Setting Boundaries Before Media and Podcast Interviews

Fear before an interview or public appearance is often fear of the unknown—especially the “What if they ask me about ___?” spiral. One of the most effective ways to reduce that anxiety and protect your message is to set clear boundaries in advance: what you will and won’t discuss, and how you’ll respond when a line of questioning drifts outside those limits.

Boundaries aren’t evasive; they’re professional. They help you remain confident, conserve energy, and keep your public narrative on track. Establishing your boundaries and how you will maintain them is an important part of preparing for interviews and public appearances.

Why boundaries matter

Less fear, more control.
Uncertainty fuels nerves. When you pre-decide what’s in-bounds and rehearse your responses to sensitive questions, you remove a big chunk of the “unknown.” Confidence rises.

Strategic focus over time.
Stating and maintaining boundaries signals what you’re available to discuss going forward. That shapes which questions you’re asked next time—and which invitations you receive.

Message protection.
Not every topic deserves more oxygen. Boundaries help you avoid spending airtime on issues that distract from your work or values. They also help you avoid being faced with more questions on topics you don’t want to discuss outside of the interview.

A simple framework to set your boundaries

Use this three-part filter for both you and your organization:

1. Need to Know
Facts that help the audience understand your work and make informed decisions. Share them clearly.

2. Nice to Know
Details that are interesting but not essential. Share selectively, only if they reinforce your message.

3. Not for Public Consumption
Personal matters, protected information, legal/HR issues, client confidentiality, unannounced financials, proprietary data, medical details, etc. Decide now that these are off-limits. Practice responding unapologetically i interviews when you state, “We don’t share ____.” Then, pivot to something related that you want to discuss.

4. Outside Your Scope of Knowledge or Area of Responsibility
What you can speak to confidently vs. what’s outside your area of expertise or responsibility.

5. Long-tail Impact
If you answer this once, are you willing to answer it again—and again? Could it spawn more questions you don’t want to field in this interview or future ones?

Common boundary categories (use what fits)

• Personal life (family, relationship status, health)

• Financials (compensation, investor details, non-public numbers)

• Litigation, HR, or confidential internal matters

• Client, patient, or customer identities and stories (unless you have explicit permission)

• Proprietary process, security, or IP details

• Politics or topics unrelated to your mission

• Anything outside your professional scope or credentials

How to communicate boundaries (without derailing the conversation)

Use a short boundary + bridge. Keep it calm, respectful, and brief. Then, segue to something relevant and interesting. Here are some examples to build upon:

Outside scope:

“That’s outside my area of expertise, but what I can speak to is…”

Confidential/proprietary:

“I can’t share those specifics, but here’s what I can say…”

Personal boundary:

“I keep that private. What I can share that’s relevant here is…”

Ongoing/legal:

“I can’t comment while that’s in process. What I can address is…”

If the interviewer presses you:

“Out of respect for the people involved, I won’t go into that. The important point for your audience is…”

Rehearse your responses (this builds confidence):

Choose the 2–3 sensitive topics most likely to arise. For each, draft:

• a one-sentence boundary (plain, neutral)

• a bridge to an on-message topic

• a proof point, if needed or relevant (brief example or result)

Practice reciting your responses aloud until it feels natural and uncharged emotionally.

Setting boundaries is not about withholding; it’s about serving the audience well while staying focused and on track.

Get more tips for preparing for interviews in my free Media & Podcast Interview Guide at https://lisaelia.com/guide.

This article was written by Lisa Elia, a media trainer, public speaking and presentation trainer, communication expert, and speaker. As the founder of Expert Media Training and LisaElia.com, over the past 25 years she has prepared clients for high-stakes speeches, investor pitches, and presentations, and interviews with media outlets that include The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, ESPN, and hundreds of others.

To check out Lisa’s online courses, visit https://lisaelia.com/courses.