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Signup on PodzayFinding the right guests can make or break an interview podcast. A great guest brings fresh perspectives, pulls in new listeners, and gives your episode the kind of shareability that algorithms reward. A mediocre guest, on the other hand, leads to a flat conversation that even your most loyal subscribers might skip.
Yet for most podcasters, especially those in the early or growth stages, guest sourcing remains one of the most frustrating parts of running a show. Cold emails go unanswered. Social media DMs feel awkward. And scrolling through directories for hours isn’t exactly a productive use of your afternoon.
The good news? The podcasting ecosystem in 2026 has matured significantly. With over 619 million podcast listeners worldwide and the industry pushing past $17 billion in projected revenue, there’s never been more incentive for experts, authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to appear on podcasts. The supply of willing guests has never been higher, you just need to know where to look.
This guide walks you through 10 proven strategies for finding high-quality podcast guests, whether you’re launching your first season or trying to level up an established show.
The most efficient way to find guests in 2026 is through platforms specifically built to connect hosts with guests. Rather than sending cold pitches into the void, these platforms use intelligent matching algorithms to pair you with guests who align with your niche, audience size, and content style.
Podzay is one of the leading platforms in this space. It uses AI-powered discovery to match podcasters with verified guests based on specific topics and preferences. Every profile on Podzay is verified, which eliminates the guesswork of figuring out whether a potential guest is actually credible and committed. The platform also includes built-in scheduling tools, direct messaging with templates, and match analytics so you can see compatibility scores before reaching out.
The biggest advantage of using a matching platform over manual outreach is time. What used to take days of research and dozens of emails can now happen in minutes. You create your host profile, specify your niche and episode topics, and the platform surfaces relevant guests for you to review and book.
If you want to understand how AI is reshaping this entire process, Podzay’s in-depth guide on AI-powered podcast guest matching is worth reading.
Before you start searching externally, look at who you already know. Your personal and professional network is one of the most underutilized guest sources available to podcasters. Colleagues, former classmates, clients, mentors, and even friends of friends often have expertise and stories that your audience would find valuable.
The advantage here is that you already have a relationship, which means there’s built-in chemistry and trust. These conversations tend to feel more natural and engaging, which translates directly into better episodes. Additionally, when you interview someone from your own network, they’re far more likely to promote the episode to their own audience because they have a personal connection to you and your show.
Start by making a list of 20 people you know who have interesting knowledge or experience related to your podcast’s theme. You might be surprised at how many “easy yes” guests are already in your contact list.
One of the smartest research tactics is to listen to podcasts that cover similar topics and pay attention to their guests. If someone has appeared on a competing show, they’re clearly open to podcast interviews and already understand the format.
The key is to not simply replicate the same conversation. Listen to what questions were asked and, more importantly, what wasn’t covered. When you pitch that guest for your own show, reference their previous appearance and propose a fresh angle. Something like: “I heard your episode on [show name] about productivity systems, and I’d love to explore the emotional side of burnout with you, something I noticed wasn’t covered in that conversation.”
This approach signals that you’ve done your homework, which dramatically increases your booking rate. It also ensures your episode offers unique value to listeners rather than being a carbon copy of something that already exists.
Social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, are goldmines for discovering potential podcast guests. The difference between aimless scrolling and strategic sourcing comes down to intent.
On LinkedIn, search for people who regularly publish thought leadership content in your niche. Look for authors of popular posts, newsletter writers, and professionals who engage actively in comments. These individuals are already comfortable sharing their ideas publicly, which often makes them natural podcast guests.
On X, follow hashtags like #podcastguest, #podcastinterview, and #BeAGuestOnMyPodcast. Many experts actively use these hashtags to signal that they’re looking for interview opportunities. Instagram works similarly, look for creators in your niche who post educational Reels or carousel content, as they often welcome cross-platform exposure.
When you reach out, personalize every message. Reference a specific post or idea they shared and explain why it would resonate with your audience. Generic “would you like to be on my podcast?” messages rarely get responses.
Authors who are about to release or have recently released a book are among the easiest guests to book. They’re actively seeking promotional opportunities and are highly motivated to appear on as many relevant podcasts as possible during their launch window.
Monitor platforms like Amazon’s new releases, Goodreads, and publisher announcement pages for upcoming titles in your niche. Then reach out to the author (usually through their website, literary agent, or publicist) with a pitch that explains how your audience aligns with their target readership.
This strategy works especially well because authors come prepared. They have talking points, stories, and a clear message they want to share. The resulting episodes tend to be polished, informative, and deeply engaging.
Whether virtual or in-person, industry conferences remain one of the best environments for building relationships that lead to podcast bookings. Speakers, panelists, and even attendees at niche conferences are often experts who would make excellent guests.
The approach here is relationship-first. Don’t lead with the podcast pitch. Instead, have genuine conversations, exchange contact information, and follow up afterward with a personalized invitation. This method has a much higher conversion rate than cold outreach because the guest already knows who you are and has a positive association with you.
If travel isn’t practical, virtual summits and webinars offer the same opportunity. Pay attention to who’s speaking on topics that overlap with your show, and reach out after the event.
Sometimes the best strategy is to let guests come to you. A dedicated “Be a Guest” or “Appear on Our Show” page on your podcast website acts as a passive guest acquisition channel that works around the clock.
Your page should include your podcast’s mission and audience demographics, the types of topics you cover, what guests can expect from the experience (format, episode length, promotion), a simple application form or contact method, and any relevant statistics like download numbers or notable past guests.
This page also serves as a credibility signal. When you pitch a guest via email or social media, you can link to it as proof that your show is professional and organized. For tips on how to build your podcast brand to attract higher-caliber guests, check out Podzay’s guide on building a podcast brand from scratch.
Niche-specific Facebook Groups and subreddits like r/podcasting are active communities where both hosts and potential guests congregate. Many of these groups have dedicated threads or posting days for guest pitches and booking requests.
The etiquette in these communities is important. Don’t spam your booking request across a dozen groups. Instead, participate authentically, answer questions, share advice, and build a reputation first. When you do post looking for guests, be specific about the topic, audience, and what you’re looking for. Vague posts like “looking for guests for my podcast” get ignored, while specific posts like “seeking a fintech founder to discuss embedded banking for a 5K-download business podcast” attract serious responses.
Every guest you book is a potential gateway to your next five guests. At the end of each interview, ask your guest: “Is there anyone you think would be a great fit for this show?” People who have just had a positive experience on your podcast are naturally inclined to recommend others.
This creates a referral flywheel where each episode generates new leads for future episodes. Over time, you’ll find that a significant percentage of your best guests come through these warm introductions rather than cold outreach.
You can also formalize this by sending a brief follow-up email after the episode airs, thanking the guest, sharing download numbers, and asking for one or two referrals. Most guests are happy to help, especially when you’ve given them a great platform.
Your existing audience is deeply invested in the content you create, and they often have strong opinions about who they’d like to hear from. Create opportunities for them to suggest guests through polls on social media, Q&A stickers on Instagram Stories, or a dedicated suggestion form on your website.
This approach has a double benefit: it gives you guest ideas that are genuinely aligned with what your listeners want, and it increases audience engagement and loyalty because they feel heard. When a listener’s suggested guest actually appears on the show, that listener becomes one of your biggest advocates.
The most successful podcasters don’t rely on a single guest-sourcing strategy. They combine passive channels (like a “Be a Guest” page and platform profiles) with active outreach (social media research, conference networking, and referral requests) to maintain a consistent pipeline of high-quality guests.
If you’re looking to accelerate this process, starting with Podzay’s free platform is one of the most efficient first steps you can take. It handles the matching, verification, and scheduling so you can focus on what actually matters, having conversations that your audience will love.
For more tips on overcoming common obstacles as a podcast creator, explore Podzay’s article on podcaster challenges and how to fix them. And if you’re still in the early stages of your podcasting journey, their practical guide on what to know before starting a podcast covers everything from equipment to content planning.
The guests are out there. Your next great conversation is waiting. Now go find it.
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