iheart media Q&A

Hi there!

If you’ve ever hit send on a pitch and prayed to the podcast gods for a reply! Well, this is gonna be your new cheat sheet!

We sat down with the Talent Executive and Executive Producer at iHeart Media—who oversees 30+ weekly podcasts (plus Seacrest, Mario Lopez, and KTLA) to find out…what makes a pitch land and what she’s looking for in 2025 guests.

She manages so many pop-culture podcasts, that this will be a one-stop shop kinda pitch! Whether you rep The Real Housewives or starting your own recap podcast, this conversation is packed with great intel.

Enjoy and let us know your thoughts!

Tracey
Interview Hub

PS: if you have a client doing press, submit to be featured!

Q: What trends are you looking at for 2025? Are you focused on bringing in more Gen Z guests? Are you prioritizing creators or social media followings?

Amy: Gen Z is a priority. Beyond that, it comes down to recognizable talent and recognizable shows. For example, if you have someone from White Lotus, I would book any of them right now. The Handmaid’s Tale, The Traitors, Dancing with the Stars, The Bachelor, Real Housewives—we’ll book just about anyone from those shows. It’s about being recognizable, which doesn’t always mean being the most famous. It’s more about being a pop culture figure—what we call Us Magazine celebrities.

Q: When you have a successful podcast, what data points define that success?

Amy: A million downloads per month is a huge indicator of success.

Q: Many independent podcasters follow us and handle their own booking. Do you have any advice for them on landing high-profile guests?

Amy: The biggest thing is having an audience—ensuring you have solid download numbers. Also, focus on compelling, click-worthy content. That doesn’t mean it has to be gossipy or negative, just interesting and unique.

Q: Outside of iHeart, what are you watching or listening to? Any podcasts, newsletters, or media sources you follow to stay on top of pop culture?

Amy: I follow People Magazine, Us Magazine, E!, The New York Times, Page Six, and a variety of entertainment sites. I also watch a lot of TV—if I’m gravitating toward a show, chances are others are too. I consume a lot of cable news and rely on social media algorithms to surface relevant trends. The rewatch space is also important—shows like Sex and the City, Gilmore Girls, Prison Break, 24, and Suits are being discovered by younger audiences, and that influences our bookings.

Q: Are you booking high-profile creators?

Amy: For some reason, we don’t see much crossover between YouTube and mainstream TV, podcast, or radio bookings. There are exceptions, but in general, the audiences don’t overlap. People who watch YouTubers tend to stay in that ecosystem rather than transitioning to traditional media.

Q: Is there one episode from an iHeart show that stands out as a major success?

Amy: There are two types of standouts.

First, the major headline-making episodes—like Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’ first podcast, Chris Harrison’s debut podcast, or Pod Meets World when they’ve had high-profile guests. Rachel Leviss’ (Scandoval) first interview was also with iHeart, and that was huge.

Then there are the niche successes. For example, if you’re a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you’re listening to Call It What It Is with Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington. It does really well because it leans into what fans love. The same goes for our Housewives podcast—it has a dedicated audience that shows up. The key is serving the fans of that niche well.

Q: Given how fragmented media has become, do you have any overall advice for people trying to launch a podcast?

Amy: It’s overwhelming how much content is out there. My best advice is to be really clear on what your niche is. If you’re a Gilmore Girls podcast, be a Gilmore Girls podcast. If you cover Housewives, go all in on that. You can follow your subjects into other shows like The Traitors or Dancing with the Stars, but your audience should always know exactly what to expect from you. A strong, focused identity is key. Also, have a clear elevator pitch—a 30-second explanation of what your show is. Everything should filter from that so fans and guests know what they’re getting.

Some Top iHeart Media Podcasts: