How to Get on Podcasts as a Guest

To get on podcasts as a guest, choose a short list of shows your buyers already listen to, prepare a guest bio and a few topics, and send each host a short, personal pitch about what their listeners would gain. Once you are booked, prepare your talking points and ask for a link to your website in the show notes, so the episode keeps sending people to you after it airs.

For founders, coaches, and consultants, podcast guesting is one of the most practical ways to reach new clients, and this guide covers how to be a guest on a podcast from start to finish.

Why podcast guesting works

A podcast interview gives listeners 30 to 60 minutes of hearing how you think, so by the end many of them feel they already know you. The host’s invitation also works as an introduction, since the audience assumes the host would not bring on a guest they did not trust.

Most shows also publish show notes with a link to the guest’s website, which sends interested listeners straight to you and tells search engines that another site vouches for yours.

Many publish a transcript too, which search engines and AI assistants like ChatGPT can read, so each interview adds another outside source that describes what you do and who you help. AI assistants lean on this kind of independent mention when they recommend a business, as I explain in how to show up in ChatGPT answers.

Step 1: Choose shows where your buyers listen

Learning how to get on podcasts starts with the list, and the most common mistake is aiming for the biggest shows first. If few of a big show’s listeners could ever hire you, the episode brings attention and very little work, so a smaller show whose listeners match your ideal client is usually the better booking.

I saw this with a client who went on a smaller tech and entertainment podcast, a show built for exactly the kind of people the company needed to reach. An investor in the entertainment industry heard the episode, and it led to a significant investment in the company. The deal is confidential, so I cannot share the specifics publicly, but it all started with one well-matched episode.

To build your list, try these sources:

• Search podcast apps for the problems your clients have and the industries they work in.
• Look at the shows where your peers and competitors have appeared as guests.
• Ask your clients which podcasts they listen to, since their answers are the most reliable guide you will get.

Before a show goes on your list, check that it still publishes regularly and that its recent guests are people like you. Aim for 20 to 30 shows, with the best fits at the top.

Step 2: Prepare your guest bio and one-sheet

Your guest bio is the short paragraph a host reads aloud to introduce you. Keep it to about 50 words in the third person, covering what you do and who you help, plus one detail that makes you credible, and write a longer version for the show notes.

A one-sheet, sometimes called a guest media kit, is a single page that gives a host everything they need to say yes:

• A short bio and a professional headshot.
• Three or four topics you can speak on, each with a one-line summary.
• A few sample questions the host could ask you.
• Links to past interviews or press coverage, and the best email address to reach you.

A simple page on your website works just as well as a PDF and is easier to link in a pitch. If you already have a press page, which I recommend in how to get press coverage for your small business, add your podcast topics to it and use the same page for both.

Step 3: Write a pitch the host will answer

Hosts receive a steady stream of pitches that read like templates, so listen to at least one full episode before you write and mention something specific from it.

Keep the pitch to around 150 words, and build it like this:

1. A subject line that names the topic you would bring to the show.
2. One or two sentences about a recent episode, so the host can see you know the show.
3. The topic you would cover and what their listeners would take away from it.
4. A line on why you are the right person to talk about it, with a link to your one-sheet.

Lead with what the listeners will learn and keep your company to one line near the end. If the show has a guest application form, use it, and follow up once, about a week later, before you move on.

Where guest booking platforms fit

If you are wondering how to get booked on podcasts without researching every show yourself, guest booking platforms are the other route. These online marketplaces let hosts post the kind of guest they need while guests list their topics, and some are free while others charge a monthly subscription. Booking agencies will also pitch shows on your behalf for a fee.

These platforms are good for finding shows that are actively looking for guests. The trade-off is fit, because many of the shows are new or small, and some are closer to paid promotion than to a real interview, so check the audience of every opportunity before you say yes.

Step 4: Prepare your talking points

Once a host says yes, ask whether they share questions in advance. Choose three or four points you want listeners to remember, and attach a short story from your work to each one, because stories are what people repeat to friends. Keep them as brief notes, since answers read from a script sound stiff.

Prepare a one-sentence answer to “what do you do?” and a clear answer to “where can people find you?” That second answer should point to a single page on your website or a free resource, so the listeners who liked what they heard know exactly where to go.

The day before, test your microphone and the recording link in the quiet room you will use.

Step 5: Be a good podcast guest

The simplest rule for how to be a podcast guest that hosts invite back is to make the episode easy for them, because hosts talk to each other and recommend the guests they enjoyed.

Join a few minutes early and ask whether there is anything the host wants you to avoid. Keep most answers to a couple of minutes, which leaves the host room to steer, and talk the way you would with a client over coffee.

Resist the urge to sell. Mention your business when the host asks and give your one call to action near the end, because listeners warm to guests who spend the hour helping them. Afterward, send a short thank-you note and share the episode when it goes live, since hosts remember the guests who help them grow their audience.

Step 6: Ask for a link in the show notes

A link in the show notes is one of the most valuable things an interview gives you, and many guests forget to ask. Ask when you confirm the booking, so the host has it before they write the notes.

Send the exact URL you want, along with the one-line description of your business that you use everywhere else. Using the same name and description across every appearance helps search engines and AI assistants recognize that all these mentions are about the same person.

When the episode goes live, check that the link is there and that it works, and if the show published a transcript, check that your name and business are spelled correctly. A polite note to the host usually fixes anything that is missing.

Step 7: Repurpose the episode

One interview can supply content for weeks if you plan for it:

• Share the episode on LinkedIn with one takeaway from the conversation, and tag the host.
• Cut a few short clips, after checking that the host is happy for you to use them.
• List the show in an “as heard on” section of your website.
• Turn your best answer into a blog post or newsletter that links back to the episode.
• Link past interviews in future pitches, since hosts feel safer booking a guest who has done it before.

Track the inquiries each episode brings in, so after a few months you know which kinds of shows to pitch next.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find podcasts that are looking for guests?

Search podcast apps for your clients’ problems and industries, and look at the shows where your peers have appeared. Guest booking platforms list shows that are actively seeking guests, and many podcasts have a guest application form on their website.

What should I put in my podcast guest bio?

Write about 50 words in the third person that say what you do and who you help, plus one detail that makes you credible. Keep it easy to read aloud, because the host will often use it word for word in the introduction.

How do I prepare for a podcast as a guest?

Listen to at least one episode, then choose three or four points you want listeners to remember, each with a short story. Prepare a one-sentence answer to “what do you do?” and one clear place to send listeners, and test your microphone and the recording link the day before.

What equipment do I need to be a podcast guest?

A USB microphone and wired headphones in a quiet room are enough for most interviews. Avoid playing the host through laptop speakers, because their voice can echo into your recording, and use a stable internet connection, which matters more than expensive gear.

How much does it cost to get booked on podcasts?

Pitching shows yourself costs only your time, and most interview podcasts do not charge their guests. Guest booking platforms range from free to monthly subscriptions, and booking agencies charge more, with prices that vary widely. If a show asks you to pay for a spot, treat it as advertising and judge it by its audience.