Should Podcast Guests Ever Pay to Be on a Show

Guest appearances are one of the most reliable engines of growth for interview-style podcasts. A great guest brings their story, their network, and their own distribution channels. Which means every episode becomes a shared marketing opportunity. That’s the power of podcast cross promotion.

But lately, a trend has started to take root. More and more hosts are introducing podcast guest fees, charging founders, authors, or consultants to appear on their shows. As someone who books guest spots professionally, I get questions about this almost weekly.

And yes, I’m biased. My clients don’t just want to talk, they want to earn authority, connect with aligned hosts, and grow their reach through credible guest appearances. So when I see hosts charge guests a fee to appear, I raise an eyebrow. Not because monetization is wrong, but because it might not be your smartest long-term move.

Let’s talk about the real opportunity, and the real risks, behind paying for podcast appearances.

 

Why Podcast Guest Fees Are a Growing Trend

What’s behind the rise of podcast guest fees

We’re living in the golden age of podcasting. But that also means the competition is stiff. With thousands of new shows launching each month, podcasters are looking for ways to cover editing, publishing, and marketing costs. Charging an appearance fee can seem like a fast path to recoup production investments.

Some hosts justify these fees based on their podcast’s ranking in Apple or Spotify. Others simply present it as a pay-to-play model, with a basic pitch that says, “you’re going to get visibility, so it’s worth paying for.” But the question is: does that model scale? Or could it drive away the very guests who’d help your show grow?

A PR perspective on podcast guest fees

I’ve worked with founders who have paid to appear on shows. I’ve also seen them turn down amazing opportunities because the host requested a fee with no clear audience metrics or value proposition. From a public relations standpoint, charging guests flips the value equation. You're asking someone who brings expertise, story, and promotion to also foot the bill.

If you're considering podcast guest fees as your monetization strategy, I encourage you to ask: is this fee actually aligned with the type of podcast guest you want to attract?

 

What Hosts Risk When They Charge Guests

Podcast cross promotion is the real engine of growth

Want to know how to promote a podcast sustainably? Make it easy for high-quality guests to say yes, and even easier for them to share the episode once it's live. Many guests will naturally amplify your show through social media, LinkedIn, or their email newsletter.

This is where true podcast cross promotion happens. And this unpaid visibility often reaches far beyond what you’d get by collecting a one-time guest fee.

How to be a guest on a podcast without paywalls

More professionals are asking how to be a guest on a podcast to build authority in their niche. But when they land on a booking page that asks them to pay $150 to appear, the signal is clear: this isn’t an editorial opportunity, it’s an ad.

And while some are open to getting paid opportunities, most guests may hesitate to align with a platform that feels more like a cash grab than a collaborative media experience.

 

Smarter Ways to Monetize Your Podcast Without Guest Fees

How to monetize a podcast with brand sponsorships

Here’s what I’ve seen work well: treat the guest experience as editorial, but build monetization into the structure. Some hosts offer premium upgrades, not to speak, but to be featured as a brand. That means logo placement on episode art, a 30-second sponsor read, and links in show notes.

This model allows you to monetize your podcast while keeping the core interview accessible to guests bringing strong stories. It’s a mutually beneficial setup where both visibility and credibility stay intact.

How to monetize a podcast on YouTube without charging guests

If you're wondering how to monetize a podcast on YouTube, you're not alone. The visual side of podcasting creates new ways to earn, like mid-roll ads, affiliate partnerships, and behind-the-scenes content for subscribers. You can also package clips for YouTube Shorts or reels to drive discovery and build a loyal subscriber base.

None of this requires charging your guests. Instead, focus on delivering engaging, SEO-rich conversations that keep audiences watching longer. That’s how you build real influence and revenue without gatekeeping appearances.

 

Can You Monetize Podcasts Without Losing Credibility

Absolutely. If you're asking, can you monetize podcasts, or how do you monetize your podcast, think beyond the obvious. Monetization isn’t just about ad reads or PayPal links, it’s about trust.

When a podcast audience senses authenticity, they’re more likely to follow, subscribe, and engage. That trust can translate into paid courses, premium episodes, merchandise, or even referral sponsorships. None of these rely on charging your guest booking pipeline.

If you do decide to monetize your guest spots, be crystal clear. Present it as part of a larger package, and show data: downloads per episode, audience breakdowns, conversion rates. That transparency makes the difference between looking strategic and looking desperate.

 

Guests Aren’t Just Talking, They’re Fueling Your Show’s Growth

How to get on a podcast as a guest and help it grow

Whether you’re new to outreach or trying to get booked on podcasts, the best guests are the ones who view appearances as a partnership. They bring energy, preparation, and thoughtful engagement. The kind that builds repeat listeners.

Guest on your podcast, and you’re giving them a platform. But they’re giving you something too: a story worth telling, and an audience that might never have found you otherwise.

How to promote a podcast through guest-led content

The best promotion often happens after the mic goes off. A strong guest will share the episode, pull quotes, or even repurpose the insights into blogs and carousels. This is the kind of long-tail distribution that podcasters should be tapping into, not charging for.

When both sides treat the podcast as a collaborative asset, you build compound value. Your show gets real distribution. Your guest gets real reach. That’s the kind of marketing flywheel that no per episode fee can compete with.

 

Final Take: Podcast Guest Fees Shouldn’t Be the Norm

My take as a PR strategist on podcast guest fees

I’m not here to say never pay for a podcast spot. Sometimes there’s value in a niche, paid guest feature, especially if there’s data and strong branding included. But broadly speaking, podcasts get paid in visibility, content reuse, and SEO traction. Asking them to also pay to appear on a podcast? That’s often where you lose them.

Especially if they’re already investing in someone like me to do the strategy, guest booking, and follow-up. Your guest or podcast host relationship should feel like a win-win, not a withdrawal.

Let’s make it easier to get on great podcasts

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Don’t make it harder for aligned experts to appear for free. Don’t block your show’s growth by filtering guests through a payment wall.

Instead, rethink how you want to grow. Use smart design, clear pitch decks, and better distribution to attract the right partners. If you want to get more exposure, the best way isn’t to charge guests but it’s to work with them.

Want to learn how to monetize your podcast and still attract top guests?
Let’s talk. I’ll help you build a visibility-first strategy that benefits everyone involved, no transaction required.