About the Class

So you want to interview famous people—and everyday people—bringing out the kinds of insightful, engaging, funny, maybe even controversial quotes that keep audiences coming back for more?

For over 30 years as a journalist and contributing editor at national magazines, I wrote award-winning cover stories and interviewed many of the world’s most famous people. My hundreds of interviewees include Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Matt Damon, Sandra Bullock, Scarlett Johansson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Demi Moore, and Halle Berry. Many of those interviews have been quoted around the world—some still are quoted today.

I’ve also written 10 non-fiction books, including Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho and Criss-Cross: Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train. One book inspired a film, another was optioned for a TV limited series. Beyond journalism, my years as a clinical therapist at a Harvard-affiliated hospital shaped a method I call "emotionally attuned" interviewing—an approach that helps interviewers connect deeply, build trust and elicit revealing stories.

Now, after years of requests, I’m offering this online class to journalists, podcasters, documentary filmmakers, writers, bloggers, and content creators. In other words: for fellow storytellers.

What You’ll Learn

Over the course of 3 one-hour Zoom sessions over the course of 3 weeks, you’ll gain practical tools, techniques, and insider strategies:

Session 1: Research & Preparation

How much research to do (and when to stop)
Finding the “hidden hook” in someone’s story
Writing questions that unlock anecdotes and insights
Equipment basics every interviewer should know

Session 2: The Interview in Action

Establishing a tone of rapport, empathy, confidence, and fun
The best “safe” questions that lead to juicy answers
Handling interviewees who go off-topic—or shut down
Why empathy, silence, and real connection beat small talk
Real "war stories" of interviews that soared—and those that derailed
Techniques to redirect and go deeper beyond talking points

Session 3: After the Interview

Pulling out the story thread from your conversation
Editing with integrity while shaping for impact
When to protect your subject—and when not to
Unspoken rules between interviewer and interviewee
Managing time, emotion, and ego—both yours and theirs
Invitation to share your own practice questions or excerpts

Why Take This Class?

Whether you’re a journalist, podcaster, or writer looking to elevate your skills—or someone brand-new who wants to learn how to have richer, more authentic conversations—this class will help you:

Build confidence when meeting any interviewee
Elicit stronger, more quotable material
Develop emotionally attuned techniques
Walk away with practical tools you can use immediately on and off the job

How to Interview the Famous, the Infamous, and Anyone in Between