Guest research brief

A guest research brief is the one-page document prepared before a guest interview: who the guest is, why they were invited, their recent work and public positions, the planned conversation arc, and any commercial context on their account. It briefs the host the way an AE preps a discovery call.

Why it matters

Research is what makes a decision-maker feel the invitation (and the interview) was specifically for them, which drives booking rates, show rates, and everything after. It is also where the outbound and content halves of the motion meet: the same research produces a better conversation and a better episode.

How to do it well

• Keep it to one page: bio in two lines, three things they've said publicly, three questions only they could answer, one account note.
• Write the 'why them' sentence first. It doubles as the personalisation line in the invitation.
• Include one contrarian or under-discussed angle from their work; it is usually the moment the interview comes alive.
• Note commercial context (open opportunity, target account tier) so the host knows what the follow-up could become, without turning the interview into a pitch.