---
name: "podcast_guest_outreach"
description: "Land podcast guest spots end to end: qualify the guest, research target shows, write short host-ready pitches, build a one-sheet media kit, run the follow-up cadence, and turn each appearance into weeks of repurposed content. Use when the user wants to get booked as a podcast guest, needs a pitch email, a one-sheet, or a post-air promotion plan."
---

# Purpose

Podcast guesting works as a pipeline: research -> pitch -> one-sheet -> follow-up -> record -> repurpose. Most people do step 2 and 6 badly and skip the rest. This skill runs the whole pipeline. The core rule of all of it: hosts book guests who bring value to THEIR audience, not guests who need promotion.

# Workflow

## 1. Qualify the guest

Before anything else, pin down:

- The guest's real expertise: 2-3 things they can talk about confidently for an hour, with stories or results to back them.
- The goal of guesting: book sales, consulting leads, audience growth, authority. Goals shape which shows fit and which angles to pitch.
- Existing proof: prior interviews, articles, testimonials, social presence. If there is none, say so; pitching cold still works but the angle has to be sharper.

Do not invent credentials, listener counts, or quotes anywhere in this pipeline. Unverifiable = cut it.

## 2. Find and research target shows

Fit beats size. For each candidate show, verify:

- Audience: who listens, and do they overlap the guest's goal? A 5,000-listener niche show that matches beats a 100,000-listener show that does not.
- Tone and format: interview length, style (rapid-fire vs deep dive), typical question types, publishing schedule. Pitch to the format they actually run.
- Coverage gaps: scan recent episode titles for the topics the guest brings. If they covered it last month, the angle needs to be genuinely different or the show is out.
- Listen before pitching: at least 3-5 episodes, or enough to cite one specific episode by name with a concrete take on it. Hosts can tell when you skimmed.

Deliverable: a shortlist table, one row per show (show, host, why-it-fits, coverage gap, status).

## 3. Write the pitch

Every pitch follows the same tight structure, in `references/pitch-kit.md`:

- Subject line: podcast name + specific topic. Never "Guest pitch" or "Interview request".
- Under 200 words total. Hosts scan.
- Compliment: one sentence referencing a specific episode and a concrete insight from it. Proves you listened.
- Story: 1-3 sentences, what makes the guest's angle unique.
- Value: 2-4 bullet talking points the audience can apply, framed as what listeners walk away with.
- Call to action: ask to be scheduled.
- Link the one-sheet. Never attach the PDF; hosts do not open attachments from strangers.
- No life story, no "sob story", no leading with what the guest wants to promote. Leading with promotion is an instant delete.

## 4. Build the one-sheet media kit

Single page, professional, sent as a link. Required sections:

1. 150-200 word bio focused on credibility and personality.
2. Professional headshot (linked, downloadable high-res).
3. 2-4 topics the guest can speak on, each with 2-3 talking points.
4. ~5 sample interview questions that show expertise, not self-focus ("how I became a coach" style questions go nowhere; hosts ask origin stories on their own).
5. One line of social proof: a prior host testimonial, press mention, or concrete result.
6. Booking contact details: email, website, primary social handle, sample episode link.

Full template and a filled example live in `references/pitch-kit.md`.

## 5. Follow up and track

- Day 0: send the pitch.
- First nudge: 5-7 business days later, one short bump. If no response to the nudge, do not chase further on that email.
- Day 7: brief follow-up adding a new talking point or recent result.
- Day 21: second follow-up offering an alternative topic angle.
- Day 45: move to a "revisit later" list; re-pitch in 3-6 months with a fresh angle.
- Track every pitch: show, host, date pitched, response, next follow-up date, status. Never re-pitch a declined show with the same angle.

## 6. Show up ready

- Bring stories, not just information. Prepare 3-5 short anecdotes that carry the talking points.
- Tech: decent USB mic, headphones, quiet room, wired connection if possible, camera on and lit for video podcasts.
- Bring the one-sheet link again in case the host lost it, plus the free resource or call-to-action for listeners.

## 7. Repurpose the appearance (this is where the ROI lives)

Do the prep BEFORE the episode airs, so assets are ready on drop day:

- Right after recording: request the audio/video file (or get the transcript). Pull 3-5 standout moments while it is fresh.
- Drop day: promote on your own channels and thank/tag the host. Hosts notice guests who act like partners, and hosts talk to each other; this is how one booking turns into five.
- Cut 30-60 second clips with captions for Reels/Shorts/TikTok. Make audiograms (waveform + quote + subtitles, square 1080x1080) for LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook.
- Write a blog post expanding on the key topics with the episode player embedded. Every episode page that links back to the guest's site builds domain authority over time.
- Fold quotes into carousel posts and shareable graphics. Add the episode to an email blast. Keep a running playlist of all guest appearances to share as a resource.
- Stretch the cycle: a disciplined 30-day plan turns one interview into daily LinkedIn posts, short clips, a blog, a checklist or lead magnet, and cross-promotion. Run the full cycle for shows with meaningful reach; run a condensed week-long version for small shows.
- Keep promoting long after launch: resurface strong episodes when the topic hits the news, when related content publishes, or for new followers who missed it. The back catalog is a discovery channel, not an archive.

Full calendar and format checklist in `references/repurposing-playbook.md`.

# Output Contract

| Artifact | Shape | Must pass |
|---|---|---|
| Show shortlist | Table: show, host, fit reason, coverage gap, status | Every show has a cited specific episode; fit tied to guest goal |
| Pitch email | Subject + body, under 200 words, one-sheet link included | Checklist: podcast name in subject, specific episode cited, audience value stated, no attachment, no typos in names |
| One-sheet | One page, 6 required sections | Bio 150-200 words, headshot linked, topics with talking points, questions show expertise, one proof line, contacts + sample episode |
| Follow-up tracker | Table: show, host, pitched, response, next touch, status | No show re-pitched with the same angle; cadence 7/21/45 observed |
| Repurposing plan | 30-day or 1-week calendar of assets | Clips, audiogram, blog, email, carousel minimum; drop-day assets prepped before air |

# Operating Rules

1. **Accuracy first.** Never invent listener counts, chart rankings, testimonials, press mentions, or episode titles. Verify every show-specific claim from a primary source (show website, episode feed, platform listing). Unverifiable = cut it or frame it as your opinion.
2. Value-led pitching always. The pitch sells what the listener gains, not what the guest wants to promote.
3. Personalization is mandatory: a pitch without a cited specific episode is a rejected pitch. Do not ship it.
4. No em dashes in any generated copy. Use commas, periods, colons, or split sentences.
5. No ChatGPT-speak: no "delve", "tapestry", "in today's fast-paced world", no "it's not X, it's Y" pivots, no "moreover/furthermore", no "game-changer", "unlock", "elevate", no stacked triple adjectives, no rhetorical-question-then-answer setups.
6. The repurposing plan starts before the episode airs. Never let launch day arrive with nothing ready.
7. Keep SKILL.md tight; put long templates and examples in `references/`.