Guest pitch

A guest pitch is the message that invites someone onto a podcast: who you are, why them specifically, what the conversation covers, and what saying yes involves. It is the single asset that most determines whether an invitation converts.

Why it matters

The same list and the same show can book at 5% or 18% depending on the pitch. Senior people accept invitations that demonstrate specific knowledge of their work and a light, honest ask, and delete everything that reads like a template with their name merged in.

The number

See the full benchmark, methodology, and counting rules →

How to do it well

• Open with the reason it's them: a piece of work, a position they've taken, a result they've published. One specific sentence beats three flattering ones.
• Name the conversation, not the show: two or three questions only they could answer signal a real interview, not a slot to fill.
• State the ask precisely: length, format, prep required (none), what happens to the recording.
• Cut credentials to one line; the invitation itself is the credibility test you either pass or fail.

Go deeper: How to invite guests to a podcast on thepod.fm.