Finding and Booking Great Guests

Here’s something that surprised me when researching this topic: most people overthink finding guests. They assume experts are too busy, too important, or too hard to reach.

The reality is different. Plenty of smart people in your niche want to talk about their work. Your job is to find them and make saying yes easy.

Let me walk you through seven ways to build a steady pipeline of guests.

1. Search Your Niche in Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Type your topic into the search bar and see what comes up. Pay attention to two groups: the hosts (they might be great guests for you) and the repeat guests. If someone shows up on three different shows in your space, they probably give good interviews and understand the format.

Make a list. Note which episodes performed well based on reviews or engagement.

2. Look at Who Your Ideal Clients Follow

Think about your course students. Who do they pay attention to? Check social media profiles of people in your target audience. Who are they sharing, retweeting, or commenting on? Those people are aligned with what your audience wants to hear.

3. Mine LinkedIn

Search for your topic plus words like “speaker,” “author,” or “consultant.” Filter by posts or articles to see who’s actively sharing ideas. Active posters often make better guests because they’re comfortable articulating their thoughts publicly.

4. Check Podcast Directories

Tools like Listen Notes and Podchaser let you search episodes by topic across thousands of shows. You can find people who’ve been interviewed about specific subtopics within your niche. If someone just did a great interview on a related show, they might be open to another conversation with a different angle.

5. Ask Your Audience

This one’s simple and effective. Post in your community, email your list, or ask at the end of an episode: “Who should I interview next?” You get ideas, and you make listeners feel like they’re shaping the show. Sometimes they’ll even make an introduction.

6. Find Book Authors in Your Space

Authors have a built-in reason to say yes: they’re promoting a book. A 30-minute podcast interview is one of the easiest forms of exposure they can get. Check recent releases in your niche on Amazon.

7. Check Virtual Event Speakers

Who’s presenting at the conferences and summits your audience attends? Speakers are already positioned as experts. They’re used to talking about their topic. And if they just spoke at an event, they have fresh material.

Why Guests Say Yes More Than You Think

When I was a dean, I saw this dynamic with guest speakers in classes. Faculty worried about imposing on busy professionals. But most experts actually want opportunities to share what they know.

• Podcasters need content. You’re offering them a platform, not asking for a favor.
• Most experts want exposure. A 30-minute interview is low-effort visibility.
• The reciprocal effect. When the episode goes live, your guest shares it with their audience. You both win.

The Outreach Template

Keep it short, specific, and personal:

Hi [Name],

Loved your [specific piece of work — article, talk, post about X]. I run a podcast for [your specific audience] and would love to have you on to discuss [proposed topic 1] or [proposed topic 2].

We’d promote the episode to our audience of [size] listeners and you’d have a chance to share anything you’re working on at the end.

I have availability on [date/time] or [date/time] — let me know if either works.

That’s it. Under 100 words. Personal opener, specific topics, two time options.

The Follow-Up Sequence

People miss emails. Have a system:

• Day 3: A gentle reminder. Reply to your original email so they have context. One sentence.
• Day 7: Final follow-up. “No worries if the timing isn’t right. I’ll circle back in a few months.”
• After that: Move on. Don’t be a pest. You can reach out again in 3-6 months with a different angle.

Tracking Your Pipeline

Use a simple spreadsheet. Track:

Column	What to Track
Name	Guest name
Email	Contact info
Proposed topic(s)	What you pitched
Status	Pitched / Scheduled / Recorded / Published
Follow-up date	When to follow up

Build this system once, and you’ll never scramble to find a guest again.