5 Must Follow Tips for Making Your Podcast Guest Appearance Successful

I started going to shows when I was around 14 — my first was was Dexter Freebish and Josh Joplin Group at the opening at an FYE in my local mall. Dating myself aside, there’s something important to note about that show: I knew Dexter Freebish’s hit song at the time (Leaving Town), but hadn’t heard of Josh Joplin Group. I walked out of the store with both bands’ CDs, and still listen to both groups to this day, over 20 years later.

Opening bands have a long tradition of playing in order to get in front of new audiences, with hopes that some portion will become new listeners…and you know what? It works!

I’m telling you this because going on a podcast tour is similar: you can grow your audience by getting in front of other audiences. But you need to do it right.

Here are 5 MUST follow tips for making the most of a podcast interview (or podcast tour).

1. Get a Good Mic

For long time podcasters like me, there’s nothing worse than a guest who’s doing one of these tours using the built-in mic¹. If you’re going to invest the time into doing the interviews, invest the money into a decent mic.

And it’s not just this podcast host’s obsession with sounding good either. According to Norbert Schwarz, better sound quality helps you more quickly establish trust. The more clearly people can hear you, the less they need to work to understand what you’re saying. That allows them to focus on your expertise.

Sound good makes the audience trust you faster…which is what you want when guesting on a podcast! Click To Tweet

It doesn’t need to be a professional-grade mic either. I routinely recommend the ATR-2100x. It’s around $100, a USB mic so you don’t need fancy equipment, and sounds leaps and bounds better than the built-in mic.

2. Get Headphones

I don’t know how to say this more plainly: if you don’t use headphones, your recording is going to sound terrible. I’ve cancelled interviews because the guest refused to put on headphones.

You might not notice it, but without headphones, any sound your computer makes will show up on your recording, including the host’s voice. If you think, “I’ve done it without headphones before and it was fine,” the host was too polite to tell you the amount of extra work it created for them.

Use the ones that came with your phone, or buy a pair on Amazon for $25.

3. Designate a Quiet Place to Record

If you’re going to do a lot of these, find a nice, quiet place to record from. I know home life doesn’t always make it easy, but do your best to mitigate noise. For example, let the people in your house know you’re recording so they don’t vacuum during your interview.

You’ll want to find a place with good room acoustics: not a wide open space where sound can bounce around. I’ve even recorded in closets before. As long as the show doesn’t include video, this is actually a great option!

4. Review Instructions from the Host (when provided)

I’ve gotten lots of compliments on the notes I send to guests. As a guest, you should review these when you get them. They’ll help you best prepare, and you’ll know what to expect day of.

They may also include some crucial info, like where to meet, how to get a hold of the host, or where the questions for your interview can be found.

The same goes for the post-interview email. I send one asking for a headshot and address so I can send a thank you note.

5. Have a Landing Page and Clear CTA

Finally, with all of the interview-prep out of the way, you want a CLEAR path for listeners to learn more about you. I strongly recommend a landing page specific to the show…or at the very least a vanity URL that redirects to a landing page.

Your goal is to grow your audience. Have a landing page with a clear CTA and easy to speak URL to get listeners on your mailing list. Click To Tweet

The URL should be easily speakable and include the show’s or host’s name. The landing page should have a special offer (free download, consult, or something else) to get people on your mailing list, as well as any discounts and social media links. If you have a podcast, mention that too!

This is your booth at the show where people can buy CDs or merch. You want to make and capture fans with each podcast interview.

Go Forth and Podcast!

These tips are sure fire ways to make the post of your podcast interviews and grow your audience.

And for a limited time, I’m offering some free podcast consulting incase you want to personalized tips. Get in touch to chat.

1. Well…see number 2 for a small addendum on that. ↩

Do Your Homework on the Host’s Audience

Before you hit record, spend some time listening to a few recent episodes of the show you’re about to appear on. Pay attention to the kinds of questions the host asks, the level of expertise the audience seems to have, and the inside jokes or recurring segments that keep listeners coming back. That context lets you tailor your examples so they land instead of falling flat. For example, if the show is aimed at early-career solopreneurs, you can skip the jargon-heavy case studies and focus on the simple wins that got you through your first year.

Also look at the show’s reviews and social media comments to see what listeners actually respond to. Did people light up when a previous guest shared a mistake they made? Did they get frustrated when someone spoke in vague generalities? That feedback is gold. When you know what the audience cares about, you can drop in specific numbers, names, and mini-stories that match their world — and that’s how you turn a one-time listener into a subscriber of your own work.

Bring Three Signature Stories, Not a Script

It’s tempting to write out everything you want to say, but reading from a script during a conversational podcast makes you sound stiff and disconnected. Instead, prepare three short stories from your own experience that illustrate the main points you want to get across. Each story should have a clear setup, a moment of tension or surprise, and a concrete takeaway. Practice telling them out loud a few times so they feel natural, but don’t memorize every word.

Why three? Because podcast conversations are unpredictable. The host may ask a question you didn’t expect, or the conversation may drift into a related topic. Having three flexible stories lets you pull the right one out at the right moment without derailing the flow. Make sure at least one of those stories is a failure or a behind-the-scenes moment — those tend to create the strongest connection with listeners, because perfection is boring.

Promote the Episode Before It Goes Live

Don’t leave promotion entirely in the host’s hands. As soon as you know your episode’s release date — or even a rough window — start teasing it to your own audience. Share a short clip or a quote from the conversation if the host sends you one, or record a quick 20-second video saying what you talked about and why it matters. Tag the host and the show so their audience sees it too, and use the show’s hashtag if there is one. This pre-promotion builds anticipation and gives the host a reason to keep inviting thoughtful guests like you.

Coordinate with the host on timing. Many hosts have a launch-day email or social plan, and they’re often happy to share assets like audiograms, pull quotes, or episode graphics. Ask for those ahead of time so you can schedule your own posts for release day, the day after, and a few days later. The episode’s first 48 hours are when most downloads happen, so showing up during that window matters more than a single link drop a week later.

Show Up After the Episode Goes Live

Your job isn’t over when the recording stops. After the episode publishes, make a point to reply to comments on the host’s social posts and on your own. Thank listeners for their feedback, answer follow-up questions, and share additional resources if someone asks for them. This kind of engagement shows the host that you’re invested in their community, and it keeps the conversation alive long after the download count ticks over.

You can also repurpose the episode for your own channels — with the host’s blessing, of course. Pull one or two short video clips for Instagram Reels or LinkedIn, transcribe a key moment for a newsletter, or write a quick blog post expanding on a point you made. Each of those pieces can link back to the full episode, which helps the host and keeps you visible to both audiences. A simple thank-you note to the host right after the recording, and another when the episode drops, goes a long way toward making you a guest they’d welcome back.