4 ms·
I've recently listened to several Terry Gross interviews, and the David Bowie interview stands out to me as particularly bad. I think she frequently makes "educ
by Boogie_Man 3y ago
I've recently listened to several Terry Gross interviews, and the David Bowie interview stands out to me as particularly bad. I think she frequently makes "educated guesses" about how her guests will respond about their thoughts, feelings, and motivations, and will have follow up questions prepared based on these anticipated responses. When she's right, things go well. When she's wrong, she just keeps plowing forward with homerun swings that completely whiff. She sometimes seems quietly incredulous that other people have different values and methods of reasoning, or that their perception of themselves does not match her research.
To be fair and not negative exclusively, I think she's very good at knowing how long to let people talk (some of this might be editing), very good at creating a "human connection" with the subjects, and reasonably good at keeping things interesting.
- justin66 3y agoThat's intriguing. I recently heard (and commented here [0] on) the Bowie interview, which I thought was great, and revelatory. Prior to hearing that interview, I wouldn't have believed someone if they told me Bowie would have preferred not to perform live: "Frankly, if I could get away with not having to perform, I'd be very happy." I am pretty sure provoking small but significant revelations like that are what radio interviews are really good for. A talent for bringing those about, or simply allowing them to come about, is also why Howard Stern is regarded highly as an interviewer, I believe, although the two interviewers use very different techniques. Coincidentally, Gross's interview with Stern was pretty interesting. [1] [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37629932 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37629932 [1] https://www.npr.org/transcripts/722832463 https://www.npr.org/transcripts/722832463