How to Pitch a Podcast

Mark Lawley does the practical prepping 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 InformationPractical Prepping ShowP3 Media Group (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 ShowSchool of PodcastingPodpage - Your Podcast Deserves a Great Looking Website

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 SimplifiedBombtrack Media (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/storybombtrackmedia.comtheschoolofpodcasting.compodpage.comMentioned in this episode:Share Your Story and Get FREE Promotion For Your ShowWe 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

The Alignment Call That Was Never in AlignmentKim Newlove from The Pharmacist's Voice 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.What Happens in This EpisodeKim 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 MarkWrong 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 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 is posted separately (not in the main feed) at the link below.Bonus ContentAbout the GuestKim 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.comComing Up Next EpisodeJason Cercone of BombTrack Media (host of Podcasting Strategy Simplified) brings his pitch — good or bad? Tune in to find out.Links & ResourcesSubmit your pitch (good or bad) or learn more: pitchapodcast.com/storyExtended clip — Kim's full 2026 production schedule and guest application breakdown: pitchapodcast.com/6Dave Jackson's podcast coaching: schoolofpodcasting.comPart of the Power of Podcasting Network: powerofpodcasting.comMentioned in this episode:Share Your Story and Get FREE Promotion For Your ShowWe 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

Scott Johnson does an amazing show called "What Was That Like," 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 ReadScott 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 GuestsHere 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 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 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.comwhatwosthatlike.comschoolofpodcasting.comMentioned in this episode:Share Your Story and Get FREE Promotion For Your ShowWe 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

Timothy Kimo Brien did a review of Writers drinking coffee on his Find a Podcast About 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 showWhat would a finance person want on a show about writingTakeaways: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.xyzpitchapodcast.comSchool of PodcastingFix My PodcastMentioned in this episode:We Need Your Stories - Help Guests Find YouWe'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/storyPitch Your Story