🧠 The BRAIN Interview Flow
A Clear Framework for Meaningful Conversations — perfect for interviews, coaching, forums, and more.
🎯 B – Background
Purpose: Ground the conversation with context and history.
Ask:
“What experiences shaped your perspective on this topic?”
“How did you get started or become interested?”
“What are the key events leading up to now?”
Listen for: Timeline accuracy, relevant context, and insight into personal motivations.
📌 R – Request
Purpose: Clarify exactly what the speaker wants to achieve.
Ask:
“What do you want to accomplish through this conversation?”
“What outcome or change are you seeking?”
“How would you define success here?”
Listen for: Measurable goals, clear direction, and expectations.
🧠 A – Additional Insights
Purpose: Dive deeper into broader context, impact, and supporting facts.
Ask:
“Who else is affected or involved?”
“What supporting information or research do you have?”
“Have you explored alternate viewpoints or sought feedback?”
Listen for: Self-awareness, perspective diversity, and depth of analysis.
❓ I – Inquiry
Purpose: Reveal risk awareness and adaptability.
Ask:
“What if things don’t go as planned?”
“How do you intend to measure progress or success?”
“What’s your fallback strategy if you face major challenges?”
Listen for: Realism, contingency planning, and critical thinking.
🚀 N – Next Steps
Purpose: Turn conversation into action.
Ask:
“What’s your immediate next move?”
“How can others get involved or support you?”
“What’s your milestone for the next few weeks?”
Listen for: Tangible action steps and commitment to follow-up.
✨ Bonus Technique: Stack & Loop
Stack: Combine questions for deeper insight.
“We’ve clarified your goal (R). Now, who else is involved (A), and how will you adapt if things go wrong (I)?”
Loop: Circle back to skipped or vague responses.
“Let’s revisit Inquiry—earlier you mentioned a fallback plan but didn’t detail it.”
🔄 Using the BRAIN Flow Anywhere
The BRAIN Interview Flow is flexible enough for:
- 🎙 Podcast episodes
- 🧪 User research interviews
- 💼 Job interviews or performance reviews
- 🧭 Coaching, mentoring, and team check-ins
🏛 Civic Conversations (Advanced BRAIN)
For panels, forums, and community leadership, use this civic variation:
- B: “What’s the story behind this issue?”
- R: “What do you want others to do?”
- A: “Who benefits or is affected?”
- I: “What happens if this fails?”
- N: “What’s your 30-day milestone?”
Purpose: A structured interview method designed to transform conversations from surface-level chat into deeper, more meaningful insights. Ideal for podcast episodes, user research, job interviews, coaching sessions— anywhere you need clarity and accountability.
Purpose: Ground the conversation with context and history.
“What experiences shaped your perspective on this topic?”
“How did you get started or become interested?”
“What are the key events leading up to now?”
Listen for: Relevant background, timeline accuracy, and any foundational details that clarify the bigger picture.
Purpose: Identify exactly what the interviewee wants or aims to achieve.
“What do you want to accomplish through this conversation?”
“What outcome or change are you seeking?”
“How would you define success here?”
Listen for: Clear, measurable goals or specific asks.
Purpose: Dive deeper into data, broader context, and possible impact.
“Who else is affected or involved?”
“What supporting information or research do you have?”
“Have you explored alternate viewpoints or sought feedback?”
Listen for: Depth, self-awareness, and readiness to engage multiple perspectives.
Purpose: Pressure-test their ideas and reveal risk considerations.
“What if things don’t go as planned?”
“How do you intend to measure progress or success?”
“What’s your fallback strategy if you face major challenges?”
Listen for: Contingency thinking, realism, and adaptability.
Purpose: Conclude with actionable outcomes or a clear path forward.
“What’s your immediate next move?”
“How can others get involved or support you?”
“What’s your milestone for the next few weeks?”
Listen for: Tangible steps, public engagement, or follow-up activities.
Stack: Combine multiple BRAIN questions for richer insights.
“We’ve clarified your goal (R). Now, who else is involved (A), and how will you adapt if things go wrong (I)?”
Loop: Circle back to any skipped or dodged questions.
“Let’s revisit Inquiry—earlier you mentioned a fallback plan but didn’t detail it.”
The BRAIN Interview Flow is flexible enough for team stand-ups, performance reviews, or any situation requiring structured, purpose-driven questions.
Want custom templates or guidance?
destyn@mysidebrain.com
Purpose: A structured civic interview method to move conversations from soundbites to substance. Ideal for forums, panels, civic interviews, or community leadership sessions.
Purpose: Anchor the conversation in real-world context.
“What’s the story behind this issue?”
“What led you to this position?”
“Who’s worked on this before?”
Listen for: Clarity, insight, and timeline accuracy.
Purpose: Clarify the action. No vagueness allowed.
“What do you want others to do?”
“What specific change are you proposing?”
“What does success look like?”
Listen for: Specific, measurable objectives.
Purpose: Show depth, data, and impact awareness.
“Who benefits or is affected?”
“What data supports your stance?”
“Have you consulted critics or other groups?”
Listen for: Balanced views and readiness to engage different perspectives.
Purpose: Pressure test the plan. Discover risk awareness.
“What happens if this fails?”
“What’s your fallback plan?”
“How will success be measured?”
Listen for: Contingency thinking and responsible leadership.
Purpose: End with real-world action.
“What’s your first move from here?”
“How can others get involved?”
“What’s your 30-day milestone?”
Listen for: Tangible actions and public engagement.
Stack: Combine multiple BRAIN questions to deepen clarity.
“You’ve stated your goal (R), but who’s impacted (A), and what’s the timeline (N)?”
Loop: Revisit dodged questions.
“Let’s come back to Inquiry—you didn’t mention how failure would be handled.”
Use the BRAIN Interview Flow in forums, training, and media. For workshops, moderators, or custom templates:
Contact: destyn@mysidebrain.com