Want to attract high-profile guests to your podcast and grow your audience in 2025? In this episode, Alex Chisnall and James Burtt break down the best strategies for booking big-name guests, leveraging LinkedIn outreach, and crafting irresistible pitches.

They share real-world insights from landing Grant Cardone, Lewis Howes, and other top entrepreneurs—proving that even small podcasts can secure big guests with the right approach. Learn how to showcase your podcast’s value, personalise your outreach, and strategically pitch to high-impact guests. Plus, discover why content sharing matters more than celebrity names and how to spin your podcast’s numbers to land top-tier guests.

Whether you're starting out or scaling your show, these insights will help you book bigger names, build relationships, and grow your podcast’s impact.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to book high-profile guests for your podcast—even with a small audience

• The #1 mistake podcasters make when pitching to big-name guests

• LinkedIn guest outreach secrets and why it’s the most underrated platform

• How to personalize your pitch to make your request stand out

• Why a guest’s willingness to share content matters more than their fame

• The metrics that actually matter when pitching high-profile guests

• How to use your combined audience reach to make your podcast more attractive

Key Takeaways:

1. Personalisation is everything – Referencing a guest’s specific book chapter, podcast episode, or social post makes your pitch stand out.

2. Use LinkedIn for outreach – It’s easier to reach guests directly or connect with their team.

3. Your guest’s audience matters more than their name – A niche guest who shares content can be more valuable than a celebrity who doesn’t.

4. Pitch the VALUE of your audience – Even small podcasts can attract big guests if they have the right demographic.

5. Spin your numbers wisely – Instead of focusing only on downloads, highlight your combined social media reach, impressions, and engagement.

6. Find the real decision-maker – Often, it’s not the guest themselves but their PA, head of marketing, or PR team who shares the content.

Recommended Tools & Resources:

• LinkedIn – The best platform for direct guest outreach and networking

• Podchaser – Research past guest appearances and outreach opportunities

• Canva – Create high-quality podcast pitch decks and promotional content

• Otter.ai – Transcribe podcast episodes for content repurposing

• VidIQ & Opus Clip – Optimize YouTube content and create viral short clips

Join the Conversation:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow podcaster who’s looking to grow their revenue.

Follow Us:

• Instagram:@podschool

• TikTok: @podschool.community

• YouTube:@stargrowmonetiseyourpodcast

• LinkedIn:James Burtt &Alex Chisnall

In this show, we discuss:

podcast guest outreach, how to book podcast guests, how to grow a podcast, podcast guest pitching, LinkedIn for podcasters, podcast marketing strategies, how to start a podcast, how to monetise a podcast, guest interview strategies, podcast growth hacks, podcast audience

In this episode of How to Start, Grow & Monetise Your Podcast, hosts Alex Chisnall and James Burtt break down the best AI tools for podcasters that can save time, boost discoverability, and help monetise your podcast.

They explore ChatGPT for research and show notes, Otter.ai for transcription, AutoPod for video editing, VidIQ for YouTube optimisation, and Opus Clip for short-form video content. Whether you’re looking to increase downloads, optimize SEO, or create engaging social media content, this episode gives you the tools to automate tedious tasks and scale your podcast faster.

If you’re a podcaster, entrepreneur, or content creator, you don’t want to miss this episode!

This show is sponsored by Pod School - your hub for information, education and expert support on starting, growing, scaling, monetizing and optimising your podcast to generate more reach, more impact and more revenue

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Best AI tools for podcasting – Save time and improve efficiency
• How to use ChatGPT for research, scripting & SEO-friendly show notes
• The power of Otter.ai for fast and accurate podcast transcriptions
• How AutoPod automates video editing for a professional look
• Optimising YouTube podcast growth using VidIQ
• Creating high-performing short-form content with Opus Clip
• How AI can help you promote your podcast on social media

Key Takeaways:

• AI is a game-changer for podcast production & promotion
• ChatGPT can create episode outlines, scripts & show notes in minutes
• Otter.ai makes transcription faster & easier for repurposing content
• AutoPod automates video edits to enhance production quality
• VidIQ helps podcasters optimise YouTube SEO & reach more viewers
• Short-form content using Opus Clip increases podcast discoverability
• Personalisation is key—AI can’t replace human creativity!

Recommended Tools & Resources:

• ChatGPT – AI-powered research, scriptwriting & show notes generation
• Otter.ai – Fast, accurate transcription for podcast episodes
• AutoPod – AI-based video editing for multi-camera podcast setups
• VidIQ – YouTube growth tool for SEO, tags, and analytics
• Opus Clip – AI-powered short-form video content creation
• Adobe Creative Cloud – Editing software for podcasters

Join the Conversation

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow podcaster who’s looking to grow their revenue. For more resources and expert advice, join the free Pod School community – the ultimate hub for podcast creators.

Follow Us:

Instagram: @podschool

TikTok: @podschool.community

YouTube: @stargrowmonetiseyourpodcast

LinkedIn: James Burtt & Alex Chisnall

In this show, we discuss:

podcasting, AI tools for podcasting, ChatGPT for podcasts, podcast marketing, podcast promotion, Otter.ai transcription, AI content creation, podcast automation, AI-powered podcasting, how to grow a podcast, YouTube podcast growth, podcast editing software, VidIQ for YouTube, AutoPod for video editing, Opus Clip for short-form content, podcast monetization, podcast SEO, AI-driven podcast growth, podcasting strategies, best AI tools for podcasters, social media for podcasts, content repurposing, podcast marketing hacks, how to start a podcast, podcast production tools, video podcasting, leveraging AI for content creation, podcast success tips

Are you ready to take your podcast to the next level? In this episode, James Burtt sits down with David 'Ledge' Ledgerwood from Listen Network to uncover the secrets of podcast promotion through paid media. From leveraging the PESO model (Paid, Earned, Shared, Owned) to targeting niche audiences with precision, Ledge shares actionable strategies that can lift your podcast’s visibility and downloads.

With over a decade of podcasting experience, he breaks down the key tactics for using paid media, retargeting, and audience intelligence to fuel sustainable growth. Whether you’re a budding podcaster or a seasoned creator, this episode offers invaluable insights into maximising your reach while optimising costs. Don’t miss out on learning how to turn your podcast into a marketing powerhouse!

This show is sponsored by Pod School - your hub for information, education and expert support on starting, growing, scaling, monetizing and optimising your podcast to generate more reach, more impact and more revenue

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The importance of paid media in podcast promotion
• How the PESO model boosts podcast visibility
• The art of using retargeting to engage the right audience
• Why downloads are a key metric and how to track them effectively
• Tips for using podcast display ads, LinkedIn sponsorships, and YouTube ads

Key Takeaways:

• Paid media amplifies your podcast’s reach and ensures it gets in front of the right audience
• Leverage the PESO model to balance organic efforts with targeted paid campaigns
• Retargeting allows you to convert casual listeners into loyal fans
• Use audience intelligence to track and refine your promotion strategies
• Strategic partnerships and sponsorships thrive on precise audience data

Recommended Tools & Resources:

• Listen Network: Advanced tools for podcast promotion and audience tracking
• Google Display Network: Cost-effective targeting for niche audiences
• LinkedIn Ads: Ideal for B2B podcast promotion

• YouTube Outstream Ads: Maximise visibility through keyword-based targeting

• Landing Pages with Retargeting: Enhance retention and gather actionable data

Join the Conversation:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow podcaster who’s looking to grow their revenue. For more resources and expert advice, join the free Pod School community – the ultimate hub for podcast creators.

Follow Us:

Instagram: @podschool

TikTok: @podschool.community

YouTube: @stargrowmonetiseyourpodcast

LinkedIn: James Burtt & Alex Chisnall

In this show, we discuss:

Podcast promotion strategies, paid media for podcasts, PESO model podcasting, podcast audience targeting, podcast advertising tips, retargeting for podcasters, LinkedIn podcast ads, YouTube podcast promotion, podcast growth tips, audience intelligence tools, podcast marketing strategies, podcast ads, podcast audience growth, niche podcast promotion, podcasting success tips, podcast SEO, podcast ad campaigns, podcast visibility strategies, podcast discoverability