Podcast Guests — How to Find, Invite, and Manage Interviewees

Podcast Guests - How to Find, Invite, and Manage Interviewees

Why are guests important for a podcast?

Interview podcasts are one of the most popular formats - for good reason. Guests add value on several levels:

• Diverse content - Each guest brings a perspective, knowledge, and stories you can't provide alone. It keeps the podcast fresh and interesting episode after episode.
• New audience - Each guest shares the episode with their audience. A guest with 10,000 followers = 10,000 potential new listeners.
• Credibility and authority - An interview with a recognized expert establishes your podcast as a reliable source. "If they agreed to be interviewed here - this must be a serious podcast."
• Networking - Each interview creates a new business connection. Some of the best business partnerships are born on podcasts.
• SEO and content - Each interview is long-form content you can transcribe, cut into reels, and turn into articles. Content multiplier.

According to research, podcasts with guests receive an average of 45% more downloads than solo host podcasts. The reason: the guest's sharing brings new listeners with each episode.

According to the Pody team: "We've seen cases where a single episode with a successful guest brought more listeners than 10 solo episodes. Choosing the right guest is one of the most significant decisions a podcaster can make."

5 Ways to Find Quality Interviewees

1. Pody's Guest Directory

At Pody we've built a directory of hundreds of experts from various fields who are interested in being interviewed on podcasts. You can filter by field, experience, language, and location. Every guest in the directory is verified and vetted.

2. LinkedIn - The Secret Weapon

LinkedIn is the best place to find professional experts. Search by keywords + "speaker" or "podcast guest". Most people on LinkedIn are happy to receive an invitation to a podcast - it's free exposure for them.

3. Other Podcasts

Listen to podcasts similar to yours and note the guests who appeared there. If they've been interviewed on one podcast - they'll likely be happy to be interviewed on yours too. Plus, it means they know how to be a good guest.

4. Events and Conferences

Professional conferences, meetups, and networking events are excellent sources. Conference speakers are people accustomed to speaking in front of an audience and have something to say. Approach them, introduce your podcast, and the invitation will usually be accepted gladly.

5. Online Communities

Facebook groups, forums, Slack communities - anywhere experts gather. Post that you're looking for guests, or reach out privately to people writing interesting content.

How to Reach Out to a Potential Guest - Email Template

The first contact matters. A short, personal, and respectful email = high chance of a positive response. Here's a template that works:

Tips for successful outreach:

• Personalization - Reference something specific the guest did. "I watched your talk at..." works much better than "I appreciate your work."
• Include numbers - How many listeners, which platforms, how many episodes. It adds credibility.
• Make it easy - "All you need to do is show up" lowers the barrier.
• Follow up - If they don't respond within a week, send a short, polite follow-up email.

Preparing the Guest Before Recording - Checklist

A prepared guest = a much better interview. Send the guest the following items 3-5 days before recording:

• ☐ Discussion topics - List of 5-7 main topics/questions (not all questions - keep some spontaneity)
• ☐ Episode format - Length, style (free-flowing conversation / focused questions), target audience
• ☐ Technical details - If in-studio: address, parking, arrival time. If on Zoom: link, technical requirements
• ☐ Clothing guidelines - If recording video: solid colors, avoid stripes, clean background
• ☐ Short bio - Ask the guest for a brief biography (2-3 sentences) + links to their networks
• ☐ Approval - Make sure the guest agrees to the episode being published (email is sufficient)
• ☐ Reminder - Send a reminder the day before with all details

For a detailed guide on preparing guests: How to Prepare a Podcast Guest.

Managing a Successful Interview - Professional Tips

Managing a good interview is a skill you can learn. Here are the tips that make the difference:

Before Recording (5-10 minutes)

• Warm-up chat - Talk about something easy. Sports, weather, something interesting that happened. It takes the pressure off the guest.
• Explain the process - "We're recording about 45 minutes, then we edit. If we get stuck - we stop and start again, no problem."
• Sound check - Ask the guest to speak for 30 seconds and check levels.

During the Interview

• Listen actively - Don't think about the next question while the guest is talking. True listening produces better follow-up questions than any list.
• Ask "Why?" - When the guest says something interesting, ask "Why?" or "Tell me more". It deepens the conversation.
• Silence is a tool - After you ask a question, give the guest time to think. Don't fill every pause. The most uncomfortable silences produce the most interesting answers.
• Share stories - "That reminds me..." - personal sharing encourages the guest to open up.
• Don't interrupt - Let the guest finish. A good podcast = host talks 30%, guest 70%.
• Mark good moments - When the guest says something excellent - note the time. It'll help the editor find the best moments for reels.

After the Interview

• Thank them immediately - Send a thank you email on recording day.
• Share the episode - When the episode is published, send the guest the link + ready-made reels to share.
• Ask for sharing - "Would you like to share the episode?" - most guests will be happy to.
• Keep the connection - Add them to your database, send updates occasionally. You might want to invite them again in the future.

Pody's Guest Directory

At Pody we developed a unique guest directory that solves one of the biggest problems for podcasters - finding interesting and suitable guests.

How it works:

• Experts register in the directory with a profile: areas of expertise, experience, languages, and availability
• Podcasters search using filters: field, location, language, experience on podcasts
• Outreach happens through the system - organized, professional, and with all necessary information
• After the interview, both sides rate - which helps improve future matches

If you're an expert who wants to be interviewed - sign up to Pody and add yourself to the directory. If you're a podcaster looking for guests - the directory is available to all subscribers.

Additional guides on guest topics:

• How to Find Podcast Guests - detailed guide
• How to Be a Podcast Guest - guide for interviewees
• Managing Guests - Advanced Tips

Frequently Asked Questions About Podcast Guests

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