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Finding by who they are

How to find a podcast host's email to pitch a guest spot

To find a podcast host's email, check the show's website and episode notes, then the show's feed, which often lists an owner address, and look for any guest form they prefer.

By Invenitor team. Updated .

Where do you find a podcast host's contact details?

Podcasts have more public contact points than most people realise. Check these in order:

  1. The show's website. Look for pages named contact, guest, or be on the show.
  2. The episode notes. Many hosts end with an address or a link to reach them.
  3. The closing of an episode. Hosts often say out loud how to get in touch.
  4. The show's feed. Podcast directories read from an RSS feed, and many feeds include an owner email. You can open the feed address in a browser and search the page for an @ sign.
  5. The host's social profile, which often links to a newsletter or a site.
  6. The sponsor page. Hosts who sell ads usually publish a sales address, and it may be read by the host or a producer.
  7. The network, if the show belongs to one. Networks often have a booking contact.

If the show has a guest form, use it. Using a form shows that you read the instructions, and skipping it to email the host directly tends to count against you.

Who should you write to: the host or a producer?

On small shows, the host does everything, so write to them. On larger shows, a producer or booker chooses guests. The credits in the episode notes often name them. Writing to the producer is not a lesser route. It is the person whose work is to read your pitch.

If you want to reach many shows in your field, describe them with a people search: "hosts of Indian business podcasts for small manufacturers" returns up to 100 people on Invenitor. Listen before you pitch. No search can tell you whether you would fit a show's tone.

How do you choose which shows to pitch?

Look for shows where your subject is useful to the audience, not shows with the biggest names. A small show about exactly your topic often reaches more of the right people than a large general one, and its host is more likely to say yes.

Check that it is still running. Look at the date of the last episode. A show that stopped a year ago is not looking for guests. Then check whether it has guests at all, since many podcasts are solo. Finally, listen to at least one full episode. You need this for your pitch, and it stops you from wasting a host's time.

What should a guest pitch include?

Hosts want a good episode, not a guest with a nice bio. So lead with the episode:

  1. One line on an episode you heard, and something specific from it.
  2. A proposed title for the episode, as it could appear in the feed.
  3. Three points you would cover, including at least one that listeners may not have heard.
  4. One line on why you can talk about this, based on what you have done.
  5. A link to a recording of you speaking, so that they can judge how you sound.

Do not make the pitch about your product. A host's main worry is that a guest will turn the episode into an ad. Say what the listener gets. If you are selling, be open about it.

What makes a host say no?

Most rejected pitches share a few problems:

  • The note clearly came from a template, or from a booking agency sending the same thing to everyone.
  • It gets the show's name or the host's name wrong.
  • The guest's topic was covered on the show last month. Check the back catalogue before you pitch.
  • The pitch offers a "thought leader" with no specific idea.
  • It offers to pay, on a show that does not take paid guests, or it hides that a guest spot is paid.

Be honest about any sponsorship. If you do want to pay for a spot, ask whether the show offers sponsored episodes. Audiences deserve to know. And do not ask for a list of questions in advance as a condition for appearing.

What should you do after you pitch?

Wait a week or two, because podcasts plan ahead and hosts batch their inbox. Then send one short follow-up with a new angle, or a link to something new you have done. If you hear nothing, move on. See how to follow up without annoying people.

If you do get on the show, promote the episode when it comes out. Hosts remember the guests who brought listeners, and they talk to other hosts. A good appearance often leads to the next one, which saves you a lot of pitching.

Budget wise, this is cheap to test. 25 free credits on Invenitor cover one search and five contacts, and a contact is charged only when an email or phone comes back. For the broader approach to writing your note, read how to write a first email to a stranger.

Common questions

How do I find a podcast's RSS feed?
Podcast directories and the show's own site often link to it. Open the feed in your browser and search the text for an email address.
Should I pay a booking agency?
You can, but hosts recognise agency templates. A personal note from you, after you have listened, is often stronger.

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