Interview Advice

Set up and demeanor

• Have your questions written prior to the interview.
• If you are doing an email interview, don't just send your list of questions to the interviewee. Instead, send a few questions at a time.
• Do not conduct an interview without taking notes, tape recording it, or having an email record of it.
• If you do not understand something, ask for an explanation.
• Try to remain neutral in your demeanor--your body language, tone, and/or the way you phrase and ask questions.
• Avoid loaded questions, or if you need to ask controversial questions, ask them at the end of the interview.
• Do not get drawn into an argument.

Advice on Questions

• Start the interview with a "How" question.
• No yes/no questions.
• Don't ask questions, you already know the answer to.
• If the interviewee reveals something about themselves, ask them to discuss it further.
• Keep the discussion focused on alternative living.
• Make sure you ask the interviewee if the alternative path or practice they have chosen brings meaning to their lives in some way.