How can you use guest hosts to add variety and grow your podcast audience?

It is very important that you have "Chemistry" between the hosts. A good co host will feel like a friend in the conversation and not just a voice of agreement. This is very good advice.

Invite guest hosts with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. This not only adds variety to your content but also attracts listeners who may be interested in topics or viewpoints different from your own.

Conduct interviews with guest hosts, where they share their expertise or experiences. Interview-style episodes can attract listeners who are fans of the guest and interested in the topics discussed.

Let the guest hosts speak and don’t interrupt them. You have them as a guest to share their expertise. Chime in only when they have concluded a thought to keep the conversation going and feed off their input. Being a good host is being a good listener.

Many times I have seen couples where one is doing the talking and the other is just responding with "yes" or "I agree" but otherwise don't add to the conversation. This tends to make the co host a subordinate and not a contributor. Not listening to a co host or guest is one of the biggest mistakes podcasters make. Having a conversation thread start makes a good show, if you are not listening to the other side, you are not engaging but waiting for your turn to talk again. I have seen even the "Seasoned professionals" do this and make the podcast run disjointed and rough, like a police interrogation, and not a fluid conversation. This is easily avoided by having the right co host and listening.

One thing I always advise in our podcasting workshops is to create a 'promo pack' for your guest. In a short email include things that will make it easy for your guest to share the episode that they star in, you could include - a sample tweet - an audiogram - a pull quote image - a blog post, At the same time, this is a wonderful opportunity to follow-up and say thank-you again for their time.

Find someone to speak on a trending topic on your industry; what’s the chatter going on and who is best to speak to it? Ask a guest host to join you that you want to do business with - it’s a good way to get in front of potential clients. Don’t sell your services - keep the conversation informative; no one likes listening to a sales pitch.

Make sure whomever you choose to be your co host, they share the same level of passion to do the podcasts as you do. Even if they are really good working across from you, if they don't feel the same desire to do the work involved, you will eventually feel they are a drag on the show. I have said this before, doing podcasts is work and require a huge time commitment to be successful. Make sure your co host knows and shares the load.

From my experience, when my attitude has been about how my platform can help others and I have a genuine desire to add value for my guest and those who listen, the outcomes take care of themselves.