Podcast Guest Prep Sheet
A short prep sheet sent ahead of the call is the difference between a nervous, rambling guest and a confident one. This template covers logistics, talking points, and tech checks so your guests show up ready to deliver.
PodcastingPDF + CSV5 sectionsfree, no paywall
What you get
- A guest-facing prep sheet covering logistics and what to expect
- A talking-points section so the guest arrives with stories ready
- A tech-check list to prevent audio disasters mid-record
- Editable CSV for your records plus a branded PDF to send guests
How to use this template
- 1. Send it 2-3 days ahead. Email the prep sheet a couple of days before recording: enough time to prepare, recent enough that it won't get buried.
- 2. Set the logistics clearly. Confirm the date, platform link, expected length, and format so the guest knows exactly what they're walking into.
- 3. Prime their stories. Share the themes and a few anchor questions so the guest arrives with specific stories instead of improvising flat answers.
- 4. Make them do a tech check. Ask the guest to confirm headphones, a quiet room, and a wired connection. Most bad guest audio is preventable with this one step.
Still choosing the tool you will run this in? Compare two side by side, or read how each profile is built in our review methodology.
What's inside
2 of 5 sections shown; the remaining 3 come with the free download.
What is a podcast guest prep sheet?
A podcast guest prep sheet is the one-page document a host sends a guest a few days before recording. It covers the logistics, the themes you plan to cover, two or three anchor questions, and a short tech check the guest runs on their own headphones, room, and connection.
Guests are usually not podcasters. They do not know whether to wear headphones, how long this will take, or whether they are allowed to mention their own work. Answering that in advance removes most of the pre-record nerves and prevents the echo and room noise that no amount of editing will fix.
Logistics
The practical details the guest needs. Fill and send as-is.
- Recording date & time
- e.g. Tue, June 23, 10:00 AM ET
- Platform & join link
- e.g. Riverside: link sent day-of
- Expected length
- e.g. About 35 minutes recorded
3 more sections and the PDF + CSV are behind the free download.
Tools that help with this
The template does the thinking; these are the products creators run it in. The full software directory has the rest.
Riverside
Riverside is a cloud-based podcast and video recording platform that records locally on each participant's device, in up to 4K video and 48kHz WAV audio.
$0/mo
Zencastr
Zencastr is a browser-based podcast recording platform that records each participant locally and adds AI editing, hosting, and monetization.
$0/mo
Notion AI
Notion AI is an AI writing and productivity assistant built directly into Notion's workspace.
$0/mo
Podkite
Podkite is a podcast analytics platform that tracks chart rankings, aggregates reviews across platforms, and offers Kitelinks for marketing attribution.
$0/mo
Categories to browse: Podcast Recording Software.
Frequently asked questions
What is a podcast guest prep sheet?
It is a one-page brief sent to a guest before recording that covers the logistics, the conversation themes, a couple of anchor questions, and a tech check. Its job is to get the guest to the call calm, prepared, and sounding good.
What should a podcast guest prep sheet include?
Three things: logistics (date, link, length, format), talking points (themes and a few anchor questions plus what to plug), and a tech check. Together they remove guest anxiety and prevent the most common audio and pacing problems.
How do I stop guests from having bad audio?
Send a tech check in advance and ask guests to use wired headphones, a quiet room, and a wired connection, then run a 5-minute levels check before recording. Most poor guest audio is echo or room noise that's entirely preventable.
When should I send the prep sheet?
Two or three days before the recording. Any earlier and it gets buried; any later and the guest has no time to find decent headphones or think about a story. Send the join link separately on the morning of, so it sits at the top of their inbox.
Will a prep sheet make the conversation sound rehearsed?
Only if you send the full question list. Send themes and two or three anchor questions instead, and keep your sharpest question unannounced. Guests who know roughly where you are heading give better answers; guests who have drafted them give worse ones.