The Podcast Assistant

Jen Plahm

Founder of The Podcast Assistant

  • 17 years in PR and media relations
  • Global PR, primarily travel and tourism
  • Gold Coast, Australia and Chicago
  • Woman-owned and founded

About Jen

I'm Jen Plahm, a global PR professional with 17 years of experience in PR and media relations, primarily in travel and tourism. I've worked across the US and Australia, building media relationships and developing campaigns for destinations, tourism organisations and travel brands.

The idea for The Podcast Assistant came from my own experience pitching clients to podcasts. While doing pro bono PR for Zan Times, an exiled media organisation led by Afghan women, I realised just how much time it took to find the right shows and the right contacts. Hours of searching, researching and tracking down contact details often came before the pitching even began.

I knew there was an opportunity to make that process easier. I also knew that expensive media databases weren't accessible to everyone, particularly solo PR professionals, small businesses and nonprofits. I built The Podcast Assistant to make podcast research and outreach more efficient and affordable, giving more people the opportunity to connect with the right hosts and audiences.

I'm also a big believer in the value of podcasting itself. Podcasts give people the chance to hear someone speak in their own words, answer questions and share their expertise in a longer conversation. That kind of connection matters, both for the guest and the audience.

What I believe about podcast pitching

The right fit matters.

Finding a podcast is easy. Finding the right show for a particular guest, audience and story takes research. That's where good pitching begins.

Good outreach starts with good research.

Know the host, understand what they've covered recently and have a clear reason for getting in touch. A relevant pitch is more useful than a generic one sent to hundreds of shows.

Access to media opportunities shouldn't depend on your budget.

Small businesses, independent PR professionals and nonprofits should have access to the research and contacts they need to do good work, too.

Podcasting works because it's human.

Long-form conversations let audiences hear people explain their ideas, respond to questions and speak in their own words. That's an opportunity to build credibility and earn trust.

What it does

Podcast outreach software for people and agencies who pitch podcasts anywhere in the world, from the first search to a booked guest spot. The Podcast Assistant is based in Australia.

  • Search podcasts by topic, country and how recently they posted.
  • Get host and producer contact details for a show, with each contact's role shown.
  • Draft a pitch for each show, written around its recent episodes, and send it from your own Gmail or Microsoft 365.
  • Track every pitch from pitched to booked, with a weekly email listing pitches that have had no reply for 7 days or more.

Who it suits best

Anyone pitching themselves or a client onto podcasts, from founders, authors and experts to agencies booking guests for the people they represent. It lists active Australian and New Zealand shows publicly, with their topics, when they last posted and whether they feature outside guests. Browse the list of active Australian and New Zealand podcasts, or go straight to Australian shows or New Zealand shows.

Pricing

Plans start at $129 AUD a month. Every plan includes a 14-day free trial, and no credit card is needed to start. See the plans and limits.

In the press

Learn more

Try it free for 14 days

Search shows, find contacts and draft your first pitch. No credit card needed.

Try it free for 14 daysNo credit card needed

Questions: jen@thepodcastassistant.com