I always came to an interview having done some research. So I had a list of scripted questions. They allowed me to be present. And actively listen to ask better questions. You don't have to know much about them, but if you show up and go, hey, tell me a little bit about your family. Okay, that's a, that's a scripted question. How did you get into the industry is occupation. What do you do for fun outside of work is recreation. Where do you want to be in 10 years? Have you thought about that? What's the big dream? And those are all scripted questions.
