Interview playbook
A practical field procedure for finding real advice and publishing it with care.
Proposed pilot practice. Edit together before use. Worksheet entries stay in this tab; print to preserve completed notes.
The Aurora method.
A creative procedure for turning abstract beliefs into repeatable interviewing and editing decisions.
Let the person lead.
Ask what they would actually like to talk about. Agree on off-limit topics. Keep the option to pause visible throughout the conversation.
Artifact: participant brief + topic boundaries.
Find the moment.
After an abstract claim, ask: “When did that happen?” Reconstruct the setting, the choice, and what followed.
Artifact: moment → choice → consequence notes.
Ask where it breaks.
“When wouldn’t that work?” Distinguish firsthand experience, personal opinion, and checkable claims in the edit notes.
Artifact: context and verification log.
Make it usable.
Ask for one action a viewer could attempt this week. Keep its conditions and limits attached. The takeaway may be a question worth asking.
Artifact: one-sentence takeaway + its limits.
Return the spotlight.
Confirm the guest’s preferred credit. Offer a preview to check identity, factual mistakes, and sensitive context. Share the finished piece with them.
Artifact: review record + delivery note.
Listen after publishing.
Moderate harassment, correct material errors, and notice whether viewers found anything useful. Bring those observations into the next interview.
Artifact: weekly editorial learning log.
“What do you mean?” → “Tell me about the last time.” → “What did you actually do or say?” → “What happened?” → “When would that advice fail?”
Use it as a conversation, not an interrogation.
Before the camera comes on
Approach: “Hey, we’re Aurora. We’re talking to people about something life or work has taught them. Would you be open to a short conversation? We’d explain where the video may appear before we record. It’s completely fine to pass.”
- Confirm the participant is an adult and wants to take part. For the pilot, only recruit people aged 18 or older.
- Explain the series, planned channels, edited format, any commercial context, and the permission process. Do not record a surprise interview.
- Ask for topic boundaries and chosen public credit. Agree how to contact them for a preview.
- Use the team’s appropriate written recording and publication permission process. This playbook is an operational checklist, not a release form.
- Check location access, background distractions, battery, storage, framing, and audio. Record and listen to a short test.
During the conversation
Begin with an easy, open question. Listen for a concrete moment. Ask one follow-up at a time. Give people room to pause or decline. Never pressure someone to disclose trauma, finances, customer identities, or workplace secrets for a stronger clip.
When the guest says “always” or “everyone,” ask what experience led them there. If they give specialized advice, keep it framed as their experience and verify claims before including them.
After the conversation
- Thank the guest. Confirm name pronunciation, public credit, off-limit material, and preview contact.
- Back up footage; restrict raw material and contact details to the people who need access. Keep contact information out of public editing documents.
- Log the strongest moment, likely takeaway, factual checks, and any sensitive context.
- Send a review cut for factual errors, identity, and sensitive context. Proposed review window: two working days, agreed before recording. Do not treat silence as permission.
- Resolve outstanding issues and confirm required permission before release. Share the final link and a correction contact.
Publication gate
- Recording and publication permission documented for the intended use.
- Guest identity, preferred credit, and relevant role accurate.
- Hook faithfully represents the complete answer.
- Checkable claims verified or clearly attributed; private details removed.
- Captions proofread and legible on a phone; sound clear.
- Music and other third-party assets cleared for the intended use.
- Guest review issues resolved; paid relationships disclosed where relevant.
- Editorial owner approves; publishing owner is assigned to corrections and moderation.
If something goes wrong: pause a scheduled post or take down the affected piece when warranted, contact the guest, record the issue, and publish a correction when needed. Do not promise that third-party copies can be recalled.