Alright, let's get this done. You want to find the right podcasts for your PR clients, not just any podcast. Generic searches on Spotify or Apple? Forget it. That’s like fishing with a giant net and hoping for a goldfish. What you need are precision tools. Specifically, you need a podcast search engine that lets you slice and dice through millions of shows to find those perfect PR gems.
This isn't just about typing in a keyword. This is about mastering the art of the filter, the kind of stuff that turns a wild goose chase into a targeted strike. If you're serious about PR, you need to get serious about how you use your podcast search filters. Let's dive into how Podseeker lets you do exactly that.
The Non-Negotiables: Starting Your Podcast Search Smart
Before you even think about fancy stuff, there are some baseline filters every PR pro should have tattooed on their brain. These are the ones that cut out 70% of the noise right off the bat.
Active Shows Only, Please
Sounds obvious, right? But you’d be amazed how many podcasts are digital ghosts. They haven’t published in a year but still show up in basic searches. Podseeker lets you filter by Recency, so you can choose shows that have dropped an episode in the last month, 1-2 months, or a bit longer. If they’re not active, they’re not a target. Simple.
Do They Even Have Guests?
Here's another time-waster. You find what looks like a perfect show, do your research, then realize it’s a solo host monologue or a scripted drama. Our "Has Guests" filter is a lifesaver. One click, and you’re only looking at shows that actually bring people on.
Can You Actually Reach Them? The "Has Email" Filter
This is the holy grail for PR. You find a great show, but there’s no contact info anywhere. Infuriating. The "Has Email" filter in our podcast database ensures you’re focusing on shows where we've found a way for you to reach out. Need tips on that? Check our guide on how to contact podcast hosts.
Dialing It In: Filters That Separate the Pros from the Amateurs
Okay, basics covered. Now for the fun part – the filters that let you really pinpoint those gold-standard opportunities with your podcast search.
Audience Size: Big Fish, Small Ponds, or Just Right?
Not every client needs to be on a show with a million listeners, though it’s nice, right? Sometimes a super-engaged niche audience is way more valuable. Podseeker breaks down Estimated Monthly Listeners into sensible chunks. You can select from:
- Over 1 Million
- 100,000 to 1 Million
- 10,000 to 100,000
- 1,000 to 10,000
- 100 to 1,000
- Under 100
Match this to your client’s goals. Brand awareness? Go big. Thought leadership in a niche? Smaller, targeted shows can be perfect.
Social Clout: YouTube Subs & Instagram Followers
A podcast’s reach often extends beyond just audio. We let you filter by YouTube Subscribers and Instagram Followers using the same tiered ranges as listeners. This helps you find hosts with an active social community where your client’s appearance might get extra promotion.
Podcast Age: New & Noteworthy or Established Veteran?
The age of a podcast can tell you a lot. Are you looking for a fresh, up-and-coming show or one with a long track record? We categorize them:
Veteran: Over 5 years
Mature: 3-5 years
Established: 1-3 years
Emerging: 3-12 months
New: Under 3 months
Different ages offer different PR opportunities.
Location, Location, Location (If It Matters)
Got a client with a local focus or targeting a specific English-speaking market? Our Location filter covers key countries: USA, UK, Canada (CA), Australia (AU), South Africa (ZA), Ireland (IE), New Zealand (NZ), Singapore (SG), and more.
Host Gender & Show Ratings
Sometimes the host's gender might be relevant for your client's message or target audience. You can filter by Female, Male, or Neutral. Want to aim for critically acclaimed shows? Filter by Ratings, from 4.5-5 stars down to 1.0-3.0, or even unrated shows. Though always take ratings with a grain of salt and listen to an episode!
Big Names: Filtering by Publisher
Want to see what specific networks are producing? You can filter by Publishers like BBC, Bleav, iHeartPodcasts, and many others. This is good for seeing what the major players are up to or if your client has a specific interest in being on a network show.
The Real Magic: Category Include/Exclude and Deep Content Search
This is where your podcast search goes from good to surgical.
Category Control: The Include/Exclude Powerhouse
You know that huge list of podcast categories? From "Alternative Health" to "Wrestling"? With Podseeker, you don't just pick one. You can Include multiple relevant categories and, crucially, Exclude ones that clutter your results.
For example, you search "Health." That’s massive. But if your client is in clinical research, you can Include "Life Sciences" and "Medicine" but Exclude "Alternative Health" and "Fitness." Suddenly, your results are laser-focused. This is a game-changer for niche discovery.
Searching Within: Topics, Keywords, and Even People
Our podcast search digs deep. Don't just find titles. We look into descriptions, episode content, and more to find shows that actually discussed specific keywords like 'gene expression' or broader topics.
When you view a podcast in Podseeker, you'll see recent topics and guests listed. These are often clickable. See that Huberman discussed "gene expression"? Click it, and Podseeker runs a new search for "gene expression," showing you Huberman and other podcasts that have covered it. This interconnectedness is how you find related shows you never knew existed.
Heard "Richard Edelman" was on some great podcasts? Search his name. Podseeker will show you podcasts that have featured him as a guest or discussed him as a topic. It’s podcast-focused, so you get a list of shows, not just user profiles.
Don't Forget to Sort Your Spoils!
Once your filters have narrowed down the options, Sorting is key to prioritizing. Don't just stare at a random list. You can sort your results by Audience Size (High to Low or Low to High), Latest Episode Date, YouTube Subscribers, or Instagram Followers. This helps you decide who to research and pitch first.
Putting It All Together: From Filters to Pitches
Mastering these filters turns your podcast search from a frustrating chore into a powerful PR weapon. You’re not just finding podcasts; you’re identifying the exact right stages for your clients. And once you have that list, Podseeker helps you with the next steps, like building media lists and crafting that perfect pitch, maybe using some podcast pitch examples for inspiration.
The goal is to spend less time sifting and more time connecting. Good filters make that happen. Want to see a more general guide on finding shows? Check out how to find a podcast you'll love or want to pitch. And if you want to compare different tools, our review of the best podcast search engines is a great place to start.
Ready to try these filters yourself?
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