Quick answer. To get on podcasts as a guest, pick three topics you can talk about for 30 minutes, find smaller shows that cover those topics, reach the host at the business contact they publish for the show, and send a short pitch that names one episode you liked. Follow up once after a week.
Podcasts are one of the biggest stages in the world right now. The Podcast Index lists about 4.7 million shows. About 478,000 of them put out a new episode in the last 90 days. That is close to half a million active shows, and many of them are looking for new guests all the time.
The creator world around them is huge too. Goldman Sachs Research valued the creator economy at $250 billion. It expects it to grow to almost $480 billion by 2027.
So the stage is there. The seats are open. Yet most founders never get booked.
Picture Maya. (This is an illustrative example.) She runs a small skincare brand and has a great story about building it from her kitchen. She sends 40 pitches in a month. She gets zero replies. Then she looks closer. Half of her emails went to contact forms nobody reads. The rest went to big shows that get a thousand pitches a week. The next month she pitches 15 small beauty and business shows, each at the host’s own booking email. Three say yes. The problem is not their story. The problem is reaching the right host.
Why most guest pitches never get read
At Media List, we built a podcast search for one simple reason. Many shows do not list a guest booking email on their website. And guessing the host’s email rarely works.
So people send their pitch to a contact form. Or a general inbox. Or a social media message that nobody checks. The host never sees it.
Think about what that means. Your pitch can be perfect, and it still loses. Not because it was bad. Because it never arrived.
Most podcasts are run by one or two people. The host books the guests, records the show, and answers the email. If your pitch reaches that one person, you have a real chance. If it does not, you have none.
Finding the right host does not have to be slow. In Media List you can just ask. Type a plain question like “podcasts in the US about small business,” and AI search sets the filters for you.
Step 1. Know what you can talk about
Hosts do not want a sales pitch. They want a great talk that their listeners will love.
So before you look for shows, write down three things you can talk about for 30 minutes. Pick topics where you have real stories. A mistake you made. A number only you know. A lesson that cost you money.
Here is an example. Say you run a small bakery that grew to three shops. “How I grew my bakery” is too broad. “How I got 1,000 local customers with no ad budget” is a talk a small business show would book.
Step 2. Find shows that fit, not just big shows
The biggest shows get thousands of pitches. A smaller show that covers your exact topic is often a better first step. Its listeners care about your subject. And the host is more likely to read your email.
Search for shows by topic, audience size, country and language. Then listen to two or three recent episodes before you pitch. Check who they had on. If the host talked to three people like you this year, that is a great sign.
The fastest way to do this is to build a media list of podcast hosts in your field. Put the show name, the host, their topic and their business email in one place. Then you can pitch each one with a note that shows you know their show.
Step 3. Use the right contact
This is where most people go wrong. Use the business contact the host shares for the show. Never guess at a personal email. And never pitch the same host in five places at once.
If a show has a booking form, use it. If it lists a business email, use that. A pitch that reaches the right inbox one time beats ten messages that reach nobody.
Step 4. Write a short pitch that is easy to say yes to
Keep your pitch short enough to read on a phone. Here is what to put in it.
- The name of their show, and one episode you liked, so they know you listen.
- One clear topic you can talk about, in one sentence.
- Why their listeners will care.
- A short line about who you are, with a link to past talks or your website.
Do not send your whole life story. Do not attach a long press kit. Make it easy. The host should be able to read it in 30 seconds and say yes.
This short video walks through how to get booked on podcasts as a guest.
Step 5. Follow up once, then be a great guest
If you do not hear back in about a week, follow up one time. Add something new, like a fresh idea for the episode. If they still do not reply, move on to the next show.
When you do get booked, show up ready. Test your microphone. Have your three stories ready. Thank the host, and share the episode when it comes out. Hosts remember guests who help their show grow. Those are the guests who get invited back, and who get passed on to other hosts.
Questions people ask
Do I need a big audience to get on podcasts?
No. Hosts care about whether your story fits their listeners, not how many followers you have.
How many podcasts should I pitch?
Start with 10 to 15 shows that fit your topic. A few well-matched pitches beat 100 random ones.
How long should a podcast pitch be?
Short enough to read on a phone, about 100 to 150 words.
When should I follow up?
Once, about a week later, with one new idea for the episode. Then move on.
The bottom line
Getting on podcasts is not about being famous. It is about having a clear story, finding the shows that fit, and reaching the host at a contact that works.
Media List helps you do exactly that. It has more than 1,400,000 media contacts, from podcast hosts and YouTubers to newsroom journalists, all in one plan. You can search podcasts by topic, category, country and language, and reach each host at the contact they publish for their show. You can try any plan free for 3 days. Plans start at $99 a month. Start your free trial at medialist.com and find your first ten shows today.
