The Art of the Interview with Conversation Expert Celeste Headlee
Sound Judgment
Navigating Difficult Dialogues
This chapter explores how to engage in challenging conversations, particularly with those holding dismissive views. It highlights the value of curiosity and respect over defensiveness, promoting understanding and connection rather than persuasion.
Celeste Headlee has anchored many programs, including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, Here and Now, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. She also served as co-host of the national morning news show, The Takeaway, and served as executive producer of Georgia Public Radio’s On Second Thought.
Her best-selling books include We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter, Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing and Underliving, and Speaking of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk about Racism — and How to Do It. She also wrote Heard Mentality, a book specifically for journalists and podcasters.
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The episode discussed on today’s Sound Judgment: "A National Divorce Would Be a Good Thing," from Hear Me Out
Hear Me Out is a podcast from Slate. The show is produced by Maura Currie. Ben Richmond is the Senior Director of Podcast Operations, and Alicia Montgomery is VP of Slate Audio. Celeste Headlee is the host.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Sound Judgment Episode 10: Snap Judgment’s Glynn Washington: Lessons from a Master Storyteller
- Bring lessons on hosting and producing into your inbox! Did you know Sound Judgment is also a free newsletter? Every two weeks, get storytelling, hosting, and journalism strategies taken straight from the on-the-ground experiences of today’s best audio makers, no matter the genre. Newsletters feature examples for you to try in your studio; essays on the challenges and rewards of this craft; and news about fellow audio creatives making the kind of work we all aspire to. Click here to subscribe.
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At the end of every episode, I give you a few of the many takeaways from these conversations. Here are today’s:
- There are big and important differences between interviewing to report a story, where you’re using selected sound bites, and hosting an interview. Celeste was initially dismayed that her vast experience as a reporter hadn’t prepared her to sit in that host chair. As a host of a conversation, you have to care about creating a story arc; about the order of your questions; and about the way in which you ask your questions. None of those apply universally to reporting.
- A lot of what we think is true about good communication doesn’t prove to be true. Celeste says her research shows that tactics like making eye contact, saying uh-huh, nodding your head, and even repeating back what you heard – aren’t effective. It’s sharing perspectives that actually creates a connection, an empathic bond.
- Learning to communicate well with one another could not be more important – because to communicate well is to survive. One thing that Celeste told me that took my breath away is that it is not true that the human species survived because of some innate higher intelligence. Rather, she said, “The way that we survived is through our communities. If you’re messing with one human being, you are almost always messing with more.”
- To talk with those with whom you disagree, learn their arguments. You need to understand them as well as you know your own. Otherwise, they will dismiss your objection as coming from someone who simply doesn’t understand.
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Credits
Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC.
Host: Elaine Appleton Grant
Podcast Manager: Tina Bassir
Production Manager: Andrew Parrella
Audio Engineer: Kevin Kline
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