Streamlined Podcaster: Tips to Help Solo Podcasters Save Time and Create Great Content My "Brown M&Ms Test" for Filtering Bad Podcast Pitches
Remember Van Halen's famous "no brown M&Ms" rider clause? It wasn't because they were divas - it was a genius test to make sure venues actually read their contract. I've borrowed this concept to create my own screening system for podcast guest pitches.
With 4-8 pitches hitting my inbox daily (and most being AI-generated garbage), I needed a better way to separate serious guests from spray-and-pray agencies. In this episode, I share the exact screening question I use that instantly reveals whether someone actually researched my show or just copy-pasted a ChatGPT template.
I'll also share some real examples of terrible pitches I've received (spoiler: one agency sent me the SAME pitch twice for different shows), plus the simple criteria that save me hours each week in pitch evaluation.
What you'll learn:
- Why Van Halen's M&Ms clause was brilliant (and life-saving)
- My specific screening question that AI can't fake
- Real examples of hilariously bad AI-generated pitches
- The exact criteria I give to agencies to stop wasting my time
- How this system helped me find amazing guests like Jackie Schiff and Elizabeth Howell
What's your "Brown M&Ms test"? Share it at streamlinedfeedback.com