Guest Feature: Candace Dudley This blog post is part of Navia’s Guest Series where we spotlight brilliant minds doing meaningful work across the marketing world. Today’s post is written by Candace Dudley, a podcast guesting coach who helps business owners stop spinning their wheels and start landing in front of the right audiences. She’s sharing her insights with the Navia community!
You’ve spent months (or years) building your brand on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, you name it. You know your message works. You see it in your clients’ wins, your audience’s reactions, and your growing confidence in your expertise.
But here’s the sticky part:
You’re ready for more — more reach, more authority, more dream clients — but starting another platform from zero sounds exhausting.
If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking:
“I’ve mastered Instagram… now what?”
“I want to get in front of new audiences without doing twice the work.”
“I know I’m meant to be known in my niche — I just need more people to hear me.”
…then podcast guesting might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Why Podcast Guesting Works (Even If You Hate Starting from Scratch)
Think of podcast guesting like borrowing someone else’s audience, but in a way that feels natural, valuable, and authentic.
When you’re a guest on a podcast:
- You step onto a stage where listeners are already primed to pay attention.
- You get a warm introduction from a trusted host (instant authority boost).
- You can share your expertise in a deep, meaningful way, not just 15-second soundbites.
It’s the fastest way to reach aligned, engaged people without spending months building a whole new audience or burning out on content creation.
“But I Hate Pitching…” (And How to Make It Feel Good)
Maybe you love the idea of guesting, but the thought of pitching makes your stomach drop.
“Won’t I sound salesy?”
“Isn’t it awkward to ask?”
“What if they say no?”
This is the number one fear I hear from my clients. And here’s what I tell them: podcast hosts need you as much as you need them.
Podcasters are always looking for fresh voices who can deliver real value to their audience and they love guests who make it easy for them.
When you lead with value (not desperation), pitching doesn’t feel gross. It feels like an offer not a push.
How to Pitch Without the Ick
The key is a simple, value-led approach:
- Clarify your two or three juicy topics that align with your niche and serve the host’s audience.
- Personalize your pitch — no generic copy/paste spam.
- Show them exactly how you’ll make their episode stand out and keep listeners hooked.
No pushy language. No awkward cold emails that feel desperate. Just a clear win-win for everyone. Oh, and send it in a DM, not an email, trust me.
Imagine This
You wake up to an email: “We’d love to have you on our show!”
A week later, you’re having a genuine conversation with a host who wants your story.
Your episode drops — and now dozens (or hundreds) of new people are hearing your message, visiting your website, and following you all without fighting the algorithm.
That’s the magic of podcast guesting done right.
Want to Get Booked — Without Burnout or Awkward Pitches?
Inside my Podcast Guesting Accelerator, I help you:
- Nail down your irresistible guest topics
- Handpick perfectly aligned podcasts (no endless Google rabbit holes)
- Craft a pitch that hosts love to say yes to
- Deliver everything you need to get booked and show up with confidence
If you’re ready to get off the content hamster wheel and start borrowing audiences instead of building them from scratch — let’s get you booked.
Click here to learn more about the Accelerator] or reach out to get started.
Your next audience is waiting. Let’s get you on the mic.
Thanks for being here and reading today's blog (and thank you to the Navia family for letting me share this with their amazing community)!
Want to connect? I'm usually hanging out on Instagram!
