Most podcast episodes fail for one reason: nothing risky ever gets said.
The guest stays polished. The host plays it safe. The conversation drifts exactly where the listener expects… and then disappears from memory the moment it ends.
That’s not an equipment problem. It’s not an editing problem. It’s a question problem.
The right question changes the temperature in the room. It interrupts rehearsed answers. It forces a pause, a laugh, a confession, or a line the guest didn’t plan to say out loud.
That’s when an episode stops sounding like content and starts feeling like a genuine podcasting moment with interesting conversations.
This list of podcast questions you can ask exists for that reason.
These 160 spicy podcast questions are designed to break patterns, wake guests up, and give listeners something they haven’t heard a hundred times already in the world of podcasting.
If you want it sharper, darker, or more provocative, I’ll teach you how to push your signature questions even further.
What Is a Spicy Question?
A spicy question is a question that nudges a guest slightly outside their comfort zone without going too far.
A good spicy question:
- Invites guests to open up and share their thoughts: It blends curiosity, honesty, and a hint of risk.
- Gives guests space to reflect instead of perform: They help build rapport and avoid awkward silences.
These questions work because they’re usually open-ended questions, not yes or no traps.
What Are Spicy Questions to Ask?
Spicy questions turn routine podcast interviews into moments that resonate. When used well, they can help keep your listeners hooked and make each podcast episode feel intentional.
For a podcast host, the goal isn’t to stir drama but to create a comfortable environment where guests feel safe enough to be real. That balance is what separates a good show from the best podcast in its niche.
What are some good podcast questions?
Different types of questions serve different roles in the flow of the conversation. What you ask depends on your podcast production style or the kind of moment you want to create.
- Icebreaker questions: Warm up the flow of the conversation by asking guests about their day or how they first discovered your podcast.
- Funny questions: Get your guests laughing and create light moments by asking guests to share a humorous anecdote or to give an opinion on a silly debate (“Is water wet?”).
- Personal questions: Reveal the real person behind the expert. Encourage them to share their routines or hobbies behind the scenes.
- Thought-provoking questions: Gain expert insights and big ideas by diving deep into their niche.
- Juicy questions: Balance excitement and respect by touching on controversial topics safely.
- Open-ended questions: Ask questions that lead to in-depth conversation, like picking on how they came up with a signature framework.
160 Spicy Podcast Questions to Ask Your Next Guest
Ready to kick your podcast episode up a knotch? This set of questions mixes humor, boldness, and depth to keep the conversation flowing and your audience coming back.
Take your pick from any of these 160 podcast questions to ask your guests and make your podcast engaging to your target audience and your guests.
Plus, these’ll all help set the tone you want to set for your podcast.
Spicy party questions for your podcast guests
These bold and controversial questions are best used once you have some rapport with your guest. Use these questions well for casual shows, panels, and end-of-episode energy boosts.
- What’s the wildest thing you’ve done to impress someone?
- Have you ever lied to get out of a date?
- What secret habit would shock your closest friends?
- Would you ghost someone if they bored you?
- What’s your biggest regret from a party night?
- What rule do you break just for fun?
- Who in your family has the craziest hidden talent?
- What’s the most embarrassing text you sent?
- Have you ever pretended to like a gift you hated?
- What’s your guilty pleasure song?
- Would you date your teen crush today?
- What lie have you told that lasted years?
- Have you ever crashed a party uninvited?
- What food combo sounds gross but you love?
- Who do you secretly judge the most?
- What’s your weirdest irrational fear?
- Have you ever faked being sick for a day off?
- What celebrity would you fight and why?
- Would you swap lives with your past self?
- What is the pettiest reason you unfollowed someone?
- Have you ever snooped on an ex’s social media?
- What habit annoys you in others, but you do it?
- What’s the strangest dream you remember?
- Have you ever bet on something dumb?
- What outfit do you regret wearing out?
- Who’s the messiest person you know?
- What app do you waste time on most?
- Have you ever argued over something tiny?
- What movie quote sums up your life?
- Would you time-travel to fix one mistake?
- What’s your hottest hot take?
- Have you ever regifted something you didn’t like?
Talks Tip: Don’t just surprise your guest with a bold question out of the blue. Build trust and expectations first. These controversial topics only work when the vibes are aligned.
Spicy most likely questions to ask multiple guests
“Most likely” questions are playful and earn their fair share of laughs, while revealing your guests’ personalities. They‘re great as an ice breaker or quick segment for group interviews.
- Who is most likely to ignore popular advice?
- Who is most likely to forget their own birthday?
- Who is most likely to win a dance-off?
- Who is most likely to date a coworker?
- Who is most likely to ghost a bad date?
- Who is most likely to overshare on social media?
- Who is most likely to cry at movies alone?
- Who is most likely to binge a whole series in one night?
- Who is most likely to text their ex first?
- Who is most likely to prank call family?
- Who is most likely to hoard junk forever?
- Who is most likely to road rage yell?
- Who is most likely to stalk an online crush?
- Who is most likely to burn dinner every time?
- Who is most likely to ghost friends?
- Who is most likely to buy impulse junk?
- Who is most likely to argue with strangers online?
- Who is most likely to sleep through alarms?
- Who is most likely to party till dawn?
- Who is most likely to regret a tattoo?
- Who is most likely to win at karaoke?
- Who is most likely to break up via text?
- Who is most likely to cry at “Try Not to Cry” videos?
- Who is most likely to lose their keys?
- Who is most likely to say yes too fast?
- Who is most likely to challenge a mentor?
- Who is most likely to bet on themselves?
- Who is most likely to fail their driver’s license test?
- Who is most likely to build something weird?
- Who is most likely to plan an elaborate surprise?
- Who’s most likely to get into a love triangle?
- Who’s most likely to fall for their best friend?
Talks Tip: Most likely questions work because of context. If you’re interviewing co-stars promoting their latest shows or content creators within the same friend group, these help you peek into their dynamics.
Funny questions to ask on a podcast
Nothing says “sit down and get comfortable” like a good round of humorous questions. Popular podcasts use these funny questions in between deeper moments to shift the tone.
- What’s the most useless purchase you ever made?
- If you were a vegetable, which one and why?
- If your life were a movie, what bad title would you give it?
- What food would you fight someone over?
- What useless superpower would you like to have?
- What cartoon character are you most like?
- What’s your zombie apocalypse plan?
- What would you do if you were invisible for a day?
- What’s the worst haircut you ever had?
- What emoji sums up your boss?
- What game do you always lose?
- If your life had a warning label, what would it say?
- Which celebrity would play you in a movie?
- What skill do you pretend to have?
- What do you procrastinate on most?
- What trend did you misunderstand?
- What silly childhood nickname did you never manage to outgrow?
- What would your younger self roast you for?
- What’s your go-to excuse for getting out of an event?
- What’s your catchphrase?
- What’s the craziest snack combo that you swear by?
- What’s your biggest red flag?
- What would you do if you switched lives with your pet for a day?
- What’s the funniest misheard lyric you’ve sung loudly?
- Have you ever laughed during an inappropriate moment?
- What word or phrase did you keep mispronouncing until someone corrected you?
- What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve Googled?
- Have you ever drunk-dialed a crush with a silly confession?
- Have you ever prank-called someone by pretending to be someone else?
- Which superhero has the best superhero costume?
- What’s the silliest or strangest habit you did as a child?
- What’s the one thing you pretend to know about but don’t?
Talks Tip: Lean into the story. Behind the silly answers are actual funny stories and personal anecdotes that can level up your conversations. With this, you can lighten the mood and be relatable to your listeners.
Flirty-but-safe spicy questions
Flirty questions are about warmth and curiosity, not crossing personal boundaries. If you ask the right ones, your episodes will be full of chemistry while staying respectful and professional.
- What first catches your eye on a date?
- What’s your worst pick-up line?
- What compliment melts you every time?
- What trait makes someone instantly attractive to you?
- What’s your go-to date outfit?
- What kind of smell or perfume captivates you?
- What’s your favorite flirty text emoji?
- Which do you prefer: a playful tease or sweet words?
- What makes a smile irresistible?
- What’s your first date dealmaker or breaker?
- Which do you like to give more of: a handwritten note or a voice memo?
- What song screams romance to you?
- What romantic nickname would you love?
- Who’s your reliable wing man or woman?
- What kinds of conversations energize you?
- Have you ever made the first move? How was your experience?
- What small gesture means a lot to you?
- What’s your love language?
- What makes a great first impression?
- What’s your idea of a perfect date night?
- What’s your self-proclaimed sexiest quality?
- What’s a small gesture that makes your heart flutter?
- If you could plan a dream day together, what’s first?
- What’s your favorite way to be complimented?
- Aside from RomCom, what genre would you like your love story to be?
- What hidden talent would you use to impress a date?
- What’s your go-to song or playlist for preparing for a date?
- What’s your exit plan for a date-gone-wrong?
- Which celebrity do you have a huge crush on?
- Would you go out with your celebrity crush if given the chance?
- Would you rather surprise your partner or be the one surprised?
- Have you ever believed in true love and soulmates?
Talks Tip: Being charismatic is different from being creepy. Balance playful banter without crossing a line, so both your guests and listeners appreciate your charm.
Thought-provoking spicy questions
These thought-provoking questions are ideal for coaches, authors, and experts who want depth. They often lead to expert insights and captivating discussions that keep listeners glued to their seats.
- What has failure taught you most about success?
- What memory would you erase if you could?
- What belief from your youth no longer holds true?
- How do you define real happiness now?
- What risks are you glad you ignored?
- What legacy would you like to leave?
- What question haunts you unanswered?
- How has loss reshaped your view?
- What’s the boldest choice you ever made?
- What truth hurts but frees you?
- If life restarted at 20, what changes would you make?
- How would you face your deepest fear?
- What wisdom do you ignore sometimes?
- Which would make you richer: time or money? Why do you say so?
- What habit holds you back most?
- How would you spend the perfect day?
- What book rewired your brain?
- Would you rather forgive or forget?
- What advice would you give the younger you?
- What’s the one question no one asks you?
- What sparks your peak joy?
- What boundary do you defend fiercely?
- If there were no limits, what passion would you pursue?
- What did you learn from a heartbreak?
- Would you rather keep or rewrite your mistakes?
- How has fear shaped your choices?
- What truth took years to accept?
- What belief quietly guides you?
- What cost did success require?
- What moment clarified your purpose?
- What assumption slowed you down?
- What advice would you give newcomers?
Talks Tip: Deep conversations are good episode enders. They leave listeners feeling like they’ve really learned something new and remind them why your show is their go-to audio companion after a long day.
How to Ask Good Podcast Interview Questions
When you’re starting a podcast, you need to prepare for podcast interviews with good questions.
- Do your homework: Research your guest and their background, so you can ask more personal questions. Their latest project? Ask how it went. The dream role they mentioned in a previous interview? Follow up if they booked it.
- Build a question list: List various questions matching the tone and format of your show. You don’t have to ask all of them, but highlight ones to focus on.
- Always send questions in advance: Send podcast questions upfront to avoid unpleasant surprises.
- Use tools to brainstorm: If you need prompts, explore podcast question generators like the one Talks has (e.g., questions for friends, about love and relationships). Just input your podcast topic and get podcast questions that don’t sound scripted.
If you need more podcast tools, check out this podcast name generator.
Tips for asking great podcast questions
Doing podcast interview shows take much more than a list of questions. These podcast interview tips help you engage with guests and make the conversation flow naturally.
- Create a comfortable environment: Whether you’re interviewing face-to-face or remotely, make small talk before the session. If you invite your guest to the studio, give them water first or set up their seat well.
- Start with an icebreaker: Asking a heavy question immediately can turn the vibes sour. Go for an easy, light-hearted question to warm up.
- Listen for chances to dig deeper: Your guest mentions a new dream? New research? Follow up. True hidden gems can only be uncovered if you ask.
- Give your guests the spotlight: In an interview show, it shouldn’t be all about you. Pause and listen to give guests time to flesh out their ideas and elaborate.
- Practice your hosting skills: No one’s born as a naturally good host. Practice asking your questions with friends or colleagues and get feedback.
Types of podcast questions to avoid
Not every spicy idea belongs on air. Some podcast questions to avoid can make guests uncomfortable.
- Avoid questions without context: These can be misinterpreted by listeners and damage your guest’s reputation. For example, an inside joke or teasing can appear like bullying without the full picture.
- Don’t ask overly invasive personal questions: Asking about past traumas or controversies isn’t polite, especially if your guests aren’t volunteering to share them.
- Avoid bringing up controversial topics without warning: Always send questions or themes ahead when needed.
- Don’t ask leading questions: These show your bias. It’s like purposely driving the conversation just so guests say a certain thing.
You can bring excitement to the show without being rude to guests. Go for deeper questions instead. Don’t be afraid to get real.
Turn Up the Heat
Spicy podcast questions aren’t about pushing limits. They’re about asking the right questions to bring out the honesty and authenticity of conversations.
Ready to conduct your first interview? Find the best guest for your podcast with Talks.
All it takes is a Creators profile for you to:
- Match with relevant guests: AI tools and advanced search connects your with the exact experts you’re looking for.
- Meet fellow podcasters: Collaborate with other hosts to cross-promote your shows.
If you want to find guests who care about great conversation and adore the hot seat, this platform is for you.
Register today for a FREE Talks Profile and get matched in just 5 minutes!
