Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts and the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers as well as nonfiction books for writers. She educates and advocates for writers and is the host of hundreds of episodes of The Indy Author Podcast.

Mark Leslie Lefebvre has been writing since 1984 and has worked in the book industry since 1992. A long-time advocate for digital publishing and helping authors understand the business of writing and publishing, Mark has been podcasting on and off since 2006, been a guest on hundreds of podcasts and radio programs, and has released weekly episodes of his Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing podcast since January 2018.

The Podcast Guest Playbook by Matty Dalrymple with Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Step behind the mic with veteran podcasters Matty Dalrymple and Mark Leslie Lefebvre and discover how strategic podcast guest appearances can transform your creative career.

•Build an engaged Community - Learn how to reach listener groups who are hungry for expertise like yours, and keep them engaged long after the episode drops.

•Forge authentic Connections - Get a proven framework for approaching hosts, crafting irresistible pitches, and turning one interview into a network of collaborators.

•Spark unforgettable Conversations - Master the art of story-driven interviews: from shaping magnetic talking points to delivering audio that sounds studio-sharp-even from your home office.

In The Podcast Guest Playbook, you'll find step-by-step guidelines, real-world examples, and a downloadable playbook for planning, pitching, and promoting every appearance. Whether you're an author, entrepreneur, or creative professional, this guide shows you how to turn free airtime into lasting impact-no expensive gear or PR team required.

 

REVIEWS

  • "A super useful step‑by‑step framework for getting podcast interviews, delivering great value to the host and audience, and using your authentic voice to reach readers and sell more books."

    – Joanna Penn, award-winning host of The Creative Penn Podcast

  • "Super clear, professional and comprehensive."

    – Melissa Addey, Author and speaker

  • "This book is a helpful, practical guide for not only podcast guests but also podcasters, especially when conducting interviews with guests not in person and over Zoom. As a new podcaster myself, the logistical tips about setting up for virtual interviews were really helpful. ... It's a very thorough resource, considering the marketing, technology, and logistics for being a podcast guest."

    – Cait’s Reading Nook

  • "Dalrymple's 'The Podcast Guest Playbook' is a practical and insightful guide for anyone looking to leverage podcast appearances. ... The book covers everything from identifying the right podcasts and crafting pitches to performing well during the interview and following up effectively. If you're an author, entrepreneur, or expert aiming to expand your reach and build relationships through podcasting, this book provides a clear roadmap."

    – Goodreads reader
 

BOOK PREVIEW

Excerpt

Welcome to your playbook! If you're here, it means you're considering pitching yourself as a guest on podcasts as a way to get the word out about your work. We believe you've made a great decision.

As evidenced by the hundreds of episodes of Matty's The Indy Author Podcast and Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing podcast, as well as by the numerous podcasts we've guested on, we're obviously big believers in the value of podcasting. Why?

Why Podcasting?

Podcasts serve a growing hunger for information and entertainment that can be consumed on the go. According to Interview Valet's 2025 State of Podcast Guesting report, there are over 344K active podcasts (ones that have aired an episode within the previous 30 days).

That popularity is driven by the effectiveness of the medium. Audio enables a connection between speakers and listeners that is difficult to duplicate in written content like articles or blog posts. There's an intimacy to quite literally getting your voice in someone's ear. Listeners get a better sense of you as an individual, and that connection is a vital first step in establishing a know-relate-trust relationship, a construct we prefer to the more common know-like-trust. The content feels immediate, even if the episode was recorded months or even years earlier. It also feels more personal, even if hundreds or thousands of other listeners are enjoying the same content. And podcast audiences are often highly targeted and deeply engaged, meaning you're speaking directly to people who are genuinely interested in your topic—making it one of the most effective ways to build your brand and expand your reach.

We believe these benefits are especially valuable for authors and other creators, because podcast guesting allows you to showcase your expertise, creativity, and unique voice to reach your audience in a way that the written word simply can't match. It's an opportunity to bring your stories to life, forge a deeper emotional connection with your audience, and share your journey, insights, and passion in an engaging and memorable way. Vitally, in this age of AI, it is—to borrow a phrase from Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn—a chance to double down on your humanity.

Podcast guesting offers these benefits with relatively small investments of time and money. The tech needed for a professional guest presence is relatively inexpensive and generally easy to use, and once you've refined your strategy and tactics, the time needed to land engagements and to execute them effectively will be barely longer than the time you spend chatting with your host. And you can do it all from the comfort of your home studio!

NOTE: In The Podcast Guest Playbook, we focus on authors because that's where our expertise lies, and the writing world provides a wealth of examples to draw from. However, don't put this book down if you aren't an author! The advice we share is designed to help anyone seeking to leverage podcasts as a platform to share their creative work with the world. Whether you're a visual artist promoting your latest exhibit, a musician reaching out to new audiences, an entrepreneur launching an innovative product, or a nonprofit leader championing a cause, the principles and strategies in this book are broadly applicable. While the examples may have a writing-centric spin, the insights can be adapted to fit the unique needs of any creator looking to amplify their voice and connect with an engaged audience.

The Challenge of Guesting

The popularity of the format means that more and more podcasters are stepping up to provide that content, offering you more opportunities to capitalize on these benefits. But that explosion of interest in podcasts, while great for listeners and hosts, creates a challenge for potential guests. Having a huge pool of podcasts to pitch yourself to makes an understanding and prioritization of your goals vital.

Furthermore, the effectiveness of podcasts for building a community means that you'll have many more other potential guests vying for places in those most desirable slots. According to Interview Valet's 2025 State of Podcast Guesting report, there are over 100,000 podcasts seeking guests, but over four million guests seeking podcasts.

But armed with the advice we share in The Podcast Guest Playbook, you'll be well-prepared to pursue those opportunities with confidence and effectiveness.