Hiring a journalist to moderate your panel? They bring sharp questioning skills, but a panel isn't a press conference. A great moderator isn't there to dig for a story or be the star; they're a facilitator who champions the audience, balances the conversation, and makes the panelists shine. The goal isn't to make headlines, but to create a valuable, engaging discussion for everyone in the room.

Too often, panels at conferences and events are treated as filler content. They give the audience a "break" between keynotes, or a convenient slot to showcase multiple voices without much effort. It's a lazy format that yields predictably bland discussions, recycled talking points, and checked-out audiences.

A panel should never be a passive interlude. Done well, it can be the most dynamic and valuable part of the entire program.

Here are a few tips to create a panel that offers something other formats can't: spontaneous, multi-perspective conversation where ideas clash, insights emerge, and the audience feels part of something real.

The most effective panel moderators aren't just great timekeepers or expert facilitators...they're relentlessly curious. At every stage of the panel experience - before, during, and after - curiosity is a mindset that sets extraordinary moderators apart from average ones.

Here's how:

Panel Design Cards are a powerful new tool to help you quickly and creatively design panel formats that are engaging, memorable, and fun. These cards are the culmination of years of experience, thousands of hours of research, and an obsession with making panel discussions not suck.

So, what are Panel Design Cards? Listen here.

If the keynote got a "not bad," we'd reevaluate the speaker for next year. If the AV was "not bad," we'd call a tech meeting. If the food was "not bad," we'd be emailing the caterer. But for panels? Somehow, we let it slide. Here's why this happens and what we need to do better.

Every panel needs a moderator—but how you moderate can vary wildly depending on the topic, tone, and your personal style. Are you a steady guide, a fiery instigator, or the one keeping it light and lively?

Here's a breakdown of seven moderator archetypes, matched with famous personalities to help you find your own style—or adapt to the moment.