Most guest talks miss because the host throws softballs. Questions that sound safe. Rehearsed. Forgettable.
A great question lands like a clean tackle: sharp, unexpected, and impossible to ignore. It pulls out the truth and gives the audience something real to hold onto.
This guide packs 115 guest speaker questions that actually get people talking, from career-focused prompts to quick icebreakers, plus a free Talks podcast question generator to speed up your prep.
If you’re bringing someone on stage, make it count. Here’s how to build sessions people talk about long after the mic cuts out.
What Is the Role of a Guest Speaker?
A guest speaker’s role is to shift perspective, share real experience, and add real-world weight to events or webinars. They give your attendees and audience a reason to listen, not just something to watch.
The best guest speakers:
- Share insightful lessons from real wins and failures
- Offer authority on what the audience already cares about
- Hold attention through story and honesty
- Leave people with something useful they can apply now
Think of your keynote speaker as the “fresh voice” who steps in to give your audience a mental jolt.
Guest speaker information
When choosing a guest speaker, a few factors decide how strong their impact will be:
- Expertise: What makes them credible and worth listening to?
- Audience fit: Does their message actually matter to your listeners?
- Delivery style: Are they a storyteller, motivator, or strategist?
- Setup: Sound, lighting, and timing count more than people think.
You want someone who adds valuable insights to the conversation your audience is already having.
If it’s a health summit, don’t book a “wellness guru.” Bring the nutritionist who beat burnout and built a six-figure practice
That’s relatable, specific, and memorable.
Guest speaker example
Let’s put it in context.
Say you’re hosting a virtual event for new mindset coaches and motivational speakers. The guest speaker is a former athlete who rebuilt their confidence after a career-ending injury and now coaches others to do the same.
They could share:
- The lowest moment and what pulled them out of it.
- The methods they used to rebuild consistency.
- What changed when they started coaching others.
- The practical steps they teach clients to stay resilient.
That kind of thought-provoking story connects. It’s honest, specific, and gives your audience something they can actually use.
115 Guest Speaker Questions to Ask by Category
The questions you ask your guest speaker can make or break a talk. These 115 sharp, practical prompts are split by category so you can delve into wins, struggles, strategies, and insights fast.
When asking questions, pick the ones that hit hard, get your guest talking, and keep your audience hooked from the first question to the last.
Fun questions to ask a guest speaker as icebreakers
Start with funny podcast questions that open your guest quickly. Easy to answer but revealing enough to get energy flowing.
- One thing you do backstage that no one would expect?
- One small ritual that keeps you calm before a big talk?
- Best compliment you’ve ever received after a presentation?
- A surprising skill that helps you as a speaker?
- One piece of advice you wish you ignored early on?
- Who inspired you when you first started speaking?
- Your go-to reset after a long day of coaching or events?
- One small detail you always triple-check before going live?
- If your audience remembered one feeling from your talk, what would it be?
- One tweak that instantly upgrades any presentation?
General questions to ask guest speakers
These are your steady go-to list of questions. All ten are engaging questions to ask your guest that are useful for any guest, any topic, any format.
- Why did you pick this topic to speak on?
- How has your message changed over time?
- One idea you wish more people understood about your work?
- How do you prep when time is tight?
- Your move to pull the audience back in?
- How do you handle a talk that goes off script?
- One lesson from your audience that stuck?
- How has speaking helped build your business?
- How do you keep talks fresh for repeat audiences?
- One underrated skill every speaker should master?
Light-hearted guest speaker questions for students
Keep your questions for guest speakers casual and relatable. Perfect for students or early-career audiences.
- What was your first job, and what did it teach you?
- Which school subject actually helped you in business?
- How did you figure out the work that fit you best?
- Which early mistake ended up helping you most?
- Who guided you when you were just starting out?
- Which success myth should students drop fast?
- How do you handle pressure or uncertainty?
- One small win that kept you going?
- Something you learned outside school that changed your path?
- One rule you’d give every new graduate?
Questions to ask a guest speaker about their career
Go deep with your guest speaker during a webinar into how they built, scaled, and grew their success.
- When did you realize your business had real traction?
- How has your background shaped your leadership today?
- One decision that moved your career forward fast?
- One risk that paid off better than expected?
- Rules or filters you use to decide what’s worth your time?
- Which skill was essential to grow your business?
- How do you deal with failure when things go wrong?
- Which habits have kept you consistent long-term?
- What advice would you give to new entrepreneurs entering this space?
- How has your view of success evolved over time?
Controversial questions to ask a webinar speaker
Use these thought-provoking questions for your guest speakers during a virtual event when you want sharper opinions that spark engagement and honest debate.
Remember: not conflict. Clarity.
- Do most coaches undercharge or overcharge?
- Is formal certification truly needed for credibility?
- Has social media made it harder or easier to stand out?
- Should speakers pay to be featured on a podcast or summit?
- Is personal branding now more important than skill?
- Your take on “fake it till you make it”?
- Is the online coaching space too crowded?
- One industry belief you completely disagree with?
- Should coaches and professional speakers grow an audience before or after launching?
- Is AI improving content or watering it down?
Questions to ask a guest speaker about mindset and resilience
See what keeps top performers steady through pressure and growth with these thoughtful questions for leadership speakers.
- How do you reset after a flop or rough launch?
- Which belief keeps you moving when numbers don’t?
- How do you manage fear when stepping up?
- How do you stay focused when life gets loud?
- One habit that built mental toughness?
- How do you stop comparing yourself online?
- What do you tell yourself before doing something scary?
- How do you handle burnout without losing edge?
- Which daily routine impacts your mindset most?
- One personal rule you never break?
Podcast questions about leadership and influence
Pull out how they lead, build trust, and make people move with these insightful questions that spark meaningful conversations.
- Your definition of good leadership today?
- How do you earn trust fast with a new team?
- One leadership mistake that taught a hard lesson?
- How do you keep standards high without burning out others?
- Which people do you look for when building a team?
- Your move when you realize you hired wrong?
- First step when things start slipping off track?
- One decision as a leader that changed your business?
- How do you spot and develop talent?
- Your take on transparency versus privacy in leadership?
Guest speaker podcast questions about audience connection
Here are great questions to ask that reveal how the guest speaker at your event truly engages and turns a crowd into a community.
- How do you read a room and adjust mid-talk?
- What cues show your message is landing?
- How do you balance story and actionable value?
- One audience detail you always research?
- How do you keep virtual audiences engaged 30+ minutes?
- Best reaction you’ve had from a live audience?
- Handling silence or low energy mid-talk?
- Your strategy for off-track Q&A sessions?
- How do you use humour without losing authority?
- How do you want people to feel at the end?
Content and storytelling strategy questions to ask a guest speaker
This list of questions to ask your potential guest digs into how they build talks that hit hard through message, delivery, and structure.
- How do you pick which stories to use?
- Formula for opening strong and grabbing attention?
- How do you simplify complex ideas without dumbing them down?
- One story that always connects?
- How do you keep your message consistent across formats?
- Process for testing or refining new material?
- How do you avoid sounding scripted after repeats?
- How do you use visuals without distraction?
- One speaking technique you swear by?
- Advice for stories that audience members remember a week later?
Good questions to ask a guest speaker
If time is tight, these relevant questions can help hit the balance between insight and action.
- One strategy that consistently brings new clients?
- Most common mistake entrepreneurs repeat?
- Best career investment you’ve made?
- One trend you’re watching closely?
- How do you stay motivated when results are slow?
- Recent project that taught you something new?
- How do you handle feedback that stings?
- One shortcut that wastes time?
- What do you wish more people knew about your industry?
- What’s next for you this year?
Guest speaker reflection questions to ask
Wrap up with reflection, insight, and inspiration.
- Looking back, what are you most proud of?
- Advice to your younger self?
- How has your view of success changed?
- Biggest lesson about people from speaking?
- How do you stay grounded as influence grows?
- One message you hope people remember long-term?
- What would you do differently if starting over?
- Impact you want your work to leave?
- One thing you still want to master?
- How do you keep your purpose clear as your career evolves?
Free Talks Podcast Questions Generator
Finding good podcast questions to ask shouldn’t take hours. The Talks Podcast Question Generator gives you conversation-ready prompts in seconds.
How it works:
- Type in your episode topic
- Hit Generate
- Copy or tweak the questions for your guest
Here’s what it gave us for entrepreneurs, coaches, and online founders:
- What was the biggest win in your entrepreneurial journey and how did it impact your business strategy?
- Can you share a specific struggle you faced as an entrepreneur and how you overcame it to achieve success?
- How do you balance the demands of running a business with the need for self-care and personal growth?
- What key business strategy or tactic has had the most significant impact on your success as a coach or online founder?
- Can you discuss a time when you had to pivot your business strategy quickly in response to market changes or unexpected challenges?
Why Have Questions to Ask a Guest Speaker?
Strong questions to ask a guest speaker create strong conversations. They steer the talk, keep things engaging, and help guests open up in ways that stick.
- Stay focused: Keep the talk clear and on topic.
- Build connection: Help guests feel comfortable fast.
- Add direction: Avoid going in circles or filler chatter.
- Create flow: Keep the conversation natural and easy to follow.
- Add authority: Position your show and guest as experts.
When your questions hit the mark, the whole interview slaps harder.
What should a guest speaker talk about?
The best talks mix real stories with tailored questions that allow the speaker to delve deeper into their area of expertise and provide valuable insights.
Help your guest share moments that feel real, not rehearsed.
- Turning points: The time they nearly quit before landing their first $10K client.
- Early mistakes: A failed launch or bad hire that forced a rethink.
- Client stories: A shift that helped a client double their income.
- Tough calls: Saying no to a “safe” deal that didn’t fit their mission.
- Big pivots: Moving from one-on-one coaching to group work after burnout.
- Mentorship: Advice that reshaped how they see success.
- Action steps: Three things listeners can try this week.
- Vision: The bigger mission behind their next move.
Keep your podcast interview questions real. The more specific the story, the better the experience for all participants becomes.
How long should a guest speaker talk?
The right length depends on the format and energy of the session. Long enough to leave a lasting impact, short enough to keep it sharp while sharing their background and expertise.
- Podcast interviews: 20-40 minutes
- Workshops or panels: 30-60 minutes
- Keynotes or live events: 45-90 minutes
Plan for impact, not airtime. Every minute should earn its spot.
For more tips, check out how to do a podcast interview to prep for your next podcast guesting spot.
How to Be a Good Guest Speaker
Being a great guest is about giving value, keeping the experience for everyone involved engaging, and making every minute count. Do these five things to nail it every time:
- Prepare your key points: Know the top three takeaways you want the audience to remember.
- Connect early: Learn about the host and audience so you can tailor your personal and professional examples and anecdotes.
- Keep it actionable: Share strategies or initiatives that others in the audience can actually use.
- Engage naturally: Use stories, questions, and energy to pull listeners in.
- Follow up: Send resources, links, or a thank-you note to leave a lasting impression.
Guest Speaker Introduction and Resources
A strong intro frames your guest as the authority and gets the audience leaning in.
Get your next event or podcast off to a strong start with these practical examples, templates, and quotes you can use or tweak for your own in-person or webinar platforms.
Guest speaker introduction sample
A good intro is short, credible, and energetic. Here are three you can tweak for any guest or niche:
- “Please welcome Sarah Thorslund, co-founder of Entrepreneurs HQ and Talks.co, helping coaches and founders attract their ideal clients through virtual events and podcasts.”
- “Our next guest, Liam Austin, has hosted over 400 interviews and helped thousands of experts grow their authority online. Today, he’s breaking down what it really takes to stand out.”
- “Joining us is Chris Hardwick, a veteran podcaster who’s turned simple conversations into a global community. Let’s dive straight into his story.”
Guest speaker speech examples
Here’s a quick look at what strong speaker moments can look like across different formats and styles.
- James Taylor – Future of Work: Human + AI: Blends storytelling, data, and takeaways on human-AI teamwork.
- Women’s Financial Prosperity and Wellness: Farah Lotia and Saadia Ahmed lead an interactive workshop on real-world money strategies.
- Women In Leadership – Walker Webcast: Gloria Steinem, Ginni Rometty, and Frances Frei share bold lessons on risk, empathy, and leadership.
Guest speaker script template
Use this fill-in-the-blank script to introduce your guest naturally, without sounding robotic or rehearsed no matter your guest or topic.
Template:
“Hi everyone, I’m [Your Name], and today I’m joined by [Guest Name], [Guest’s Role or Title] at [Company or Project Name].
[Guest Name] has [briefly mention a key achievement or result], and today they’ll share insights on [good podcast topics or themes].
Expect real examples and takeaways you can use right away.
Let’s welcome [Guest Name] to the show.”
Guest Speaker Quotes
A few reminders from people who’ve seen firsthand how powerful speaking and podcasting can be:
- “It’s always one of those pinch-yourself moments where you think, man, this is so cool that having a podcast has allowed me to connect with somebody in this cool way. That’s one of my favorite parts about podcasting personally.” – Kris Emerson
- “I fell in love with podcasts back when I had an incredibly boring office job. They were like a secret escape that became the thing I looked forward to the most. Even years later, I listen to them in the car, while doing laundry, even when I get ready for the day. They’ve become so ingrained in my daily life that I can’t imagine a day without them.” – Jordan Blair
- “You can build a community, and literally change the world just recording into a microphone.” – Chris Hardwick
Ask Better, Get Better
Strong guest speaker questions make your sessions unforgettable.
They pull out stories, reveal lessons, and keep audiences engaged, turning ordinary talks into conversations people actually remember.
With the right questions, you can guide your guest to share moments that are human, surprising, and impactful.
Ready to bring this kind of energy to your next session?
Create your free Talks Creator profile today to line up guests who deliver substance and make your sessions worth showing up for.
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