"I Think of It More as Seduction": CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, on the Art of the Interview episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 23, 2026 · 17 MIN

"I Think of It More as Seduction": CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, on the Art of the Interview

from Giant Ideas

Today, we're back with Fareed Zakaria, the host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, to talk about his lessons about how to do a great interview.Fareed Zakaria has interviewed people from presidents, dictators, and the Dalai Lama over three decades, live on air. Tommy Stadlen and Cameron McLain talk to Zakaria about the craft behind those conversations: why he treats an interview as seduction rather than confrontation, why Lee Kuan Yew is the most impressive guest he's ever had, and why the Dalai Lama was a tough interview.He speaks about:Why he avoids confrontation and treats interviews as seduction insteadThe Omar Bartov interview, and why he thinks a soft question made the conversation deeper than an accusation would haveWhy he rarely books politicians in power anymore (and regrets it most times he has)Lee Kuan Yew turning a "polyglot population" into a nation with no race riotsWhy the Dalai Lama was his hardest interview What AI leaves for humans once it becomes the better "analytic machine"Why he doubts there will be another CNNBuilding a purpose driven company? Read more about Giant Ventures at www.Giant.vc.Music credits: Bubble King written and produced by Cameron McLain and Stevan Cablayan aka Vector_XING.Please note: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 23, 2026

Embed this episode

Today, we're back with Fareed Zakaria, the host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, to talk about his lessons about how to do a great interview. Fareed Zakaria has interviewed people from presidents, dictators, and the Dalai Lama over three decades, live on air. Tommy Stadlen and Cameron McLain talk to Zakaria about the craft behind those conversations: why he treats an interview as seduction rather than confrontation, why Lee Kuan Yew is the most impressive guest he's ever had, and why the Dalai La...

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

"I Think of It More as Seduction": CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, on the Art of the Interview

0:00 17:13

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Giant Ideas?

This episode is 17 minutes long.

When was this Giant Ideas episode published?

This episode was published on July 23, 2026.

Can I download this Giant Ideas episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!