Podcast Guest Pitch

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Write a pitch email to get booked as a guest on a podcast
• Create a podcast guest one-sheet with topics, bio, and talking points
• Develop multiple topic angles tailored to different shows
• Build a systematic outreach plan for podcast guesting

DO NOT use this skill for launching your own podcast, creating podcast episodes, or pitching sponsorships. This is for getting booked as a guest on other people's shows.

Core Principle

PODCAST HOSTS ARE DROWNING IN GENERIC PITCHES — YOURS MUST SHOW YOU LISTENED TO THEIR SHOW, YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC TOPIC THEIR AUDIENCE NEEDS, AND YOU WILL MAKE THE HOST LOOK GOOD.

Phase 1: Brief

Required Inputs

GATE: Confirm the brief before proceeding.

Phase 2: Prepare

Research Each Target Podcast

Before pitching, document for each show:

## Podcast: [Name]
**Host:** [Name]
**Audience:** [Who listens]
**Format:** [Interview, solo, panel — episode length]
**Recent episodes:** [3 relevant titles]
**Gap:** [Topic they have NOT covered that you can fill]
**Episode to reference:** [Specific episode you will mention in your pitch]

Topic Angles

Develop 3 angles per podcast, each tailored to their audience:

## Topic Angles for [Podcast Name]

**Angle 1:** [Title] — [One sentence on what this covers]
**Why their audience cares:** [Connection to their listeners' problems]

**Angle 2:** [Title] — [One sentence]
**Why their audience cares:** [Connection]

**Angle 3:** [Title] — [One sentence]
**Why their audience cares:** [Connection]

GATE: Present research and angles for approval before writing pitches.

Phase 3: Write

Pitch Email Structure

Subject: [Specific topic] for [Podcast Name] listeners

Hi [Host first name],

[Personal reference — mention a specific episode and what you took from it. 1-2 sentences.]

[Your pitch — the specific topic you want to discuss and why their audience needs it. 2-3 sentences.]

[Your credibility — one specific result or experience that qualifies you. 1-2 sentences.]

[Talking points — 3-4 bullet points of what you would cover.]

[Easy next step — link to your one-sheet or suggest a quick call.]

[Sign-off]
[Name]
[One-line bio]

Pitch Rules

• Subject line: Include the podcast name and a specific topic — never "Guest pitch" or "Interview request"
• Length: Under 200 words total — hosts scan, they do not read essays
• Personalization: Reference a specific episode, not just "I love your show"
• Talking points: 3-4 bullets that are specific and intriguing
• No attachments: Link to your one-sheet, do not attach a PDF

Podcast Guest One-Sheet

## [Your Name] — Podcast Guest One-Sheet

### Bio
[150-word bio focused on credibility and personality]

### Topics I Speak About
1. **[Topic Title]** — [2-3 talking points]
2. **[Topic Title]** — [2-3 talking points]
3. **[Topic Title]** — [2-3 talking points]

### What Hosts Say
"[Testimonial from a previous host or collaborator]"

### Episode Value
- Actionable frameworks listeners can implement immediately
- Real stories and examples (not theory)
- Custom free resource for listeners (e.g., downloadable template)

### Contact
- Website: [URL]
- Email: [Email]
- Social: [Primary platform handle]
- Headshot: [Link to download high-res photo]
- Sample episode: [Link to a previous guest appearance]

Phase 4: Polish

1. Follow-Up Sequence

## Follow-Up Plan
**Day 0:** Send pitch email
**Day 7:** Follow-up #1 — brief, add a new talking point or recent result
**Day 21:** Follow-up #2 — offer an alternative topic angle
**Day 45:** Move to "revisit later" list — pitch again in 3-6 months with a new angle

2. Tracking System

| Podcast | Host | Date Pitched | Response | Follow-Up | Status |
|---------|------|-------------|----------|-----------|--------|
| [Name] | [Name] | [Date] | [Y/N] | [Date] | [Booked/Pending/Declined] |

3. Pitch Quality Checklist

- [ ] Subject line includes the podcast name
- [ ] References a specific episode (not generic praise)
- [ ] Topic is tailored to THEIR audience, not your agenda
- [ ] Pitch is under 200 words
- [ ] Includes 3-4 specific talking points
- [ ] Credibility is shown through results, not titles
- [ ] Clear next step (link to one-sheet or scheduling link)
- [ ] No typos in the host's name or podcast name

Example 1: Business Podcast Pitch

Subject: How I built a $20K/month business using only AI tools — for [Podcast Name]

Hi Sarah,

Your episode with James on automating client onboarding was spot on — I implemented his Zapier workflow the same week.

I'd love to share how I built a $20K/month service business using only AI tools and no employees. Most solopreneurs use AI for content, but I've systematized it for operations, sales, and delivery.

Here's what I'd cover:
- The 5 AI tools that replaced my need for a team of 4
- How I automated 80% of client delivery without losing quality
- The exact weekly workflow that runs my business in 20 hours/week
- Common AI automation mistakes that cost more time than they save

Here's my one-sheet: [link]

Happy to jump on a quick call if this sounds like a fit.

Example 2: Marketing Podcast Pitch

Subject: Why your email welcome sequence is losing subscribers — for [Podcast Name]

Hi Mike,

Loved your recent deep-dive on list building with Priya — especially the lead magnet framework.

I'd love to pick up where that episode left off: what happens AFTER someone subscribes. I've audited 200+ welcome sequences and found that 73% make the same 3 mistakes in the first email.

Talking points:
- The 3 welcome email mistakes killing your open rates
- A 5-email sequence template that converts subscribers to buyers
- Why most "value emails" actually train people to ignore your pitches

One-sheet: [link]

Anti-Patterns

• Generic pitches — "I'd love to be a guest on your show" sent to 100 hosts gets zero bookings. Personalize every pitch.
• Pitching yourself, not the topic — hosts book topics their audience wants, not impressive resumes.
• No talking points — making the host figure out what you would discuss adds work to their plate. Do it for them.
• Long pitches — anything over 200 words gets skimmed or skipped.
• No follow-up — most bookings happen on the follow-up, not the first email. Plan for at least 2 follow-ups.
• Pitching shows you have never listened to — hosts can tell. Listen to at least 2 episodes before pitching.

Recovery

• User has no previous podcast appearances: Offer to record a 3-minute sample clip. Focus the pitch on the topic's value, not speaking experience.
• User does not know which podcasts to pitch: Search their niche on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and ListenNotes. Target shows with 20-100 reviews (big enough to matter, small enough to be accessible).
• Pitch gets no response after 2 follow-ups: Try a different topic angle. If still no response, the show may not be a fit — move on.
• User has only one topic: Develop 3 angles on that topic. Same expertise, different entry points for different audiences.