This theory applies to more than just journeys: the Peak-End Theory can help you structure your podcast calls to action so that your audience remembers them. 

Many podcasters don’t know what to do with a CTA, so they imitate the ubiquitous litany of “don’t forget to like and subscribe.” But when you construct a podcast call to action intentionally, situated in the right place in your episodes, they’ll make a lasting impression on your audience.

First, let’s start with the basics.

What is a Podcast Call to Action (CTA)?

Exactly what it says on the tin. A call to action is when you ask your audience to do something. For example:

• share the podcast episode with a friend,
• review the show on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser
• leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube
• Follow a link in the show notes to visit the podcast’s website, crowdfunding page, or social media content
• send you a message or answer a question
• And so much more!

If it feels like your audience isn’t getting in touch or your growth is stagnant, your podcast’s CTA is one area where you can make a change. 

Types of Podcast CTA

Over time, your podcast will need to do different things. Some of your podcast’s goals don’t change, and some do. As a result, you’ll need to have different kinds of podcast calls to action and treat them differently.

Primary Podcast CTA

These are the constants that drive your podcast’s goals. If your podcast were a car, this would be its fuel. These CTAs are straightforward and easily repeated. You want your audience to:

• share your show with a friend
• return for the next episode
• check out your podcast website for more information
• contact you with questions, ideas, or feedback
• review your show on their listening app of choice
• follow or subscribe on their listening app of choice

Primary podcast CTAs are practical actions that prompt audience engagement and growth on any podcast-listening app. Ultimately, you want them to return for more and bring a friend.

Primary podcast CTAs are a constant throughout your podcasting career.  Guy Raz probably says them out loud in his sleep. Seriously, treat these CTAs like water droplets on stone. Over time, they make a big difference. 

Secondary Podcast CTA

As time passes, your podcast goals will evolve. You may want your audience to take a survey, raise money for a charity, or buy some merch. Those goals are finite, and they’ll vary.

The secondary podcast CTA doesn’t benefit from long-term repetition like the primary one. You may only repeat this for three or four episodes. So, you have to dazzle with this one a bit more.

Script the bullet points of your secondary podcast CTA. If you want, you can record it as a separate audio file. Then, insert it in the editing stage, or if your media hosting service allows for dynamic content insertion, you can use it there. Of course, you can read it as you record your episode. Make sure your CTA mentions deadlines or any other relevant dates. If someone shows up to a live event you mentioned in an episode five years ago, that’s not good PR. 

Your secondary podcast CTA needs more repetition in the short term than the primary CTA. Mention your secondary CTA:

• Briefly in the intro
• With more detail at the mid-point or peak
• Briefly in the outro (perhaps with a callback to something memorable in the CTA you used at the peak). 

Bonus Podcast CTA

If there’s something extra, such as bonus content only available via a crowdfunding campaign, this is usually something you share after you’ve given the audience a lot of value. Your most loyal fans will take extra steps to obtain it, such as visiting a separate website via a link in your show notes or paying a fee.

How to Craft an Effective Podcast Call To Action

This isn’t a recipe, but these principles will make it easy to create an effective podcast call to action that your audience can act on quickly.

1. Keep Your Podcast CTA Short.

You’ve already redirected their attention away from the content they came for. Don’t be an obstacle to your episode’s ideas; Instead, craft your CTA to complement the rest of the episode briefly. 

2. Create a Sense of Urgency.

Deadlines and limits provide focus. Don’t just say, “We’re giving away stickers to anyone who takes our survey,” say, “The first ten people to take our survey get a free sticker.” This makes the audience more likely to respond quickly.

3. Describe the Benefits Right Away.

Make the benefit clear immediately, so they don’t even have to ask, “What’s in it for me?” Instead of saying, “Buy our t-shirts and support the show,” start with “I can’t believe how soft and comfortable the new t-shirts in our merch store are! You can find out for yourself by clicking the link in the show notes…”

4. Clarity and Simplicity Are Your Friends.

If you make the request too complex, the audience won’t do it. 

Practice by writing, as briefly as possible, a sentence or two that includes: 

• the benefit to the audience, 
• what you want them to do,
• How to do it, and
• Why they should follow your call to action.

For example: “You can enter to win a $50 gift card when you take our five-question survey. Just click the link in the show notes, answer a few questions, and you can shape the future of this podcast.” 

What if your podcast call to action isn’t quite that simple? Read on, my friend. 

5. Put Additional Information or Resources in the Show Notes.

You can also link the show notes to an external blog post. Particularly if your CTA is a multi-step process, such as a giveaway, contest, or survey, pointing to a blog post saves space in your show notes and time in your episode. Plus, you can use a short link with tracking data to measure the impact of your podcast CTA. Shortlinks can be created using a tool like PrettyLinks, making them much easier and more memorable to read out on air, too!

6. Ask Questions to Engage Listeners.

They’ll instinctively fill in the blank, which makes them invest more fully in your podcast call to action. 

Which of the following statements matters to you more?

• “Here’s your chance to shape the future of this podcast,” or
• “Do you want to decide what happens in the next episode?”

Did you notice I asked you a question right at the beginning of that list? You’re welcome.

Where to Position Your Calls to Action

Again, peak-end theory helps you choose where to place your call to action. Think about CTA positioning in the same way marketers approach ad placement. Typically, you have:

• Pre-Roll: Before the main topic
• Mid-Roll: During the main topic
• Post-Roll: After the main topic

Including a CTA at the beginning of the episode ensures everyone will hear it, but this means you’re asking for something without first offering any value. This might deter new listeners checking out your show for the first time, or they may skip your intro. When you put it after the intro, the audience has more to care about before you ask for a favor. 

If you put it at the very end, then there’s minimal interruption to the episode, and your most engaged listeners will hear it. But the majority may have stopped listening by then. Some podcasters include a short, humorous moment at the very end to encourage people to listen all the way through the credits and a final CTA. 

Putting it in the middle of the episode, during the main topic, is a way to ensure everyone hears it at a time when they are most engaged. However, you’ll need some nuance to weave it in and make it a relevant part of the topic, rather than an interruption. 

Once, I heard a podcast host mention he’d written a book years before and how the audience could buy it, in mid-interview. He mentioned the thinnest possible thread of relevance to connect the guest’s ideas with his call to action. I hit stop and unsubscribed immediately. Don’t be that podcaster.

Sharpen Your Podcast CTAs

Think of your podcast call to action as an invitation, and use the same creativity you’d put into the rest of your episode. Give the audience what’s good about the call right away. Keep it simple so they can take action with minimal effort. When you position your calls to action at the beginning, peak, and end of your episode, you strike a balance between giving value and asking for support. 

Treat your CTAs like you’re giving something of yourself. This way, your audience will be more likely to explore your content instead of being distracted and jumping to something else. Pick one CTA tip I’ve mentioned, and try it in your next episode. Then, reflect on the difference it makes.

Now that you feel more confident and assured about your CTAs, how about giving your podcast intro script a once-over? These two factors can be powerful when combined and can go a long way toward keeping listeners engaged, driving action, and staying tuned.

Or, if you’d like us to review your Calls to Action and give clear, honest feedback, the Four Minute Feedback tool in The Podcraft Academy is made for that.

Podcast events are perfect for learning and networking. As the industry grows, podcast events can range from a day of webinars to a multi-day conference taking over huge convention centers and hotels.

Whether you think of yourself as an introvert, an extrovert, a hobbyist doing it for love, or an entrepreneur building a brand, there’s always something you can learn with an open mind. On top of that, nothing beats getting together in person with folks who share your passion and enthusiasm for podcasting.

As event coordinators update their events, we’ll update this page. Pack your headphones; here’s The Podcast Host’s Guide to Podcast Events in 2025-2026.

Run a podcasting event and don’t see it mentioned here? Please give us a shout so we can include it.

November 2025 Podcast Events

2025’s not over yet! Check out these more intimate conferences and events in autumn and the start of winter.

Audio Drama Hubfest 2025

• Audio Drama Hubfest 2025
• Date: November 1st, 2025
• Cost: In-Person tickets range from £11.55 to £44.04. Online Access is £22.38.
• Location: The Riverside Club, High Wycombe, UK

If you like the Audio Drama Hub, the Facebook group for audio drama podcasting creatives, you’ll love Audio Drama Hubfest! The focus of the 4th Annual Festival is voice acting: we have some world-class talent across the day, with workshops, live performances, and networking opportunities. If you make audio drama or fiction podcasts, don’t miss this festival of audio joy!

Podfest Pod Tour

The Podfest Experience comes to cities across the US. Join us for an afternoon of authentic networking, talking shop, and fun. If you have a podcast, are thinking about one, or just need some motivation to get out of “podfade” or “podpause,” this meetup is for you! ALL are welcome!

• Indianapolis Podcasters Meetup
• Date: Saturday, November 8th, 2025, 1pm
• Cost: Free, registration required
• Location: HeavenEarth Podcast Studios, Indianapolis, IN, USA

• Fort Myers Podcasters Meetup
• Date: November 12th, 2025, 5pm
• Cost: Free
• Location: Remote Workspace & Reading Lounge, Fort Myers, FL, USA

• South Florida Podcasters Meetup
• Date: November 13th, 2025, 6pm
• Cost: Free
• Location: Born on Purpose, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

January 2026 Podcast Events

PodFest Expo 12th Anniversary

• Podfest Expo 2026
• Date: Jan 15-18, 2026
• Cost: $99-$899
• Location: Renaissance Orlando, Orlando, Florida, USA

The world’s longest-running annual in-person podcasting event returns for an unprecedented 12th consecutive year. 

February 2026 Podcast Events

On Air Fest

• On Air Fest
• Date: Feb 23-26, 2026
• Cost: $224-$599 (Early Bird pricing)
• Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA

Join us for three days, four nights, and six locations, presenting 80+ live performances, panels, podcasts, exhibitions, and multi-sensory experiences. Plus, interactive workshops, tech demos, and breakout sessions will help you level up your skills. Connect with thousands of creators and creative professionals working in audio, video, and new media, all coming together to explore some of our most urgent questions today.

The Podcast Learning Festival

• The Podcast Learning Festival
• Date: 26 February, 2026
• Cost: £99.00-£159.00
• Location: Central London, UK (TBA)

The Podcast Learning Festival is the first time that podcast production and workplace learning are brought together. It aims to challenge traditional workplace learning models by exploring the intersection of learning, sound, and performance. This is the perfect opportunity for learning, HR, and people professionals to engage with industry experts and thought leaders in the podcast and workplace learning space.

PodCamp Toronto

• PodCamp Toronto
• Date: Feb 27- March 1, 2026
• Cost: Free to attend sessions, panels, product demos, and more. $60 for attendance, access to networking events and the Industry Lounge, or $100 for all the aforementioned, plus “Exclusive Swag.”
• Location: George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Designed to help digital leaders and creators tackle the biggest challenges in media, tech, and digital storytelling. Join us for insights, fresh perspectives, and connections that help shape the future of Canadian digital media—whether you’re an industry leader or an independent creator.

March 2026 Podcasting Events

Radiodays Europe

• Radiodays Europe 2026
• Date: March 22nd-24th, 2026
• Cost: 359 EUR + VAT – 594 EUR + VAT
• Location: Riga, Latvia

Radiodays Europe is the event in the Radio, Podcast, and Audio World, bringing together over 1,500 visitors from 65 countries over three days. The event is organized into sessions, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, interactive sessions, summits, workshops, and networking events.

Podcasthon

• Podcasthon
• Date: March 14th-20th, 2026
• Cost: Free to participate
• Location: Online

Podcasthon is an online nonprofit event that will unite over 1300 hosts worldwide to raise awareness for as many charities as possible. It is supported by many respected voices in the industry, as well as organizations such as Podnews, Acast, and Ausha. 

Podcast Movement at SXSW

• Podcast Movement at SXSW 2026
• Dates: March 12th-18th, 2026
• Cost: TBA; discounts may be available for those who sign up for their mailing list. 
• Location: Austin, TX, USA

Podcast Movement joins South by Southwest, which “dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW® is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture.”

May 2026 Podcasting Events

The Podcast Show

• The Podcast Show 2026
• Date: 21-22 May, 2026
• Cost: TBA
• Location: Business Design Centre, Islington, London, England, UK

The Podcast Show is a unique global gathering of the broad and diverse podcasting community. By day, the show welcomes industry pros, independent creators, and business leaders to masterclasses, workshops, and global brands. By night, The Podcast Show is proud to present a week-long lineup of live podcasts, bringing some of your favorite voices and shows to life in theatres across London.

June 2026 Podcasting Events

Audio Storytelling at the Tribeca Festival

• Tribeca Audio Storytelling
• Date: June 3rd-14th, 2026
• Cost: $250-$1400
• Location: New York City, NY, USA

What started as a film festival has grown into a massive exploration of storytelling media. The Audio Storytelling wing of The Tribeca Festival celebrates podcasts that push the limits of what audio storytelling can be and stories that would otherwise go untold.

September 2026 Podcast Events

Podcast Movement 2026

• Podcast Movement
• Date: TBA, September 2026
• Cost: TBA; discounts may be available for those who sign up for their mailing list. 
• Location: New York City, NY, USA

Podcast Movement is the premier global event for all things podcasting, bringing together podcasters, industry professionals, and service providers & manufacturers.  Welcome to the ultimate destination for forming lasting connections, gaining valuable insights, discovering groundbreaking innovations, and fostering partnerships that will elevate your business and podcasting efforts. 

October 2026 Podcast Events

Afros & Audio

• Afros & Audio
• Date: TBA
• Cost: TBA
• Location: USA

Calling all indie podcast creatives and audio professionals! Join us for the Afros & Audio Podcast Festival—a gathering where diversity, innovation, and the indie podcasting spirit come together. Gain authentic insights, connect and collaborate, celebrate black excellence in podcasting, and grow with valuable resources. As one attendee shared, “This podcast conference was everything—the speakers were genuine, the information applicable, and each conversation an opportunity to network and grow.”

Podcast Events Beyond Fall of 2026

New podcast events are constantly planned and announced, so this list will always be a work in progress.

We’ll update this page as promoters inform us that they’ve added or changed events. If you’re promoting a future podcast event, contact us directly so we can include it here. We’d love to amplify your meetup!

The first Christmas my husband and I spent together, he got me a bike helmet and a portable USB hard drive. That’s how I knew he loved me for my mind. The next year, he got me a USB mic because he wanted to support my voice.

Giving a gift that helps your loved one with their work not only shows how much you care but also benefits the audience for their podcast. Hence, this gift guide for podcasters helps you make the world a better place.

Before we dive in, a heads-up that some of the links in our podcast gift guide are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission. It will not cost you anything extra, and it helps us keep creating free resources for podcasters.

Books as Podcast Gifts

Podcasters spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen, and there’s no doubt that screen fatigue is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining.

Books are terrific gifts for podcasters. They can learn more about their craft, spark inspiration, and escape the screen. Here are some books we’ve either written or read that should satisfy any bibliophilic podcaster.

Finally Start Your Podcast

Some folks have trouble getting started and need a step-by-step guide. Not only does Finally Start Your Podcast have all the essential information, but it also encourages a podcaster’s work as their show grows. Beautifully designed in full colour, this is an accessible guide where even the least “techy” of people will be ready to hit record in no time.

Buy Finally Start Your Podcast

The Audience is Listening

Tom Webster takes a “tough love” approach when he reminds us that nobody deserves an audience. The good news, though? We can earn one. Tom is a fantastic writer who engages the reader immediately with his lively and relatable tone. Above all, though, he brings a much-needed reminder to content creators everywhere: It isn’t about grabbing attention, but sustaining it!

Buy The Audience is Listening on Amazon

Podcast Growth

In our recent Indie Podcasters Report, 72% of respondents reported that their biggest challenge was growing an audience and discoverability. Getting the word out about a show can be challenging, to say the least. Podcast Growth is loaded with strategies and tasks to help any podcaster grow their audience.

Buy Podcast Growth on Amazon

Profit From Your Podcast

Nobody knows podcasting better than Dave Jackson. He’s put together Profit From Your Podcast, which is something of a podcast monetization bible. If the podcaster in your life is already up and running with their show, this could be the ideal gift. They might even take you out to dinner with their newfound earnings…

Buy Profit From Your Podcast on Amazon

The Podcast Host Planner Journal

Studies show that writing by hand on paper engages more brain activity and improves memory. The Podcast Host Planner is a journal filled with worksheets for podcasters to complete, allowing them to refer back to their answers later while crafting their podcast. Over time, this helps sustain a podcast and make it more enjoyable.

Buy The Podcast Host Planner on Amazon

Instapaper Subscription

If the podcaster in your life enjoys reading articles online but would love to cut down on their screen time, consider a year’s subscription to Instapaper. For less than $30, this handy little app lets you send content to your Kindle so you can read it away from the phone or laptop. Pair Instapaper with Feedly for the ultimate distraction-free experience.

Get Instapaper

More Books as Gifts for Podcasters

Our Best Podcasting Books roundup is a treasure trove of tomes by podcasting experts that go into greater detail about aspects of podcasting, such as technology, gear, fiction, and drama. Knowledge is a gift that never expires, and your podcaster will have a healthy supply.

Gear as Gifts for Podcasters

We update our equipment guides every year and test and review new podcasting tools frequently. Some of our favorite podcasting equipment has stood the test of time for quality and price. If you’re looking for a gift for podcasters that will help them for years, these devices will do that and more.

Samson Q2U Microphone

Not only is the Samson Q2U one of the most popular mics in podcasting, but it’s also our favourite mic. The Q2U offers excellent value for money and plugs in as either USB or XLR. This dynamic mic picks up vocals without bringing background sound along for the ride. For under $100, this is a perfect gift for a podcaster.

Buy the Samson Q2U on Amazon

RØDE Wireless Go, Now in Fabulous Colors!

We love the RØDE Wireless Go mics for many reasons (not only because Lindsay doesn’t get to use the Ø character often enough). Small wireless mics are de rigeur among the Instagram and video podcaster crowd, so RØDE now manufactures them in eye-popping colors. A few months ago, models in black or white were backordered, but tangerine or lime? No problem! This is a gift for podcasters that can make the most of brand colors and visibility.

Buy the RODE Wireless Go (Gen 3) at Amazon

PS – if you’re looking to save money and buy a smartphone-first wireless lav kit, check out the Rode Wireless Micro and BOYA Mini.

Focusrite Vocaster USB Interface for Podcasters

Matthew has used the Focusrite Vocaster as his main USB audio interface for a couple of years, replacing his well-worn Scarlett 2i2. It comes in two versions: a single-input model for solo creators and the Vocaster 2 with two XLR ports. The design is clean and minimalist, and the built-in presets make it easy to get a polished sound quickly. For podcasters, it remains one of the best value interfaces available today.

Buy the Focusrite Vocaster on Amazon

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Headphones

Bose QuietComfort 35 II noise-cancelling headphones are life-changers and sanity savers. Bose is one of the best at eliminating outside noise from the listening experience. And these pillowy over-ear headphones are luxurious to wear. Bluetooth connects these directly to a smartphone. As gifts for podcasters go, this one is top-shelf.

Buy the Bose QuietComfort Headphones on Amazon

Headphone Upgrades

When a podcaster finds a favorite pair of headphones, they tend to stick with the same pair for years. Over time, though, the surface of the ear pads will crack, chip, or flake off. The wearer’s body chemistry causes this, and there’s no way around it. Fortunately, you can revive a favorite pair of headphones with a re-padding kit. 

WickedCushions makes replacement ear pads in a wide variety of colors and patterns for almost every brand of headphones. Plus, they make cooling gel ear pads for marathon recording and editing sessions. 

For a more personal touch, search on Etsy for “handmade headphone ear pad covers.” Treat those ears to luxury with these handmade mulberry silk ear cushion covers, or these crocheted ear pad covers. Their favorite headphones will last longer and feel more fun.

Pro tip: Before you order, get the make and model of their favorite headphones, or measure the ear pads. If the seller knows the size of the ear pads, they can help you find the right gift for your podcaster more effectively. 

If your podcaster is married to a much-loved set of headphones, you can give them the option to turn them into a professional-sounding headset mic with the Antlion ModMic kits. These are brilliant for podcasters with limited space, or who often find themselves recording in different locations and need to travel light.

Buy the Antlion ModMic 2 USB or Antlion Modmic Uni 2 on Amazon

More Gear as Gifts for Podcasters

Our roundup of The Best Podcast Microphones for All Abilities and Budgets is the result of years of testing. It has everything from a gold-tone dynamic mic worthy of Elvis to a $45 USB workhorse.

And, our guide to The Best Podcast Equipment & Setup for Beginners & Pros Alike is a tried-and-true guide to everything a podcaster needs and nothing they don’t.

Clothing & Merch Podcast Gifts

Podcast merchandise, such as t-shirts, mugs, and stickers, are gifts for podcasters that do double duty. Not only do you give a gift, but you also help advertise their favorite pastime.

T-Shirts for Podcasters & Podcast Lovers

Our Teepublic store has a range of t-shirts designed for podcasters. From “Audio Changes Everything” to “I Like Big Mics, And I Cannot Lie”, these are great conversation starters for the podcaster in your life, enabling them to spread the word about their show freely and easily.

Merch for Podcasters

Speaking of TeePublic, you can also create tailored merch for your podcaster on their platform. They offer print-on-demand merchandise made by independent artists. If you have basic graphic design skills, you can design and print merchandise for your favorite podcaster with their show’s cover art.

Or, see which of their favorite shows are already selling their wares on there. Stickers are an inexpensive way to support multiple podcasts simultaneously. Plus, when podcasters cover their gear cases, water bottles, and notebooks with them, they’re less likely to get lost or stolen.

You’ll also find gifts like mugs, clocks, wall art, cushions, kettles… pretty much any item you can think of will be available with a podcast logo on it.

Education, Software, & Course-Based Gifts for Podcasters

Nothing endures like the gift of knowledge. Podcasting courses provide a structured approach to launching or improving a show. Most are self-paced, so the podcaster isn’t under pressure.

Consider one of these if you’re looking for a gift for podcasters that can last a lifetime.

Launch Mastery Course

In Launch Mastery, we walk you through the process of starting a podcast, from the seed of an idea all the way through to publishing those first few episodes.

Check out Launch Mastery

Growth Mastery Course

Does their podcast frustrate them? Do you wish there was something you could do to help? The Growth Mastery course can help them improve their show with promotion tactics.

Check out Growth Essentials

The Podcraft Academy

You can give the podcaster in your life full access to both of the above courses, and much more, by signing them up for The Podcraft Academy. Inside, they’ll find feedback, accountability, and practical tools that keep them supported, motivated, and moving steadily toward their goals.

Check out The Podcraft Academy

More Podcasting Courses

Our collection of the best podcasting courses shows you paths to greatness in any aspect of podcasting.

Alitu: The Podcast Maker

Alitu is an all-in-one app that helps anyone record, edit, and publish a podcast without the tech headaches. It’s perfect for beginners, busy creators, or anyone who wants studio-quality sound with minimal effort. A prepaid year of Alitu makes a thoughtful gift that removes the stress of editing and production. Its text-based editing lets users fix mistakes by simply editing words, and its automatic noise reduction tools make every episode sound clean and polished.

Check out Alitu

RSS.com Gift Cards for Podcasters

If someone you know is about to launch a podcast, covering their hosting costs is one of the most useful gifts you can give. RSS.com makes it easy to start and grow a show, and they even offer gift cards for prepaid subscriptions that last from three months up to a full year.

Check out RSS.com’s gift cards for podcasters

The Gift of Podcast Promotion & Growth

I’ve already mentioned the Podcast Growth book and the Growth Mastery course. If you want to help the podcaster in your life build the big audience you know they desire, here are some other potential gifts:

• Hire an artist to animate their podcast. A cartoon video of an excerpt from their podcast is a great promotion tactic.
• Run an Overcast ad campaign for their show. It’s one of the most direct ways to get podcast aficionados to check out their episodes.
• Advertise their show on Podnews. There, it’ll be seen by a who’s who of industry folks, including people from NPR, Spotify, and the BBC. Not to mention about 33,000 other podcast enthusiasts!
• There are loads of other places to advertise podcasts, too. You’re only limited by your budget (or love for a certain podcaster).

Gifts for The Podcast Lover’s Kids

Is it possible to get kids interested in audio while limiting their screen time and encouraging independence? Absolutely. Here are two brilliant options.

Yoto Player

The Yoto is a durable screen-free audio player with a massive ad-free library of stories and music. Big buttons or dials on the player help kids use it all by themselves.

Yoto audio comes on cards, so kids choose what, when, and how they want to listen. Or, you can create and add your own audio creations to blank cards. It’s all the fun audio provides without the clutter of the Internet. See our Yoto Player review to get the full lowdown.

Buy the Yoto Player on Amazon

Seedpace Interactive Player

Seedpace is a new entry in the world of kids’ audio players. It is built to stand out rather than imitate. Its playful design looks like a small robot face that moves and changes expression, which gives it a personality that feels alive and curious.

Instead of using cards, Seedpace relies on small, durable discs called Crafts. Place one on the player and the story or lesson begins instantly. The device focuses on interactivity, offering educational audio dramas with built-in quizzes and personalised stories that adapt to your child’s learning goals.

For a deeper look, read our complete Seedpace Interactive Player review.

Buy the Seedpace Interactive Player on Amazon

A Final Gift Idea for Podcast Lovers

Know someone who’s obsessed with a certain show? Why not set up a call with their favorite podcaster? Many podcasts have a Patreon or other crowdfunding pages, and a personal chat can be a benefit for donors. If you want a favorite podcaster to deliver a pre-recorded greeting or message of encouragement, lots of podcasters are on Cameo, too.

When You Give a Podcaster a Gift, You Invest In Their Audience

This past Valentine’s Day, my husband got me a BusyBox smart sign for my office. Either this is a punchline to a weird joke, or he respects my boundaries. He said it’s so I’ll have more focus to work on my podcasts, and I think anyone who listens to them would be glad.

When you give someone a gift that supports their interests, they know you care about them, you want to see them succeed, and you enjoy what they create. Validation and emotional support are the best gifts you can give them. 

And, if you’re a podcaster in need of some assistance, check out The Podcraft Academy. You’ll build the skills to make a podcast that people want to listen to, while investing in yourself and your growth.

Here’s a map to the traps that many podcasters tend to fall into. You’ll learn how to avoid these common podcasting mistakes – plus what to do instead to improve your podcast. 

1. Recording Before You’re Ready to Be Heard

When you first start podcasting, it’s easy to get excited and jump in too quickly.

I’ve heard people say they want to make a podcast because they “enjoy talking”. Some people will spend a lot of money on podcasting gear before they’ve thought about why they want to make a podcast. Others will hit record and talk for twenty minutes before they know who they’re talking to. 

Before you jump in two feet first, try to plan out the why, what, and who of your show. When you know your podcast’s purpose and what its unique benefit is for the audience, the audience knows what to expect. When your show satisfies the audience’s expectations, they’re more likely to come back for more and share your show with friends. Excitement is hard to sustain, and podcasting without a plan to support your effort is tiring. 

Proverbial wisdom tells us that “when you fail to prepare, you’re preparing to fail”. However, with a bit of self-awareness and forward thinking, you can create a podcast that motivates your audience to come back for more. You’ll see how that works in the next few sections.

2. Not Listening to Your Own Podcast 

If you don’t regularly listen to recent episodes of your own podcast, you won’t know what your audience experiences when listening to your show. 

Sure, you will ‘hear’ the show during the editing phase, but you won’t hear the conversation, which is different than just mouth sounds or editing mishaps.   

I’d recommend setting a standing reminder on your calendar to download an episode from the previous month of your podcast and listen to it whilst out on a walk or on your commute. 

You’ll be amazed at the things you notice when you get this “fresh ears” perspective on your show. This can be anything from annoying crutch words you need to quash to the fact that you’re never really listening to a guest’s answer and always jump ahead to the next question without picking up on an opportunity for a good follow-up angle.

3. Expecting Perfection, Quickly

Another common podcasting mistake is expecting your podcast to be perfect from the start. Perfectionism can prevent you from ever hitting publish and moving on to the next episode.

Before you start recording your episodes, take the time to familiarize yourself with the software. Let yourself play with recording and editing. Experiment with your mic technique. Make an episode zero. Play is what helps us enjoy learning how to do something new, and is an important part of the creation process.

Once you’ve gained confidence, level up and start recording the audio you want to publish. Then, you won’t be dismayed if something happens, like a power outage or a mean review. You’ll shift gears and try something different, or keep pushing through.

Your podcast doesn’t have to be perfect. What’s “pretty good” to you could be “just right” to your audience.

4. Not Having A Specific Topic

It’s amazing how many podcasts launch without a clear topic. When your show name suggests it could be about absolutely anything, it makes it a lot harder to convince anyone to listen or to come back for more.

Katie asked podcasters what the biggest threat to podcasting is, and many mentioned “raw, unedited, rambling conversation,” or a lack of “passion for a topic to motivate you to do the work.”

But, when your show has a clear purpose, and when each episode has a clear hook or thesis, that gives the audience something to hold onto.  Katie also asked podcasters about the biggest opportunity in podcasting, and Jeremy Enns of Podcast Marketing Academy said, “more indie creators need to be thinking… about the show level, the concept, the premise.”

No matter how spontaneous a podcast episode sounds, the pros have a script. That “script” could be anything from a list of bullet points to a 10,000-word screed. When you plan out episode topics and talking points ahead of time, you can sound great even when you don’t feel inspired.

Nailing down a podcast topic is something you’d ideally do in the planning stages, but if you’ve launched and your “what’s it about?” still seems a little fluffy, it’s never too late to pivot and find your niche.

5. Not Knowing Your Audience

Many podcasters, especially when they’re first starting, don’t know who their ideal audience is. They want as many people as possible to listen, so they say their podcast is for “everyone.” But this approach can dilute your content and make it for “no one”.

When you make your podcast for a specific audience, they’re more likely to keep listening and share it with their friends. They know “this podcast is for people like me.” Knowing your audience’s demographics, values, and opinions can also help you build a meaningful relationship with them.

It’s one thing to make a podcast about pro ice hockey, and another to make a podcast like Ladies Talkin’ Leafs. Not only do the hosts enjoy discussing the Toronto Maple Leafs, but their show also challenges the stigma and “gives a voice to the growing number of female hockey fans.” 

You can get to know your listeners better by running an audience survey or asking questions they can answer with a voice memo. Pay attention to what they tell you, and how they say it.

Take the extra time and make the effort to get to know who’s listening and why. Then, tailor your content accordingly.

6. Poor Mic Technique

Take time to practice good mic technique. Record yourself at different distances and with different settings until you find your Goldilocks zone (not too far, not too close, but just right). I’ve seen many podcasters get so close to the mic that it looks like they’re about to announce their engagement. When the mic is that close to your mouth, it sounds like a threatening phone call. 

Know your microphone’s polar pattern. I talked into the wrong side of a Blue Yeti for a year until I figured it out. Mouth clicks and noises, too, are a repellent rookie mistake. 

At the opposite extreme, I’ve seen ads for microphones featuring photos of people sitting in rooms with high ceilings and hard surfaces. If you can’t take reverb seriously, the audience can’t take your podcast seriously. 

The saying “practice makes perfect” is overused; better to remember that practice prevents sounding awful.

7. Aggressive Sales Tactics

No matter how frugal you are, podcasting still requires electricity. Expenses have to be paid, and monetization allows podcasters to keep podcasting.

But a common mistake in podcasting is allowing monetization to have too much control over your podcast. 

A study by Ad Results Media examined how many ads are optimal, or make listeners stop paying attention. Two is the maximum number of ads in a row that most listeners will tolerate, the study reported. It also found that ads that don’t match the audience or the content are irritating. 

Host-read ads outperform dynamic ads because they build on trust. But some podcast hosts slip sales talk into conversation, whether it’s appropriate or not. Exploiting the trust your audience invests is a big turnoff. 

Allowing a monetization scheme to take too big a portion of your episodes is a common mistake in podcasting. When your monetization scheme prevents your audience from getting value from your show, it undermines trust and distracts the audience from your podcast’s message.

In contrast, when your monetization matches what your audience needs and wants, both you and your audience benefit.

8. Long-Winded, Rambling Intros 

When podcast hosts start the show talking about what they did last weekend or the latest episode of a favorite TV show, this puts an obstacle between me and what I came to hear.

Some podcast hosts believe this humanizes them and makes them more approachable. But it’s a common podcasting mistake to have too long a warm-up before getting into the topic at hand. In short, please get to the point. 

Katie compared the intros of the top 20 podcasts, and her findings favor brevity and clarity. If you must have an opening chitchat, use chapter markers in your show notes. That way, I know I can skip the deep dive into a 2015 episode of Downton Abbey.

9. Vague Episode Titles and Descriptions 

Often, when I read descriptions of newly-launched podcasts, I find myself like Brad Pitt in the climax of the movie Seven. I feel like I’m standing alone in a desert, screaming, “What’s in the box?”

Poetically vague episode titles and descriptions are common podcasting mistakes.  Another is to tell me who made the podcast and how successful they are, rather than focusing on the content of the episode.

When your title and episode description tell listeners what to expect in the episode, not only will the right audience for your podcast press play, but they can also share your podcast with their friends more easily.

Tell me what the episode is going to cover, who’s talking, why, and what the big questions are. These steps give me just enough specificity to pique my interest.

We All Make Mistakes. This Is How We Learn.

Whenever you try something new, it’s impossible to get it right on the first try. Hopefully, this guide can help you learn from others’ common podcasting mistakes so you can avoid making them yourself.

Even the best podcasters slip on the ice once in a while. What matters is that they get up and keep walking, watching for the safe places to step. 

On the odd occasion when you don’t quite get something right, see it as an opportunity for learning and growth. You’ll always come through stronger and wiser on the other side. 

Want to launch a podcast your audience will actually care about? The Podcraft Academy gives you the tools, lessons, and guidance to do it right from day one. Mistakes will happen, but we help you avoid the ones that waste money, time, and motivation.

You’ve got great ideas and a microphone, but who exactly are you talking to? Many podcasters say their show is for “everyone.” But vague-casting doesn’t make your show universally attractive. Understanding your ideal audience makes it easier to connect with them and build a meaningful relationship. Here’s how to define your podcast avatar or ideal listener, what to do with that profile, and how that avatar can help your podcast thrive.

What’s a Podcast Avatar? 

The word may evoke images of blue, elfin creatures, but the word “avatar” comes from Hindi and means the incarnation of a deity in human form. It’s come to mean a personification of an abstract idea. What we mean when we say “audience avatar” is your podcast’s ideal listener. 

Why does this imaginary friend matter? Any podcaster can benefit from imagining their ideal listener as a real person. However, this avatar idea is most helpful for solo podcasters who feel put off by “talking to themselves” behind the mic. Name your podcast avatar to make the image more concrete. Now, you can think of yourself talking directly to “Bob”, “Helen”, or “Count Chuckles of Chortleton”.

If I asked you to imagine the ideal audience for a “kids and family podcast,” you’d probably picture two kids in the back seat of a car while an adult driver picks out a podcast. Or, if I say “True Crime podcast,” you might visualize a woman in loungewear examining documents with a magnifying glass. On the most basic level, that’s an audience avatar. 

When you understand your podcast avatar, you can determine how to reach them and what they can do for you. 

Case Study: The True Crime Audience Podcast Avatar 

Let’s use True Crime podcasts as an example, since many studies have consistently found that they attract a specific audience. I’ll show you the data, and how to make it work for you. 

Who Listens to True Crime?

Sounds Profitable’s Safe & Sound study showed that 38% of women respondents ranked True Crime as their favorite podcast category.  The Pew Research Center found that True Crime podcasts were most popular among women. So, it’s safe to say that the audience avatar for True Crime is likelier to be women (though not universally: my husband can’t get enough True Crime).

How Does This Audience Find and Consume Podcasts?

Now that we know women listen to True Crime, we can examine data about how women find and consume podcasts. For example,  the Women’s Audio Report: Women & Podcasts released by Edison Research and Sirius XM reports that: 

• 40% of respondents ranked True Crime first out of twenty-four categories (verifying what we learned from Sounds Profitable and The Pew Research Center)
• 74% of respondents find out about new podcasts from social media, and 73% find out about new shows via word of mouth 
• The majority of respondents listen to find connection, knowledge, and representation, and are highly responsive to calls to action. 

This is a superficial layer of information. I don’t want to keep you here all day. Now that we know that True Crime listeners tend to be:

• women
• finding their next podcast via social media or word of mouth
• seeking community, education, and representation
• are likely to act on podcast CTAs

What do we do with these data points about our True Crime podcast avatar?  

What Methods Are Appealing?

Our ideal listener is more likely to discover her next podcast listening experience through a social media post or word of mouth, so we know that social media posts will be more effective than purchasing a print ad, for example. Successful promotion will focus on relationship-building rather than general advertising. Cross-marketing tactics, such as trailer swaps, feed swaps, and guest appearances on other podcasts, can fit into calls to action (i.e., “if you enjoyed this show, then check out that show.”). 

This podcast avatar prefers word-of-mouth recommendations, so empower your audience to be your word-of-mouth PR team. Incentivize participation by thanking people on the air when they reach out or review. 

And, this ideal listener wants positive representation. If you don’t already have women on your True Crime show, bring them on board immediately. Get expert consultants, who happen to be women, to explain a court case or investigation. Bring in lady guests, or when you need an extra voice, choose a female-identified voice artist. 

When you know what kind of people are most likely to listen to your True Crime show, and what motivates their podcast choices, you can tailor your content and PR strategies accordingly. 

A Real-World Example

Crime Junkie’s website is chock-full of relationship-building opportunities. In the “Extras” category, information about avoiding scams, a portal to suggest a case, and a free cross-stitch pattern are just the beginning of their relationship-building paths.

How to Research Your Ideal Listener and Apply That Information to Your Podcast

Not all information about the relationship between podcasts and their audiences is as clear-cut as that of the True Crime audience. Gathering statistics about your audience can involve researching outside the podcasting realm and then analyzing how podcast listeners engage with your show’s content. 

Instead of Researching Podcast Audiences, Research What Your Audience Wants

Let’s shift from True Crime to gardening, for a moment. Home and Garden is an undervalued podcast category. You may imagine the ideal listener as an elderly lady wearing large gloves and hats, trimming rose bushes. Instead of looking up, “Who listens to garden podcasts?” look up gardeners. These are the people you want to reach. Look up industries that depend on the same information in your podcast. 

Who Else is Interested in Your Audience, and Can They Help?

Companies that manufacture and sell garden products conduct extensive research, as do universities and publications with an interest in the environment. Gardening Statistics in 2024 includes many specific findings about gardeners that defy the Miss Marple stereotype. The number of millennial and Gen Z gardeners has increased significantly in the past five years. The primary reason for the increase in gardening among these groups was related to mental health.

How Can You Put Your Podcast In Front of Your Ideal Audience?

Now that you know many new gardeners are millennials and Gen Z, look up information about podcasting for these demographics. A lot of research exists about millennial and Gen Z podcast listeners, and don’t underestimate Gen Alpha. 

What Does Your Ideal Audience Want From Your Topic?

Since you know these gardeners are also interested in mental health, plan your topics accordingly. Interview a psychologist who specializes in horticultural therapy, or a graduate student who studies the effects of agrichemicals on wellness. Your audience can listen while they pull weeds, and you may be able to secure a sponsorship with a local garden center. 

No matter what your podcast’s topic or niche is, pursue the common interest (your podcast’s topic), gather data on how people consume it, and apply that to your podcast to strengthen your relationship with your ideal listener. 

Once You Know Who to Invite, How Do You Make Your Podcast Inviting?

Here’s where you need to give your show a handle for your ideal audience to grab. Make sure they can find your show easily, provide a show that caters to their interests, and use empathy.

Include the Audience In The Description and Introduction

This could seem obvious, but for some podcasters, this is new information. You may want to include the target audience for your show in the episode description and the introduction. For example, a golf podcast for Christians could have a name like “What Would Jesus Putt?” or ask in the podcast description, “Do you love golf, but have to make sure you can get a tee time after 1 pm on Sundays so you don’t miss church?” You don’t have to follow SEO tactics dogmatically, but clarity helps.

What Would Your Audience Buy?

Your audience avatar’s education and income level help you plan monetization schemes. The podcast merchandise you sell can validate how your audience avatar views itself. A show for beer drinkers may be more interested in drinkware than t-shirts, but knowing your podcast avatar can tell you whether to sell crystal stout snifters or crocheted can cozies. 

How Does Your Audience Play?

When I first started podcasting, my friends who showed the most enthusiasm for my podcast were people who read a lot of graphic novels and played tabletop roleplaying games. I printed stickers with the podcast logo on them and dropped them off at comic book and game shops to give away to customers. I can’t track that PR campaign’s effectiveness, but it didn’t hurt, either. 

How Does Your Audience Work?

Put yourself in their shoes while planning your podcast format and structure. Busy real estate agents may prefer shorter episodes or segmented shows that they can pick up and put down between client meetings. Long-haul truckers might enjoy longer episodes.

Bring Your Podcast Avatar With You.

Take time to write down:  

• who your podcast is for, 
• what you know about that audience, and 
• how your podcast can meet your audience on their terms. 

Stick this piece of paper on your podcast workstation, and keep it visible while you record. When you have your ideal listener in mind while working on your podcast, you’re more likely to work in a way that strengthens your relationship with that audience. 

Podcast Avatar Sounds Alien, But Shouldn’t Be.

When I research information, I often second-guess my citations, which slows me down. One day, I decided that one of my ideal listeners is Gladys, a woman who cares so much about research accuracy that she will fight me to prove any argument I make. Now, when I second-guess myself, I think of Gladys (who looks an awful lot like my aunt Janet), and I thank her for her dedication. 

Count Chuckles of Chortleton doesn’t mind how tight my citations are. He listens to my podcast to fall asleep.

Ultimately, your audience avatar or ideal listener loves your podcast’s topic as much as you do. It may seem that you don’t have to define your ideal audience because they’re someone who’s just like you. But no two people are alike. The more information you have about who your audience avatar is, the easier it is to reach, reward, and encourage them to share your show. The compassion you carry for your audience will show through in your podcast. 

Need some help fleshing out your podcast avatar? Try the Alitu Showplanner. It’s free to use, needs no login, and generates assets including a trailer script, episode ideas, and unique angles for your show.

Think of it as an appetizer sampler platter: It’s a condensed, snack-sized, flavorful version of your work that leaves listeners wanting more. 

You could turn to the latest AI tool, say, “generate my press kit material,” and call it a day. That’s fine; we have a guide to AI podcasting tools to help you evaluate which is best for your purposes.

But when you know how to construct a podcast media kit of your own from scratch, you’ll better understand why and how a good media kit works.

True, it’s added work. But whether your podcast is an income stream or a fun hobby, a media kit is worth your time and energy.

A good podcast media kit does all of the following:

• Helps listeners find and share your podcast
• Enables you to build relationships with sponsors
• Gives journalists key information for articles about your podcast
• Shows your podcast’s unique value proposition
• Persuades guests to participate in your show
• Condenses and sums up your podcast for future pitches

Bookmark this guide. I’ll cover what goes into a media kit, how to make one, and how to use it to engage audiences, sponsors, and guests. 

But first, let’s get some terminology out of the way.

What’s the Difference Between a Media Kit, a Press Kit, and a Press Release?

Media kits are like press kits, for those of us old enough to remember printing presses (hello!). But unlike press kits, which consisted of text and printed photos, media kits are more technologically sophisticated and dynamic.

Free templates in Canva or other design software make a visually stunning podcast media kit that goes far beyond what’s possible in a Word document. But we’ll get to the how-to shortly.

So, What’s a Podcast Press Release?

A press release is one part of your podcast media kit. It typically announces something newsworthy, such as the launch of a new podcast, a milestone reached, or an award.

Press releases can be effective at attracting media attention and may be the first place people learn about your show. They normally announce time-sensitive news, meaning they’re a temporary tool, whereas a media kit is a long-term tool you can use year-round.

How to Plan Your Podcast Media Kit Like a Story

So, how do you create one of these bad boys? First, draft out your thoughts. Ask yourself questions like a journalist:  take a moment to write down the What, Who, Where, Why, When, and How of your podcast. 

Jot down some short answers in your podcast planner or notebook.

What is your podcast?

This is your podcast description. One meaningful descriptive sentence is perfect.

Who is involved in your podcast?

The ‘who’ of your podcast covers two things: hosts and audience.

So yes, this means writing a short bio about you or your business, but it also means writing a short bio about your ideal listener. It may sound strange, but you need to explain who your show is intended for. For example, “Podcraft listeners are early-stage and aspiring podcasters looking to launch a show optimised to grow and monetize”.

Knowing who’s involved and who your podcast is for is, to paraphrase Rick in Casablanca, “the beginning of a beautiful relationship.”

Where is this podcast from?

Did the show grow out of a team-building workshop? Is it uniquely Minnesotan? Does it occur in an unusual environment (such as Hostile Worlds’ starship Tardigrade)? Is it recorded in an unusual place, like your home, a particular recording studio, or a van? Tell your media kit readers.

Why do you produce this podcast?

What do you want your podcast to accomplish? Do you want to teach your audience about something or share a lesser-known perspective on a subject? For example, “Hostile Worlds is designed to teach the audience about the universe in an entertaining and accessible way.” 

When is this podcast’s information relevant?

What dates are relevant in your media kit? For example, is your podcast celebrating an anniversary? If you haven’t launched yet, what’s your launch date? Do you release new episodes on the first and third weeks of the month? Do you have an important milestone, like an upcoming live podcast? Is there a date that’s important in the larger world that your podcast will promote, such as Election Day or the start of fly-fishing season?

How can people listen to your podcast and support you?

How can people listen, get in touch with you, and engage with the show? Include your podcast website URL, social media handles, email address, and RSS feed. Link to your website’s “Listen now” page: here’s an example of the “Listen now” page for Podcraft.

Our free Podcast Planner tool will help you a lot, here. It only takes a few minutes to fill out, and it’ll provide you with numerous suggestions, ideas, and inspiration for creating your podcast media kit.

How to Make Your Podcast Media Kit

Great! Now that you have drafted all these thoughts into condensed statements, let’s move on to making the building blocks of the press kit itself. 

Your media kit should include:

• A fact sheet (as a PDF, with a web page version).
• A Google Drive or Dropbox folder 
• Copies of your podcast’s art and relevant images, optimized for web and print.

Your Podcast Fact Sheet

This is where the magic happens, and you’ve already got your notes to inform this part.

No matter what kind of podcast you have, here are the building blocks of your fact sheet:

• About (your podcast’s description)
• Who’s involved
• Target audience (who is this show for)
• Contact information (you’d be surprised how many people forget this)
• How to listen

You can also add some of these, if you have them:

• Awards and accomplishments
• Measures of engagement, like how many followers you have on which social media platforms, how many downloads, or what countries your podcast has been played in
• Reviews or positive social media messages about your content
• A special episode that you recommend people listen to first.

Type the answers to these bullet points into a Word doc. Then, copy and paste the text you typed in your Word doc into the relevant spaces of your fact sheet template. It’s important to type your answers out in Word first because design software can’t pick up on spelling errors.

Adjust the colors to fit your brand and add the images you want to include.

When the sections are consistent and everything looks neat and legible, save the document as a PDF and put it in your podcast media kit folder (more on that in the next section). 

Essentially, you summarize your show and what it goes well with, then gather the images. Once you put it all together, all you’ve spent is time and patience. 

Your Podcast Media Kit Folder

Some journalists prefer to work offline and would rather have the information about your show in a format they can save to their desktop or print out and read.

Create a folder with a public link, such as a Google Drive or Dropbox zip folder. Set the permissions to view-only and test the link with a friend to make sure it’s accessible.

Bookmark this link or copy and paste it into a note on your desktop – you’ll be using it often!

You’ll also want to create a web page version of your media kit, which you can update quickly and send to interested parties. You can make this on your podcast website or use a platform like Notion.

This version of your media kit helps your SEO because search engines will index the information on the page. 

Your Podcast Art

A journalist might publish an article about your podcast in print media. If they do, they’ll want a high-resolution image to make their article stand out.

Images with a resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch) or higher are suitable for print media. Images that load quickly on screen are typically 72 dpi and may appear unclear in print. So add both a 72 dpi and 300 dpi copy of your podcast cover art or logo. 

Save your podcast art as a .png or .jpeg to your folder, with a clear name(e.g., “podcast-title-media-kit-print-july2024′), so the recipient can find it easily. Put these in your podcast media kit folder. 

Visual Media for Audio Podcasters

Podcasters need to be conscious of the visual elements of their brand. Just like when you’re adding sound effects or music to your podcast, you want to be able to find and use your visual elements quickly too.

As you build your media kit, make an image folder, adding in images you want to use. You’ll also want to type up a note with the following information: 

• Your brand colors and their hex codes, for consistency
• Your brand fonts.

Put this folder on your desktop, along with your logo and podcast art files. Name it “[your podcast title] visual assets.” You can pull from this folder as you work on your fact sheet.

Here’s a deeper dive into creating artwork and logos for your podcast, too!

Should My Podcast Media Kit Have Links? 

Yes. It doesn’t matter if the recipient’s going to print the podcast media kit or not – they can still click on the links to get more information. Always link to your podcast website’s “listen now” page in your media kit, as well as to your podcast’s social media profiles. Just be sure to type out URLs and handles rather than hyperlinking them so they’re clear to anyone reading it away from the screen.

Additional Content

Over time, you’ll gather new assets to add to the folder. When publications write about your podcast, you’ll want that text in your press kit.  Transcripts, press releases, photos, and updates can also be included in your podcasting press kit.

Hubspot has some really cool free business templates to help you populate your folder with things like advertising proposals, event proposal outlines, and mind maps.

Make sure these items have clear dates and file names so that journalists can use the most up-to-date information.

Podcast Media Kit Templates: Know Your Audience & Niche

When I first started exploring media kits in Canva, the variety and panache of the layouts were staggering. But don’t just pick whatever template seems the boldest or attention-grabbing – be sure your template suits the answers to the questions you initially asked.

You want a template that accurately conveys the mood of your podcast. Consider your podcast niche and audience when selecting one. For example, if accessibility is important to your niche, Canva offers dyslexia-friendly fonts.

You also want to think about content. If your media kit focuses on reviews and descriptions, you may want a template with more text boxes. A template with more image spaces would fit a podcast that needs images (such as a fashion or woodworking podcast). 

What To Do With Your Podcast Media Kit

Once you’re happy with your podcast media kit, upload the folder to Google Drive or Dropbox. Make sure it’s publicly accessible but view-only. You can then link to it from other places, like on your website or in your show notes.

Typically, podcast websites have an “About” page, since most users don’t think a media kit applies to them. But the “About” page can repeat all the information from your fact sheet.

Link to your media kit when promoting your podcast to potential audiences, such as newsletter editors, journalists, sponsors, and other relevant contacts. You can even put the link in your email signature to save time.

When you invite guests to your podcast, share the media kit with them. A fact sheet describing past guests goes a long way toward securing that one fantastic star for your show.

Your podcast media kit shows them what to expect, how to prepare, and what your show can do for them.

Keep it short and positive, and they’ll be more likely to show up on time, prepared, and confident. 

Podcast Media Kit Examples

Here are some examples of podcast media kits that have caught my eye over the years.

Girl in Space’s press kit page uses bright colors and a Q&A layout to enlighten new audiences about this sci-fi mystery audio drama. Creator Sarah Rhea Werner includes a link to a Dropbox folder near the top of the page.

Civics 101 de-mystifies how the American government works, and its press kit’s clarity reflects its commitment to transparency. The high-contrast color scheme and straightforward language make the podcast accessible and simple to write about and promote. 

Click on the “About” tab for the Spirits podcast, and you’ll find a comprehensive and detailed podcast media kit, which even includes fan art. 

Make Sharing Your Show Easier

Whilst you spend time building your audience actively, a great podcast media kit helps you build your audience passively.

A media kit makes it easy for your fans, search engines, and writers to better understand and share your show.

Legacy media’s traditional press kit structure made it easy for anyone to write about and share the latest TV show, theatre project, or ice cream brand. When you plan the fact sheet’s content, package the information and images in an accessible way, and share it, it’s like packing a snack for your future audiences.

When they understand your show, they’ll come back for a full meal and bring their friends.

A podcast media kit is just one great way to help your show grow. In The Podcraft Academy, you’ll find many more, from our Growth Mastery course to feedback and accountability tools. We’d love to work with you in there!

Sometimes hosts ramble to seem approachable. But when a podcast episode lacks a hook or thesis statement, the audience doesn’t know why they’re paying attention to your show.

When the discourse wanders, the listeners get confused (or worse, bored), and they stop paying attention. Next thing you know, you feel as though you’re talking to the void. Neither you nor your audience can enjoy that for long. 

You can avoid this trap easily with a dose of clarity. Let me show you why every episode needs a clear, compelling hook or thesis statement, and how to create and use one effectively. Then, I’ll give you a checklist so you can make absolutely sure your podcast episode’s hook is worth your audience’s time and attention. 

What Is a Podcast Hook or “Thesis Statement”, Really?

“Hook” may sound like clickbait, and “thesis statement” may sound dry and academic. To keep it simple, what I mean is an idea, summed up in one sentence, telling your listener, “Here’s what this episode is really about.”

Whether you choose to express the hook or thesis explicitly depends on what kind of show you want to produce.  You can introduce your hook to the audience and then review what you’ve covered at the end.  Or, you can use it subtextually, like a compass. Whatever you choose, your hook is the glue that holds your episode together. 

A hook makes all aspects of your podcast workflow much easier. It’s like the power line on mass transit, guiding your episode to the destination. 

Why Does The Hook Matter? 

A clear hook, or thesis, makes nearly every aspect of your podcast easier. It can: 

• Help you stay on track while hosting
• Simplify editing 
• Streamline episode descriptions and social media posts 
• Give your audience a specific idea to remember and share
• Turn your podcast episodes into intentionally rewarding experiences, rather than background noise. 

The best part is that a hook costs nothing, and weaving it into your podcast is simple. Next, I’ll show you how to make this part of your podcast workflow. 

How to Craft a Podcast Hook or Thesis

The simplicity of making a podcast hook is probably why people don’t think of using it. 

First, start with your topic. What idea are you sharing in your podcast episode? 

Next, ask yourself, “What am I trying to communicate in this episode?” 

Then, shape it into a logical argument. This argument should be presented in a single, clear sentence. 

For example, let’s say you have a tennis podcast, and you interview a professional tennis player. You could chat about anything, or you can focus on one unique aspect: what’s the best tennis serve and why? 

I don’t know much about tennis. But if your podcast told me, “three reasons why the twist serve is the sweetest swing in tennis,” you’d pique my interest. That’s clear, specific, and memorable. 

How to Use the Hook or Thesis Throughout Your Episode

Like I said earlier, you can make your hook clear as a bell from intro to outro, or you can use it as a guiding principle. It depends on the kind of episode you want to make.  As an example, let’s say that your episode’s hook is “the twist serve is the best swing in tennis.” 

Using Your Hook as a Signpost

You can say it out loud, using that hook as a signpost, in

• Your episode’s introduction: “Today, we’ll learn about the twist serve, and three reasons why it’s every tennis pro’s secret weapon. With me today is our special guest…”
• The episode’s outro, to summarize and recap: “So, now we know that the twist serve is what makes tennis champions, because…”
• Your episode’s mid-roll: “We’ll explain more reasons why the twist serve is the home run of tennis, after this word from our sponsors.” 
• The episode’s description or title. “Let’s Do The Twist: Three Reasons to Master This Tennis Serve” 

Your audience knows exactly why this episode’s information is valuable and what they can do with it. 

Your Hook as a Guiding Principle

We all want our podcasts to sound natural and conversational.

Good news: you don’t have to state your hook or thesis explicitly. 

The most well-known “talk-about-whatever” podcasts thrive on seeming spontaneous, yet remain dedicated to a central topic.

My Brother, My Brother and Me, for example, appears to be spontaneous banter among the McElroy brothers. But, it’s an advice show, and each episode description teases the talking points.

In another example, The Read, hosts Kid Fury and Crissle West signpost their episode’s sections, with names like Kid Fury’s Sports Shorts or Listener Letters. 

You can write your hook at the top of your podcast script or talking points. Use it like a compass. If the conversation strays too far from the hook for too long, you can bring the discussion back on track.  

At the end, recap your discussion, featuring the thesis argument or hook. This reminds the audience what they’ve learned from you and why they’ve listened. The audience feels rewarded, since it confirms what they’ve learned from the episode’s question and answer. Include why your hook matters. 

Again, your conversation doesn’t have to be a university lecture, but your hook gives you and the audience a point of focus.  

Real-World Examples of Podcast Episode Hooks

Here are a couple of episodes that use hooks in different ways. One’s a short, solo episode, and the other is a longer, documentary-style piece. They’ll help you envision very different ways to use your episode hook. 

Pocket-Sized Podcasting

Try this episode, for example: Should I Choose a Descriptive Podcast Name? The episode runs less than a minute, comparing the pros and cons of descriptive podcast names. The thesis statement, or main argument, is that descriptive podcast names are immediately identifiable and easy to find. That’s it. That’s the hook. 

Radiolab

A more complex example is Radiolab’s recent episode, Baby Shark. The hosts discuss how annoying yet catchy the song “Baby Shark” is, as well as the intricacies of shark reproduction.

The reporter takes the audience to visit scientist Chris Lowe in Malta. Lowe nurtured a shark egg in his home, raised a baby shark, and then released it into the ocean.

Throughout the episode, the hosts and a reporter discuss how Lowe’s project elicited a strong, positive community response. Toward the end, Lowe says, 

CHRIS LOWE: So the cool thing for me is if we’ve taught people to fear sharks, we can also unteach them to fear sharks, to appreciate the animal.

By the end, on a subtextual level, the podcast episode returns to its initial idea. The discussion of the “Baby Shark” song seems irrelevant at first. However, if we can accept a song with a “weapons-grade” reputation (as the hosts described it), we can unlearn fear of sharks. That’s the hook, or the thesis.

The podcast episode description phrases the hook as a question. “Can a human raise a shark? And if so, what good is that for sharks? And for us?”

Explicit vs. Implicit Hooks

In the first example, making the thesis explicit makes sense. The episode’s a quick podcasting tip.

Radiolab promotes discovery; the show illustrates scientific study through sound. The thesis or hook is implicit in the story the episode tells. This way, the audience feels as though they discover the hook as they vividly imagine the episode’s scientific study.

If you’re just starting your first podcast, consider making your hooks as clear as street signs and map directions. Over time, as your podcast workflow becomes routine and you build an audience, you can keep your hook in the background.

Either way, write your podcast episode’s hook first. 

Validating Your Content Hook

How do you know if your podcast episode’s hook is clear and effective enough? Here’s a checklist that can help you evaluate whether or not your episode is intentional, relevant, and deserving of your audience’s attention.  

The ‘Take Five’ Content Validation Framework

1. Personal Value: Does this material genuinely matter to me, or connect to my experience?
   
2. Audience Relevance: Does this serve my listeners, meeting them where they are right now in their journey?
   
3. Clear Purpose: Can I explain why this matters in three sentences or fewer?
   
4. Unique Angle: What’s my specific perspective, experience, or take that makes this worth their time?
   
5. Audience Fit: Does this match my show’s scope and audience expectations without being too basic or too advanced?
   

When you can answer ”yes” to at least four of these five questions without hesitation, congratulations!  Your episode delivers valuable ideas; you’re not just manufacturing audible wallpaper. 

Bear in mind that you don’t have to be an expert. Instead, think of yourself as a trusted researcher, investigator, or interpreter of ideas. In our tennis example, nobody said you have to demonstrate flawless tennis serves. Instead, you’re curating information that supports your argument, so your audience better understands tennis. 

Make Every Episode Count

Many podcast descriptions claim that the host discusses whatever comes to mind, often using “pop culture” or “current events” as a catch-all phrase. Nobody wants to hear a person hit record and hope for the best. 

When your episode has a clear hook or thesis, it’s like giving the audience a gift and packaging it properly.

Audiences have choices. No matter how exciting any other aspect of your podcast is, without a clear purpose to every episode, listeners will inevitably get bored and turn their attention elsewhere.

A strong hook tells the audience, “This idea is worth your time and attention.”  

When you build your episodes purposefully, your podcast earns your audience’s attention. They’ll come back for more and tell their friends. 

The Alitu Showplanner can help you establish the details for your podcast’s mission. You’ll walk through straightforward questions and generate an action plan for your new show. All the information can help you come up with a hook or thesis that makes audiences come back for more.

Not only does your podcast title need to stand out in a crowd, but it also has to demonstrate why people should download and remember it. Podcast directories are where 50% of the respondents to our Discovery Survey reported finding new podcasts. This makes sense: the directory displays the podcast’s name and show art, and the description is only a click away. Outside of podcast directories, though, the title has to work harder. 

Your podcast name has to be accurate, intriguing, and memorable. I’ll show you why and how to craft a podcast name that can do all three. Then I’ll show you four podcast-naming tactics to help you avoid some common traps for podcasters. 

You can easily remember the three common podcast naming conventions with our MAP framework:

• Metaphor (99% Invisible, The Moth, Serial)
• Accuracy (The Property Podcast, Football Weekly, Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast)
• Personal (The Tim Ferris Show, The Joe Rogan Experience, WTF with Marc Maron)

What Podcast Naming Conventions Do The Pros Use? 

Katie analyzed what the most popular podcast names have in common, and found that:

• Accuracy: descriptive names (that say what the show does) were the most common overall (40%)
• Metaphor: creative names, clever references, or puns were second (35%), and 
• Personal: host-based names were the least common (25%). 

This varies by podcast category for myriad reasons. Check out Katie’s article for details about why different genres popularize different name styles. For now, let’s look at which approach might work best for you.

3 Podcast Naming Conventions (and Why They Work) 

To demonstrate how your podcast’s name hooks attention, let’s compare podcasts in the same category. There are dozens of video game podcasts displayed in the Apple Podcasts charts alone. These video game podcasts address various issues, employ distinct tones, and cater to different audiences. To hook the audience for your video game podcast, you could use

• an accurate description (like Games Daily, or Xbox Podcast)
• a memorable metaphor or pun, (like Get Played, or Watch Out for Fireballs)
• a personal name (such as The Jeff Gerstmann Show: A Podcast About Video Games, or The Kit & Krysta Podcast)

Let me show you how and why these strategies work (or don’t) to name your podcast. 

Accurate Podcast Descriptions Deliver the Goods Immediately. 

When you make tuna salad, you don’t open a can labeled “soup.” A good podcast title should be equally clear about what to expect. This accuracy is particularly good for shows that solve problems. Shows like Games Daily or Xbox Podcast tell you exactly what the hosts intend to give you in each episode. Descriptive titles are solidly professional, and attract an audience that wants the information your show provides. 

If you’re just starting in podcasting, or launching a show that’s outside your usual area of expertise, a descriptive title will help you gather an audience more than any other option. 

Metaphors or Puns are Memorable When Your Audience Solves The Puzzle.

When you hear a title with a metaphor or pun, you have to work a little bit to decode it in context. And when you get it, you feel a mini-reward of recognition. For example, Get Played and Watch Out for Fireballs both highlight the frustration video game players feel when they can’t quite beat a level, and the relief that comes with insider game information. Titles that incorporate metaphors or puns appeal to audiences seeking entertainment alongside their information. 

The (Insert Your Name Here) Podcast Show

The popularity of shows like The Joe Rogan Experience tempts podcasters to name their podcasts after themselves. However, celebrity isn’t the big draw that it seems to be. Our most recent Podcast Discovery Survey showed that respondents felt a podcast’s description is more convincing than whether or not they’d heard of the presenter. 

When credibility or authority is at stake, the creator’s name matters. Katie observed that the Health & Fitness and Business categories have the most podcasts named after their hosts. When you want information affecting your money or your life, you want a person’s reputation to back up that information.  

For example, Jeff Gertmann and Kit & Krysta have worked in the video game industry for years, and built a following before their current podcast. They aren’t household names, but among gamers, their reputations precede them to a niche audience. And, that niche audience is who they hope to attract. If you’re considering shelling out $70 for a AAA+ video game, you care how Kit & Krysta or Jeff Gertmann review the game. 

If your name lends credibility to your podcast’s topic, then it’s worthwhile to use it. However, if you’re new to your podcast’s topic, your name in the title won’t be as helpful. Instead, a descriptive title or a metaphor demonstrating your show’s tone will do a better job of attracting your ideal audience. 

And, if you’re unhappy with your podcast’s name, you can always rebrand to a new name in the future. 

I hope you don’t have to rename your podcast, but there’s no shame in it. Renaming moves you closer to the podcast you truly want to make. And, as podcasts evolve over time, you may find that a new name better reflects what your show does and intrigues the audience you want to cultivate. 

While we’re on the topic of fixing what doesn’t work, let’s examine four podcast-naming tactics we’ve learned the hard way. 

Four Time-Tested Principles of Podcast Names

Over the past decade, everyone here at The Podcast Host has witnessed numerous podcasts launch and grow. We’ve also seen podfade aplenty. Here are four principles to use when naming your podcast, based on what we’ve learned from the school of tough love.

1. Hollywood Uses Focus Groups, and So Can You.

You don’t need a Paramount budget, but a few smart friends. Try out your new podcast name on a couple of pals and ask what they think the podcast is about. If they answer accurately in a few seconds or less, the name’s a keeper. 

What if you get multiple answers? Ask what aspect of the name told them that it’s about the topic they mentioned. If their answer is realistic, take it seriously and rethink your title. 

2. Spelling and Pronunciation Matter. 

As voice search grows in popularity, spelling and pronunciation become more important than you’d think. Whether people search for podcasts while driving, up to their elbows in soapy dishwasher, or they’re just sick of typing, more people would rather tell Siri or Alexa to play their favorite podcast. So, make sure that your podcast’s name is spelt the way it sounds (and vice versa) to your audience. 

Take it from the woman who produced a podcast based on Norse mythology and called it Jarnsaxa Rising. Potential audience members used voice search and ended up in a section of their podcast directory that’s all about knitting socks. I love knitting socks, but the podcast had nothing to do with it. 

3. Keep It Short.

Podcast directories will cut off a podcast name that’s too long. Not only does a podcast name that’s 30 characters or fewer look better in directories, but it’s also easier to remember. You want your audience to tell their friends, so be brief. 

Some people stuff their podcast title full of keywords in the hopes of manipulating search engine optimization. But, podcast directory SEO favors your podcast’s description and individual episode titles and descriptions. Long podcast names feel redundant.

4. Check Your Work to Avoid Confusion.

When you’ve found a podcast name you want, search for the name in your favorite podcast app to check if it’s already taken. If you use the same name as another show, and it’s trademarked, you may find yourself legally actionable. 

In 2024, a judge found that “finfluencer” Canna Campbell infringed the trademark “Financial Foreplay,” registered by podcaster Rhondalynn Korolak in 2017. The judge ordered Campbell to pay AUD$114,000. 

Additionally, search on a domain name search tool like Namechk, to learn if the domain name is available. If the simplest version of your podcast name isn’t available, chances are good that someone’s already using it. 

Potential legal issues aside, having the same name as one or more other podcasts will hamper your growth, so choose one that isn’t taken. Not even by some show that podfaded in 2011.

Again, you want to stand out in a crowd, not be the crowd. 

Should I Use An AI Podcast Name Generator?

Sure, why not? But, like everything else with AI, to get a meaningful result, you need to use the right prompt and provide context. 

“Give me five names for a podcast” is too vague. Instead, try entering a prompt like:

“Give me podcast name ideas for a [publication frequency] podcast about [topic], hosted by a [role], aimed at [target audience].”

For example: “Give me podcast name ideas for a weekly podcast about golf, hosted by a retired golf pro, aimed at Buddhist golfers who love Japanese golf courses,” you could find titles such as:

• Japanese Golf Weekly for Buddhists,
• Walking the Eighteenfold Path
• The Ryokō Round

Or, if you like to get cozy with ChatGPT, you can try this:

“Hi, ChatGPT. I’m starting a podcast called [working title if you have one], and I need help coming up with a meaningful and memorable name. The show is about [topic/theme], and it’s for [target audience]. The tone is [tone: e.g., playful, serious, mysterious, academic, etc.]. I want the name to evoke [feelings, images, or values you want the audience to associate with the show]. Could you give me a list of name ideas, including a mix of literal, metaphorical, and poetic options?”

This provides ChatGPT with more information about tone, mood, and how you want your audience to feel while listening to your podcast.

And, you may get unforgettable titles like The Sound of One Club Swinging. I’m not into golf, and I’m not the target audience, but I’d tap play on that.

If you need guidance on topics, target audiences, tone, and more, The Alitu Showplanner can walk you through these steps, asking questions about various aspects of your podcast. Then, the Showplanner can generate a list of podcast names based on your preferences and priorities. 

How You Name Your Podcast is Important, but Not Earth-Shattering. 

Naming your podcast isn’t like naming a dog. You won’t have to worry about it getting lost, or some kleptomaniac insisting that the podcast only comes when called by their true name. Podcasters rebrand or create new shows throughout their career. Guy Raz has created podcasts with three different names. So has Jesse Thorn. Again, you can always rebrand.

Don’t be afraid to make bold choices when you name your podcast. You want your podcast to be a topic of conversation, but not this one: “I heard this on a really exciting podcast. You should listen. Hmm, I can’t remember what it’s called… Oh well.”

Your show name should be memorable, accurate, and personal, reflecting the credibility and creativity that support the show’s ideas. Again, The Alitu Showplanner isn’t just a podcast name generator: it can help you bring out what’s most important about your podcast, generating names that are meaningful, memorable, and timely. 

What’s Dynamic Audio Insertion?

When you hear a separately recorded ad in a podcast, chances are the producer didn’t edit it into the episode themselves. The podcast’s media host can “stitch” a new audio clip into the podcast episode. For example, Podbean uses dynamically inserted ads, helping podcasters who use Podbean for hosting to monetize their shows.

But, dynamic audio insertion (DAI) isn’t just for advertising. It’s also a feature that can help keep your content fresh, lively, and engaging.

In this case study, dynamic insertion is used to help promote a call for voice feedback as part of a ‘question of the month’ segment. This means the ads for the questions are up-to-date across the entire back catalog.

Let’s look at other ways to punch up your podcast with dynamic content.

Creative Uses for DAI

Sometimes, podcasters need to correct or clarify a point in their episode after publication. Rather than re-recording and editing the entire episode, dynamic content insertion can add a short recording to the published episode where appropriate.

For example, when comedian Norm MacDonald passed away in 2021, Marc Maron re-published a 2011 episode of WTF, in which he’d interviewed MacDonald.

Using dynamic content insertion, he could also introduce the original episode for his audience with this new context, and demonstrate how it holds more meaning for him in hindsight.

When we create a podcast with dynamic content, our show can remain evergreen, even as the context changes.

Give Audiences a Reason to Replay

TED Talks Daily published a “mystery episode” to experiment with dynamic content, using PRX’s Dovetail publishing platform. Although the download numbers for the episode’s first day were typical, the episode’s numbers climbed as audiences returned to hear how the audio had changed. 

“When compared to the eight episodes before and after, ‘The Mystery Episode’ earned 10% more than the average downloads at seven days post-drop and had 7% above average at Day 18.”

Raise the Stakes or Add Humor

Not only can dynamic audio insertion increase engagement, but it can also add meaning. Neutrinowatch, “a generative semi-fictional podcast,” is a particularly interesting case. There are seven episodes, and each episode changes daily. For example, in the episode “Wendy, Watch The Stars,” an AI responds to a crank question. She answers the question and puts the heckler in their place. Depending on when you download the episode, her answers include different phrases and insights. 

Send Your Audience to Your Website or Email List

The ever-popular Welcome to Night Vale wrapped up a storyline about divergent timelines using dynamic audio insertion. In episode 133, Are You Sure?, audiences could hear one of three randomly selected endings. However, if the audience wanted to experience all three episode endings, they can visit the podcast’s website.

What if you could get your audience to sign up for a mailing list in exchange for hearing alternative content for your show?

Experimentation can encourage the audience to interact with your podcast. I still think it’s magic.

Where to Insert Your Dynamic Content?

The terms “pre-roll,” “mid-roll,” and “post-roll” refer to the part of the episode where dynamic content insertion occurs.

A mid-roll insert happens at some point during the main content. It’s the most sought-after spot as it’s least likely to be skipped. But pre-roll is ideal if you’re adding an update or caveat to the intro of an old episode, as Maron did with his Norm MacDonald episode.

Post-roll, on the other hand, is ideal for adding fresh Calls to Actions to old episodes. Here, you’ve delivered the value, and it’s only your most engaged fans who are still listening.

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Give Your Podcast Creative Freedom with Dynamic Content

Dynamic content enables podcasters to adapt easily. Using DAI, you can quickly correct mistakes or misinformation. Your stories can be enhanced for repeat listening and deeper understanding. Your CTAs can always remain relevant and up-to-date.

Dynamic inserts aren’t just for ads. They can also make your back catalog more appealing to potential sponsors. If you’re curious about monetizing, our full guide to podcast sponsorship will help you get started, even if your download numbers are on the modest side.

But how do you convince a journalist to write about your show?

“Hey, I run a podcast on the same subject you cover.” probably isn’t going to cut it. “Local man runs podcast” might have been newsworthy back in 2007, when readers would ask, “Wait, he runs a what!?” But not now.

Pitching your podcast to journalists? Here’s how to avoid wasting their time and your own, while giving yourself a real shot at coverage.

Let’s start with where you’re thinking of pitching.

What Does The Publication Publish?

Feed the tiger what it wants. If your podcast is about fly fishing, you’d pitch your podcast to American Angler, not Vanity Fair. Start with a publication that’s about your podcast’s topic. That’s where your audience is more likely to be looking for information like yours. When you pitch your podcast to a journalist, you’re both working in service of the audience. Make sure their publication’s ideal audience aligns with yours.

How to Package Your Pitch 

In the past, podcasters have sent a link to their podcast in their favorite directory with a message saying, “My show is good, you should write about it,” and nothing else. Why I should launch an investigation into the relevance of their request is beyond me. It certainly doesn’t show me they have something worth promoting.

Your pitch email must include: 

• Why your story is time-sensitive
• Who benefits from it (hopefully, their readers) and how
• The value in your proposal
• What sets your pitch apart from other pitches?

Be brief, specific, and respectful. We’ll examine specifics of how to write a pitch email later in this article. 

Along with the email, a podcast media kit is essential here. Episode transcriptions will help anyone covering your show to find the information they need with minimal effort. Don’t send attachments: email security systems may block them. Instead, link to your files in Google Drive or Dropbox.

Now, let’s proceed to the time-sensitive part.

Pitch Your Podcast to Journalists When They Can Write About It.

Magazines, newspapers, and radio stations plan their content months, sometimes more, ahead of schedule. Then, they release it in a manner suitable for the season.

For example, arts and culture magazines and newspaper sections publish entertainment guides in September, when new theatre and television seasons begin. Planning and writing that guide starts in mid-summer, if not earlier. You need to pitch your podcast to journalists when the timing is right, and that means early.

Do you have an episode about crafting the perfect Halloween costume? If you plan to release that episode in October, then pitch it in June. You can see where this is going. The tiger isn’t always hungry. Feed it when it is.

How Appropriate Is Your Pitch?

If you’ve been podcasting for more than six months, chances are you’ve already gotten at least one inappropriate request. Sometimes, these pitches reveal that the sender has no idea what your podcast is about or how it’s presented. Other inappropriate pitches come via direct messages on social media. 

Remember how awkward and annoying those inappropriate requests feel? 

Journalists get dozens of these random requests every day. But, avoiding an icky faux pas is simple, with advance work. 

When pitching your podcast to a journalist, read some of their articles. What do they write about? Get a sense of their taste and tone. You can tell if your podcast is a good fit for them after reading at least three of their articles. 

Are they a staff writer, or a contributing writer? You may need to recontextualize your pitch for a journalist who has less flexibility, or who writes for multiple magazines.  

Most importantly, what is their preferred method of contact? Typically, their social media profiles will link to a website or a Linktree page, where they provide contact information.

If you pitch your podcast via a social media direct message, you throw a work request into a social platform. It’s like interrupting a stranger at a picnic, telling them to get to work. Instead, pitch your podcast to a journalist through their preferred contact method. They’ll be in a more receptive frame of mind and more likely to accept. 

Feed the tiger, but don’t mess with their habitat.

So, How Do You Write That Pitch?

Ask yourself, what’s newsworthy about your podcast, and why? This fits in with knowing your podcast niche, and who your ideal audience is. What’s unique, and why now? How does it relate to the publication you’re pitching?

Journalists seek out stories about people who take action and change. When someone in your audience tells you that their show helped them to do something, that’s the kind of story seed that journalists want.

Don’t call. Use email. Writers like to read and write. Craft a short email, and read it out loud before you hit “send.”

Introduce yourself in terms of their work.

Open with what you’ve read by the writer you’re pitching, what it meant to you, and why. Not only does this make them feel good, but it also shows you’ve considered why your podcast and this writer are a good fit for each other. For example;

“ Dear [Name], 

I enjoyed your article about [topic] from the [date or month] issue of [publication] magazine. “

Next, describe what’s most memorable from the article, and what the writer’s style and approach meant for you. How does the way they write solve a problem for you?

Now they know why you’re cold-emailing them. Don’t invent this. That’s a sure-fire way to end up in the spam folder.

What, Who, Why, How?

Be specific, and pitch the story. What is it, who is it for, what’s the challenge, and how does it solve a problem? Why is it time-sensitive? 

For example, you can tell them how your podcast has:

• Helped a listener start and sustain their first small business
• Gave a listener the confidence to start weightlifting and win competitions
• Provided educational materials to 500 public school students to create an oral history project

If you can show how your podcast affects your audience, that’s even better. In the examples above, you can link to the social media or website for the business, weightlifter, or school.

What if you haven’t experienced that kind of audience interaction?

Create a newsworthy event. You could:

• Challenge your podcast audience to donate to a particular charity by a certain date
• Host a live podcast recording event at a local pub or community theatre
• Launch a scavenger hunt for your audience, with a new clue in each episode for a set number of weeks and a prize at the end.

Highlight the dates and benefits for their readers, so they know this is time-sensitive and worth their audience’s time.

What if you can’t include audience stories or upcoming events when pitching your podcast to journalists? Show them how podcasting has changed you for the better. For example, explain how:

• Producing a hiking podcast helped you manage your social anxiety disorder
• Interviewing pro pastry chefs helped you save a thousand dollars on your daughter’s wedding
• Researching local history saved a unique building

The more specific, immediate, and transformational your pitch, the more likely journalists will want to write that story.

Show Them How To Learn More at Their Own Pace.

Now, zoom out a bit. Provide them with a brief paragraph on how to learn more about your podcast. Include a link to the website, to the media kit, and tell them how they can listen. For example: 

“[Title of podcast] helps people [solve a problem, and how]. I’d love to share more with you. Here’s a link to our media kit. You can listen to the show through our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.” 

Pick out an episode for them that serves as a simple point of entry. 

“By way of introduction, you might enjoy our episode, [title], about [topic].”

Treat it like a collaboration. We’re all content creators here, right?

Provide your contact information, and let them know that you’d be happy to discuss your pitch further.

Above all, thank them for their time. 

Don’t Let Grass Grow Under Your Pitch.

Follow up a few days or so later to remind them about your pitch. If they say, “not interested, thanks,” don’t push it. Wait until you have another episode that’s closer to their interests. In the meantime, try pitching your podcast to a different journalist. 

It’s Not About You.

Don’t take any rejection personally. The publication’s editor may manage what pitches to accept or reject. Or, maybe a full schedule keeps them from saying yes. It’s possible that your podcast might not be in their area of interest. Try again with a different publication. 

Make It Simple for Journalists To Write About Your Podcast.

Journalists, like podcasters, aim to deliver relevant, useful, timely, and engaging ideas to their audiences. When you pitch your podcast to journalists, make sure the information they need is available. This way, it’s simple to use their creativity to share your podcast with their readers. Both your audience and theirs benefit from a new examination of your podcast’s topic because you’ve laid the groundwork.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket.

There are numerous ways to grow your podcast. Reviews and press aren’t the only way to let people know about your show. Our Podcast Growth Book has lots of strategies and actionable tasks to help you engage your audience and build a community. Plus, the Podcraft Academy has courses and tools to help you with all aspects of making a good podcast or making a good podcast great. Join us!