Podcast Guests: Essential Tips for Securing Your Spot Behind the Mic

Successful podcast guests know that appearing on the right shows can significantly expand their reach and establish their expertise in the music industry. As someone who reviews guest applications weekly for The Unstarving Musician, I’ve noticed clear patterns in what makes some applications stand out while others fall flat. These eight tips represent the strategies that consistently work to get my attention – and likely the attention of other podcast hosts as well.

Tips for Scoring Podcast Guest Spots

1. Do Your Homework

Listen to a few episodes before applying to understand the podcast’s tone, audience, and focus. Reference specific episodes in your application to show you’ve done this groundwork.

2. Lead with Value, Not Promotion

The best guests focus 80% on providing actionable insights and 20% on mentioning their projects. This balance will make hosts more eager to feature you.

3. Be Specific About Your Expertise

Rather than saying “I can talk about music marketing,” specify “I increased my streaming revenue by 300% using these three Instagram strategies.” Concrete examples and results are compelling.

4. Highlight Your Storytelling Ability

Great podcast guests are engaging storytellers. Mention specific stories you can share that illustrate your points while keeping listeners engaged.

5. Show Your Personality

Many hosts choose guests they believe will create energetic, authentic conversations. Let your genuine enthusiasm and personality shine through in your application.

6. Demonstrate Audio Quality Awareness

Mention that you have access to a good microphone and quiet recording space. This signals you understand podcast production requirements.

7. Offer Cross-Promotion Plans

Give details on how you’ll share the episode with your audience once it’s published. Mention which specific platforms you’ll use and your typical engagement metrics.

8. Follow Up Appropriately

A single follow-up after 2-3 weeks is appropriate. Persistence shows interest, but too many follow-ups can be off-putting.

The journey to becoming a valuable podcast guest doesn’t end once you’ve secured an interview. To continue building meaningful relationships with podcast hosts and their audiences, consider subscribing to industry newsletters like Liner Notes, where I regularly share insights from independent musicians and industry professionals. These resources can help you stay informed about current topics and trends that make for engaging podcast conversations. Remember, the most successful podcast guests don’t just make one-time appearances – they become trusted voices often invited back because they consistently deliver value to listeners.