BTS: Steal Our Formula for Choosing Guests Who Build Your Podcast's Authority

Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast with Courtney Elmer | Podcasting Psychology for Business Growth

Ever had a podcast guest that seemed incredible on paper but turned out to be a total mismatch on air? In this episode, I asked my OBM and Guest Concierge, Tayler Neeley, to take you behind the scenes and share our exact system for choosing guests who don’t just fill a slot but actually elevate your podcast’s credibility.

Plus, we’ll show you a foolproof way to turn down pitches kindly and professionally (without ghosting anyone) so you can protect your listeners’ time and build trust with every episode.

So if you're ready to learn how to curate guests who will strengthen your show’s authority and keep your listeners coming back for more, hit play and let’s dive in.

0:02 – Why a Perfect Pitch Doesn’t Always Mean a Perfect Guest

1:39 – Our Top Mistakes (and What We Fixed) in Guest Vetting

3:51 – The Exact Criteria We Use to Choose Standout Guests

11:37 – Handling the "Thanks, But No Thanks" Pitch Replies

14:49 – Deciding When Not to Air a Guest Episode

Episode Links:

• Steal Our Guest Vetting Criteria Checklist
• How to Decline Guest Pitches That Aren't a Fit
• How to Decline Airing a Guest Episode

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

• Why Guesting on Podcasts Won’t Grow Your Show (Unless You Do This)
• Exactly What to Say to Get Your Podcast Guests to Share Their Episode

→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

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