How to Pitch a Podcast

About How to Pitch a Podcast

How to Pitch a Podcast is the show for PR pros and podcasters who are sick of bad pitches. Hear real examples, blunt feedback from hosts, and practical strategies to craft pitches that actually get read, get booked, and respect everyone’s time.

Publisher

Dave Jackson

Category

business · education · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Jun 2026

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Robb Conlon is Getting Fed with a Firehose

   Robb Conlon of B2B Business Class (https://podcast.ausha.co/b2b-business-class-with-robb-conlon) and Westport Studios (https://www.westportstudiosllc.com/) once got a guest pitch so long and so self-focused that he stopped after the first sentence. It was 500 to 600 words, and he kept it. It's since turned up in a Captivate (https://supportthisshow.com/captivate) slide deck on LinkedIn as an example of a terrible podcast pitch. Dave Jackson explains why you should find out if a host is interested before sending the "War and Peace" version of your media kit. Robb then describes the guest he actually wants: someone with small-business knowledge his audience hasn't heard yet. In This Episode: The bad pitch: A 500–600 word pitch that was all about the sender and nothing about the show or its listeners. Dave's elevator pitch test: If your short pitch doesn't get a "tell me more," that person probably isn't your audience. Start short and let interest pull out the details. Do I smell AI? Why pages-long bios make hosts suspicious. Robb's perfect guest: Someone who can teach business owners something they don't know yet, like a recent B2B Business Class guest who covered AEO (answer engine optimization). His listeners run small businesses and usually don't have specialists on staff, so he wants guests with a fun story and knowledge that makes jaws drop. New from PodPage: Guest intake form submissions now show up at pitchapodcast.com/guest, and hosts can choose which past guests appear at the top of the list. Key Takeaway: Lead with what the host's audience gets from you, not your life story. If they're interested, they'll ask for more. Links & Resources: Robb Conlon / B2B Business Class: westportstudiosllc.com (https://www.westportstudiosllc.com) Captivate: captivate.fm (https://supportthisshow.com/captivate) PodPage: podpage.com (https://www.podpage.com) School of Podcasting: schoolofpodcasting.com (https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com) Share your pitch story and your perfect guest: pitchapodcast.com/story (https://www.pitchapodcast.com/story) Previous Guests: pitchapodcast.com/guests (https://www.pitchapodcast.com/guests) Mentioned in this episode: Share Your Story and Get FREE Promotion For Your Show We all get bad (and occasionally GOOD) pitches. The next time you get one, share it us by going to www.pitchapodcast.com/story and upload your story, and provide some links to your show. Pitch Your Story (https://how-to-pitch-a-podcast.captivate.fm/story)

2. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Spencer is Recovering from Bad Pitches

   One might think with a show called, "The Recovery Show (https://therecoveryshow.com/)" that it's OBVIOUS what the show is about and people would be able to deliver amazing pitches that fit what Spencer is looking for, but this is not the rare occurrence of a good pitch. Once again, someone has taken zero time to figure out what they show they are pitching Connect with Jason The Recovery Show - therecoveryshow.com (https://therecoveryshow.com/) Mentioned In This Episode School of Podcasting (https://community.schoolofpodcasting.com) - Plan, Grow, Monetize Your Show Podpage (http://www.trypodpage.com) - A Great Looking Podcast Site with No Coding Mentioned in this episode: Share Your Story and Get FREE Promotion For Your Show We all get bad (and occasionally GOOD) pitches. The next time you get one, share it us by going to www.pitchapodcast.com/story and upload your story, and provide some links to your show. Pitch Your Story (https://how-to-pitch-a-podcast.captivate.fm/story)

3. 

   11 Sept 2026

   Mark Lawley Doesn't Talk the Apocalypse

   Mark Lawley does the practical prepping (https://www.practicalprepping.info) show where he doesn't talk about aliens, zombies, or the apocalypse, and yet he got not one but two pitches, and neither one was good. In fact, one wanted to pitch their book about, you guessed it, the apocalypse. Mark's Information Practical Prepping Show (https://www.practicalprepping.info) P3 Media Group (https://p3mediagroup.net/) (Podcast Editing) If you have insights into what to do when bad things happened that you could've prepared for, then reach out to Mark to be on his show and explain how your content brings value to his audience. Mentioned In This Show School of Podcasting (https://community.schoolofpodcasting.com) Podpage (https://www.podpage.com/preview) - Your Podcast Deserves a Great Looking Website

4. 

   28 Aug 2026

   Jason Cercone Called Out a Fake Cross Promotion Claim

   Today we're going to hear about a classic blind pitch that Jason Cercone received, and this is just a classic "how not to pitch a podcast." Jason is looking to have a conversation with someone who will bring value to his audience. Check Out Jason: Podcast Strategy Simplified (https://www.bombtrackmedia.com/simplified) Bombtrack Media (https://www.bombtrackmedia.com/) (Jason's Services) Takeaways: Jason receives many cold, canned pitches that fail to reference my show or name, signaling mass outreach. When pitchers boast about their audience size without explaining the concrete value they will bring, Jason disregard their offers. He verify claims; when cross-promotion assertions lack evidence on the claimant's networks, he considers the pitch deceptive and invalid. We prefer conversational outreach that demonstrates understanding of our show and articulates specific topics aligned with our audience. Jason immediately disqualifies pitches that focus solely on self-promotion and use inbox bumps or AI-generated messages instead of personalized requests. Links referenced in this episode: pitchapodcast.com/story (https://pitchapodcast.com/story) bombtrackmedia.com (https://bombtrackmedia.com) theschoolofpodcasting.com (https://theschoolofpodcasting.com) podpage.com (https://podpage.com) Mentioned in this episode: Share Your Story and Get FREE Promotion For Your Show We all get bad (and occasionally GOOD) pitches. The next time you get one, share it us by going to www.pitchapodcast.com/story and upload your story, and provide some links to your show. Pitch Your Story (https://how-to-pitch-a-podcast.captivate.fm/story)

5. 

   13 Aug 2026

   The Alignment Call With Kim Newlove

   The Alignment Call That Was Never in Alignment Kim Newlove from The Pharmacist's Voice (The Alignment Call That Was Never in Alignment Kim Newlove from The Pharmacist) joins Dave to read a pitch so wildly off-target it almost has to be seen to be believed: a law firm consulting agency pitching two attorneys as guests... on a podcast about pharmacy. Before the bad pitch: Dave gives a shoutout to a good pitch — Dan Lefebvre of the Based on a True Story podcast sent one in. Not every pitch is a disaster (https://www.pitchapodcast.com/ture-story/). What Happens in This Episode Kim reads a real email pitch (in full) sent to her on behalf of Robert Armstrong and Sandy Fish, self-described "law firm strategists" and co-authors of an upcoming Forbes book on building law firms. The pitch invites Kim to interview them about leadership, business design, and helping attorneys become "law firm CEOs" — despite the fact that Kim's show, The Pharmacist's Voice, is about pharmacy careers and has zero attorney audience overlap. The kicker: the pitch also asks for a "brief alignment call" before booking — which Kim points out is deeply ironic, since the pitch itself was never in alignment with her show in the first place. Why This Pitch Missed the Mark Wrong audience entirely. Kim's audience is pharmacists, pharmacy students, technicians, owners, and professors — not attorneys. The guests would bring zero value to her listeners. No homework done. A quick look at Kim's show would have made the mismatch obvious. The "alignment call" irony. Asking for a call to "ensure everything is aligned" after sending a pitch with no audience alignment at all. What a Good Pitch Looks Like (Using Kim's Own Show as the Example) Kim shares how she plans her show a full year in advance, and what an aligned pitch would actually need to match: Her 2026 production schedule, including her six-year podcast anniversary (https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com/podcast/celebrating-6-years-in-podcasting/) episode (January) and her recurring "Pharmacist Podcasters" series (guests who are both pharmacists and podcasters). The specific guest slots she's actually looking to fill for 2026: a pharmacist-podcaster, a pharmacist authority, a guest who can speak to drug naming, and either a pharmacist focused on men's health or a veteran pharmacist. Her guest application process, including a question that trips up more pitches than you'd expect: "Which microphone do you plan to use for the interview?" — a simple way to gauge whether a prospective guest is actually prepared to record. Dave notes that Kim's full breakdown of her production schedule and application process is more detail than usually fits in the main episode, so the extended clip (https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b6fee0bd-36f1-44ec-aff7-98baca4cf07c/) is posted separately (not in the main feed) at the link below. Bonus Content (https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b6fee0bd-36f1-44ec-aff7-98baca4cf07c/) About the Guest Kim Newlove hosts The Pharmacist's Voice podcast, covering pharmacy topics and careers to help her audience feel connected to — and inspired to contribute to — the profession. She's worked with Dave as her podcast coach since 2019, has launched two podcasts, and has published more than 500 episodes. Kim's show: thepharmacistsvoice.com (https://thepharmacistsvoice.com) Coming Up Next Episode Jason Cercone of BombTrack Media (host of Podcasting Strategy Simplified (https://www.bombtrackmedia.com/simplified)) brings his pitch — good or bad? Tune in to find out. Links & Resources Submit your pitch (good or bad) or learn more: pitchapodcast.com (https://pitchapodcast.com/story)/story Extended clip — Kim's full 2026 production schedule and guest application breakdown: pitchapodcast.com/6 Dave Jackson's podcast coaching: schoolofpodcasting.com (https://schoolofpodcasting.com) Part of the Power of Podcasting Network: powerofpodcasting.com (https://powerofpodcasting.com) Mentioned in this episode: Share Your Story and Get FREE Promotion For Your Show We all get bad (and occasionally GOOD) pitches. The next time you get one, share it us by going to www.pitchapodcast.com/story and upload your story, and provide some links to your show. Pitch Your Story (https://how-to-pitch-a-podcast.captivate.fm/story)

6. 

   30 Jul 2026

   All They Had to Do Was READ with Scott Johnson

   Scott Johnson does an amazing show called "What Was That Like (https://www.whatwasthatlike.com)," where real people are in really insane situations and they live to tell about it. Like when you get mauled by a bear or your parachute doesn't open and you live to tell about it. It's an amazing show, and Scott's a great host, which is why today's story of a bad pitch really makes you scratch your head. All they Had to Do Was Read Scott has very obvious episode titles that REALLY make you want to click (check em out), and so if someone had just READ the episode titles they would've known that what they were pitching was not even close. Scott Johnson Is Looking For These Types of Guests Here a few stories that Scott is looking for: Someone who survived falling off a cruise ship while it was underway. Someone who's been rescued from the rubble after an earthquake. A non pilot who had to land a plane during a flight issue. Someone who inherited an island or a castle from an unknown relative. Someone who rescued a person from a burning building. Someone who won a million dollars or more from a lottery more than a year ago. So if you or someone you know has one of those stories or something just as crazy, the best way to send it in is through the website. Just go to whatwosthatlike.com (https://www.whatwosthatlike.com) and click on your story. What Was It Like to Get Pranked By Scott? Scott setup a great prank when I worked at Libsyn (I now work for Podpage). He had listened to an episode of my show Building a Better Dave (https://www.betterdave.com) where I had played some music (which is a no-no), and he had my boss deliver a very official looking document that looked like I was up to my neck in legal problems. Luckily he didn't let me flounder in fear too long before letting me know it wasn't true, but he had me good! Takeaways: This podcast episode emphasizes the significance of effective pitching for podcast appearances, illustrating the need for clarity and relevance. Scott Johnson's podcast, 'What Was That Like?', showcases extraordinary survivor stories, drawing listeners from numerous countries around the globe. The episode critiques poor pitching attempts, highlighting a recent example of an irrelevant U-Haul pitch that failed to engage the audience. Listeners are encouraged to submit compelling stories to Scott's podcast, particularly those involving remarkable survival or extraordinary experiences. A central theme revolves around the importance of storytelling, as Scott enhances the listener experience by allowing guests to narrate their unique experiences. Links referenced in this episode: pitchapodcast.com (https://pitchapodcast.com) whatwosthatlike.com (https://whatwosthatlike.com) schoolofpodcasting.com (https://schoolofpodcasting.com) Mentioned in this episode: Share Your Story and Get FREE Promotion For Your Show We all get bad (and occasionally GOOD) pitches. The next time you get one, share it us by going to www.pitchapodcast.com/story and upload your story, and provide some links to your show. Pitch Your Story (https://how-to-pitch-a-podcast.captivate.fm/story)

7. 

   17 Jul 2026

   Not Just Bad Guest - But WRONG SHOW

   Timothy Kimo Brien did a review of Writers drinking coffee (https://findapodcastabout.xyz/arts-writers-drinking-coffee-review/) on his Find a Podcast About (https://findapodcastabout.xyz/) show. Later he had a show pitch to come on the Writers Drinking Coffee. So two points: Tim is not the host of Writers Drinking Coffee - He creates the Fine a Podcast About show What would a finance person want on a show about writing Takeaways: The episode exemplifies the importance of understanding the podcast's content before pitching. Listeners are encouraged to thoroughly research a podcast prior to submitting a guest proposal. Effective pitches are predicated on familiarity with the podcast's themes and audience expectations. The discussion highlights how misdirected pitches can lead to frustration for podcasters and potential guests. Tim's experiences underscore the necessity of aligning guest expertise with the podcast's subject matter. The hosts advocate for a systematic approach to pitching, emphasizing clarity and relevance. Links referenced in this episode: findapodcastabout.xyz (https://findapodcastabout.xyz) pitchapodcast.com (https://pitchapodcast.com) School of Podcasting (https://community.schoolofpodcasting.com) Fix My Podcast (https://www.fixmypodcast.com) Mentioned in this episode: We Need Your Stories - Help Guests Find You We'd love to hear your bad (or good) pitch you've received (as we can learn from both). While you're sharing your pitch story, tell us a little bit about your show, and who your perfect guest would be (if you do interviews). Go to pitchapodcast.com/story Pitch Your Story (https://how-to-pitch-a-podcast.captivate.fm/story)

8. 

   2 Jul 2026

   There is Only One Issue - I Do a Solo Show - Ralph Estep Jr.

   The Content Creator's Accountant Ralph Estep Jr. joins me to talk about one of the biggest challenges in podcasting: getting booked as a guest. We break down why so many podcast pitches fail and share real examples of outreach that completely misses the mark. Find All of Ralph's Shows You can find all of Ralph's shows at www.askralph.com (https://www.askralph.com) So Many Bad Pitches As the host of Financially Confident Christian (https://www.financiallyconfidentchristian.com/) and Content Creators Accountant (https://www.contentcreatorsaccountant.com/), (https://www.contentcreatorsaccountant.com/) Ralph has seen just about every type of pitch imaginable. He explains what podcast hosts are really looking for and why taking the time to personalize your message can make all the difference. Ralph also shares the importance of researching a podcast before reaching out. A pitch that shows you understand the show's audience and explains why you're a good fit stands out far more than a generic email sent to hundreds of hosts. Step One: Does the Show Do Interviews? Ralph shares how the same people keep pitching a show that doesn't do interviews. This just proves (along with "I hope this finds you well") that the agencies pitching these guests have done zero investigation. Want to Keep Your Money? Beyond pitching, Ralph shares advice for content creators about managing their finances. He explains why it's important to have a plan for your money and how working with an accountant can help creators keep more of what they earn as their businesses grow. If you want to become a better podcast guest, write pitches that get responses, and build your podcasting business more strategically, this episode is packed with practical, actionable advice. Dave's Favorite CRM If you're looking for CRM not so much to have funnels and track sales, but save information about your contact, and create a task list of follow ups, then check out (and this is the real name) Less Annoying CRM (https://links.podcastingresources.com/lessannoying). It's $15/month per person. I love it. Takeaways: In this episode, Ralph Estep Jr. elucidates the intricacies of effectively pitching a podcast. We engage in a critical examination of various podcast pitches, identifying deficiencies and areas for enhancement. Listeners are provided with tangible examples and constructive feedback to refine their podcasting outreach strategies. Ralph emphasizes the importance of delivering genuine value to podcast audiences through thoughtful guest selections. We discuss the phenomenon of automated pitches and the lack of authentic engagement from some outreach attempts. The episode highlights the necessity for podcast hosts to critically evaluate the relevance of potential guests to their specific audience. Mentioned in this episode: We Need Your Stories - Help Guests Find You We'd love to hear your bad (or good) pitch you've received (as we can learn from both). While you're sharing your pitch story, tell us a little bit about your show, and who your perfect guest would be (if you do interviews). Go to pitchapodcast.com/story Pitch Your Story (https://how-to-pitch-a-podcast.captivate.fm/story)

9. 

   26 Jun 2026

   Three Great Examples of Podcast Pitches From Dan LeFebvre

   Dan LeFebvre is the host of the "Based on a True Story (https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/)" show. We've all seen movies that claim to be 'based on a true story', but have you ever wondered how accurate they are? That's what you'll find out as Dan compares Hollywood with history. Check It Out. (https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/) Three Strikes You're Out Getting a bad pitch from a company is sad. You see where they've done no research into your show. Oh well... Then they send another bad pitch, proving even more than they did zero research. Just when it can't get worse, you get a THIRD pitch with each one having nothing to do with Dan's show. So What Does a Good Pitch Look Like? Dan's show is a combination between Hollywood and history, and he got a pitch that: Used his name Was NOT generated by AI Was 100% personalized. This was NOT a form letter Reminded Dan that this guest had been on the show before Then the PR agent hooked Dan up with an early screening of the movie so he could do a better interview. Who benefits from that? By enabling Dan to see the movie before the interview, you are guaranteed a better interview. This can benefit Dan. After all if he does a great interview, who is the PR person going to point to if someone asks about the guest? DAN! As Dan creates a great episode, the audience wins, the guest (Jack El-Hai) wins, and the PR agency wins. Why? Because the PR agency did their homework, and now not only once but TWICE have delivered content for the audience. Dan Lafebvre of Based on a True Story Thanks to Dan for sharing his story you can check out his show at basedonatrustory.com (https://www.basedonatrustory.com) Hear that interview by going to basedonatruestorypodcast.com/378 (https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/378) Mentioned in this episode: We Need Your Stories - Help Guests Find You We'd love to hear your bad (or good) pitch you've received (as we can learn from both). While you're sharing your pitch story, tell us a little bit about your show, and who your perfect guest would be (if you do interviews). Go to pitchapodcast.com/story Pitch Your Story (https://how-to-pitch-a-podcast.captivate.fm/story)

10. 

    26 Jun 2026

    How To Pitch a Podcast: It's not the podcaster - it's the audience

    Welcome to the inaugural episode of "Pitch a Podcast," where I, Dave Jackson, expose the world’s worst podcast pitches (because apparently, reading a show’s description is just too much to ask). Ever wanted to land that coveted podcast guest spot? Well, you’d better know something about the show you’re harassing—maybe even listen to an episode (revolutionary, I know). Tune in as I explain how to stand out from the sea of generic spam and actually deliver value to a host (hint: it’s not about copying and pasting your life story). What Podcasters Are Looking For in a Pitch Every single podcaster wants to deliver value to their audience. So think of it like a secret Santa. When you find out you have Harold from accounting, you need to figure out what Harold likes. There is nothing different in podcasting If you want to deliver value to the podcast audience it starts with knowing: Who is the audience What do they want? What do they need? What are their biggest pain points The More Your Know the More Value You Can Deliver The better you know the audience of the show, the larger the value you can deliver. It's not hard, you just have to know the audience. When you pull upside to the host of the show and explain how you have an idea for an episode with a guest who can WOW the audience, and then share anything that proves you listened to the show - you are miles ahead of all the other guests and agencies doing "Spray and Pray" What is Spray and Pray? Spray and Pray is where someone writes a form letter. They later pop in the name of the show and, if you're lucky, your name. There is no amount of detail about your show, but they will let you know they love it, and then they make it all about themselves or their guest and how they invented sliced bread, cured cancer, and you would be insane to not have them on your show. The problem is they never connected themselves or their guests to your audience, and they've proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they've done zero work on learning about your show and what your audience wants. They send these letters out in bulk and fill everyone's inbox with spam. Somewhere there's some fool that will put this person on the show because all they need to get on their show is a pulse. They're not interested in delivering value to the audience. They're probably hanging their hats on programmatic ads that pay $0.002 per download This Show Will Expose Bad Pitch and Praise Great Pitches While there are giant mountains of bad pitches we will be spotlighting, we would love to hear when someone sends in a good pitch as well (we're hear to learn - I'm from the School of Podcasting (https://community.schoolofpodcasting.com) after all - education is my jam). Leave Your Story You can leave your story by going to pitchspodcast.com/story (https://www.pitchapodcast.com/story) and in addition to your pitch story (good or bad) if you are looking for guests, who (or what type) of guest would be the "perfect guest" for your show?

11. 

    26 Jun 2026

    How to Pitch a Podcast: The Trailer

    Tired of waking up to pitches in your inbox from people who can't even spell podcast? This show hopes to become the beacon for lazy agencies pitching nonsense guests to shows who don't even do interviews. Want to get booked on podcasts? This is where you can learn what to do, and more importantly what not to do. Quit wasting your time using pitches that don't work. Hosted by 2018 Podcast Hall of Fame Inductee Dave Jackson

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Spotify

3.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.