041 Do You Even Need Podcast Guests? 🤷
Explore whether bringing guests onto your new or existing podcast is even necessary and how to confidently find the right ones for your show.
Ideas Discussed This Episode + Episode Timecodes:
00:00 - Starting with the big question: Do you need podcast guests?
01:14 - Different styles of solo vs guest-driven podcasts.
02:42 - Tips for approaching and inviting potential guests.
03:30 - Managing expectations, scheduling, and guest research.
04:40 - Creative alternatives to traditional guest interviews.
06:01 - Wrap-up and encouragement to choose what fits you best.
Do You Even Need Podcast Guests? 🤷
Guests can add just a touch of sparkle to your podcast ✨ but they’re not always essential as gurus may portray. VIC Podcasters lays out when to seek them, how to approach them, and what to consider if you’d rather go solo.
Podcast guests can offer credibility, fresh perspectives, and broaden your reach buuuuuut they're not the only golden path to a powerful show. Whether you’re riding solo or opening your mic to others, the decision should align with your message, audience, and energy. 😉
Bringing on a guest requires a lot thoughtful planning. Ask anyone podcaster in Vic Podcasters who does that on the regular. Planning can include reaching out to guests to setting expectations, preparation is the key. Think of it less like booking a celeb and more like inviting someone to co-create value for BOTH of your fans. 🪭 You’re doing it together to serve your audience as a whole.
📚 Episodes You’ll Love:
⭐ 035 Got a Podcast Idea? Pitch! Please! VIC Podcasters members to pitch themselves or their show ideas as future guests, highlighting the guest-driven future direction of the podcast.
🎙️ 028 Why Podcasting Alone Sucks
This earlier mini‑episode explores the power of collaboration and why inviting guests or co-hosts, is an essential move away from solo show fatigue.
🎧 004 How do I choose a topic for my podcast?
framework for selecting sustainable, audience‑centric podcast topics and suggests bringing in expert guests to enrich your content and keep things fresh.
If guest bookings stress you out, there are clever ways to work around it. Which we mention in the podcast. You can try repurposing past interviews (if you have any), hosting panel-style episodes (where you host and don’t talk), or use voice memos from your commmunity (so you can ‘talk’ to a recording instead of a person). The magic lies in showing up consistently with content that reflects your voice. Want help finding your style or crafting confident guest pitches? I (Zoë Wood of the Video Confidence Coach) can help with that. Get in touch via vcc.training (which you’re on right now!).
TIME FOR A QUICK QUIZ 🤓
What’s one benefit of having podcast guests?
A) More editing work
B) Expanded audience reach
C) Less show control
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Answer: B) Expanded audience reach - Growing your audience is always the key, it takes time but is worth it 🧡
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[00:00:00:00 - 00:00:05:22]
Do you even need podcast guests, bro? Do you even live bro? Do you? Do you?
[00:00:12:18 - 00:00:37:00]
You're listening to the Vic Podcasters podcast, your bite-sized slice of podcasting know-how. We're here to connect Victorian Podcasters, whether you're just starting season pro or stuck in the one day I will phase. Stop dreaming and dive in. Join our email list or hop onto our Facebook and LinkedIn groups for updates, resources, and a supportive community, because podcasting is better when we do it together. Vic Podcasters is proudly produced on Watarung land.
[00:00:41:01 - 00:06:56:02]
Apologies for that, um, Jim rat expression. It went a lot better in my head, so calm down, calm down. So, so first of all, in this series about podcast guesting, we, this is episode one of three, where we're going to be talking all about guesting for podcasts. Uh, we're going to first off by addressing, does your podcast even need guests? Because I know that is a little bit of a, I'd say trigger for most people who are starting their podcast or even people who are thinking about pivoting to guests because in their minds, it might be easier. I'll tell you how that is if you're right or if you're wrong. Episode two will be where to find great guests and episode three will be how to be a good guest host as well as an interviewer. Of course, onto today's episode, which will be about, do you even live bro? Do you even need guests at all? When it comes to podcasting, especially when you were starting out or even if you are someone who was starting a new podcast after starting a fair few, or maybe even have a few currently running like myself, the question on everyone's lips is do I need podcast guests or can I ride solo? And that question is something that does not have a one-size-fits-all answer because it depends on three factors, your goals for your podcast and for your community, your style of presenting. And third of all, and this one, the big one for me, your energy levels. Yes, because when you go beyond managing just yourself, it's a lot of energy surprisingly. So, but first of all, let me get to the pros first before I shoot down my own arguments here. When it comes to going solo, for example, a lot of my podcasts are solo personally because I like to have that control of being able to not have to wait around for others. Ultimately, when it comes to podcasting, you are the star. There is no scheduled dramas because it's just you. There's ultimately faster turnaround times, less editing and less email tag or chasey because you are just working with you. And even if you are working with a small team, if you're able to record, batch and get that content out there for say an editor or maybe a producer to help you along the way, the point is that you don't like ultimately you are just working on that. You don't need to wait around for things to happen because at the end of the day, it is you. Just pausing your podcasting experience to let you know that I run a business called the video confidence coach, which emboldens women and non-binary superstars with killer video marketing strategies, empowering them to show up, stand out and smash their goals. If this sounds like you, reach out to me in the show notes below. And finally, you control the message. You can stay on brand and you stay on time because again, it is just you. And as you can imagine with me, this is Zoe, the video confidence coach here. Oh, my shtick is entirely personal branding. And it helps to be able to control your personal branding when you have control over the message. Let's talk about the pros of having guests instead. When it comes to guests, alternatively from Growing Solo, is you have fresh voices. It brings a variety of new angles, new stories and a variety. Now, these guests can be for multiple episode stints or just one off interview style opportunities or people have recurring guest spots within your podcast. So it's not just a one off thing. It's something that they can keep coming back and do. There's plenty of options for you. Ultimately, when you have guests, you have shared audiences because of course you both have your own personal brands and your own communities of what you're both passionate about. So you're able to promote each other and honestly get more community and get more ears listening and hopefully eyeballs watching a podcast. And when you collaborate and have guests on your podcast, you do get instant credibility, especially if they're known in your niche already or have a priest established mojo about them, I should say that you're able to use that credibility to then spread that to you. Of course, you need to make sure that you hold your end of the bargain and are consistent with that work and make sure that you're actually there for them. So here are some things to consider. Ultimately, thinking about your goals and your podcast, what is your format? Are guests adding value or are they adding clutter to your vision or how you perceive your podcast going? And ultimately, are you guest ready? Are you ready for the technological difficulties and also the tech that is required from hosting a guest? The flow, do you have any practice with interviewing or it's not just chatting with your friends at the pub, it's like actively do you have any experience with that? And if not, can you learn how to get that flow to start guesting with those podcasts? Do you have the confidence to be solid enough to have guests on your podcasts? Now, I'm not saying this to scare you at all. There are no rules here when it comes to podcasting because you are doing it. No one's stopping you. So, but if you are still a little bit unsure or you need a little bit of guidance, make sure to download our Pitch Perfect guest email template pack in the show notes and in the description. This is something that I've provided to plenty of my clients, but also plenty of people within the Vic Podcasting community to help them just have an idea of what they need to say all the way from cold to warm to hot ways of dealing with guests and getting them on their podcasts. And also helps you with pitching everything, of course. There are no rules. So, you're a label to mix it up. You can have a hybrid of shows and you can totally do your own thing when it comes to podcasts. You can either start solo and then grow into guests in the future when you have a more established audience. Or maybe start off building some credibility and building that community with those guests and then eventually moving into a solo podcast when that works for you. Again, whatever works for you. But being able to be consistent with that choice is the thing that counts. That's a wrap. Remember, we're here every week to share quick tips, updates and the occasional bad joke. Feeling inspired? Good. Now hit record or go to the show notes of this episode for a backstage past experience of the Vic Podcasting scene. Vic Podcasters would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Watarang people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional custodians on the land on which we work, live and play. We pay our respects to their elders past and present. We stand with the traditional custodians of these lands in working towards a more equal future. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. And remember, podcasting doesn't have to be a solo gig.
The above episode description and transcript were generated with human knowledge + ai.
Photograph of 4 members of VIC Podcasters who met up in Geelong.
Who are VIC Podcasters?
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Podcasting doesn’t have to be a solo gig, and that’s why VIC Podcasters exists. Whether you're a seasoned pro, a hobbyist, or still planning your first episode, our community is here to support you. Join us for free on Facebook, LinkedIn, and our mailing list for exclusive opportunities, industry updates, and a place to swap ideas with fellow podcasters.
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Zoë Wood of the Video Confidence Coach coaching a client on camera.
Who is your Host?
Feeling stuck trying to build a personal brand that actually turns heads? Women and non-binary super-stars deserve more than just a cookie-cutter approach to their worries. The Video Confidence Coach untangles your marketing mayhem, helping you own the camera, craft killer video strategies, and connect with your audience like never before. You’ll leave with the tools to show up, stand out, and smash your goals.
Find out more about how to grow your personal brand with the power of video right here on vcc.training
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