Podcast guesting glossary
A
- Audio-only podcast
- A podcast published as audio files through an RSS feed, without a video version.
B
- Booker
- The person who schedules guests for a podcast. On larger shows this is a producer or dedicated booker rather than the host.
C
- Cold pitch
- A guest pitch sent to a host who has no prior contact with the guest.
D
- Downloads
- The number of times a podcast episode file is downloaded. Hosts use downloads per episode to describe show size; most shows do not publish the figure.
E
- Episode page
- The web page for one episode, usually with show notes and links to the guest. Guests often ask for a link back to their site here.
- Evergreen episode
- An episode whose content stays relevant for years, so it keeps getting listens long after release.
G
- Guest booking service
- A service that finds podcasts for a guest, pitches the hosts and arranges the recordings.
- Guest pitch
- A short email to a host or booker proposing a guest and the topics they would cover.
H
- Host
- The person who runs and presents a podcast. On most independent shows the host also books guests.
I
- Interview podcast
- A show format built around a conversation with a different guest each episode. It is the format guest pitches target.
O
- One-sheet
- A one-page summary of a guest: bio, topics, past appearances, headshot and contact, sent with a pitch or on request.
P
- Podcast directory
- A searchable index of podcasts, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Podcast Index, built from shows' RSS feeds.
- Podcast guesting
- Appearing as a guest on other people's podcasts to reach their audience, usually for publicity or lead generation.
- Pre-interview
- A short call between the host or producer and a guest before recording, to agree topics and check fit.
- Producer
- The person who handles a podcast's production: recording, editing, scheduling and often guest booking.
R
- Recording link
- The link to the remote studio (Riverside, Zencastr, Zoom) where the guest joins to record.
- Release date
- The date an episode is published. Guest episodes often release weeks or months after recording.
- The XML feed a podcast publishes its episodes through. Podcast apps and directories read it to list new episodes.
S
- Show cluster
- A group of podcasts that share a topic and audience, used to target one set of pitches.
- Show notes
- The text published with an episode: summary, timestamps and links, often including the guest's site.
T
- Topic angle
- The specific subject a guest proposes for an episode, narrower than their general expertise.
V
- Video podcast
- A podcast also published as video, typically on YouTube, alongside the audio feed.