6 Lessons for Better Conversations from 13 Years of Podcasting: Joe Rogan

Joe makes guests feel safe.

• He breaks the ice and makes them laugh

• He acknowledges a guest's view & expertise

• Explains that he's here to learn, not to judge them

It starts from the first contact - Joe books guests himself!

Lesson: trust is the basis for conversation.

Joe has the curiosity of a child.

• There to feed his own mind, not the listeners

• He wants to understand what makes them tick

• He's not afraid to look dumb and asks for explanations

Where would your curiosity lead you?

Lesson: genuine curiosity gets anyone talking.

Joe rarely asks a question.

• He poses a fact that triggers a story

• He'll encourage them to go on and dig deeper

• Like modelling clay, he nudges the conversation's direction

He gets guests invested in the story, it's about them.

Lesson: don't force it, listen & adjust.

Joe has limits.

• Joe calls BS if needed

• Producer Jamie looks up facts & examples

• His input corrects & keeps the conversation on track

Everyone has the right to their own opinion, not their own facts.

Lesson: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Joe reads the conversation

• He leans in, reads & mirrors body language

• Alters between open questions, encouragement, and facts

• There is no predetermined endpoint, he'll steer it to a close

Lesson: a conversation is 70% non-verbal, learn to read & use it.

Forget interviews.

This applies to any conversation.

In your next conversation:

• Establish trust

• Get them invested

• Lead with curiosity

• Respond, don't react

• Overdo your homework

• Pose facts, trigger stories

• Listen, check facts & nudge

Authenticity is your megaphone.