A podcast guest one-sheet is a single page that tells a host who you are, what episode you can deliver, and how to book you. Put these on it: your name and a one-line description, a headshot, a short bio, three episode topics with talking points, a few sample questions, links to past appearances, your professional links, and contact or booking details. Keep it to one page. Hosts skim it, they do not read it.
The one-sheet is not your pitch. The pitch is the short email that gets a host interested. The one-sheet is what you send or link once they are. If you have not written the pitch yet, start with our podcast guest pitch templates.
Why does a podcast guest need a one-sheet?
A host who is considering you has three jobs: decide whether you fit, prepare the interview, and introduce you on air. A one-sheet does all three in one place.
It helps the host:
- decide by showing your topics and proof at a glance
- prepare by giving them sample questions and talking points
- introduce you with a bio they can read aloud as written
It also helps you. Writing one forces you to choose what you actually want to talk about, which makes every pitch sharper.
What should be on a podcast guest one-sheet?
Here is the full list, in the order most hosts look for it.
1. Name and one-line positioning
Your name, then one line that says what you do and for whom. "Engineering lead who has shipped AI features at three startups" is clear. "Visionary thought leader" says nothing.
2. Headshot
A clear photo of your face, well lit, that still works at thumbnail size. Hosts use it for episode artwork and social posts. Link to a high resolution version.
3. Short bio
Write it in the third person so the host can read it aloud. Keep two versions:
- One sentence for the episode introduction.
- One paragraph, around 60 to 100 words, for show notes.
Focus on what you have done that relates to your topics. Skip unrelated awards and long career histories.
4. Episode topics
This is the most important section. List three topics, each with a working title and two or three talking points. Topics should be specific enough that a host can picture the episode.
Example format:
"What broke when we shipped our first AI agent"
- The three failure cases we did not test for
- How we decided what the agent should never do
- What we would do differently on day one
Three topics give hosts a choice without overwhelming them. Tailor which topic sits first depending on the show.
5. Sample questions
Five to eight questions a host could ask you. This saves them prep time and steers the conversation toward your strongest material. Good sample questions are open ended and lead to stories:
- "What surprised you most when you first tried this?"
- "What do most teams get wrong about this?"
- "If a listener wanted to start tomorrow, what is step one?"
6. Past appearances
Links to two to four previous podcast episodes, talks or videos. This is your proof. Hosts want to hear how you sound and whether you can hold a conversation. If you have not been on a podcast yet, link a recorded talk, a webinar, or a short video of you explaining your topic.
7. Professional links
Your website, LinkedIn, and anything that backs up your expertise. For technical guests, a GitHub profile is often more convincing than a bio. On Prends, guests can link LinkedIn and GitHub directly to their profile, so a host can check your background without asking.
8. Languages
If you can record in more than one language, say so. Many guests leave this out, and it opens doors to shows that have fewer guests to choose from. On Prends you can filter shows by language. For example, here are Spanish language podcasts.
9. Contact and booking details
How a host can reach you or book you: an email address, a booking link, or a guest profile. Add your time zone, since it is the first thing a host checks when scheduling.
10. Technical setup (optional)
A short line such as "Records with a USB microphone and headphones in a quiet room." It tells hosts you will not cause audio problems. Only include it if it is true.
What should I leave off a one-sheet?
Cutting is as important as adding. Leave out:
- Long biographies. One paragraph is enough.
- Every topic you could cover. Three is the right number.
- Product pitches. A host is booking a guest, not an ad.
- Inflated claims you cannot back up with a link.
- Stock photos or heavily filtered headshots.
- Dense paragraphs. Use headings, short lines and bullets.
How should a one-sheet be laid out?
| Section | Placement | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Name, positioning, headshot | Top of page | 1 line plus photo |
| Short bio | Top third | 1 paragraph |
| Episode topics | Middle, most space | 3 topics, 2 to 3 points each |
| Sample questions | Middle or side column | 5 to 8 questions |
| Past appearances | Lower third | 2 to 4 links |
| Links, languages, contact | Bottom or sidebar | A few lines |
Use plenty of white space and one or two fonts. If a host can find your topics within five seconds, the layout is working.
Should my one-sheet be a PDF, a web page, or both?
Both have a place:
- A web page is easy to link from a pitch, easy to update, and works on phones. It also avoids attachments, which can trigger spam filters.
- A PDF is handy when a producer asks for a file to share with a team or keep with episode notes.
Keep the content identical. Update both whenever you add a new appearance or change your topics.
How do I tailor a one-sheet for different shows?
You do not need a new one-sheet for every show. You do need to reorder it. Put the topic that best fits each show first, and if a show leans technical or beginner, adjust the talking points to match. Keep a master version and save a few variations for the types of shows you pitch most.
If you are pitching AI and tech shows, browsing the AI podcast directory shows how much audiences differ from show to show. Each one needs a slightly different first topic.
When should I send the one-sheet?
Not in the first email. Mention it and link to it, or wait until the host asks. Most hosts want it after they show interest, when they are preparing questions or writing show notes.
After the booking is confirmed, send the one-sheet again with any updates and your preferred introduction. Then turn to the interview itself. Our guide on how to prepare for a podcast interview covers the rest.
A quick one-sheet checklist
Before you share it, confirm:
- Your name and one-line positioning are at the top.
- Your headshot is clear and links to a high resolution version.
- Your bio has a one-sentence and a one-paragraph version.
- You have three specific topics with talking points.
- You include five to eight sample questions.
- Past appearances or recordings are linked and the links work.
- Your languages, time zone and contact details are listed.
- It fits on one page.
A clear one-sheet will not get you booked on its own. A good pitch to the right show does that, and our guide on how to get booked on podcasts covers the full process. What the one-sheet does is turn a host's maybe into a confident yes. If you want a place to keep your guest details and send requests to shows, the podcast guest page on Prends is free during beta.