Last year, I attended Podcast Summit, and it completely upleveled me. I walked away with strategies, major clarity, and connections that helped me grow faster and smarter. I even got to guest on a fellow podcaster’s show, whom I met at Podcast Summit.

If you’re serious about launching, monetizing, or scaling your podcast, you need to be in the room. This year, I’m attending, and I'd love to see some of you there.

Grab your ticket today. Let’s grow together. I’ll see you at Podcast Summit!

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You finally landed the podcast interview. Go you!

The mic is on. The host hits record.

…and you blow it.

Not because you’re not brilliant. But because no one told you what not to do.

Let’s fix that so you can zoom through your next podcast interview feature with confidence.

I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count, both on my show and behind the scenes of some of my client’s podcasts.

Someone with a ton of value to add shows up and completely misses the moment.

They ramble. They self-promote too early. They don’t tailor their story to the audience.

And what could’ve been a career-defining, lead-generating conversation? Turns into a forgettable 35 minutes of filler and words no one cares about.

Podcast guesting isn’t just PR. It’s an effective strategy that can be the difference between you gaining new clients or losing audiences that would otherwise be interested in you.

Done right, podcast guesting opens doors, builds trust, and drives results even from a small audience.

But only if you treat it like a craft.

Let’s break down the biggest mistakes holding podcast guests back and what to do instead.

The Top 5 Mistakes Podcast Guests Make

❌ Mistake #1: Treating It Like a TED Talk

You’re not here to deliver a perfectly rehearsed speech. You’re here to connect with that podcast’s audience.

If your answers sound like they were copied and pasted from your media kit or run-of-the-mill press run when you launched your latest product, people will tune out fast.

Podcasts are intended to be informational and conversational by nature. That means:

• You should sound human, not scripted.

• You should respond to the host, not just your agenda.

• You should be willing to pivot and share unscripted insights.

📌 Fix: Show up with a clear story arc that connects, not a monologue. Anchor your points with personal experience and leave space for real dialogue.

❌ Mistake #2: Not Researching the Show or the Host

This one’s a dealbreaker.

If you don’t know the host’s name, style, or target audience, you’ve already lost credibility.

Too many guests show up blind, drop generic talking points, and miss the chance to tailor their brilliance to the right people.

📌 Fix: Spend 30-60 minutes doing your research and homework on the show:

• Listen to one to two full episodes at a minimum

• Understand who their audience is and what they offer

• Learn the tone and rhythm of the hosts

Pro Tip: Reference one thing you liked about a past episode that connects with what you’re speaking about as naturally as you can. It shows respect and creates instant rapport.

❌ Mistake #3: Over-Promoting Too Soon

Here’s a truth most guests forget: You have to earn the right to pitch.

Jumping into your offer, freebie, or funnel in the first 10 minutes feels pushy and self-centered. Plus, it also turns listeners off. Many don’t want to be sold to at all so don’t do it within the first 10 minutes of an episode.

You’re not there to sell. You’re there to serve first.

An easy way to sell without selling is to refer to something you currently offer and inform the audience that you speak about or teach on XYZ topic in whatever you sell. If what you are sharing is interesting enough, the audience may want to buy and will remember the reference after the episode is completed.

📌 Fix: Focus on giving value early and often throughout the episode. People listen to podcasts to be informed, inspired, entertained, or educated. Make certain you are doing one or multiple of those four things.

If the host allows a CTA at the end, keep it simple, relevant, and directly tied to what you just taught.

Your goal is to leave the audience thinking, “That was so good. Where can I learn more.”

❌ Mistake #4: Telling the Same Story the Same Way Every Time

Your story matters but not if it sounds like you’re reading from a cue card.

Too many guests tell their “origin story” the exact same way with the same analogies, examples, and even pause breaks, on every show, regardless of the audience. It gets stale fast. This is especially true if you’re going on multiple podcasts in the same industry on a podcast run or tour.

📌 Fix: Adapt your story to fit the episode theme and the host’s angle.

Your journey can be universal but the framing should be specific.

Ask yourself: How can I tell this part of my story in a way that feels fresh, relevant, and aligned with this host’s audience?

❌ Mistake #5: Not Having a Post-Interview Plan

Your value doesn’t stop when the mic turns off but many guests act like the job is done once the interview ends.

They never share the episode on their channels.

They ghost the host.

They don’t respond to comments or DMs referencing their episode.

They miss the opportunity to nurture listeners who have just discovered them.

📌 Fix: Have a simple post-show strategy:

• Promote the episode on your social channels, website, podcast, and wherever you speak to your audience

• Thank the host publicly (and privately) and don’t forget to tag them

• Create a way for new listeners to continue the journey with you whether that is through a freebie, an email list, a membership community, or an event.

Want to be the kind of guest people talk about long after the episode drops?

The kind that makes hosts say: “That was amazing. I want to have you back.”

Well, let’s make it happen.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start guesting strategically, I’ve got something special:

The Mic Drop Guest Accelerator

This is our 1:1 done-with-you experience where we:

• Clarify your core story + message

• Build your podcast guest pitch from scratch

• Walk you through exactly how to show up and shine on air

• Give you a detailed post-podcast interview promotion plan

• 30 Days of 1:1 Slack support

• BONUS: We guarantee placement on 3 high-quality, aligned podcasts for the first 10 people who reply

No spam pitching. No irrelevant shows. No fluff.

Just strategy, story, and visibility that connects.

If you’re ready to become the guest that podcast hosts brag about and you desire hands-on support, plus guaranteed podcast placements to get you started, reply to this email with the words GUEST ACCELERATOR or connect with me on LinkedIn and message me the words GUEST ACCELERATOR.

Let’s make your voice the one people want to hear.

—Danni

P.S. Been a guest on a podcast recently? Drop the link in the Mic Drop Circle free Facebook community and let’s hype you up and show it some love!

P.S. If you haven’t done so already, grab my step-by-step guide: From 0 to 50K Downloads: A 10-Step Actionable Guide to Put Your Podcast on the Path to Explosive Growth, it’s your blueprint to building a podcast that doesn’t just get you popular, but paid.