The Art of the Podcast Guest Intro: How to Get a Host's Attention and a Yes with Doug Downs

Most podcast pitches look the same, sound the same, and land in the delete pile fast. Doug Downs, host of Stories and Strategies and a podcast agency leader, filters hundreds of pitches weekly and knows exactly what separates a blue M&M from a red one.

In this episode, host Tom Schwab and Doug unpack the psychology behind what makes a host stop scrolling, why blasting 1,500 shows destroys your sender score and reputation, and how treating a podcast like a host's beloved puppy will completely change how you pitch. Build relationships, respect the ecosystem, and become impossible to ignore.

Timestamps From This Episode

[03:39] What earns attention past the delete button

[11:24] Why mass pitching damages your long-term reputation

[29:44] Reframing how guests should approach a host’s show

[33:17] Why post-episode amplification matters to hosts

Resources From This Episode

StoriesAndStrategies.ca

LinkedIn.com/in/DougDowns/

InterviewValet.com

PodcastInterviewMarketing.com

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