Why Does Tim Romero Say Honest Stories Work Better Than a Polished Interview?

Because people open up only after you go first. On Disrupting Japan, Tim Romero says guests froze when he rented a studio and put a microphone in their faces. He got no usable tape from three tries. He switched to lapel mics in their offices, brought beer, and accepted worse audio. Dropping the polish for a personal conversation was one of the best decisions he made. He later found the same rule in the conversation itself. If he stayed a detached observer, guests would not be honest. Only when he shared his own hopes, fears, and insecurities were they willing to share theirs.