How to Boost Your Exposure Through Guest Podcasting Case Lane.

Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. I'm Peter George, public speaking trainer, speaker, and award-winning author of The Captivating Public Speaker. My guest for this episode is Case Lane — global writer, podcaster, entrepreneur, traveler, and founder of Ready Entrepreneur. A former diplomat, consultant, and corporate executive, she now prepares aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage technology and global resources to achieve lifestyle freedom through online business. After a successful book promotion podcast tour, Case developed an approach to help professionals, writers, entrepreneurs, and speakers navigate the growing podcast industry as guest speakers. Here's my conversation with Case Lane.

What Guest Podcasting Is

Peter: We're going to be talking about guest podcasting — a term I hadn't heard used quite the way you use it, as a campaign. Before we get to that, can you tell us a little more about you, Ready Entrepreneur, and the books you've written?

Case: I had a corporate career before moving into online entrepreneurship. My first online work was as a writer — I've always wanted to write, and I was amazed that platforms like Amazon and Smashwords allowed writers to go directly to readers. I realized the same democratization was happening across all of online business. People started asking me what I was doing, and I noticed there was no single clear picture of how it all worked together. That's when I started Ready Entrepreneur — helping aspiring entrepreneurs understand the online business landscape from the very beginning. From there, I moved into guest podcasting through the book promotion process, and as podcasting kept growing, I took a deeper dive to help others understand how to use it effectively.

Peter: If you would, explain what guest podcasting actually is.

Case: Guest podcasting — or podcast guesting, or pod guesting as some call it — is simply being a guest speaker on a podcast. There are now more than 1.7 million podcasts on various platforms, and many of them do interviews. They want to talk to people about their ideas, products, and messages. So guest podcasting is reaching out to podcast hosts and offering yourself as a guest speaker on their show.

Why It's Worth Your Time

Peter: What's the benefit? Why would I invest the time and effort in doing this?

Case: The core idea is getting your message out to more people. Podcast listeners are highly attentive — they actively choose to listen, they schedule it into their day, and many treat it as a form of ongoing education. Think of it like being invited to speak to a room of a thousand people who came specifically to hear what you have to say. Whether you're promoting a product, sharing a new idea, or building your authority and influence, being on podcasts gives you a virtual stage where you're speaking to that kind of engaged, intentional audience.

How to Find the Right Shows

Peter: For those who are interested — what's your approach?

Case: The first thing to get clear on is your message. Because what you're going to do is search for podcasts that fit what you want to talk about. You need a very clear idea in your mind, because you'll be searching podcast directories by categories and keywords. The directories aren't as robust as Google — you put in "public speaking" and you'll get every podcast with those words in the title or description. So think carefully about the specific words that describe what you want to talk about.

Pull out every podcast name that looks like it might fit, and then go deeper — one by one. The first thing to check is the date of the last posted episode. Podcasts live forever; a show can look active and turn out not to have posted anything in over a year. If that's the case, move on. Next, look at the description to see if the host does interviews. Then look at the actual episodes — do they feature guests? Some hosts mention wanting to do interviews but haven't posted any yet. That's actually an opportunity you can reference in your pitch.

Once a podcast passes those checks, move to a general web search and social media search on the host and the show to find contact information and understand the connection you can make. Then listen to the show. You want to write a pitch email that shows you've done your homework — a tailored note that makes it clear why you can deliver value to their specific audience.

Peter: Three things I'd add. One: you also have to be right for them, not just them being right for you. Two: the people you can hire to pitch on your behalf often have no idea what your podcast is about — I've received pitches like that. And three: Case, you practice what you preach. When you reached out to me through my website contact page, you laid out exactly what you do and why it benefits my listeners. You were dead on. I couldn't wait to have you on.

Case: Thank you — I really appreciate that. I want to provide genuine value, and I don't want to waste your time or mine. That's what I've been working to perfect.

Before You Send Your First Pitch

Peter: Once someone secures a spot, what do they need to have ready?

Case: Actually, I'd suggest having these things ready even before you start researching — so you're prepared when hosts start asking. Have a bio ready: two or three lines, and maybe a longer version you can edit down. Remember, this is a promotional opportunity, so make sure the information is exactly what you want the world to see right now. Have a professional headshot. Think about this more broadly than just an interview — the episode will be promoted on social media, possibly on YouTube, and you don't know where else it might end up. Also have your social media handles, your website link, and any offer you want to make to listeners.

And if your website isn't current, update it. You're reaching a new audience who may not have heard of you — you want them to be able to verify everything you say they'll find when they go looking. On the technical side, the single most important thing is how you sound. Most podcast hosts prefer that guests use an external microphone. You don't need a studio — a good USB microphone in the $50–$100 range is more than sufficient and will serve you for every interview going forward. And be aware that many podcasters record on Zoom and post to YouTube, so you may be on camera as well.

Preparing for the Interview Itself

Peter: Is there anything guests should avoid, beyond recording on a laptop microphone?

Case: Make sure your pitch accurately reflects what you'll deliver. Once you're on air, the audience is there — even though you can't see them. You still owe them value. So be prepared. You can't anticipate every possible question, but you can think through the likely ones. Practice the conversation in your mind. Listen to the host's past episodes so you understand how their conversations flow. And then manage the logistics — once a host says yes, there's still scheduling, forms to fill out, information to send. If you're doing several interviews at once, create a system so you don't drop the ball on anyone who's already said yes.

Your Most Valuable Follow-Through

Peter: I'm a big believer in "YAK" — yards after catch. In football, it's the yardage a receiver gets after catching the ball, not just when they catch it. Much of marketing works the same way. So what can people do once the interview is posted?

Case: This is so important. Each podcast appearance creates an asset for you.

The host owns the show, but your opportunity is in promoting it — and they expect you to. Share the link across all your social media, include it in your email newsletter, add it to your website. If someone asks you a question related to what you discussed on that episode, send them the link. You can and should come back to it — when you release a related piece of content, a new book, anything. And here's something practical: have your promotional plan ready before the episode goes live, because you often won't know exactly when it will drop. When you get that email saying the show is live, you want to execute immediately, not scramble.

One more thing worth knowing: not every interview gets posted. Podcasters may decide for any number of reasons not to release an episode. There's nothing you can do about it, so don't take it personally. If enough time has passed, you can reach out and ask — and they may even share the file with you for your own use.

Peter: Final thoughts for people thinking about getting started?

Case: Yes, the research takes time. But this is a completely DIY process — you don't need a PR agency or high-level connections. You can go directly to podcast hosts, show them why you bring value, and build real relationships in your subject area along the way. Think about how much time you want to invest based on how many interviews you want to do, and make it a consistent part of your weekly schedule. The opportunity to speak on virtual podcast stages, build your authority, and deliver value to new audiences is real — and it grows the more you do it.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. To connect with Case Lane and access her free guest podcasting checklist, visit caselane.net/checklist. You can also reach her directly at contact@readyentrepreneur.com. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.