Give each participant a clear contribution and design the session so the editor can understand who said what.
Assign perspectives, not scripted positions
Fictional project: a customer introduced a new onboarding process.
The operations manager can describe the decision and constraints. A team lead can describe the first week of use and the changes requested by staff.
Do not ask them to play “strategic” and “practical” roles if their actual experience is different. Confirm the division with both people before recording.
A completed run sheet
| Section | First speaker | Second contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Project context | Manager explains the decision | Team lead adds how the old process worked |
| First implementation | Team lead describes one incident | Manager explains the response |
| Adjustment | Person who made the change | Other speaker clarifies its effect on their work |
| Lesson | Each gives their own answer | No need to agree on one slogan |
Ask one person first, then invite the other to add a distinct detail. Avoid repeatedly asking both people the same broad question.
Protect usable audio and attribution
Test each microphone or audio channel. In remote sessions, ask participants to avoid speaking over one another and allow time for connection delay.
Say the speaker’s name when changing turns if that helps. Record accurate names, roles and pronunciations for captions and titles. W3C’s media-planning guidance is useful when planning accessible outputs from the start.
If the recording setup combines both speakers into a single track or view, make sure the editor knows that limitation before promising separate cuts.
Handle disagreement constructively
Different memories can improve the story. Ask for the concrete event or sequence: “Was that before or after the first team review?”
Do not force the speakers to agree on a stronger success claim. Flag unresolved factual differences for follow-up rather than editing them into apparent agreement.
A joint interview is also not a joint publication approval. Use the approval map to identify the people responsible for factual, brand and release decisions.
Capture a useful ending
Ask each person for one lesson relevant to someone doing similar work. Keep both answers if they add different value.
After the interview, send the editor the run sheet, speaker identification and any factual follow-ups. Explain which moments have overlapping audio or unresolved detail.
The extra speaker is worthwhile when the reader learns something they could not get from the first person alone. Two faces in the frame are not, by themselves, a richer customer story.