Most podcasts do not pay their guests. A typical interview show offers airtime, a link in the show notes and a good conversation, and the guest offers their time and expertise. But money does move in some cases, and it can move in either direction: a show paying a guest, or a guest paying a show for a sponsored spot.
This guide explains both directions, what fair arrangements look like, and what US disclosure guidance expects. It is general information, not legal advice. If you are entering a paid arrangement, check the rules that apply where you and your listeners are.
Do podcasts pay their guests?
Usually not. The common model for interview podcasts is an unpaid exchange:
- The guest gets a platform to share their work, a recording they can reuse, and a link back to their project, book or company.
- The host gets expertise, a story and content for the episode.
There are exceptions. Some shows:
- Cover travel when a guest records in a studio.
- Offer a modest honorarium, especially for guests who are not promoting anything.
- Pay experts for highly produced shows where the guest does significant prep or research.
There is no reliable public data on how common these payments are or what they average, so be wary of anyone quoting a market rate. If payment matters to you, ask the host before you agree to record.
Why would a guest pay to be on a podcast?
Some podcasts sell guest appearances, often called sponsored episodes or paid features. For the guest, it works like advertising: they are buying access to the show's listeners.
A sponsored spot can make sense when:
- The show's listeners match your customers closely.
- The host keeps editorial control and still asks real questions.
- The arrangement is disclosed to listeners.
It is a poor deal when the show hides the payment, when the episode turns into an infomercial, or when you cannot see who actually listens. Many well-regarded shows do not sell guest spots at all, so a free pitch is often worth trying first. Our list of AI podcasts that accept guest pitches covers shows that publish free routes.
What are the main ways money changes hands?
| Arrangement | Who pays | What it usually looks like | Disclosure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard interview | Nobody | Guest appears for free | Not needed for payment, but disclose other relevant ties |
| Honorarium or travel | Show pays guest | Small fee or covered costs | Worth stating if relevant to what the guest says |
| Sponsored guest spot | Guest or their company pays show | Guest buys an episode or segment | Yes, clearly and on air |
| Brand-sponsored episode | Brand pays show, guest represents brand | Episode built around a sponsor | Yes, clearly and on air |
| Affiliate or gifted product | Brand gives host something of value | Host mentions or reviews product | Yes |
What does the FTC say about paid podcast appearances?
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides cover situations where someone endorses a product and has a connection to the brand that listeners might not expect. The FTC explains how they apply in its page FTC's Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking and in its plain-language guide Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers.
The main ideas, summarized:
- Material connections should be disclosed. These include payment, free or discounted products, and other benefits that could affect how the audience weighs what is said.
- It is not only about money. The influencer guide says to disclose financial, employment, personal or family relationships with a brand.
- Disclosures should be clear and hard to miss. The FTC suggests simple wording, such as saying something is an ad for a brand, and warns that disclosures buried where people will not notice them are not enough.
- Match the format. The FTC's guidance says a claim made out loud should come with a disclosure people can hear. For audio, that means saying it, not only writing it in show notes.
- Repeat it in long or live content. For live streams, the influencer guide says to repeat the disclosure so people who join partway still hear it.
- Responsibility is shared. Advertisers are expected to train and monitor the people who promote them, and endorsers are responsible for their own disclosures.
The FTC pages focus on video and social media rather than podcasts by name, but the same principles apply to audio endorsements. Other countries have their own advertising rules, so check those too if your show or listeners are elsewhere.
How should a sponsored podcast episode be disclosed?
A practical approach that follows the spirit of the FTC guidance:
- Say it at the start. Before the interview, the host says in plain words that the episode is sponsored and by whom.
- Say it again if the episode is long. A reminder in the middle helps listeners who skip ahead.
- Put it in the show notes and title area too. Written disclosure supports the spoken one, but does not replace it.
- Name the connection, not just the word sponsored. "This episode is paid for by Acme, where today's guest is CTO" tells listeners what they need to know.
- Disclose non-cash ties. If the guest gave the host equity, free software or a referral fee, that counts too.
For guests, the same applies on your own channels. If you promote a paid appearance on LinkedIn or a newsletter, mention that it was a sponsored spot.
How does Prends handle paid podcast appearances?
Prends connects podcast hosts and guests. Today it is free during the beta, and paid bookings are not live yet. Requests are drafted for you and you send them yourself, replies work from email or Telegram, and requests expire after 7 days.
Prends requires sponsored episodes to be disclosed.
If you are a guest, you can browse AI podcasts on Prends. If you host a show, browse AI guests or read how to find great podcast guests.
Should you ask to be paid as a guest?
You can ask, but expect a polite no from most interview shows. A better question is whether the appearance is worth your time without payment. Consider:
- Fit. Are the listeners people you want to reach?
- Format. Will you get room to explain your ideas, or a rushed segment?
- Reuse. Can you share clips, the transcript or the recording?
- Effort. How much prep and recording time is involved?
If a show offers payment, ask what it covers, whether it comes with conditions on what you say, and whether it will be disclosed. A payment that comes with editorial strings needs disclosure just as much as a sponsored spot.
Should hosts accept money from guests?
It depends on your show and your listeners. Sponsored guest spots can fund a show, but they carry a trust cost if they are not clearly marked or if the content turns promotional. If you take them:
- Keep editorial control and ask real questions.
- Disclose on air at the start, and in writing.
- Turn down guests who do not fit your listeners, even if they will pay.
- Keep sponsored and editorial episodes clearly separated.
The short version
Most podcast guests are not paid and do not pay. When money or anything of value changes hands, tell listeners clearly, out loud, and early. If you want free routes to shows, start with our list of AI podcasts that accept guest pitches or, for non-English shows, Spanish and Portuguese tech podcasts that take guests.