🏆 Reboot: How to pitch your podcast to year-end ‘best of’ lists

Plus, Tink's very own podcast Feed The Queue returns!

Shreya here! When I was but a child Two years ago, I wrote a Podcast Marketing Magic issue about how to pitch your podcast to year-end podcast ‘best of’ lists. Well, much has changed since then. Tink turned five, we bid adieu to many great podcasts like this one, low-rise jeans made a comeback, and we got a second Beetlejuice. 

So, here I am sharing a refreshed version of that old post. Scroll to see some podcast ‘best of’ lists we know, we love, and we sincerely hope make a comeback this year!

Let’s get to it! 

Start with research 

✅ Start by creating a list of what publications and journalists typically create end-of-year lists. (Scroll down to see some past lists we know and love!) 

✅ Create a list of 10-15 publications and/or writers you want to include on your outreach.

✅ Make careful note of what they’ve called their lists in the past and what kind of podcasts and/or episodes have they included. 

✅ Cast a wide net and go deeper. A simple Google search is a good place to start. However, look beyond the first page to see what comes up. Often, the first page throws lists made by bigger publications. These are not bad to include on your outreach list but they might not all be relevant to you.

Essential elements of your pitch

🖖 A nod to their past list, if relevant

If they’ve published before, make sure to peruse through their list. Maybe even give an episode or two a listen. This is a great way to assess if your podcast would be a good fit for this list. Plus, you can always mention it in your pitch!

🎙️Your why 

✅ Why did you choose them to pitch to? 

✅ Why should they choose you for their list? 

✅ Why should their readers/listeners know about your podcast?

🏅 Your most relevant episodes

Your best episode might not mean the episode you had most fun creating. It could be the one that has the highest number of downloads or most listener engagement. When in doubt, put yourself in a new listener’s shoes and pick the episode you think they might enjoy the most. 

🎞️ Your trailer or an episode zero! 

This just makes it easier for them to taste test your podcast. (But, what IS an episode zero even?)

Pitch to relevant writers

In addition to publications, consider pitching your podcast to relevant writers in your field. Even if they have not curated a list in the past, you can pitch your and other shows to them.

➡️ You never know what might get their wheels turning! This might happen when pitching to writers/publications in your niche. Maybe a food magazine or travel blog has posted about some podcasts, but never made a best of list at the end of the year. Now’s your chance to encourage and help!

Make it about more than yourself

💛 Most folks receiving these pitches are busy. A great way to catch their attention and earn their appreciation is by suggesting more than just your show. This works especially well if you’re pitching to a list of podcasts in a specific genre. It’s also a great way to platform fellow creators.

A listener yourself? Make your own list! 

📝 The best way to make it about more than yourself is to highlight other podcasts. If you have a list brewing in your head, put it on paper and publish it. What better way to make yourself known?

Year-end lists we know and love: 

✨ Here are some wonderful lists to consider pitching yourself to, if they plan to return this year:

• The Guardian’s Best Podcasts List

• Vulture’s Best Podcasts List

• CBC’s Best Podcasts List

• TIME’s Best Podcasts List

• The Bingey List: Bingeworthy’s year-end list

  • I also really enjoyed The Cringey List.

Sidebar: keep your eyes peeled for more Audio Delicacies from Tink too. While we don’t accept pitches, we do hope to serve up a platter of podcasts you’ll love.

With these tips, we’ve set you on the right path to pitch your show for end-of-year lists. 

🎙️From The Desk of Tink

To me, podcasts that engage in difficult discussion in favor of getting a bigger conversation started are the backbone of audio. That’s why I’ve been loving and learning from Re-form. Re-form is in keeping with Tablet Magazine’s reputation for thoughtful discussions on Jewish culture and politics through popular shows like Unorthodox. The podcast features Rabbi Diana and co-host Josh Kross conversing on the key challenges facing one of America’s largest Jewish movements. They explore everything from patrilineal descent to Zionism to intermarriage — all with thought-provoking insights that feel both timely and essential.

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Before I let you go, I wanted to give a HUGE shoutout to the Tink team behind Feed The Queue. Producers Andreea Coscai and Devin Andrade are back with a season four of our podcast discovery podcast. On the first episode, they are joined by Wil Williams who introduces us to the brilliant CBC podcast Tested.

Next week, Wil shares how to plan your podcast’s holiday programming!

Until then, stay curious!

Shreya