At PodWritten, we work exclusively with health and wellness experts, from physicians and therapists to healthtech founders, biohackers, and functional medicine coaches. And we’ve booked 200+ interviews on top health and wellness shows in little over a year.
No, we didn’t do it by sending mass emails or mail merges. Every pitch we send is strategic and tailored.
So if you’re wondering, if there’s a podcast booking agency that does personalized outreach, yes. That’s how Team PodWritten reached this milestone.
In this blog, we’ll explain PodWritten’s podcast pitching strategy and why we say no to mass emails.
What’s PodWritten’s pitching strategy?
The R.I.S.E. Framework is the guide we follow to right personalized podcast pitches and book highly relevant shows at PodWritten.
It’s the 4-part method our team uses to consistently land our doctors, surgeons, biohackers, and wellness CEOs on high-quality shows and make every interview count:
- R – Research relevant shows
- I – Identify your unique angle
- S – Send personalized pitches
- E – Employ strategic storytelling
And the R.I.S.E. framework helped our relationship therapists, fitness entrepreneurs, and medical professionals:
- Get on podcasts with 200,000+ monthly listeners
- Build strong relationships with hosts about future opportunities (like an IG live where she grew her followers by 5% in an hour)
- Gain 450+ new followers and inbound leads in just a few days
Why we don’t send mass emails
Sure, mass emails might seem easier, but they come with serious downsides.
For starters, sending bulk emails can trigger spam filters, meaning hosts might never even see your pitch. Beyond that, generic pitches signal that you haven’t taken the time to understand the show or its audience; they feel transactional and rarely get responses. Lastly, email blasts can reduce credibility and overwhelm hosts.
3 reasons why you should send customized podcast pitches
#1: Personalized pitches get more Yeses
“Many podcast booking agencies will simply send out generic, copy-paste emails. But PodWritten goes the extra mile: They took the time to listen to my show, identify the pain points of my audience, and suggest a tailored topic for the guest, which increases your chances of getting booked on those shows,” says the host of Wits and Weights, Philp Pape.
So why does this approach work so well?
It prevents overlap
When you study a podcast’s recent episodes, you can immediately see which topics have already been covered.
Instead of pitching another “weight loss” episode to a show that just released three of them, you might suggest an angle like “how fascia health impacts weight management.” This allows you to bring something fresh that builds on what the audience already knows.
Alternatively, you can offer a new topic completely or wait for a few months before targeting the show. Therefore, it’s important for you not to skip the second step of the R.I.S.E. Framework, identify your unique angle.
It signals genuine interest
Hosts can tell when a pitch is transactional versus relational. A generic pitch says, “I just want exposure.” A personalized pitch says, “I’ve listened, I get what you’re about, and I want to contribute in a way that helps your audience.”
It removes friction
A generic pitch forces the host to imagine how you might fit into their show. A tailored pitch does that thinking for them: here’s the topic, here’s how it connects to their audience, here’s why it will feel fresh. You’re essentially handing them an episode idea they can get excited about.
#2: Hyper-personalized pitches help you understand if a podcast is a good fit for you
Before we even write a pitch, we dive deep into the podcast’s message, the host’s style, and the audience’s priorities.
Imagine you’re a heart-led health coach focused on spiritual healing. You might think any health-focused podcast is a fit. But if the show you’re targeting emphasizes purely scientific approaches, your message could clash with their content or audience expectations.
Similarly, some hosts have a very strong point of view and aren’t open to perspectives that diverge from their usual approach.
In other words, a podcast might have an audience that seems ideal at first glance, but if their values, focus, or tone don’t align with your client’s brand, the interview won’t create meaningful impact.
#3: Your podcast pitch is the reflection of your health and wellness brand
Have you considered how your pitch represents your business before you ever speak to a host?
That’s why it’s time to consider that your pitch isn’t just a message. It’s your first contact with other experts and potential collaborators in the health and wellness space.
That’s why you need to make sure every detail counts.
A generic pitch can make your brand appear careless or unprofessional. On the other hand, a personalized podcast pitch positions your business as credible, thoughtful, and aligned with the host’s audience.
If the first impression you make through your pitch already shapes how hosts perceive you, isn’t it worth asking: are you putting your best foot forward?
What’s a personalized podcast pitch anyway?
A personalized podcast pitch is more than swapping names and tweaking the first sentence of an email.
At PodWritten, a personalized pitch means:
- Matching your tone to the show
- Referencing past guests, understanding the audience
- Connecting your message to relevant episode topics
- Making it a win for everybody
- Crafting each subject line and hook to grab attention
Does it take time? Absolutely. But our philosophy is quality over quantity, and that quality drives real results.
For instance, two of our clients, a marriage therapist couple, landed 5 bookings in their first month from 20 carefully tailored pitches. That’s the power of intentional, strategic cold outreach.
How to turn your generic pitch into a customized podcast pitch
To give you some context, Sam, one of the co-founders of PodWritten, received this pitch for Mics to Millions. It’s a podcast where he interviews health and wellness podcasters to explore how they grow and monetize their shows.
Now, take a few minutes to read this pitch and think about what works and what doesn’t.
Let’s break down this pitch together:
| What works | Areas of improvement |
|---|---|
| Short and to the point | The unsubscribe button signals it’s a mass email, which undermines personalization |
| Name is correct (not “Hey PodWritten.com or Mics to Millions”) | Social proof lacks links, so it’s hard to verify authenticity |
| The podcast’s name is used, showing some awareness. | The compliment isn’t accurate. Mics to Millions doesn’t cover spiritual discussions, so it feels insincere. |
| The topics suggested don’t match the podcast’s actual focus, which reduces relevance and lowers the chances of a yes. |
6 fire-away tips to turn a generic podcast pitch into a personalized one
- Compliment with purpose: Skip the vague flattery. Point out something real the host has done.
- Spell out who the audience is: Don’t say “your listeners.” Say exactly who they are: adults with ADHD, women in menopause, men navigating mental health challenges.
- Reference what matters: Drop in a recent episode, topic, or guest to show you’ve actually tuned in.
- Offer a fresh angle: Suggest something new, unexpected, or underexplored. Don’t repeat what’s already been done.
- Tie your credentials to their audience: Frame your expertise so it directly addresses questions, problems, or interests the listeners have.
- Match their voice: Casual, witty, serious, or story-driven? Speak in a way that feels like it belongs on their show.
Want to see the actual pitches we sent that landed our clients on podcasts with 2.7M+ total downloads?