TL;DR: Podcasts are a powerful way for founders and industry leaders to share their stories, build credibility, and connect with engaged audiences. But landing an interview takes more than a great story. It starts with identifying podcasts that align with your expertise and target audience, crafting compelling pitches around timely and relevant topics, and maintaining consistent outreach and thoughtful follow-ups. Once booked, preparation is key. Treat screening calls seriously and refine your talking points to ensure your audio and video setup is ready. After your interview, make the most of the opportunity by sharing the episode, engaging with the host's content, and amplifying your appearance across your marketing channels.
In 2026, more than half of Americans listen to podcasts every month.
At TaleSplash, we’re big fans of podcasts. And for good reason.
Podcasts go far beyond a quick soundbite or headline. They create space for meaningful, intimate conversations, allowing founders to connect with their audience on a personal level.
For example, startup founders can share their founder story, the inspiration behind their mission, and how they uncovered a solution to their customers’ most pressing needs. This kind of storytelling humanizes their brands and invites listeners to be part of their journey.
Another benefit of being a guest on a podcast is the ability to reach your target audience in an intentional way. Many podcasters cater to niche communities, giving you access to engaged listeners who are interested in your industry topic.
That’s what’s really compelling about podcasts and what sets them apart from simply recording yourself on video. When someone else invites you on their show, they’re signaling trust in your perspective and sharing your expertise with their audience. That external validation has a powerful effect. When people see you being interviewed by someone else, it elevates how they perceive you.
Practicing What We Preach at TaleSplash
We like to say we drink our own champagne. We’ve secured more than a dozen of podcast interviews for Amy Jackson, founder and CEO of TaleSplash.
We Plan. We Pitch. We Persist.
Journalists and podcasts hosts rarely respond to the first pitch. They often need to hear from you more than once before engaging, and when they do respond, it’s usually because your story is timely and relevant to what’s happening in the news cycle.
Some podcast hosts have guest queues that stretch over a year, which is why we take a proactive, consistent approach to outreach on behalf of our clients. Regular communication builds familiarity and trust. The more producers hear from our PR team, the more likely they are to recognize our clients as valuable guests when the right opportunity arises.
So You’ve Been Booked On a Podcast, Now What?
What really shapes your guest appearance on a podcast is everything that happens after you’ve been booked.
In many cases, the first step is a brief screening call—a quick “get to know you” conversation. The host or producer will share their initial thoughts on your pitch, and together you’ll talk through ideas to shape a topic that fits both your expertise and their audience.
Sometimes they’ll take the angle you pitched, and other times they’ll want to talk through it and refine it with you.
I’ve seen screening calls where the host shares the topics their show is currently focused on and asks whether any align with my expertise. We’ll talk it through, and sometimes the takeaway is that I can reconnect if I think of an idea that better fits their direction. This is a common way these early conversations unfold.
Other times, the call is simply an invitation to share more about yourself, which is great practice for the actual interview. Even though listeners only hear the edited final version, most podcast conversations begin with a brief introduction about who you are and how you got into your line of work.
Or sometimes the host just wants to hear your story.
Treat the Screening Call Like the Real Thing
It's important to treat even the initial prep or screening call as practice—almost like you’re already on the live episode. Be ready to talk about yourself.
It can feel a little awkward, because most of us aren’t used to talking about our own journey, but that’s exactly why you’re there. And it’s what makes podcasts so compelling: listeners get to truly know the person behind the expertise.
So give yourself some grace. Your story is interesting, and people do want to hear from you. Lean into that. Share stories as you answer questions, and think about anything during the screening call that might help you feel more comfortable and grounded as a guest.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. For example:
What do you look for in a great guest?
What makes a strong conversation on your show?
What do your listeners typically respond well to?
Getting that real-time feedback can help you shape your approach before the actual recording.
You’ll also want to confirm whether the episode will be recorded on video. The host will naturally be paying attention to your lighting, background, and audio quality during that prep or screening call. They’re looking to make sure everything will translate well on camera.
Because of that, try to set yourself up the same way you would for the actual interview. You don’t want to be calling in from your car for this one. Creating that consistent environment helps you show up polished and prepared.
And all of this is simply part of the overall prep process of becoming a podcast guest.
Get Your Podcast Setup Ready
Consider your:
Lighting
Audio quality (invest in a good mic)
Internet connection
Background
Small details make a meaningful difference.
Having your setup ready before the prep or screening call also gives you time to practice and troubleshoot. Many shows use platforms like Riverside.fm, where they’ll send a link to join the recording room. Others use Zoom and edit afterward.
Whatever the setup, being prepared ensures you show up confident and ready.
I've done a handful of podcast interviews that were audio-only, but the majority these days are recorded on video as well. Some hosts work out of a studio, but most interviews are virtual, so there are all kinds of setups you might encounter.
Plan for the Recording Environment
When it’s time to record the actual episode, you’ll want to do your best to have a quiet space. I’ve had moments where I needed noise-canceling headphones because my kids were home from school—and that’s just real life. Everyone has dogs, families, doorbells, neighbors, or noise outside. It’s completely normal. The goal is simply to prepare for whatever scenario might come up so you can show up with the best sound and video possible.
And once you’re recording, the most important thing is to just be yourself. They booked you for a reason, so trust that and show up as you.
They invited you on because they found you interesting and believed your perspective would be valuable for their listeners. So try to relax and be yourself—it’s truly just a conversation. That’s what makes podcasts so engaging: listeners feel like they’re sitting in on a real, human exchange and getting to know the people behind the voices.
And just like in media interviews, many podcasts end with a question such as, “Is there anything else you’d like to share with our listeners?” or “Where can people find you?” Be prepared for that final moment.
Think ahead about any key message you didn’t have the chance to fully cover, or anything essential you want listeners to walk away with. Also be ready to share where people can find you—your website, social channels, or any links relevant to your work.
What to Expect After You’ve Been Featured on a Podcast
There’s something really interesting that happens when people see a video of you on LinkedIn, Instagram, or another platform being interviewed by a host. It creates an instant shift in perception that clicks for them: This person is an expert. Someone is asking them thoughtful questions about what they do, which signals authority and makes others more likely to pay attention and listen.
You’ll often receive a graphic or video you can share on your own social channels, and in most cases, the podcast will do the same as they work to grow their audience. That means you benefit from promotion across both your channels and the podcast’s social platforms.
We’ve even seen cases where a podcast promotes an episode multiple times in a single week. Usually, they move on once the next episode is published, but sometimes they’ll reshare older episodes as well.
Be sure to engage with their posts, as they’ll often engage with yours as well. Always tag the podcast when you’re posting about the episode so you both benefit from the amplification.
