High Notes by Stephanie Reese

The Gift of An Interview

By Stephanie Reese

The holidays are around the corner and you may be wondering what you can give that special someone in your life…something like never before. I may have the answer. Give them the gift of an interview.

When I started my podcast, Citizen Sister, I had a healthy amount of confidence even though I had never done it before. I had so many friends, relatives and acquaintances around the globe who would be engaging and entertaining for an audience. What I did not initially realize was the gift I would receive from these conversations.

I mostly knew the stories of those I was interviewing. In fact, I knew most of my first guests so well it seemed strange to be talking to them in an interview format. To my pleasant surprise, there was so much I had never heard or known about each one. Stories I had heard before now had beautifully colored details and emotion. Opinions on past and present events were new and expanded, and, in many cases, people I saw so specifically in one light surprised me in big and small ways.

How had I never known that my dad’s favorite fast-food restaurant was called The Beanery? Or that one or my best friends went to a conservatory in Manila for gifted musical kids before he came to the U.S.? That my sister wasn’t sure if she ever had a choice whether to do music? Or that my husband loves the color green? All of this was learned during a simple 45-minute interview.

What is the magic that occurs when someone sits across from me in the studio? It is simply the interview itself. It gives people a spotlight to be heard and seen and, most importantly, deeply listened to. I saw their faces light up as they divulged details of their stories and opinions. There was no worry about being seen as self-absorbed or arrogant in taking time to talk about themselves, all because it was an interview. Emotion, nostalgia and humor flowed because time was not an issue. An interview allows time and space with no distractions. No phones or devices, no TV, no interruptions. The podcast helped me understand that in my daily life, I don’t always allow time and space to enjoy someone’s story with open ears and an open heart. I may not always agree with a podcast guest, but during an interview, I take the time to listen and understand without needing to interject my own beliefs. Truly and presently listening.

We only need to ask. We only need to give each other time and permission. You may laugh, be inspired or be surprised. You may cry or get nostalgic. The gift is in the details, in the time. The gift is the ear that listens and the story that gets told. This holiday season, give the gift of an interview.