Interview Insights
Interviews are a fun format to learn more about our favorite characters in life. Dive in and learn about your own family!
🎉 Opening Ceremony 🎉
"There is only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."
— Elbert Hubbard
What’s something you have been criticized for? How did that make you feel?
︖ Probing Question ⸮
Who is a famous person you would love to interview? What’s something you might ask them?
🧠 Trivia Question 🧠
What year was the first radio broadcast? Answer
📙 Word of the Week 📙
Intrepid - characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance (source: Merriam-Webster)
💡 If you are fortunate enough to know anyone who embodies this word, shoot em a note and let them know. I bet they would appreciate it.
🎙️ Main Event 🎙️
Find an interview of someone that your family will find interesting. Watch it as a family.
Ideas:
An actor or actress from a movie your family loves — Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, Reese Witherspoon
A famous person from your city — Elvis Presley, Morgan Freeman
A singer you all love — NF, Taylor Swift
An Olympic athlete — Serena Williams, Usain Bolt
Questions about the interview:
Was the person what you expected them to be?
Did you learn anything new about them?
Interviews are stressful for most people. Not what we are going to do though! Break the mold, make it fun and make memories.
We often practice useful skills in family meetings and interviewing is a useful skill, however, you should resist the urge to turn this edition into a feedback firestorm and just keep it fun.
Making it memorable:
🎥 Hit the record button!
If you have two computers available, use riverside.fm (free plan) for an incredible experience.
Put everyone’s name in a hat 🧢 and draw them out two at a time to find the interview pairs. If you have an odd number, draw 3 names and rotate through the group.
Distribute index cards and give everyone 5 minutes to plan out their interview questions to ask. Need help? Check out the FAQ below👇
Everyone takes a turn as the interviewer and the interviewee.
🎂 Some amazing parents have a tradition of interviewing their kids every year on their birthday. They ask a mix of the same questions every year along with a few extra ones. What an incredible tradition!
🎶 Closing Ceremony 🎶
🤔 Reflections 🤔
We watched interviews of Denzel Washington, Tiger Woods and Jacqueline Davies.
Having a rad color-changing neon sign never hurts either!
🧐 Variations / FAQ 🧐
Need some help coming up with questions?
Kids interviewing parents script:
What is one thing about our family that is very similar to how your family was when you were child?
What is one thing that is very different in our family than it was in your family when you were a child?
For Mom - What’s one thing you love about Dad (vice versa for Dad)
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Parents interviewing young (8 or under) kids script:
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Have siblings? What’s your favorite thing about your brother/sister?
What’s your favorite food?
What’s your favorite book?
What was the last movie you watched?
Parents interviewing older (8+) kids script:
If I gave you $100 and you had to spend it today, what would you buy?
What is something you think is silly that people your age do?
Who is someone outside of our family that you really admire?
What was the last book that you read? Tell me about it
Want to make it a more serious exercise?
Here’s alternative interview scripts to spice things up 🌶️
Kids interviewing parents
What's something you regret doing in your life, and how did it impact you?
Have you ever struggled with your mental health, and if so, how did you cope?
Can you tell me about a time when you faced a big failure, and how did you handle it?
Have you ever had a disagreement with someone you cared about, and how did you resolve it?
What's the hardest decision you've ever had to make, and how did you come to that decision?
Parents interviewing kids
Can you tell me about a time when you felt like you let someone down, and how did you handle it?
What's something you're afraid to tell me, and why?
Have you ever experienced peer pressure to do something you knew was wrong? How did you handle it?
Can you describe a situation where you felt overwhelmed or stressed, and how did you cope with it?
Is there something you've been keeping from me because you're worried about how I'll react? If so, what is it?
Want to make it a sillier exercise?
Have family members participate in the interview pretending to be someone else - Abraham Lincoln, police officer, James Bond, Barbie or their favorite cartoon character. Adjust questions accordingly.