How to choose the right podcasts to pitch as a health expert

When experts start guesting, many aim straight for the biggest names in health. Those appearances look great on a website, but for most experts a steady run of niche shows does far more for their work.

Why niche beats famous (at first)

• They're reachable. Big shows are very hard to book if you haven't done much media yet. Niche shows actively need guests.
• The listeners already care. Someone listening to a whole episode about your exact topic is far more likely to act than a casual listener of a general show.
• Every episode becomes an asset. A focused interview is something you can send to patients, clients and prospects for years ("listen to this episode first").
• It builds your name for one thing. When the same audience hears you on several related shows, you become the person they think of for that topic.

Pick your topic first

Decide the one subject you want to be known for before you build a list. It doesn't have to be forever: commit to it for around six months of consistent guesting, then review. If you pivot, move to something adjacent rather than starting from scratch, so the audience you've built still recognises you. If you don't choose what you're known for, your audience will choose for you.

Four ways to build a shortlist

1. Ask the people you serve. Ask patients, clients or followers which smaller podcasts they actually listen to on your topic, beyond the famous ones.
2. Follow a peer's footsteps. Find someone in your niche who does a lot of guesting and look at the shows they've been on. If those audiences wanted their topic, they'll likely want yours.
3. Look at who your audience follows. Take a sample of your own followers (or a peer's) and look at the accounts they follow. Podcasts and podcasters show up quickly.
4. Use a directory. Browse our health & wellness directory, filter by niche and booking route, and check each show's recent guests.

Check before you pitch

• Is it still publishing? (Every show we list has published within the last 30 days when we checked.)
• Does it regularly have guests, and are they people like you?
• Does it ask for money to appear? We flag shows where we find signs of a guest fee.

Then write a short, specific pitch: here's how.