Over the past few weeks, my inbox has been full of a very specific kind of client message:
“I just got booked on a top 1% podcast.”
“Another yes — this one is top 0.5% globally.”
These aren’t “any exposure is good exposure” shows. These are top podcasts with deep trust, loyal audiences, and strong editorial standards. As someone whose own podcast, Fame-Ready, currently sits in the top 10% globally, I know exactly how competitive these placements are — and how intentional your strategy needs to be.
And here’s the part most people get wrong: Top podcasts aren’t secured through mass pitching. It’s not “spray and pray”. They’re earned through relationship-based PR, thoughtful positioning, and pitches that actually sound human.
So, let’s dive into the framework my clients use to land high-authority shows, the same one behind every “top podcast” screenshot in my inbox.
Step 1: Get Honest About Your Stage
One of the biggest visibility mistakes founders make is trying to skip stages. There’s a difference between:
- Someone brand new who needs reps, messaging practice, and experience
- Someone established who is ready for bigger, strategic placements
If you’re early in your journey, you may need a “volume season”: smaller, aligned shows to strengthen your voice and refine your talking points. This is exactly what I did in my first year as a personal-brand-based business, I was building a muscle.
But once you have:
- A solid platform
- A clear offer
- A core audience
- A validated message
…your strategy must shift. You don’t need more podcasts, you need the right podcasts. So before pitching, ask yourself: Do I need volume or strategy?
Step 2: Treat Podcast Research Like an Actual Job (Because It Is)
Most pitches fail before they’re sent because no one did the homework. For every client I work with, we build a curated list of shows based on:
What Actually Matters:
- Global ranking (ListenNotes is a great starting point)
- Audience alignment (are your future clients listening?)
- Topic fit (does your expertise expand their existing themes?)
My client who recently landed both a top 1% and 0.5% show only pitched podcasts sitting in that tier and speaking directly to the women she serves in the wellness space. No random business podcasts. No “we’ll talk about anything” shows.
Then comes the step most people avoid: listening. Not one episode, but several. Hosts can spot a copy-and-paste pitch instantly. This deeper listening is what allows you to anchor your pitch in something real. This is where your best angles come from, because instead of “Loved your episode on burnout, I talk about burnout too,” you end up with something more like:
“I listened to your conversation with X about burnout and boundaries. There was a moment where she said Y — and I’d love to expand that with Z from my work with [specific audience].”
That’s relationship-building. That’s what gets you booked.
Step 3: Write Fewer, Better Pitches
This is where people get impatient. Top podcasts don’t respond to templates and volume. They respond to relevance and resonance.
A strong pitch includes:
- Clear understanding of their show DNA and audience
- A specific episode idea (or two) tied to their existing content
- Your unique POV — not just your résumé
In my client’s case, she wasn’t positioning herself as “another expert in wellness.” She had a well-defined point of view, real examples, and clear angles that were built off the host’s own topics.
Here’s another important pieve: we pair the email pitch with a short, human follow-up on social media. My clients send a warm, 30-second voice note on social 24–48 hours after emailing:
“Hey [Name], I just sent a email your way with a potential episode idea. I’ve been really enjoying your conversations around [topic] and had some thoughts on how we could expand that. No pressure at all, just wanted to put a voice to the name and let you know I’m here if it’s a fit.”
It’s simple. It’s human. And it dramatically increases the likelihood your pitch gets opened.
Step 4: Follow Up Professionally
“Just circling back on my last email!” is not a follow-up strategy. If we don’t hear back within seven days, we send something fresh:
- A new angle
- A timely hook
- A relevant case study
- A thought on why this topic matters now
A “not right now” isn’t a no or a closed door. We create ourselves a reminder in our calendar, and come back in January or February when the host is planning their next season.
Step 5: Respect the Seasonality of Podcasting
Timing matters more than most people realize. Especially at year-end, some hosts are closing down, while others suddenly have space to read pitches.
For my client, this resulted in:
- Several “we’re booked through 2025, reach out in the new year” replies
- A handful of soft no’s
- And multiple big yeses
Every response gives you useful data. What doesn’t help is talking yourself out of pitching altogether.
The Bottom Line
Top podcast bookings aren’t about having the right connections or hiring a big agency. They go to the founders who:
- Know their stage
- Understand the rooms they’re pitching
- Communicate like humans
- Follow through after the first no
If podcast guesting is part of your visibility strategy for 2026, this is the level of intention required.
Ready to Pitch Like a Publicist?
If you’re thinking, “Okay, but what do I actually say in the pitch?” — that’s exactly why I created The Pitch Kit.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
- Turn your expertise into clear, compelling episode angles
- Write pitches that sound human — not templated
- Follow up confidently
- Land interviews you’re proud to share
If you want deeper visibility support, messaging refinement, and a partner in landing high-impact press that grows your brand…
→ Explore my PR & Visibility Coaching Programs
These two resources will help you move from “thinking about pitching yourself” to actually stacking high-quality podcast features that build your authority.
