What should a podcast intro include?
A podcast intro needs three things: the show name, who it is for, and the promise of each episode. Add the host’s name if the show is personality-driven. Anything else (sponsor thank-yous, housekeeping, “how’s everyone doing”) belongs after the episode hook, not before it.
Many shows split the open into two parts: a fixed show intro voiced by an announcer over music, recorded once and reused, and a per-episode hook the host reads live. The scripts below cover both. The announcer part is where an AI voice is most useful, because it stays identical every week.
How long should a podcast intro be?
| Part | Length | Approx. words (150 wpm) | Who voices it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold open clip | 10–45 seconds | Clip from the episode | Guest or host |
| Show intro (announcer) | 10–20 seconds | 25–50 | AI announcer or host |
| Episode hook | 15–30 seconds | 38–75 | Host |
| Mid-roll ad transition | 3–6 seconds | 8–15 | AI announcer or host |
| Outro | 15–30 seconds | 38–75 | AI announcer or host |
Leave 2–4 seconds of music before the first word and let the music fade under the voice.
Announcer-style show intros by genre
- 1. Interview show
Every week, one founder sits down to tell the story they don’t put on LinkedIn. The near-misses, the bad hires, the day they almost quit. This is [Second Draft], with your host, [Dana Cole].
- 2. True crime
Small towns keep their secrets longer. On [Cold County], we reopen forgotten cases from rural America, one county at a time. Some of these stories have never been told outside the town where they happened. Listener discretion is advised.
- 3. Business and marketing
You’re listening to [The Main Street Marketing Show], the podcast for local business owners who want more customers without a giant ad budget. Practical ideas, real examples, and no jargon. Here’s your host, [Marcus Bell].
- 4. Personal finance
Money is personal, but it doesn’t have to be confusing. Welcome to [Paycheck to Plan], where we answer real listener questions about budgets, debt and retirement in plain English. Let’s get into it.
- 5. Comedy or pop culture
Two friends, one couch, and way too many opinions about reality TV. This is [Rose Ceremony Recap]. We watch it so you don’t have to. Well, you should still watch it. But then listen to us.
- 6. Faith and church
Welcome to [Morning Bread], a ten-minute devotional from [Grace Community Church]. Grab your coffee, open your Bible, and let’s spend a few quiet minutes in the Word together.
- 7. Sports
From Friday night lights to Sunday afternoon, this is [Fourth and Long], your weekly look at [Texas] high school and college football. Scores, storylines and the plays everyone is talking about. Let’s kick it off.
- 8. Health and wellness
This is [Steady], a podcast about building healthy habits that actually stick. No fads, no extremes, just small changes backed by common sense. Here’s [Dr. Priya Shah].
- 9. Kids and family
Hey, explorers! It’s time for [Why Wonder], the show that answers the big questions kids ask, like why the sky is blue and where the sun goes at night. Ready? Let’s wonder together!
Episode hook templates for the host
- 10. The guest setup
My guest today built a ten-person bakery into [forty] locations across [Ohio] without taking a single investor. But the part of her story that stuck with me was what happened in year two, when she almost lost all of it. We’ll get there. First, let’s go back to the beginning.
- 11. The listener question
This week’s question comes from [Ashley in Phoenix]. She wants to know if she should pay off her car loan early or put that money into her 401k. It’s a great question, and the answer depends on one number. Let’s figure out what it is.
- 12. The cold open bridge
That was [Detective Ray Holloway], describing the moment he realized the alibi didn’t hold up. On today’s episode: the night of [March third, nineteen ninety-one], and the phone call that changed everything.
Ad break and outro scripts
- 13. Mid-roll transition
We’ll be right back after a quick word from the people who keep this show running.
- 14. Back from break
And we’re back. Before the break, [Dana] was telling us about the night the oven caught fire.
- 15. Standard outro
Thanks for listening to [Second Draft]. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show wherever you get your podcasts and share it with one friend who’s building something. New episodes drop every [Tuesday]. See you next week.
- 16. Review request outro
That’s our show. If [Paycheck to Plan] has helped you even a little, the best way to say thanks is to leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other people find us. Send your questions to [the email in the show notes], and we might answer yours next week.
- 17. Legal disclaimer outro
[Paycheck to Plan] is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Please talk to a licensed professional about your own situation. Thanks for listening.
Which announcer voice fits my podcast?
| Genre | Voice style | Speed | Music pairing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview and business | Confident, polished announcer | Normal | Light electronic or acoustic |
| True crime and mystery | Deep, slow narrator | Slightly slower | Dark ambient pad |
| Finance and education | Calm, clear mid-range voice | Normal | Soft piano or lo-fi |
| Comedy and pop culture | Bright, playful voice | Slightly faster | Upbeat pop |
| Faith and devotional | Warm, gentle voice | Slower | Soft piano or strings |
| Kids | Cheerful storyteller voice | Normal | Playful ukulele or bells |
How do I make a podcast intro with an AI voice?
- Write the fixed introPick a template above, add your show name and host, and read it aloud with a timer. Aim for 10–20 seconds.
- Generate the announcer voicePaste the script into the box at the top of this page. Try a few announcer, narrator or news-style voices and choose one that matches your music.
- Tune the pacingUse a period for a full stop before the show name and a comma for a short beat. Lower the speed slightly for serious shows.
- Make the musicCreate a short, royalty-free bed with the intro music generator, or use music you already own.
- Mix and exportIn Audacity, GarageBand or Descript, start the music, bring the voice in after 2–3 seconds, lower the music under the voice, then fade out. Export and drop it at the start of every episode.
Want a full podcast intro kit?
The podcast intro generator page walks through voice and music together. If you voice full episodes or long show notes with AI, SpeechmaPRO.com converts up to 10,000 characters at once with no ads.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an AI voice for my podcast intro?
How long should a podcast intro be?
Can I use the same intro for every episode?
Where do I get intro music?
Will Spotify or Apple Podcasts accept AI voice intros?
Can I clone my own voice for the intro?
Make better voiceovers, faster
- New voices and features the day they launch
- Script templates and tricks that make AI voices sound human
- Creator stories, community picks and early access
