People may think that asking people why did you join the military is a great way to start a podcast interview focusing on the experience of being in the military. And initially I thought of it as an opening question to my interviews. But the thing was I did not know that this one questions would tell me so much about my guest and help pace the rest of the interview. Women of the Military podcast hit 250 episodes this week. And it feels like a huge milestone. Even if it is only just one more episode with more episodes on the horizon to come. It felt significant to me and also a thing to celebrate.
And as I reflected on this idea I realized how this basic question has stuck through every interview I have had with a guest who decided to join the military. There is something about their answer that puts me at ease and tells me about their story. My guests often probably don’t realize how important their answer is. Many people often brush off why they joined but if I give them space to open up they often go deeper sharing personal details of their lives in each story.
It can be something as simple as family history of service, a significant event in their life either personal or outside event. It can even be a word or affirmation by someone pointing them towards this new path. Every time I hear someone answer why they joined the military I know them better and I want to dive in deeper and hear more of their story. So, I guess that is why it is one of the only things that hasn’t changed.
What’s in a question?
Because, when I first started podcasting I would spend lots of time trying to prepare for my guests. I would guess what questions I would need to answer and use them as a guide to get me through the interviews. Now 250+ episodes later, It feels so natural now to do a podcast interview and often even if I do prep I find my guests story guides me into places I could never have foreseen and my prepared questions sit there unused.
Today, I do still prepare for the podcast but it is with behind the scenes technical aspects. The story part I know will figure itself when I sit down with my guests. The questions will come. And they will all stem from the start of their military story with them deciding to join. And I hope that through this one question I can learn what threads to pull. To pull out one small piece of my guest’s military story.
Every conversations opens a door to a future opportunity. And every story helps me to process feelings within myself. I have changed with each story. Learned not only more about my guests but myself and I am so thankful and humble that I have been able to do this. Thanks for joining me on the adventure.
