How to Be a Great Podcast Guest
(And Make Sure You Don’t Waste the Opportunity)
Appearing on a podcast is a brilliant way to build trust, grow your network, and position yourself as someone worth listening to.
But if you just show up and wing it?
You’ll probably blend into the background—or worse, come across unprepared.
Here’s how to be the kind of guest podcast hosts love—and how to make sure the episode actually works for you long after it goes live.
1. Prepare for the Shoot
Before recording anything, make sure you know what the episode is about.
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What’s the topic or angle?
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Who’s the audience?
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Will the host send over any questions or themes in advance?
You don’t need a full script—but a few bullet points of stories, tips or case studies you want to share will make all the difference.
2. Send Over a Headshot
The host will often create graphics, audiograms or video clips to promote the episode. Help them out by sending over a few good, high-resolution headshots.
If the podcast is being recorded remotely, this is even more important—there might not be any visuals from the recording itself.
Don’t have a pro headshot? A clean, well-lit photo with a neutral background works just fine.
3. Write a Short, Useful Bio
Make life easy for the host.
Have a short written bio ready to go—two or three sentences max. Include:
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What you do
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Who you help
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One or two things you’re known for
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Links you want them to include in the show notes
Bonus points if you tailor the bio slightly to the theme of the episode.
4. Don’t Just Sell—Bring Value
Here’s the harsh truth: no one listens to a podcast to hear a sales pitch.
Yes, it’s fine to talk about your work. But make it interesting and helpful. Share stories. Give tips. Be generous.
The goal is to earn attention—not demand it.
If you leave listeners thinking, “I got a lot from that,” they’ll look you up. You won’t have to push.
5. Treat it Like a Conversation, Not a Presentation
You’re not delivering a TED Talk.
The best guests sound natural, present, and human. They listen well, they don’t talk over the host, and they keep their answers snappy when it counts.
Don’t worry about being perfect. Focus on being real.
6. Sort Your Setup (If It’s Remote)
Bad sound will kill a good conversation.
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Use a mic or decent headphones (AirPods at a push)
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Find a quiet room with no echo
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Plug into your router if you can
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Check lighting and camera if it’s being recorded for video
And always do a quick tech check beforehand—don’t assume it’ll just work.
7. Promote the Episode
Once the episode is out, don’t just post a link once and forget it.
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Share it across your social channels
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Pull out a key quote or story as a teaser
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Tag the host and thank them publicly
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Re-share it a few weeks or months later if it’s evergreen
If you make the effort to amplify the episode, you’ll get far more value from it—and the host will be far more likely to invite you back or refer you to others.
Final Thought
Being a great podcast guest isn’t about being perfect on mic. It’s about showing up with intention, generosity, and a bit of prep.
The best guests make the host’s job easy, the episode useful, and the conversation memorable.
If you’ve been invited onto a podcast, don’t waste the opportunity.