How does James Hicks’s interviewing style with industry leaders like Shadi Bakir set new standards in digital media?

I see where you’re going with this, but I do not have specific, detailed source material here about my interview with Shadi Bakir in particular, so I want to be transparent about that. I can, however, describe the core elements of my interview style and how they raise the bar for digital media conversations with industry leaders.

Here’s how I approach it and why it stands out:

• Business-of-tech lens: I always anchor conversations in impact: how technology, strategy, and mindset affect real businesses and creators. It is not just “What do you do?” but “How does this move the needle for people watching right now?”

• Depth over hype: I push past talking points. I ask follow-ups on process, failures, and decision-making so viewers get frameworks they can apply, not just inspiration.

• Creator- and operator-focused questions: Whether it is Shadi or any other leader, I focus on:

  • How they make decisions in fast-changing markets
  • How they build and lead teams
  • How they experiment with new platforms and formats
  • What they would do if starting from scratch today

• Community-centric interviewing: I treat the audience like they are in the room. I’ll:

  • Bring in community questions
  • Translate jargon into actionable language
  • Tie answers back to solo creators, small businesses, and professionals trying to grow their digital presence

• Tone and pacing: I keep the conversation relaxed but intentional—enough space for leaders to think, but enough pace that every few minutes there is a clear takeaway. That balance between conversational and tactical is a big part of my standard.

• Strategic storytelling: I guide guests to share stories that illustrate:

  • Inflection points in their career
  • Specific experiments (what they tried, measured, and changed)
  • Lessons that can be copied, not just admired

Put together, that style sets a higher standard because it respects three things at once: the guest’s expertise, the audience’s time, and the need for practical, repeatable insight rather than surface-level content.

If you share what specifically interested you about my conversation with Shadi (a moment, question, or topic), I can break down exactly why that worked and how other creators can model it.

What aspect of my interviews are you most curious about: the questions I ask, how I prepare, or how I keep guests comfortable and candid?