If you host a podcast, or you want to appear as a guest on other people's shows, sooner or later someone will ask for your "one sheet." It is one of the simplest marketing documents in podcasting, and also one of the most useful. A good one saves everyone time: the person reading it can decide in a minute or two whether a collaboration makes sense, and you avoid writing the same long introduction email again and again.
This guide explains what a podcast one sheet is, how it differs from a media kit, what to put on it, and how to put one together without overthinking it.
What is a podcast one sheet?
A podcast one sheet is a short document, usually a single page shared as a PDF, that introduces you or your show to someone you would like to work with. Podcast hosting company Castos describes it as a document that gives potential guests information about your podcast, including the show's name, a brief description and your contact details, and optionally a list of recent guests or topics you have covered. Podcast research tool Rephonic describes it as a PDF that summarizes the value you offer on one easy-to-read page.
There are two common versions:
- The show one sheet. Written by a host and sent to potential guests. It answers the questions a guest (or their assistant) is likely to ask: what the show is about, who listens, how often it publishes and how to book a slot.
- The guest one sheet. Written by someone who wants to be booked on shows and sent to hosts. According to Castos, this version might include a short elevator pitch, books or other content the guest has created, press mentions, accomplishments and anything else a host should know before an interview.
Both versions do the same job: they put the essential facts in one place so the conversation can move quickly.
One sheet vs media kit
People sometimes use the two terms interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Castos notes that a media kit is similar to a one sheet but also includes statistics about the show, such as download numbers and listener demographics. Rephonic makes the same distinction: a one sheet generally leaves out podcast stats and ad rates, which belong in a media kit.
A simple way to think about it:
- Send a one sheet when you are introducing yourself to a potential guest or host.
- Send a media kit when you are talking to sponsors or advertisers, who will want detailed audience metrics.
If you are trying to attract a high-profile guest, Castos suggests a media kit with more detail may sometimes be the better choice. For most first contacts, though, a one sheet is enough.
What to include on a podcast one sheet
There is no official template, but the guides published by podcast companies agree on a core set of elements. Castos suggests starting with these basics:
- A headshot
- Your name
- The name of the podcast
- The podcast website
- Topics you cover
- What you are an expert on
- Who your audience is
- Social media and email contacts
- Audience stats (if you choose to share them)
- Your production schedule
- A scheduling link
Not every item fits every situation. A guest one sheet usually leans on the bio, expertise and talking points; a show one sheet leans on the audience, format and booking details.
The headshot
Rephonic recommends a headshot near the top of the page, and Matchmaker.fm, a platform that connects podcast hosts and guests, lists a headshot as one of the things every one sheet should include. Rephonic advises using a high-resolution photo, and Castos suggests a high-resolution photo in which you look friendly and welcoming.
The bio
The bio is arguably the most important text on the page. Castos, Rephonic and Matchmaker.fm all recommend writing it in the third person. The practical reason, as Castos and Rephonic point out, is that a host may read it aloud to introduce you on the show. Rephonic advises keeping it concise, and both Castos and Rephonic advise avoiding subjective language and opinions; Castos suggests including your biggest accomplishments.
Topics and talking points
List the subjects you can speak about, or the topics your show covers. Castos notes this helps the reader understand whether there is potential to work together, and that it is okay to be broad here for the sake of brevity. If you are pitching yourself as a guest, include a few specific angles a host could build an episode around.
Contact details and links
Make it easy to reply. Include an email address you check often, your website and the social profiles where people can learn more about you. Rephonic adds a practical warning: confirm that every link in the PDF works before you send it, because broken links make you look less professional.
How to make a podcast one sheet
You do not need design software or a designer. Rephonic made its example one sheet in Canva, and Castos and Matchmaker.fm both recommend Canva as a free, simple design option; any document or design tool that exports to PDF should also work.
- Gather your facts first. Write the bio, the topic list and the contact block in a plain document before thinking about layout.
- Keep it to one page. Rephonic warns against cramming too much onto the page, which makes it look cluttered and confusing; save the rest for after the booking is made.
- Use structure. Castos recommends using rows and columns, white space, borders and background colors to divide the page into distinct sections so the reader can take it in quickly.
- Match your branding. Castos and Rephonic both suggest using your existing brand or website colors, so the page feels consistent with the rest of your presence.
- Write plainly. Clear language beats clever wording. The reader should be able to answer "what value does this person or show offer?" at a glance.
- Export to PDF and test it. Open the file on a phone and a computer, and click every link.
How to use it
A one sheet supports your pitch; it does not replace it. Castos is explicit on this point: the one sheet is supplementary information and should not replace a proper pitch, so you should still put information about yourself in the body of your email (though not too much). Matchmaker.fm notes that you do not strictly need a one sheet to get booked, but that having one to hand helps, and because you can reuse it over and over it needs little upkeep. A sensible habit is to keep the latest version somewhere easy to reach, so you can attach it to a pitch or pass it to a host who asks for your bio before a recording.
Finally, treat the one sheet as a living document. Update it when your show changes format, when you publish something new, or when a host asks for a specific detail you did not include. Castos estimates that creating one should take about 30 minutes, which makes it one of the quickest upgrades you can make to your podcast outreach.
Quick checklist
- One page, saved as a PDF
- Headshot near the top
- Third-person bio that a host could read aloud
- Topics or talking points
- Audience description (stats only if you want to share them; detailed metrics go in a media kit)
- Contact email, website, social links and a booking link
- All links tested
- Sent alongside a proper pitch, never instead of one
