Most people already have a preferred app or platform to get their podcast fix. These are sometimes referred to as “Podcatchers”.

One of your jobs as a creator is to make sure you meet your audience where they are. So, you might be asking, “Where should I submit my podcast?”

The good news is… you’ve come to the right place. With a couple of clicks, I’ll help you list your show in podcast directories and apps you didn’t even know existed. Let’s get into it.

Quick-Start Podcast Distribution

If you’re short on time and just looking to get started as quickly as possible, here’s the thing. Submitting your show to Apple (which I cover in more depth below) means you’ll automatically appear in most other places podcasts are consumed.

Then, take another moment to submit your podcast to Spotify. Hosting giant Buzzsprout shows Spotify as the number-two place where podcasts are consumed.

Having your podcast on Apple and Spotify will cover around 58% of the listening market, and remember, your Apple listing gets you into a load of smaller apps, too.

That’s the bulk of the work done already. Easy, eh?

So, in summary, do a soft launch of your podcast by publishing a trailer or Episode Zero. This gives you the “one published episode” podcast directories require before you can submit to them. Then, tell Apple and Spotify about it.

Bookmark this Best Podcast Directory List guide to come back to once the dust has settled. There are still a few gaps to fill in where you can list your podcast.

Of course, if you’re ready to learn more about them right now, then read on…

Podcast Distribution Must-Knows

Just in case this isn’t quite clear yet, let’s make sure we understand how it all ties together. There are two stages to podcast distribution, and some clarity might be needed if you’re totally new to it all:

1. YOU upload your episode files to a podcast hosting platform. That’s where they’re stored on the web.
2. YOU, with the help of your hosting platform, register your podcast with the directories, apps, and platforms where podcasts are found.
3. Those apps and directories handle distribution, while your host handles delivery.

Think of your hosting platform as the central hub where you upload your content, and the following apps and directories as the places where it can be discovered and consumed.

And the good news is that submitting your podcast to directories or apps is a one-time process. Once it’s done, all of your episodes will appear in them automatically, so you only ever need to upload content to your hosting provider.

Best Podcast Directory, App, & Podcatcher List for Maximum Distribution

So now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s get that podcast distributed far and wide…

1. Apple Podcasts

Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes) is and has always been one of the top podcasting platforms. Most podcasters see the bulk of their downloads coming via Apple.

To submit to Apple Podcasts, you need to go through the Apple Podcast Connect system and navigate to My Podcasts.

You can find a full guide on how to get into Apple Podcasts / iTunes here.

Being listed in Apple Podcasts also gets you into Overcast, Podcast Addict, Castbox, and many, many more by default. If you’re serious about your podcast, submitting to Apple is ESSENTIAL.

2. Spotify

Spotify are another major player in podcasting, accounting for around 24% of overall consumption.

One of Spotify’s strengths is that you can use it to host your podcast. They also offer their podcast hosting service for free, which makes it appealing to zero-budget and dabbling hobbyist podcasters.

Spotify for Podcasters was recently rebranded as Spotify for Creators. You can log in here to submit podcasts hosted elsewhere or upload content directly to Spotify via its hosting and distribution tools.

Spotify is really pushing video podcasting right now, and if you have a visual component to your podcast, then it’s a good place to publish those, alongside YouTube.

Here’s our full guide on how to get your podcast on Spotify

3. YouTube

Video streaming giant YouTube supports podcasting, even if you don’t record a video element for your show.

Assuming you already have a YouTube/Google account, go to YouTube Studio and click the ‘create’ button in the top right corner. Then, select ‘New Podcast’. You’ll see three options:

1. Create a new podcast
2. Set an existing playlist as a podcast
3. Submit RSS feed

Submitting the RSS feed of your audio-only podcast means new episodes will be published to YouTube with static image backgrounds of your cover art as the “video”. Some hosting providers (Transistor, RedCircle, Libsyn) also have dedicated tools for publishing episodes to YouTube in this manner.

You can mark any YouTube playlist to be categorised as “a podcast”, and you can set any YouTube-uploaded content to be marked as episodes within that podcast, too.

Check out our full guide on how to put a podcast on YouTube for more details.

4. Amazon/Audible

Amazon has its finger in every pie, and podcasts are no exception. Amazon, along with its audiobook wing Audible, is becoming an increasingly popular place to find and listen to podcasts.

The process here is pretty simple. In fact, if your podcast has been around for a while, it’s probably already in there.

Nevertheless, you can still ‘claim’ your show on Amazon to access analytics and verify ownership. To do this, head over to podcasters.amazon.com and click “Add or Claim Your Podcast”.

5. iHeartRadio

The iHeartRadio app has more than 188 million registered users and can be accessed across 500+ platforms and over 2,000 connected devices, including smartphones, smart speakers, tablets, gaming consoles, TVs, wearables, virtual assistants, and in-car systems.

If your podcast already exists in Apple Podcasts, it’s likely already showing on iHeartRadio, but there’s no harm in making sure. Here’s where you can check the directory, and if it isn’t there, here’s where to submit.

6. The Podcast Index

The Podcast Index is an open-source podcast directory. This means that anyone can add to it, much like Wikipedia. As of May 2026, it is well over four and a half million podcasts big. And it’s growing fast.

The good news is that your show is probably showing here already, but if, for some reason, it isn’t, you can email them at info@podcastindex.org

Here’s our full guide on how to submit your podcast to The Podcast Index.

7. Pandora

Pandora is one of the biggest audio streaming platforms in the US and has steadily expanded its podcast offering over the past few years. Though it isn’t as dominant in podcasting as Apple or Spotify, it still has a sizeable listener base and is worth submitting to, especially if you’re targeting a US audience.

Unlike many podcast apps, Pandora has historically been a bit more selective about the shows it accepts. Nowadays, though, the submission process is much more straightforward, and many hosting providers can distribute there automatically.

If your podcast isn’t already listed, you can submit it through Simplecast Creator Connect.

8. Deezer

Deezer is a music streaming platform with podcast support built-in. It’s particularly popular in parts of Europe, Latin America, and France, and while it probably won’t drive huge download numbers for most podcasters, it’s another useful place to have your show indexed.

Submitting to Deezer is simple. If your podcast is already listed in Apple Podcasts or other major directories, there’s a good chance Deezer has already picked it up automatically. If not, you can submit your RSS feed directly through Deezer Podcasters.

9. TuneIn

You can now get your podcast on TuneIn again, Podnews reported in April 2026. In the past, TuneIn maintained a rather archaic manual submission process and possibly buckled under the strain in mid-2024. But there’s now an ‘Add a Podcast’ option in their Broadcaster Portal, making it another worthwhile place to check your show is listed!

10. What About Stitcher & Google Podcasts?

Imagine podcast distribution as a High Street or shopping centre. Some places are busy, thriving hubs, but you’ll see the odd boarded-up store here and there.

Stitcher

The once-mighty Stitcher formerly occupied second place in this list, with a share of around 5% of total podcast downloads. Sadly, the platform faded in recent years and was closed for good in August 2023.

Google Podcasts

Google Podcasts was one of Google’s half-hearted forays into podcast distribution, but the platform was a damp squib and suffered a fairly drawn-out closure between mid-2023 and 2024. It’s safe to say Google’s podcasting eggs are now firmly in the YouTube basket.

Podcast Distribution Is a One-Off, Podcast Creation Isn’t

With its recording, production, and hosting tools, Alitu brings everything you need to capture, edit, and publish your podcast into one place.

It automatically cleans up your audio and balances levels, offers instant filler-word removal, and allows you to edit audio or video simply by editing the transcript text.

Sound like a fit? Try it free for seven days and see how it works for you.

In this article, we’re going to find out how to do just that. First up, though…

Podcast Description Vs Podcast Episode Description: What’s the Difference?

Let’s clear up any potential confusion surrounding the term.

Some folks refer to single podcast episodes as “podcasts”, but “a podcast” is really the show as a whole.

So a “podcast description” wouldn’t be the text that accompanies one single episode – that’s what’s known as “show notes“.

And now that we’re definitely on the same page, let’s move on to where to write that description.

How to Write a Podcast Description: Where Does It Go?

Your podcast description is written inside your podcast hosting account – the place your show essentially “lives”.

That’ll be done when a podcaster creates their show before submitting it to the listening directories – those apps and platforms where people will find and follow it.

Unfortunately, many (and I’ve done this too!) write their podcast description as an afterthought. They stumble across a big empty text box and need to stick something in there. However, tasks like uploading their artwork and the first episode seem to be the biggest priority.

Overlook podcast descriptions at your peril, though. It’s a mistake to just quickly type something in and leave it at that.

That said, the good news is that you can edit your show summary at any time. When you update any detail inside your podcast hosting account, the changes will usually appear in all podcast directories within a few hours.

Why Is Your Podcast Description So Important?

In our 2024 Podcast Discovery Survey, we asked listeners, “When considering a new show, how important to you is…”, followed by various front-facing aspects of a podcast.

They were then asked to grade each one out of five, with five being really important, and zero being not important at all.

As you’ll see from the data in the graph, the podcast description came out on top, above even things like episode titles and frequency of new episodes.

What’s more, we ran a similar survey in 2019 and ‘podcast description’ came out on top in this question, too. So it’s beyond doubt that this is something worth paying attention to!

Is Your Podcast Description Important for Search?

It certainly can be. SEO, AEO, GEO, LLMO or whatever new term we’re using today isn’t reason alone to write a good podcast description. But it’s only going to improve your chances of showing up in any search for content on your topic.

As for apps and listening platforms, many still only search podcast names and episode titles. This will undoubtedly evolve as AI search becomes easier to integrate. But for now, your podcast description does its job once the potential listener has already found your show, but before they hit play.

6 Podcast Description Tips: How to Write a Podcast Summary

Now that we know why podcast descriptions are important and how they work, how do you write a good one? Here are our top podcast description tips.

1. What Goes In?

Again, start by thinking of it as the text on the back of a book you’ve picked up and are thinking about buying.

Or, if you’re not much of a reader, the text on the back of a video game box. Or the summary of a show on Netflix.

In fact, it’ll be helpful to look at some of these and pick through the way they’re written. Are there common themes, structures, or tones?

Try reading some descriptions in your podcast listening app, too – though this can be more hit or miss because most podcasts don’t go through a publishing process in the way books, TV shows, and video games do.

Alright, how about the things you might want to consider putting in your own podcast summary?

2. Who Is It For?

Who’s your target audience? Speak directly to them in your podcast description. Let them know that this is the podcast for them.

To do this, you need to tell them who they are. This sounds strange, but it works.

“You’re desperate to learn Spanish but only have 10 minutes daily to practice”.

Those who can relate to this statement already feel like you’ve created this show just for them. And for those who disagree, well, they’re not your potential audience…

3. What Will They Get From It?

Are you going to teach them something? Help them solve a problem or struggle? Will you be motivating, encouraging or inspiring them? Or maybe you’ll be offering to entertain them and make them laugh? Whatever they’re going to get from your podcast, tell them about it upfront.

4. Who Are You?

You don’t need to be famous or well-known to run a successful podcast. In fact, our discovery survey data shows that most listeners don’t care if they’ve never heard of you.

That said, you still want to let listeners know who they’ll be listening to. So, write a bit about yourself. If you’re a qualified expert on your topic, then great. If not, let them know you’re on a learning journey, just like they are. In this case, the show’s aim will be for the presenter and the listener to learn together.

5. What Can They Expect?

Will it be interviews? Will you be talking with a co-host? Or flying solo?

Do you release new episodes on the same day every week, or do you podcast in seasons?

Some info here will help set expectations with your potential listeners.

6. How Long Should My Podcast Description Be?

This is a bit like the question, “How long should my podcast episodes be?” – there’s no ideal length. Your show summary should be as long as it needs to be to get the message across.

But you should aim to be succinct without leaving out any good stuff.

Our media hosting pals at Captivate have a 4000-character limit in this field. Honestly, you’d need to have a very good reason to go anywhere near that. Just because you write a huge summary for your show doesn’t mean anyone will read it.

Here are some excellent examples of podcast descriptions by a few successful shows. The longest one is under 680 characters and still manages to say a lot.

7. DON’T Let AI Write It For You

AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude offer a way to generate text in seconds. There’s no doubt that AI tools can help support podcasters and do some of the heavy lifting or less enjoyable tasks for them. But writing your podcast description is an important one-off step, rather than an arduous long-term commitment.

If you plan to invest time into launching and growing a podcast, but feel you’ve no time or no creative spark to even write your description, then it could be time to rethink whether a podcast is a good fit for you right now.

Writing your description is more than just text generation. It helps you solidify your goals, commitments, and value offerings. In my opinion, it’s an essential creative exercise in the podcast planning process.

By all means, info dump everything into an LLM and get a few draft examples to help you structure your thoughts. But I’d still encourage you to write it in your own words afterwards.

When you’re behind the mic, having an in-depth conversation, AI won’t be there to help you. So keep that grey matter fit and think of writing as a gym session for your brain.

Great Podcast Description Examples

I’ve used screenshots from these podcasts inside Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Spotify, Overcast, and Podcast Addict. Here, you’ll get an idea of how they actually look – as well as read.

Dan Harris is a fidgety, skeptical ABC newsman who had a panic attack live on Good Morning America, which led him to something he always thought was ridiculous: meditation. He wrote the bestselling book, “10% Happier,” started an app — “10% Happier: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics” — and now, in this podcast, Dan talks with smart people about whether there’s anything beyond 10%. Basically, here’s what this podcast is obsessed with: Can you be an ambitious person and still strive for enlightenment (whatever that means)? New episodes every Wednesday morning.

Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world’s best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.

The longest running (and most popular) podcast for non-venture track startups, this show follow the stories of founders as they start, acquire, and grow SaaS companies. Hear when they fail, struggle, succeed, and take you with them through the tumultuous life of an entrepreneur. If you like Mixergy, This Week in Startups, or SaaStr, you’ll enjoy Startup for the Rest of Us.

Tim Ferriss is a self-experimenter and bestselling author, best known for The 4-Hour Workweek, which has been translated into 40+ languages. Newsweek calls him “the world’s best human guinea pig,” and The New York Times calls him “a cross between Jack Welch and a Buddhist monk.” In this show, he deconstructs world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, chess, pro sports, etc.), digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and tricks that listeners can use.

Podcraft is your weekly, no-nonsense guide to honing the art of podcasting, hosted by veteran creators Colin and Matthew. With over 30 years of combined experience, they cover everything from choosing the right mic to growing your audience and making money from your show. Some episodes dive deep into one topic, like titling episodes or using live events to build your brand, while others feature real-life case studies from podcasters who’ve been there and done it. Whether you’re just starting out or levelling up an existing show, Podcraft gives you the practical advice and honest insights you need to make it work.

You’ll notice that hyperlinks are rare in podcast descriptions. Most listening apps don’t even seem to support them.

Your show summary isn’t the place for links, in any case. It’s the job of this text to tempt people into hitting play. If you want to get them back to your website, then use that as your in-episode Call to Action and add them to your individual episode show notes.

There’s also a separate ‘Website’ field in your media host’s show settings where you can enter a URL. Some listening apps will show this when displaying your podcast. But again, you’re better off keeping listeners on the app so they’ll actually listen!

What Next?

You can only write a great podcast description if you’ve nailed down WHY you’re podcasting, and WHO you’re podcasting for.

For more on this, here are some handy resources.

• How to Start a Podcast: Step-by-Step
• Choosing a Podcast Topic
• Defining Your Podcast Audience
• What Makes Your Podcast Unique?

And if you’re looking for an all-in-one podcast-maker tool to save you time, money, and tech stress, then look no further than Alitu.

Alitu brings everything you need to record, edit, and publish your podcast into one place.

It automatically cleans up your audio and balances levels, offers instant filler-word removal, and allows you to edit audio or video simply by editing the transcript text.

Sound like a fit? Try it free for seven days and see how it works for you.

There’s a lot of brilliant podcast gear on the market these days. But too much choice can be overwhelming, and often, people will spend a lot more than they need to.

Listen, follow, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice!

Nobody likes to feel ripped off, so let’s look at the cost of podcast equipment based on your unique needs, wants, and budget.

What Podcast Equipment Will I Need?

The type of show you want to run will determine the equipment you need. Here, I’ll look at the different pieces of kit required to record the most common types of podcasts.

A quick heads up, too, that we sometimes use affiliate links when recommending certain products. This means we may earn a small commission if you were to buy through them, though never at any extra cost to you.

With that all said, what podcast equipment do you need, and how much does it cost?

A USB Microphone: $50-$100

A USB mic setup comes with the assumption that you’ve already got a PC/laptop/Mac, and that you’ve installed the audio-editing software Audacity, which is free. Audacity is great if you’re recording a solo show. However, if you’d like to do online/remote interviews or conversations, check out our best call recorder tools roundup.

The quality of USB mics has come on leaps and bounds these past few years. In my opinion, the best overall option remains the Samson Q2U or the ATR2100 because you can also use them with digital recorders and audio interfaces further down the line.

In our 2024 Podcast Gear Survey, the Q2U was found to be the second most popular mic. You might naturally wonder about the most popular, the Blue Yeti, but I don’t think it’s worth paying $90-$110 when you can get the (much better) Q2U for cheaper.

Aside from the mic itself, you just need to plug in some headphones. Yes, you can buy yourself a high-end pair of studio headphones, but you can just as easily use the trusty set of earbuds you have lying around. The Q2U is often found in bundle deals with headphones included.

For the vast majority of people, this is all you need to make a podcast. You can be up and running with an excellent kit for less than $100.

Naturally, there are more high-end USB mic options out there too. The Shure MV7+ or the Rode Procaster will give you top-of-the-range sound quality, but you’ll pay anywhere between $150 and $280 for the privilege. Find out more about them in our Best USB Mics roundup.

But what if you don’t own a computer, or don’t want to be tied to one for recording your podcast? Then, a smartphone setup might be more suited to your needs.

Smartphone Podcast Equipment ($45-$135)

The average smartphone offers many options for recording audio and video. In the short term, you can get away with using it without any additional equipment. Still, if you’re serious about growing an audience, you’ll want to upgrade your audio sooner or later.

We’re well-catered to for affordable smartphone audio now with the BOYA Mini and Rode Wireless Micro. Both setups are pretty similar—you plug a wireless receiver into your phone and connect a wireless transmitter (mic) to your jersey and another to that of your guest or co-host, if you have one.

But if you don’t want to use a computer or a phone, what next?

A Digital Recorder ($100-$400+)

Some podcasters naturally prefer dedicated single-use technology. If you’d rather keep your computer for work and your phone for doom-scrolling, then a digital recorder could be right up your alley.

Lower Cost Digital Recorder Setups

The Tascam DR-05X ($80) and Zoom H1n ($90) are two great entry-level digital recorders, perfect for on-the-go podcasters.

Both have built-in mics, and you can record directly into them, either solo recordings or chats with guests and co-hosts.

Sound quality will always be limited when sharing a mic, and you can optimise this setup by plugging Lavalier mics into the H1 via a splitter, though this can triple your podcast equipment cost.

Higher Cost Digital Recorder Setups

The H1’s bigger cousins, the Zoom H5 and Zoom H6 come in at between $200 and $300, respectively. These recorders are chunkier, more powerful, and can record XLR mics on multitrack. Bear in mind that you won’t pay much less than $100 for each XLR mic you use. Again, you can simply record into the recorder’s built-in mics, but this will limit your overall audio quality.

An alternative to the H5 and H6 is the Zoom PodTrak P4. At only $150, the P4 is a cheaper option, and comes with call recording capabilities. On the flip side, it doesn’t have built-in mics, so you’d need to buy at least one XLR mic to make use of it.

Mixers & Audio Interfaces ($85-$700+)

Audio interfaces are the bridge between using XLR mics and podcasting on your computer.

I’ve owned a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for about 15 years, and it remains the most popular audio interface among podcasters. Now in its 4th Generation, you’d be looking at about $200 to buy one brand new, or $140 to get the solo (one mic) version.

Focusrite has since released the podcast-focused Vocaster, too. You can get a two-mic version for $110 and a solo version for $85. I really like the Vocaster, and switched to using it after my 2i2 started to die of old age.

Mixers are an alternative to audio interfaces, but they are much less common in podcasting these days. This is because they’re overly complicated tools designed for musicians, and much of their capability can be achieved with much simpler tools (like the PodTrak P4) or software.

The Rode Rodecaster Pro 2 is as close to a traditional mixer as I’d recommend for podcasters these days. It’s the ultimate “all-in-one” podcast recorder, though it doesn’t come cheap (around $690), and that’s before you buy any XLR mics to run into it!

On the other end of the pricing scale, the PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 is a great sub-$100 option. But again, we still need to get some mics…

XLR Mics ($50-$400)

I’ve mentioned XLR mics a lot so far. You might want one (or more) to plug into your digital recorder or audio interface.

Our Best Podcasting Microphones roundup is a deep dive into the top choices on the market right now. Here’s a summary of some options, though.

• Samson Q2U/ATR2100 – sub-$100 and also works as a USB mic
• MXL 990 – sub-$100, great sound, at a low cost
• Shure MV7+ – $280 – one of the best podcasting mics around

Other Bits & Pieces: Podcast Equipment Cost FAQ

You might have some additional outgoings on top of the gear you plan to buy. Don’t worry, though, you can keep these additional podcast equipment costs pretty low.

Q: Do I need headphones?

Yes, but you can get away with using the earbuds you already own. If you want to buy a decent set of studio-quality headphones, you’d be talking $30-$40, at least.

Q: Do I need a mic stand?

Most USB mics come with desk stands, so you can get set up to record right out of the box. However, you might want to upgrade to a boom arm later on. You can pay as little as $15 for a boom arm, but a word of warning – the really cheap ones tend to be false economy.

Q: Do I need a pop filter?

Some mics come with a foam windshield, which might see you through in the short term, especially if you’re using a desk stand (which means you’ve nowhere to mount a pop filter). If you’re buying a boom arm or mic stand, it’s worth chucking in a pop filter, too. You can get one for around $10.

Q: What about cables?

If you’re using a USB mic, it’ll come with a cable that plugs directly into your computer. If you want to run XLR mics into a digital recorder or interface, then you’ll need an XLR cable for each one. You can pick one up for less than $15 if money is tight, but it’s worth spending a little more if you’re able.

Summary: How Much Does Podcast Equipment Cost?

Most people don’t need to spend more than $100 on their podcasting equipment. If you’re recording solo or online/remote conversations, a USB mic will suit you.

Best Podcast Equipment & Setup for 2026

Read article called: Best Podcast Equipment & Setup for 2026

For the other bits and pieces, if you need them, you can be anywhere from $20 to $100+.

A digital recorder setup can cost $100 (bare basics) to $300+. Running a couple of XLR mics into your computer via a USB audio interface will cost around $300.

Nobody wants to spend more than they need on podcast equipment, so make sure you’re not getting something overkill for your podcasting requirements.

If you’re spending more than $300 on your gear, make sure you’ve got a very good reason for it. Are you certain that you need everything in your shopping cart?

And Once You Choose Your Equipment…

Choose an all-in-one podcast-maker tool to save you time, money, and tech stress.

Alitu brings everything you need to record, edit, and publish your podcast into one place.

It automatically cleans up your audio and balances levels, offers instant filler-word removal, and allows you to edit audio or video simply by editing the transcript text.

Sound like a fit? Try it free for seven days and see how it works for you.

It’s a good idea to create a short promo trailer for your podcast for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, you can embed it on the front page of your website. That way, everyone who lands on your site can get an immediate taster of your content without the need to jump through any hoops.

Secondly, your trailer can be featured and played on other shows. There are entire podcasts dedicated to playing trailers. But a more effective and targeted approach would be a ‘trailer swap’ agreement between you and another podcast to promote each other to your respective audiences.

Podcast trailer example: Hostile Worlds

Having your trailer easily accessible means you might get promoted without even being aware of it, too. If another podcaster likes your work, they can download the audio and play it on their show.

The only potential downside of having a promo trailer is having a bad one. But of course, after reading this guide, that isn’t going to happen.

Let’s kick things off with a few frequently asked questions about podcast trailers.

How Long Should a Promo Trailer Be?

So the infamous podcasting “it depends” answer isn’t just as wide open here.

I’d say that having two versions of your trailer, one at 30 seconds and one at 60 seconds, will cover most bases.

If you submit a trailer to a particular podcast, they will likely have their own criteria. For example, Libsyn’s The Feed always asked for no longer than 30 seconds.

The bottom line is that trailers are pretty short, and the seconds tick by quickly. So, how do you make the most of the time you have to grab the attention of potential listeners?

What Goes in My Podcast Trailer?

You’ve always got creative license in podcasting, but there are some bare essentials here. These may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many trailers leave some of this stuff out.

The Name of Your Podcast

Yeah, you’ll want to include that…

If you don’t have one yet, check out our ultimate guide to podcast names.

What’s It About, & Who’s It For?

Don’t rely on the name of your show to tell people this valuable info. Tell them yourself. You can nail this down to a sentence or two.

A popular approach is to open with a question, like, “Are you a ___ who struggles with ___? Then join us on the ___ podcast where we help you ___.”

Or “Have you ever wondered about ___?, or what about ___? Well, these are just two of the topics you’ll find us discussing each week on the ___ podcast.”

Make sure your target audience knows this is the show for them, and that people who aren’t your target audience know that it isn’t for them.

For a deeper dive, check out Who is your podcast for?

Where to Send Them

Don’t say things like “Look us up on Facebook”, “Find us in Apple Podcasts”, or “Search YouTube for…” This is totally redundant and a waste of valuable space.

“Find us wherever you get your podcasts” is a succinct and elegant way to let the listener know you’ll meet them where they already are.

If you’re sending them to your website, it’s good practice to have a “Subscribe and Follow” page with links to all the places your show can be found.

If you don’t have a podcast website yet, check out Podpage, which can get you up and running with a great site in a few minutes (no technical knowledge needed).

The Creative Bit: Tone & Personality

So, provided you’ve got the essential details, we don’t want this to be a rigid formula that leaves every promo trailer sounding the same.

Powered by RedCircle

You want yours to sound unique, and that means getting creative. That’s a challenge with so little time available. But you wouldn’t be podcasting at all if you didn’t have a creative streak. You’ll manage!

Your promo trailer will be the first impression of your show for most of the folks who hear it, so you want to set the mood right up front. For example, if you cover your topic in a lighthearted or comedic way, how can you convey that succinctly?

Your audio quality (as well as any music or sound effects you use) will all filter into this just as much as what you actually say, too. If you run a highly-produced series, or pride yourself on your production values, be sure to demonstrate that in your trailer.

Publishing Your Podcast Trailer

When uploading your promo trailer to your podcast feed, it’s a good idea to backdate it to a date before your first episode. That way, it’ll keep your feed tidy and is easily found. 

With that said, many hosting providers now provide dedicated “trailer” tags to help identify them from standard episodes, and some directories and apps recognise these, too.

Once you’ve uploaded your trailer, embed it on your website’s home or “about” page. You can also embed it anywhere else on the site you think might be useful.

If you’re looking for podcasts to run a trailer swap with, check out Rephonic’s Podcast Audience Graph to find shows with an overlapping target audience.

How to Add Your Podcast Trailer to Spotify

A large chunk of podcast consumption (around 24%, in fact) takes place on Spotify. And, Spotify has a quick and easy way to set your podcast trailer on the platform.

Log in to your Spotify for Creators account, go to settings, and you’ll find a ‘select your trailer’ button. This means that any new listeners who find your show on Spotify will see your trailer right away. Hopefully, that will win them over to try a full episode afterwards!

How to Create a Podcast Trailer: Anything to Avoid?

I’ve already mentioned the “find us in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Overcast…” thing as a no-no. So, are there any other things you might want to leave out?

Explicit Language

Alright, I’m not saying don’t have explicit language if it’s integral to your show’s mood or tone. But do consider that it might limit where your trailer will get played.

If you absolutely do need an explicit trailer, you might consider making an alternative clean version, too.

Asking For Stuff

The only thing you want to ask people to do here is to listen to your podcast.

I’ve heard a couple of promo trailers over the years that have managed to squeeze in requests for Apple Podcasts reviews and Patreon support. That’s something you can talk to your actual listeners about, not your potential listeners.

Your trailer should be all about them, and what they’ll get from listening.

Podcast Trailer Resources & Next Steps

Still feel like you need a helping hand getting started? Our free Alitu Showplanner will generate a first draft of a podcast trailer script for you. You don’t even need to log in to use it.

Of course, making a trailer is just one tiny part of the podcast creation process. And if that process seems overwhelming or intimidating, then you might fancy trying an all-in-one podcast maker tool like Alitu.

Alitu brings everything you need to record, edit, and publish your podcast into one place.

It automatically cleans up your audio and balances levels, offers instant filler-word removal, and allows you to edit audio or video simply by editing the transcript text.

Sound like a fit? Try it free for seven days and see how it works for you.

Editing a podcast on Alitu is unbelievably simple.

Podcast editing. For complete beginners, it can be an intimidating barrier to launching a show. Many aspiring podcasters procrastinate, worrying about how they’ll actually edit their podcast episodes before publishing them.

But it’s never been easier to edit audio yourself or find someone else to do it for you.

What’s more, there’s nothing to say that you absolutely need to edit your podcast. Or, exactly how you should do it. It all depends on your own approach, content, and audience.

Here, I’d like to run through the various podcast editing options that are available.

These will depend on your budget, time constraints, and whether or not you prefer to learn new skills or outsource the stuff you’ve no interest in doing yourself.

Just before we jump into part one, a quick heads up. We use the odd affiliate link in this article, which we’d earn a small commission from if you were to buy through it. This is never at any extra cost to you, though – and we only use affiliate links for stuff we recommend and use ourselves!

Alright, let’s get on with this whirlwind tour of podcast editing…

How to Edit a Podcast

At its most basic level, podcast editing is cutting out unwanted bits from your recordings.

In almost all podcast editing software programs, this is done by showing you a visual representation of your audio, known as a waveform. You then find the parts you want to chop, highlight them, and delete them like you’d delete text in a Word document.

Podcast editing can also be done on what’s known as a multitrack. As the name suggests, you’re working with multiple audio tracks here. In a multitrack editor, you’ll drag your clips, trim them, and arrange them into a fully-fledged podcast episode. This is a common way of mixing in different segments, clips, and podcast music.

Then, there’s the production side of podcast editing. This is where you can run effects and processes designed to reduce background noise, boost volume, and gently enhance your audio.

This can be done with preset effects or plugins. Some audio editing software (like Alitu) will take care of this automatically using AI audio cleanup tools, so you don’t need to spend time learning it all.

How Long Does it Take to Edit a Podcast?

Unsurprisingly, there’s a big “it depends” answer to this one. Let’s use two different podcasters as an example.

Quick & Dirty Podcast Editing

In the first instance, our podcaster opts for a “Minimum Effective Editing” approach. This starts in the recording process, where, any time they make a mistake or get interrupted, they’ll click their fingers three times in front of the mic. This creates a very obvious visual marker in the waveform, so it’s quick and easy to chop out later on.

They’ll do a “top and tail”, chop off the unwanted stuff at the beginning and end of the recording, and use pre-sets or automation to add some music and do the production and processing work. If this show is about 30 minutes long, it’ll take no longer than 15 minutes to edit. That’s pretty fast.

Thorough Podcast Editing & Production

In our second example, our podcaster records lengthy interviews where finger-clicking isn’t really an option. They can use a notepad to jot down potential edit timecodes, but they prefer to focus 100% on the conversation. Later on, this lengthy interview will need a full listen-through, which can take double the time. As a ballpark, a one-hour recording will need two hours of editing.

Not only that, but our podcaster likes to go for the “highly produced” approach, layering in music beds for mood and effect. Picking out music from a royalty-free source and then working it into your content can easily add another hour to your podcast editing.

Production-wise, they might be interested in the granular control and maximum optimisation here, too. This would mean taking each separate recording and manually applying things like Compression and EQ. Again, this can add another hour to your workflow if you really get into the weeds.

Overall, our second podcaster could expect to spend three to five hours editing their hour-long episode.

A Rough Average Podcast Editing Time: One Hour

Both examples are on the extreme ends of the spectrum, and for most podcasters, the reality lies somewhere in the middle. If you wanted the ultimate stab in the dark figure, let’s say that podcast editing takes, on average, around an hour. But there are so many variables, caveats, and exceptions.

What Are the Podcast Editing “Rules”?

Now that we’ve covered the basics, you’ll realise that there’s no single way you “should” be editing your podcast. Indeed, there are good and bad practices, but it’s entirely up to you if you even edit your show at all.

Obviously, if you want to create a highly produced podcast or audio drama, then one way or another, that will require a fair bit of editing.

But if you’re recording yourself talking into a mic, and don’t even feel the need for any intro music, then you can get away with no editing at all.

So, how do you decide on your own approach? Here are a couple of resources to help guide you.

Beginner

For solo, co-hosted, or interview podcasts, you can get away with very little editing.

• How much editing should I do in my podcast?
• The Minimum Effective Editing approach

Advanced

Documentary and drama-style shows take a lot more podcast editing work. They can sound amazing when done well. But for most podcasters, they are overkill.

• Creating a ‘Highly Produced’ Podcast – full Season of the Podcraft Podcast
• How Do You Edit and Produce an Audio Drama Podcast?

Should I Use a DAW for My Podcast Editing?

The most common podcast editing tool is what’s known as a DAW, which stands for Digital Audio Workstation. It’s just a posh way of saying “audio editing programme”.

DAWs also let you record into them, so it’s basically like having a full recording studio on your computer, provided you have a microphone to plug into it.

The most popular beginner DAW is Audacity. It’s popular because it’s absolutely free, and it’s still more than good enough to build your podcast episode with.

But if you’re looking for a more pro-level DAW with almost infinite functions and capabilities, then Adobe Audition, Hindenburg, or Reaper might be more up your street.

Best Podcast Editing Software for Podcasters of All Levels

Read article called: Best Podcast Editing Software for Podcasters of All Levels

Below, you’ll find our complete comparison between Audacity and Audition, which will hopefully help you decide which one (if any) you’d prefer to use.

Beginner

Just looking to choose the best fit for you and your show?

• Best Podcast Editing Software for Podcasters of All Levels
• Audacity vs Adobe Audition – Which DAW Should I Use?
• Reaper Review – a Collaborative Option for Recording and Editing Podcasts

Advanced

Want to learn more about DAW-based audio terms, tools, and techniques?

• Destructive Vs Non-Destructive Editing for Podcast Production
• The Audacity Compressor – Fix Your Podcast & Audio Volume Issues
• Audacity Noise Reduction – How to Remove Background Noise
• Adobe Audition Review – Plus My Favourite Audition Tools for Podcasting

What About Podcast Editing Apps & Tools?

Podcast editing is the most common thing we’re asked about here at The Podcast Host.

That led us to develop a tool called Alitu, which practically builds your episode for you. It can handle the processing, editing, and publishing of your podcast without a DAW.

You can also record your show inside Alitu (audio or video, call recording or solo), and it has extra features like music, transcription, and built-in hosting. That means you can start publishing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and 100 other places the minute you hit ‘save’ on your first episode.

Alitu has a lot of features, but it excels as a standalone podcast editing tool. You can even edit via text, or at double speed, and it can automatically remove filler words, breath sounds, and long pauses. Alitu will cut hours off your production workload.

In short, Alitu is a simple-to-use tool aimed at “non-techy” people, complete beginners, and podcasters who simply don’t have the time to spend editing their podcasts in the more traditional way.

Of course, there are some other great apps out there, too. The bottom line is that these days, you don’t need a DAW to edit your podcast. In fact, you can podcast without ever having opened one in your life.

Editing Filler Words, Breath Sounds, & Long Pauses

You can get really “surgical” with podcast editing and spend time removing every uhm, ah, long pause, and annoying breath sound. I’ve never endorsed this approach because, quite simply, it takes too long, and the strain of that unsustainable workload will only ever lead to you burning out and quitting.

However, when Alitu rolled out automatic filler word, breath, and silence removal, I couldn’t resist giving it a wee shot. Despite working alongside the team that makes Alitu, I still use Audition for most of my audio work. This is purely because I’ve been working with it for 16 years and know it inside out.

Anyway, I uploaded a 40-minute interview to Alitu, let it do its thing, and it cut a whole 4 minutes from my audio. I was pretty amazed. I did a full listen-through at double speed (another feature of Alitu) to make sure it still sounded okay. A handful of jarring edits needed undoing (a feature that’s quick and easy), but that was really it. A big improvement to my audio at no extra time cost to me. What’s more, by saving 700 listeners 4 minutes each, that adds up to over 46 hours!

Is Text-Based Podcast Editing a Thing?

Yes! One of the simplest ways to edit audio is to take a written transcript of your audio, highlight the words, sentences, or sections you’d like to remove and delete them. Text-based editing will then delete the corresponding audio, so if you can compose a text message to your best pal, you can edit a podcast.

Text-based podcast editing is becoming more popular these days, and you’ll find it in a growing number of tools, from Alitu and Descript to Riverside and Hindenburg.

What About Editing Video Podcasts?

First up, I just want to say that there’s absolutely no need to add a video component to your podcast if you don’t want to, or if it doesn’t make sense for you right now. If you’re brand new to podcasting, focus on finding your feet and your voice first – you can always bring in video later on.

If you’d like to try your hand with video, though, then you can record and edit it easily using tools like Alitu, Riverside, or Descript.

When editing video, though, you really can’t go as granular as audio, as it’ll look jumpy and jarring. Many video podcasters simply top and tail their conversations, and any tidying up in between can often call more attention to an edit than just leaving a little stumble or false start in.

If you’re curious about adding video to your podcast workflow, then bookmark our guides on…

• How to Make a Video Podcast
• Best Video Editing Software

Should I Hire a Producer to Do My Podcast Editing?

Still got no interest in having anything to do with your podcast editing? That’s perfectly normal. It just means you’ll probably need to hire someone to do it for you.

There is an ever-growing number of producers out there who make themselves available for podcast editing work. These range from freelancers with day jobs to fully-fledged companies employing teams of podcast producers on their staff.

The route you go down will, as ever, depend on your budget. You’ll find loads of excellent freelancers doing great work at a low cost. But, like any other service, there will undoubtedly be a few unreliable folks in the marketplace, too.

If you are looking for a producer, then here are some options for you.

Hiring a Producer: Options

• Work with us! Tell us what you need, and we’ll be in touch.
• Music Radio Creative will give you an instant quote based on your average episode length and the number of episodes you’d like to commit to.
• There are plenty of podcast editors available for hire on Fiverr. Check out adamglinder and radioorg if you want to go down this route.
• You might also want to see our full guides on what to look for in a podcast production company and how to hire a podcast producer.

Hardware for Podcast Editing

It almost goes without saying, but a capable computer is an essential part of the podcast editor’s toolkit. There are a few considerations when buying a laptop or computer for podcasting, which we cover in our dedicated guides. If you plan to run Pro Tools on your ZX Spectrum, be prepared to drink many cups of tea whilst you wait.

If you’re using a laptop or computer, then it’s an assumption that you’ll be using a mouse, too. But there are much more intuitive and comfortable ways to edit podcasts, especially if you spend a lot of time on production.

Two of our podcast editing experts, Sarah and Dev, have drawn from the gaming world to give them more tangible control over their software and protect themselves from nasty conditions like RSI. Sarah uses the Stream Deck, whilst Dev uses an Xbox controller. And, as you’ll see from our reviews, they like these setups a lot!

Podcast Editing Summary: Your Content. Your Audience

No two podcasts are alike (that’s actually a lie, there are at least 500 “entrepreneur” shows with the words “On Fire” in their title, but we’ll brush past that!), so this all comes down to your own unique approach and aims.

Podcast Editing for the Hobbyist or “Toe-Dipper”

If you’re a hobbyist just looking to chat about a topic close to your heart, taking some time to learn the basics of Audacity is probably the best option for you.

Podcast Editing for the Small Business or Side-Hustle

If you’re someone currently working a day job, but launching your show as part of a side business that you’re serious about growing, then you might be prepared to spend a little money to save a lot of time. In that case, using the “podcast making” tool Alitu is likely your best option.

Podcast Editing for the Company or Brand Podcast

Or, if you’re an established business looking to get a highly polished and professional-sounding show right out the gate, hiring a producer will be your best option. Just remember that great-sounding audio is more to do with the source material than the editing, though, so hire someone who can advise you on your recording setup and work with you on that front, too. Remember, we can help you with all of this and more, so get in touch today and tell us exactly what you need!

But what about the hype-building “hit the ground running” advice we hear around launching a new podcast?

I’d argue that, at best, this is a distraction from what moves the needle when growing a show.

And at worst, it can actually cause new creators to quit before their content ever has a chance to make an impact.

Podcast Launch Misconceptions

It’s understandable why so much misleading advice exists around “the podcast launch”. After all, we’re used to the launch life cycles of products, films, albums, and books.

After a few days or weeks, it becomes pretty clear that a new game console or blockbuster movie has sunk or swam. But a podcast isn’t like that at all.

What Makes Podcasts Different?

Most successful podcasts didn’t explode overnight. They built audiences gradually over months or even years.

There are exceptions, of course. Folks who started podcasting with a pre-existing audience can often skip the “crickets” stage. But if you look at anyone who built a huge fanbase through their podcast, they will usually tell you the same thing:

In those first few episodes, nobody was listening.

I remember talking to Kc Wayland, creator of post-apocalyptic audio drama We’re Alive, about the show’s first steps. He said they were seeing 50-60 downloads a day, which was nuts, given the effort and quality of those early episodes.

Today, We’re Alive has amassed over 250,000,000 (two hundred and fifty million!) downloads. And whilst this isn’t a number most of us will ever get close to with our own content, it shows that podcasting is a long game.

All the launch hype in the world wouldn’t have come close to the impact publishing 90+ hours of Gold Standard audio theatre over a period of 16 years has had.

3 Podcast Launch Advice Myths

So, speaking of launch hype, what are new creators typically advised to focus on before they’ve even hit publish on that first episode?

Get 3+ Episodes in the Can

This advice lingers from the days when much onus was put on a show’s appearance in the Apple Podcasts’ New & Noteworthy section (an overrated accolade, if ever there was one).

The idea is that more episodes mean more downloads. That’s not untrue; however, this often leads to procrastination and perfectionism, which prevent new podcasters from ever releasing one, let alone three, episodes.

Sure, if you push three episodes out on day one, it’ll give new listeners a bit more time with you. It isn’t a bad strategy, so long as you hit publish.

The problem is, many don’t!

Get Ratings & Reviews

Another misleading piece of podcast launch advice is to get as many ratings and reviews as possible within the first week.

Again, this is mainly legacy advice centred around Apple Podcasts. Between its various charts, ‘featured’ sections, and the aforementioned New & Noteworthy, it can be seen as “make or break” for a podcast to appear in any of these places.

For starters, the volume of new podcast discovery in such categories is overblown. In our 2024 podcast discovery survey, only 2.5% of listeners reported browsing through charts or ‘featured’ sections when hunting for new content.

Then there’s the inner workings of how chart rankings actually work in Apple Podcasts, and it seems to have a lot more to do with your cumulative all-time number of followers than it does with ratings and reviews.

I’m not dismissing ratings and reviews altogether – they can be a great confidence booster and make brilliant “social proof” of your show’s quality. But they’re in no way some integral part of a podcast launch strategy, so don’t get distracted by chasing them.

Build Hype for “Launch Day”

Unless you have a preexisting audience, here’s a fact for you: Nobody cares about your new podcast.

Don’t see this as a negative. Instead, take it as a liberating truth. The pressure is off to learn the ropes, experiment, and develop your skills.

If you dedicate a lot of time to posting short-form, low-value “teaser” content on various platforms, you’re taking time away from learning your trade and creating the best possible first episode.

Of course, there’s no harm in promoting your first episode – but you need to publish it first.

And once you do, the best place to focus the bulk of your effort is on making a brilliant second or third episode.

As Lindsay wrote recently, your podcast won’t go viral – and that’s a good thing. A podcast is a metaphorical log fire compared to the torch paper of social media and short-form video. It takes time to get a good heat up, but once you do, it’ll keep on burning for ages.

Podcast Launch Strategies That ACTUALLY Work

Alright then, if it isn’t about hyping “the big day” or arbitrary episode numbers, what should a new podcaster focus on before, during, and after a podcast launch?

The L.A.U.N.C.H Framework

The L.A.U.N.C.H (I know, we love an acronym…) framework assumes you’ve…

• Laid the foundations of your topic, niche, or angle
• Identified your target audience
• Defined what “podcast success” looks like to you.

Once you have these in place, that’s where L.A.U.N.C.H comes in.

• L- Learn the Ropes
• A – Amplify Discoverability
• U – Understand Your Audience
• N – Next Episode First
• C – Catalogue Building
• H – Harness Collaboration

Learn the Ropes

From crutch words and structure to mic technique and production chops, are you focused on improving your skills as a podcaster with each episode you make? The early days are a time for learning and development, so lean into this opportunity.

Amplify Discoverability

Don’t underestimate the power of SEO. Even in its many new AI-based iterations, the principles remain the same; people search for the topics they are interested in.

So, do your podcast name and episode titles give you a good chance of appearing in those search results? Do you create content that answers the questions your target audience is seeking? And do you include transcripts and publish your podcast in every app and directory?

Understand Your Audience

Some fledgling podcasters see 30-40 downloads as a pittance. Others see a metaphorical room full of 30-40 like-minded people they can engage with, learn about, and get to know personally. That early core of listeners can become your biggest marketers, so look after them and give them your best.

Next Episode First

The number one thing you can do to give your podcast the best chance of success is prioritising a brilliant next episode. So, what do you have lined up for your listeners? And is it something they’ll want to talk about and share with others?

Catalogue Building

There’s nothing like a back catalogue of well-titled, high-quality episodes to set your podcast’s growth into autopilot. When new listeners find you and can spend 25-50 hours with you, they’ll become big fans of your show. Consistency leads to podcasting success, so build and grow that body of work!

Harness Collaboration

You won’t be the only person creating content about your topic. Don’t view these other shows or channels as your competition, though. Instead, see them as collaborators.

There are many tried-and-tested ways to collaborate with other creators to build both your audiences. This is one of the most effective ways to grow a podcast!

“I Need Results NOW”

I get it; not every new podcast is a solopreneur or hobbyist who can build this gradually.

If you work for a big company and have been given the job of creating a podcast, you’re unlikely to get away with telling the boss that it could take a year or two to gain traction.

In this scenario, leveraging any existing audience or customer base is a no-brainer. Most businesses have an email list and some social media accounts. With a good enough “hook”, you can win many existing followers over to giving the podcast a chance.

Unsurprisingly, you can fast-track podcast growth if you have a marketing budget, too. Advertising on podcast listening apps is an effective way to gain a bunch of new listeners overnight.

Of course, none of this changes the fact that your podcast needs to be well-planned, well-executed, and consistent. If it’s absolutely vital that you nail this first time, then hire a pro to help you. There’s no substitute for experience.

In Summary

I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about your launch period; it’s more a matter of caution around where you focus your time and energy.

Concentrate on creating the best content possible for that early core of listeners, and you won’t go far wrong.

A podcast launch process has no “boom or bust”; the only way a launch can “fail” is if you don’t publish any more episodes.

It’s what you do after the launch period that truly matters. So what’s your next episode about, and when can we hear it?

On a final note, one of the best ways to keep you moving forward is to eliminate as many of the tech and time barriers as possible.

Alitu can help with that. It’s an all-in-one platform for recording, editing, and publishing your podcast.

It handles all the cleanup and volume levelling automatically, has instant filler-word removal tools, and you can edit your audio or video by deleting text in its generated transcripts, too.

If that all sounds up your street, then try it free for seven days and see for yourself!

On the surface, the most crucial part of your episode is the main content. After all, that’s where you discuss or address what was promised in the title. The podcast intro, though, gets your listener to that content. And the outro helps keep them listening to more episodes.

With your podcast intro, you have the crucial task of setting the scene for your listeners. Some may have heard every episode you’ve ever released before, but for a few, this will be their very first impression of your show.

These new listeners have no loyalty or obligation to you or your content in the opening minutes. They’ll likely have a playlist of other shows already downloaded and ready to listen to.

They’re giving you a chance – but you don’t have long. Our podcast discoverability survey found that 17% of listeners will only give a new podcast 5 minutes to “hook” them.

Just like if they’ve picked up a book or switched on a TV show, there are a few questions subconsciously running through their head:

• Does this seem interesting?
• Does it sound well-made?
• Do I know what’s going on?
• And, most importantly, what’s in this for me?

This is where your podcast intro needs to do its job.

What Makes a Good Podcast Intro Script?

Put yourself in the shoes (or earbuds) of a brand new listener – someone you’d consider to be in your target audience. They’ve downloaded your latest episode and hit play.

As I’ve said already, they’ve no loyalty to you. They’ve probably never heard of you and – at this moment – aren’t interested in you.

They’ve downloaded this episode for their OWN benefit. They want something from it. And whether that’s to learn something or to be entertained, they want to know as early as possible that you’ll deliver.

So, What Should I Include in My Podcast Intro Script?

I don’t want you to think that there are restrictive “rules” with your podcast introduction because there’s still an immense amount of creative freedom. Podcasting wouldn’t be very interesting if every single show sounded the same.

Nevertheless, there are some things I’d suggest you always include in your podcast intro script.

• Your name. It doesn’t need to be your full name; it could even be a nickname. Just let your listener put a name to the voice as early as possible.
• What is the podcast called? You might assume they already know, but they may be working through a vast playlist of new podcasts. Let them know that this is yours.
• Who is the podcast for? You can save people precious time by signposting early on whether or not they are your target audience. If your show is aimed at people who want to learn how to speak Spanish, make that clear ASAP. If someone who is listening doesn’t want to learn Spanish, there’s no benefit to anyone for them to keep listening. On the other hand, the person who does thinks, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for”.
• What is the overall theme of the podcast?
  • What’s the show about?
  • What problem is the podcast series here to solve?
  • What problem does this particular episode solve?
  • What’s the podcast format? Do you talk directly to the listener, or chat with guests?

Presenting a Problem to Your Audience – & Solution!

Being clear when laying out your subject matter is great. But making your listener relate to it by mentioning something they’re struggling with will really pull them in.

For example, on Podcraft, our target audience is people who want to learn how to podcast. Some big struggles include learning about microphones and audio equipment, editing and mixing digital audio, growing their audience and monetising their show.

The overall struggle they have is that they want to learn how to podcast, and our primary solution is that we can help them do that.

Each episode deals with a specific subtopic, providing a solution that helps them achieve their overall goal. We want to mention this in our podcast intro script, so the listener knows they’ve come to the right place.

So, in an episode about media hosting, we could present the problem: “Have you ever wondered how you upload a podcast and make it available on Apple and Spotify?”

Then we offer the solution: “Well, in this episode, that’s exactly what you’ll find out. We’ll walk you step by step through the process, and by the end, you’ll be able to submit your show to Apple and Spotify quickly and easily.”

Podcast Intro Script Template

Set your episode up by mentioning the overall problem your podcast is here to help them with (e.g., learning how to podcast) and then the particular issue you’ll be dealing with in this episode (e.g., getting your podcast published and distributed).

“Hello and welcome to the ___ podcast; this is the show for ___, all about ___, and on this episode, have you ever struggled with ___? Well, that’s exactly what we’ll help you with on this week’s show, where you’ll learn how to ___.”

You don’t need to copy this verbatim, but make it the framework of your podcast intro script. This means that everyone you want to keep listening makes it through to the main body of the episode.

Then, you can win them over with your content.

Should I Use a “Cold Open”? As My Podcast Intro?

You know when you sit down to watch your favourite TV show, and the episode starts before you’ve even opened your bag of Doritos? Then, after about five minutes, the intro kicks in? That’s what’s known as a “cold open”.

Many podcasters use cold opens at the beginning of their episodes. You’ve probably heard them before. You hit play and immediately seem to have landed bang in the middle of a guest explaining, “…so, it was at that point I decided to wear a diving suit made of sirloin steaks and go swimming with sharks.”

Obviously, the idea is that you think, “Wait, how is this idiot still alive to tell the tale? I need to get the full story.”

And you keep on listening.

How to End My Podcast Episodes: What Makes a Good Podcast Outro?

The main purpose of this post is to help get your podcast intro script on point. But we ignore podcast outros or endings at our peril.

In fact, there’s even a theory known as Peak-End, which says you remember events, occasions, or experiences based on two things:

1. The Peak: the most exciting or impactful part (in podcasting, the main content of an episode)
2. The End: how it all wraps up (your outro and Call to Action)

So, the final minute or two of your episode goes towards creating a lasting impression of the podcast in your listener’s mind.

You might have done a great job with the podcast intro and the main body, but if the show ends poorly, that could be the difference between a new listener hitting the Follow button or not.

The outro’s job is to thank the listener for listening and point them toward any vital details covered during the episode.

It’s also the part where you can ask for something in return. If someone has stayed to the end, they’ve probably enjoyed the episode you’ve put together for them, so they might be willing to respond to your request for a rating, review, or any other relevant Call to Action.

What Should I Include in My Outro? How to End a Podcast

Like the podcast intro, there are no “rules” as such, but if you want to close your episode effectively, you should consider the following.

• Thank them for listening. There are millions of podcasts out there, and they’ve chosen to listen to yours.
• Point them to the shownotes on your website for links to everything mentioned in this episode.
• If possible, offer them a teaser of what’s in store for the next episode.
• Send them to ONE place – your website. There’s no point in reading out your email address, Twitter handle, Patreon page, or Facebook URL, when you can have clear links to all this on your site.
• Include a ‘Call to Action’ (CTA). This is your opportunity to ask for something in return. Remember, though, if you give someone too much to do, the chances are they won’t do any of it, so just pick one and be clear about it. You might want to ask your listener to…
  • Follow or Subscribe to the show on their podcast app of choice
  • Share the podcast, or tell a friend about it
  • Rate/review the podcast
  • Sign up to your email list, or download your ebook
  • Buy tickets for your event or conference
  • Support you on Patreon, or pledge to your crowdfunding project

A wee bit of thought and planning goes a long way with your outros. This is how you turn podcast listeners into followers and maximise the effectiveness of your CTAs.

What About Pre-Recorded Podcast Intros & Outros?

Some podcasts use pre-recorded segments as their standard intro and outro. These can be created by the host or recorded and produced to enlist the talents of a professional voiceover artist.

Pre-recorded elements can offer that extra layer of polish, but they should always be as succinct as possible. If you play the same three-minute clip at the start of every episode, listeners will tire of it quickly. You’ll train them to hit the skip forward button. Some apps even enable them to do that automatically.

Likewise, if you close with the same lengthy pre-recorded outro, your listeners will switch off before the end.

If you’re creating premade podcast intros and outros that utilise many of the tips given in this article, try to keep them to a length of 30 seconds or less.

What Do the Top 20 Podcasts Tell Us About the Perfect Intro Formula?

Read article called: What Do the Top 20 Podcasts Tell Us About the Perfect Intro Formula?

Conclusion: Podcast Intro Script Tips

This shouldn’t seem like a lot of red tape to restrict your creative license. On the contrary, the job of your podcast intros and outros is to support and enhance the actual content of your episodes.

You don’t need to overthink them or spend much time on them. It’s just about putting good practices in place to make sure you’re not needlessly losing listeners, and that you’re always steadily growing your audience.

Over time, the things you want to include at the beginning and end of your episode will become second nature to you. Your main focus should always be on your topic, and a great podcast intro simply ensures your audience is still around to hear it.

Now that you know what you’ll say in your intro, how about somewhere to record it and build it into your episode? Alitu is the easiest and best podcast editor on the planet, with a whole load of clever tools like text-based editing, automatic filler word removal, and video editing features have just been added, too.

Alitu also has recording and publishing tools built in, which can save you a small fortune on paying monthly subscriptions for each part of your workflow. Why not try it out free for seven days and see for yourself?

It might surprise you, but I also recommend Audition to almost no one. If you’re new to podcasting and looking for editing software, there are many better fits out there.

In this roundup, I’ll show you my three top picks, which cater to every need, use case, and budget.

• Audacity: popular and free software that looks good for its age
• Hindenburg Pro: elegant interface designed for spoken-word audio
• Alitu: podcast-specific tool with call recording, video editing, and publishing built in

Then I’ll run through a few other options you might want to check out, too.

Most Popular Podcast Editing Software

In the 2024 Podcast Gear, Software, & Setups Report, more than 500 podcasters told us which editing software they used.

• Audacity – 24%
• Adobe Audition – 16%
• Other – 14%
• Garageband – 9%
• Descript – 7.5%
• Alitu – 7%
• Hindenburg – 5%
• Reaper – 4%
• Logic – 3%
• Riverside – 2%
• Podcastle – 1%
• Pro Tools – 1%

Let’s take a closer look at Audacity, Hindenburg, and Alitu, because you’ll probably find what you need in one of those.

Audacity

Let’s start with the great-grandfather of podcast editing software: Audacity.

Almost a quarter of creators use it to produce their shows.

A huge pro of Audacity is that it’s free. It’s also a powerful, feature-rich platform once you learn your way around it.

Audacity for Podcast Production (& Why 1 in 4 Use It!)

Read article called: Audacity for Podcast Production (& Why 1 in 4 Use It!)

But that learning curve can be steep if you’ve no prior experience with DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations). Audacity doesn’t have any video editing capabilities, either. So if you opt to run a video show, you’ll need to use dedicated video editing software.

• Cost: Free
• Recording Capabilities: Audio
• Video Editing: No
• Publishing Tools: No

If you’re brand new to podcasting, though, then it makes sense to focus purely on audio, at least until you find your feet. If you have no budget, then free is an excellent price point, too!

Hindenburg Pro

Hindenburg Pro is a pretty unique DAW because it’s designed specifically for spoken-word audio.

Other DAWs can seem cluttered when compared to Hindenburg’s elegant, minimalist interface. But that doesn’t mean it’s basic or limited podcast editing software. On the contrary, I know a few vastly experienced audio pros who swear by it.

• Cost: $12/month
• Recording Capabilities: Audio
• Video Editing: No
• Publishing Tools: No

Hindenburg’s notable features include automatic volume levelling, a drag-and-drop interview workflow, and voice profiling, which matches tone across clips.

Like Audacity, it doesn’t offer video editing tools. It also doesn’t have a default remote call recorder, but it can record audio from apps like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

Hindenburg Pro is a perfect option for someone who wants to really master the art of audio storytelling. It offers a brilliant balance of nuanced control without overwhelming options and clutter.

Alitu

Alitu was originally built to reinvent podcast editing from the ground up and make it accessible to complete beginners.

Today, it’s still best known as a brilliant podcast editing software platform. But Alitu has a suite of extra features that make it an all-in-one podcast maker tool.

Most notably, you can record remote audio or video calls in the Alitu dashboard. You can also use its hosting tools to publish and distribute your finished episodes to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the many other places podcasts are consumed.

• Cost: $38/month
• Recording Capabilities: Audio & Video, Solo or Remote Calls
• Video Editing: Yes
• Publishing Tools: Yes

These features mean you don’t need to pay for additional recording and hosting subscriptions elsewhere. But even if Alitu were only a podcast editor, it would still be a brilliant option for non-techy and time-strapped creators.

Video editing is the newest addition to Alitu’s stable of features. It follows the same intuitive workflow as its audio editor. You can even remove filler words at the touch of a button, and edit by deleting text in the automatically generated transcripts.

Noise reduction, volume levelling, and audio optimisation are strong features in Alitu, too. In the above sample, you’ll hear it remove a fire engine siren from an on-location outdoor recording.

And it can work wonders to bring you ‘on mic’ and kill reverb and room sounds, too. In the second sample, I recorded into my phone from the other side of the kitchen. Listen to Alitu’s repair job.

I wouldn’t recommend Alitu to someone who wanted intricate control over their productions. In-particular, this might be documentary or audio drama podcasts with layers of music and sound effects. In these situations, I’d opt for Audacity, Hindenburg, or Adobe Audition instead.

But if you’re brand new to podcasting, want all your tools in one place, and don’t want to spend ages learning how they all work, then Alitu is ideal.

More Podcast Editing Software Options

My top three recommendations cover every need, use case, and budget, but they’re by far the only podcast software options out there. Here are six other popular platforms and my thoughts on them.

Adobe Audition

I’ve used Adobe Audition for years, but I rarely recommend it now. Adobe doesn’t seem to focus on it much anymore, and Audacity gives it a real run for its money for free.

Adobe Podcast

Adobe Podcast is one of the apps eating Audition’s lunch. It has a lot of useful tools, like transcription editing, audio enhancement, and you can record audio or video on the platform, too. At the time of writing, you’d still need an additional podcast hosting account to publish your show.

GarageBand

GarageBand is Apple’s classic DAW. You’ll find it on most iOS devices, so a lot of podcasters use it by default. If it’s working for you, then there’s no need to switch. But if you find it a wee bit limited, it could be worth trying Audacity.

Descript

Descript was the first platform I used for text-based editing, and they’ve always seemed ahead of the curve with their tools and tech. For example, their Overdub feature lets you type in new dialogue or fix mistakes using an AI clone of your voice. The only thing Descript lacks right now is publishing and distribution tools.

Reaper

Reaper is a DAW with a hardcore following. I don’t think it’s a great option for total beginners, though the ability to buy your licence outright rather than pay a subscription will appeal to some. Many of my podcast pals who swear by it moved over from Pro Tools and enjoy its customisation capabilities.

Riverside

When Riverside added hosting, they joined Alitu in the “all-in-one podcast maker” camp. Unlike Alitu, Riverside was a recorder first and editor second. But they’ve improved their editing tools a lot recently, and it’s a great platform to make your show with.

Podcast Editing Software FAQ

We’ve covered the main recommendations. But you might still have questions about podcast editing software before making a final decision. Let’s take a look at some frequently asked questions.

What Your Podcast Editing Software Can (And Can’t) Do

First up, why might you want to use podcast editing software in the first place? In what ways can it help you? And, depending on the platform, what sort of things are beyond its power?

Edits & Editing (Cutting Stuff Out)

People use podcast editing software for two main reasons. The obvious one is the editing out of mistakes and unwanted segments. This is literally where you cut out surplus content from the finished episode. For a deeper dive here, check out our ultimate guide to podcast editing.

Double up as Podcast Recording Software

Podcast editing software typically doubles up as podcast recording software. This is handy because it means you only need one single platform to record and edit your podcast. A select few, such as Alitu and Riverside, even have remote call recording capabilities and publishing built in.

Cleaning Up & Fixing Volume Levels

Another critical use of podcast editing software is a process known as “post-processing”. This is where you clean up any background noise, ensure that volume levels are consistent throughout, and that the overall volume of the episode is within generally accepted podcasting standards.

Audio Quality: Repair or Enhance

Your podcast editing software can be a powerful tool. But it isn’t magic. Nor is it a substitute for good practices in the recording process. If you hear a podcast with great audio quality, the main factors at play are that the podcaster has a decent level of gear, is using it in the right way, and has taken the recording environment into consideration. Be sure to get your house in order on these fronts, and everything else will fall into place.

Add in Music

Any podcast editing software you choose will enable you to add music to your content. The challenge here is sourcing which music you’ll use and steering clear of copyright infringement. For what it’s worth, if you decide to opt for Alitu, then you’ll have full access to its podcast music library.

Edit by Text

Text-based editing is where you select segments of a transcription and delete them, which deletes the corresponding section in your audio. A very small number of editing programs offer text-based editing at this stage, though it’s likely to become much more common in the next year or two. At the time of writing, you can edit by text with Alitu, Descript, and Riverside.

Background Noise

The cleaning up of “background noise” is a bit of an ambiguous term. Editing software can easily clean up consistent sounds like the hiss or hum underneath the vocals caused by things like equipment, fans, or AC units. However, background noise like people shouting, doors slamming, and phones ringing has traditionally been harder to remove. With that said, AI audio cleanup is repairing sound in a way that would’ve seemed impossible only a couple of years ago.

Podcast Production Software vs. Audio Editing Software

You can use any audio editing tools or software for your podcast, but dedicated podcast production software also exists nowadays.

For years, podcasters used equipment and software built, first and foremost, for music production.

As podcasting continues to grow, though, we’ve seen technology created specifically for the medium. Hardware-based examples of this are audio interface devices like the Zoom PodTrak P4 and Rode Rodecaster II.

Using pro-level software like Audition will give you tonnes of flexibility, including the ability to add and mix in all sorts of audio effects. But for most podcasters, this is overkill, and can add unnecessary complications.

Dedicated podcast editing software like Alitu, on the other hand, was tailor-made for podcasters. That means it has a suite of features for podcasters that stretch beyond the editing and production realm – from call recording to hosting and transcriptions built-in!

What About Video Podcast Editing Software?

Adding a video component to your show is undoubtedly easier than it used to be. Just like in the audio space, many makers of video production software are now focused on simplicity and accessibility rather than massive complexity.

Our dedicated roundup of the best video editing software for podcasters gives you the full lowdown. But here are the key takeaways.

Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro have the most power, flexibility, and options, which means they also have the steepest learning curve.

Filmora is a great option for those on a tight budget who want more simplicity and automation.

Veed excels if you’re doing shorter video content, whilst Camtasia is a top choice for those creating video podcasts out of screencasts.

There are also some fantastic video recording tools out there now who’s editing capabilities are improving all the time. Check out Streamyard, Riverside, and Zencastr for some options on that front!

Podcast Editing Software vs. Hiring a Podcast Editor?

You’ve really two options when it comes to editing podcasts – you can learn to do it yourself, or you can hire someone else to do it.

If you work with a dedicated podcast editor, you can pay them to turn your source files and audio tracks into fully mixed and mastered episodes.

An additional benefit, alongside not having to do this work yourself, is that you can get feedback from an actual qualified human. Your podcast editor might send you a note along the lines of “Please turn off those noise gates”, “Buy yourself a pop filter”, or “Stop recording in that cave”.

It’s in their interest that your source material sounds as good as possible because they can polish it up even better. If you record low-quality audio, on the other hand, no producer or production software will be able to make it sound decent.

Whilst getting that human feedback from a podcast editor is a big plus, there are downsides to outsourcing, too. It’s a lot more expensive, for starters. And you’re also now relying on someone else to get your show ready and out on time.

There’s no right or wrong approach here – only what works best for you and your budget. If you’re interested in hiring a podcast producer, then check out your range of options, linked there. Or, if you’re set on finding the best podcast editing software to do it yourself, hopefully, this guide has helped you choose one!

Publishing Content: Uploading Your Files

Regardless of which editing process or software you use, you’ll eventually need to upload your finished episode files and make them ready for the world to hear.

In order to turn audio files into a podcast that can be found and subscribed to on platforms like Apple and Spotify, you will need a podcast hosting account.

There are loads of great podcast hosting providers out there. Once you sign up for one, you fill out your show’s description, add your cover art, and upload your very first episode. Then, you can start submitting your podcast to all the major listening apps and platforms.

Recording and editing podcasts, as well as uploading and publishing them, can all happen in one single place now, too, with Alitu. It has hosting included, so you only need to work in one single place if you’re keen to save time, money, and, streamline your workflow.

But, as I’ve said, there are a lot of great podcast hosting options out there too, so check up our roundup if you’d like to do some shopping around.

Best Podcast Editing Software – Which Version?

As mentioned at the start, everyone is different, and it’s impossible to pick one single best podcast editing software option. It all depends on where you are at this moment in time in your podcasting journey.

There will always be exceptions, but on a general level, here’s a summary of my recommendations.

Looking to save time, avoid learning anything about audio editing, AND have access to a remote call recording, video and text-based editing, and hosting built into your editing software?

Looking for a free option, but are prepared to invest some time in learning audio editing?

Ultimately, your editing software is just a means to an end. The quality of your podcast will ultimately be decided by its content, and no editing software or DAW can guarantee you growing an audience.

That said, none should hold you back from growing one, either!

So choose something, learn it, and use it to the best of your ability. But don’t let it distract you too much from the work that matters most – creating engaging episodes that people want to listen to.

• Podcasting is long-form content. Don’t compare podcast download numbers with social media “likes” or follower counts.
• Potential audience sizes depend on show topics. There’s no single podcast download numbers gauge here.
• However, statistically, if you get over 28 downloads for a new episode in the first week of its release, you’re in the top 50% of all podcasters.
• Read on to find out more…

Download numbers are one of the most obvious metrics for measuring the success of your podcast.

Download stats are immediately accessible from the minute you launch your first episode. Watching the numbers climb can be rewarding – some might even say addictive!

But after the initial novelty wears off, it’s natural for podcasters to ask, “Are my average podcast downloads good?”

So, are your podcast download numbers “good”? Let’s take a look.

How Many Podcast Downloads Should I Be Getting?

In a world of YouTube views and social media followers, we’ve become accustomed to figures in the hundreds of thousands (and even millions!).

It’s important to realise, though, that these numbers are completely irrelevant to podcasting. The time and effort it takes to click ‘Follow’ on social or watch a few seconds of a YouTube video should never be compared to listening to podcast episodes.

Podcast listening is a commitment and an investment. It’s long-form content that isn’t immediately accessible via shiny sidebars and viral social media clickbait.

So, comparing your average podcast downloads to someone else’s Instagram followers is like comparing the number of rooms in your house to the number of trees in the Amazon. It’s completely irrelevant and utterly pointless.

Potential Audience Sizes

Whether your download numbers are “good” depends on your topic and how big an audience it can realistically reach.

Could a show about breeding Russian white dwarf hamsters expect to see the same average podcast downloads as a show about Game of Thrones? Absolutely not.

Does this mean that the podcast with more downloads is the more successful one? Again, absolutely not.

If you run a podcast about a topic that was only interesting to literally ten people in the world, and you were getting seven downloads an episode, statistically, you’d be running the most popular show in history.

The big factor is the size of your potential audience. Here are a couple of things to consider:

• Firstly, how many folks out there are interested enough in your topic to actually want to consume content about it?
• Secondly, how many of those people are current podcast listeners?

Think about it this way, and your download stats start to make a lot more sense. It also helps you set realistic goals without comparing yourself to viral videos, celebrity accounts, or massive shows like The Joe Rogan Experience.

Case Study – Board Game Design Lab

Gabe, who runs the Board Game Design Lab Podcast, shared some words of wisdom on a popular episode of Podcraft.

“The ceiling for board game design is pretty low. It’s not like Joe Rogan; it’s not like Tim Ferriss, where the whole world is kind of potential, right? And so, you have to be more intentional about not overspending. It’s like, how many people are there? How many people are in your industry and listen to podcasts and care about what you’re doing?”

Audience Quality & Engagement

An audience might seem numerically small. But with long-form content like podcasting, shows with smaller but more niche, hyper-targeted audiences are often considered more successful.

For example, if you ran a podcast about sustainable fashion, and your only listener was the head buyer at a major global retailer, would you consider that a successful show?

The point is that it’s always more about exactly who is listening rather than how many of them there are.

And, it’s about the engagement. This isn’t something that can be achieved overnight. But, if you’re creating good content, over time, you’ll begin to hear from your listeners.

This could be because you’ve asked them a question or recommended they check something out. Or it could be because you’ve talked about a subject that resonated with them so much that they felt compelled to reach out.

Measuring engagement requires a little more digging than simply staring at your download stats dashboard. But often, they can tell you a lot more about the impact your show is having.

If your podcast host provides this data, take a look at the geography of your podcast downloads. Are you suddenly getting a burst of downloads in a particular region or country? If so, you might want to check the news and find out what’s happening there. It’s all about measuring podcast engagement.

I Still Want a Gauge on Average Podcast Downloads per Episode

Buzzsprout is one of the biggest podcast-hosting platforms in the world, with well over 116,000 active shows publishing content there.

Hosting this many podcasts means Buzzsprout has plenty of useful data to analyse. This gives them an accurate picture of podcast downloads on an industry-wide level. The good news is that Buzzsprout makes its global data available to everyone on this Platform Stats page.

Here’s one of the key sections that’ll interest any podcaster.

How Many Podcast Downloads Is Good?

If your new episode gets, within seven days of its release:

• more than 28 downloads, you’re in the top 50% of podcasts.
• more than 104 downloads, you’re in the top 25% of podcasts.
• more than 428 downloads, you’re in the top 10% of podcasts.
• more than 1,050 downloads, you’re in the top 5% of podcasts.
• more than 4,763 downloads, you’re in the top 1% of podcasts.

[Updated March, 2026]

And here are some other interesting stats from this page, at the time of writing.

Podcast Downloads on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & Google Podcasts

28% of listening takes place on Spotify, with 39% on Apple Podcasts.

Buzzsprout

Podcast Download Locations

48% of downloads come from the USA, with 6% from the UK, and 4.3% from Canada, and 4.3% from Australia. Germany are in fifth place with 3.5% of the share.

Buzzsprout

Podcast Download Devices

Mobile accounts for 86% of all podcast downloads, with 63.5% of those coming via the Apple iPhone.

Buzzsprout

Want More Podcast Statistics?

If you’re a fan of podcast stats, then be sure to check out our podcast industry trends post. We regularly update this article with all the latest data to help you keep your finger on the pulse. You’ll find everything, from podcast listenership stats (like the most popular podcast genre) to the latest Edison research.

What About Monthly Podcast Listeners & Downloads?

Some creators might say, “Oh, I get 10,000 downloads a month, ” but that doesn’t tell you anything about their average podcast download numbers. Instead, it suggests they’ve published a lot of episodes to date.

For example, we run a daily show called Pocket-Sized Podcasting, which has hundreds of published episodes. Subscribers get one quick ‘how-to podcast’ tip each day, from Monday through to Friday. When new listeners find the show, they tend to binge through the back catalogue. This means our total monthly downloads can get pretty high, even if the new episode downloads are in the “modest” range.

Podcast Download Stats Don’t Tell the Full Story

Just because someone (or several hundred!) people downloaded your episode, doesn’t guarantee they hit play.

Of course, you can safely assume most of them probably did. But even then, how long did they actually listen?

Download stats are one of the best podcast performance metrics that we have in our arsenal. But they’re not the best. That title goes to “listen lime”…

Unfortunately, you can’t get a complete listening time number across all the apps and places your show is consumed. There are just too many, and most of them don’t share data.

But, Apple Podcasts and Spotify do. And they make up about 70% of the overall podcast consumption pie. That gives us scope to gather up a pretty decent sample size.

In this video, you’ll learn how to quickly and easily grab your listen time data from both platforms, as well as ideas on what to do with it, and how to present it.

Combine this with your podcast download stats, and you’ll really start to build a robust picture of your show’s performance!

Podcasting Numbers: Downloads & Listens FAQ

We’ve been helping people podcast for well over 15 years. During that time, we’ve been asked a lot of questions about podcast downloads. Here are a few of the most frequent.

Do I need to share my download numbers with anyone?

Nope, not at all. Though you might be asked for them if you’re talking to potential sponsors about podcast ads, or, if you’re in discussions with any podcast networks. Some potential guests might even want a gauge of your numbers before agreeing to come on.

If this is the case, it’s best to create a media kit to present this data. Also, be sure to explain that audience engagement is just as (if not more) important than hard numbers. As we’ve said so many times in this guide, download numbers never tell the whole story.

Can I see how many downloads other podcasts are getting?

Not unless the podcast host makes their stats publicly available.

That said, it might be possible to find an approximate guide using a third-party analytics tool like Rephonic. You can search for the podcast in question and see if it’s listed in their directory. If it is, you may see some basic metrics, such as the number of downloads, subscribers, and podcast audience demographics. It’s worth taking any numbers you find with a pinch of salt, though, as they may not be wholly accurate.

Do multiple podcast reviews hint at high downloads?

Having lots of ratings and reviews on podcast apps can make a show seem like it has a big audience. Often, this is the case, and the show has reached a critical mass of listeners leaving reviews. It isn’t a rule without exception, though. Some shows have small but super-engaged audiences, whilst other podcasters may actively seek out reviews and end up with a disproportionate amount. Again, this approach can give you a hint, but it’ll never tell the whole story.

Do all successful podcasts have “big” download numbers?

Definitely not. Some of the most successful podcasts out there have numerically small audiences because the topic is extremely niche. Niche audiences are some of the most engaged and fanatical, though. There’s nothing to say that a podcaster in a certain niche might not work full-time on their show with an audience of “only” 100 people.

Can my hosting provider get me more downloads?

Podcast hosting platforms are not responsible for your show’s growth or download numbers. In our article on changing podcast host, we talk about how these services set you up with podcast feeds, give you the tools and report the facts, but the rest is up to you.

Podcast downloads vs listens: What’s the difference?

The end result is typically the same: the audience hears your content. However, there are some subtle differences between podcast listens and podcast downloads.

A download is when the episode is, funnily enough, downloaded onto a device such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone. From a listener’s point of view, this makes it more flexible to consume because you’re no longer reliant on an internet connection.

But from a podcaster, network, or advertiser’s point of view, it makes it harder to “prove” that a listen has happened. After all, someone might download an episode but never actually hear it.

A “listen” can be playing a previously downloaded episode, or it can be someone streaming an episode via the web or a podcast listening app. This can make it easier to see that listening has actually happened. That said, it’s a mistake to try and force your audience to stream rather than download. Let folks make up their own minds about how they prefer to consume your content.

If you need to demonstrate to sponsors or advertisers that your download numbers accurately reflect your listener numbers, you can show engagement via factors and strategies such as listen time, audience survey data, and your Calls to Action.  

Summary: Average Podcast Downloads Guide

Ultimately, asking “What’s a good number of downloads for a podcast?” is a lot like asking “How long is a piece of string?” Every show is different, and no two podcasts are alike.

By all means, track your downloads. But obsessing over them won’t grow your show.

Focus instead on the actions that actually move the needle. Our pillar guide to growing an audience lays out the foundation for a solid, effective podcast promotion plan:

Podcast Promotion: From 100 Listeners to Your Next 100K – Let’s SCALE

Read article called: Podcast Promotion: From 100 Listeners to Your Next 100K – Let’s SCALE

And finally, one of the best ways to grow your podcast is to create brilliant content that resonates with your target audience. Unfortunately, many podcasters spend too much time wrangling with tools and software to give this the attention it deserves.

When we built Alitu, the aim was to solve the problem of podcast editing. These days, it’s packed full of tech-simplifying and time-saving tools.

It doesn’t look or feel like an old-school DAW, and features like automatic filler word removal and text-based editing make podcast production accessible to everyone.

On top of that, Alitu is an all-in-one platform. You can record, edit, publish, and distribute your show all in one place. Try it free for seven days and see how it works for you!

With that in mind, here’s a quick summary of how to record a podcast. Let’s break it down into three main parts:

1. Planning: What prep do you need to do so that the recording goes smoothly?
2. Equipment: What gear do you need to record a quality show?
3. Software: What tools do you need to be able to capture your audio?

By the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need to record a podcast. All that’s left is to hit that big red button, and get your voice out into the world!

A quick heads up before we go. We use some affiliate links, which help support all of our free content, though rest assured, they never influence our opinions. If you choose to buy through them, we’d earn a small commission. This is never at any extra cost to you.

With that all said, let’s crack on…

1. Planning to Record a Podcast

I know, this might be seen as “the boring bit”, so I won’t dwell on it. But having a plan is the difference between recording a podcast and recording an audio or video file.

Planning Your Topic

Firstly, there’s the overall topic of your podcast to nail down.

And once you have your main topic in mind, the Alitu Showplanner can help you hone it into a fully fleshed-out plan, complete with a list of episode suggestions, a trailer script, and more ideas to make your show unique.

Planning Your Episode

Once you know the topic of your first episode, it’s a good idea to have a plan in place for that, too.

Podcast episodes come in various formats, from solo monologues to co-hosted chats and interviews.

No matter which format you opt for, think about the overarching hook of the episode. What will your listener walk away with at the end of it all?

This will all factor into the bullet points, questions, or talking points you have listed in front of you when you get behind the mic. These anchor points help you stay focused and on track. They’re what’s known as your podcast script.

2. What Equipment Do I Need to Record a Podcast?

So now you have a better idea of what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it.

But what gear do you need to record it?

A Microphone

First, let’s capture that voice. That’s what the humble microphone is designed to do. You can find a collection of the best podcast microphones right here, so have a browse through and pick something that fits your space and budget.

If you want to keep things simple, go for a USB microphone. You’ll plug that right into your computer and record there. No other equipment needed, just software, which we’ll cover below.

A USB mic is ideal for anyone recording a solo show, or if you’ll be recording with others over the internet (more on software for this below, too). And, let’s be honest, that’s 90% of the podcasts out there!

Our favourite (and most recommended) mic is the Samson Q2U.

Check out the Samson Q2U on Amazon

You can often buy the Samson Q2U with a desk stand and a pair of headphones for under $100, and it works with both USB and XLR. Check out our full review of the Samson Q2U to get into the details.

Mounting Your Mic

Unless you’re using a lavalier mic (more on those, shortly), it’s a good idea to mount your mic on a boom arm. This will really help your mic technique, presentation style, and just make you feel more professional.

Avoid ultra-cheap boom arms at all costs, though. They’re creaky and can fall apart before your eyes. A couple of our favourites are the Rode PSA1+ and the IXTech Lizard.

Do I Need a Digital Recorder or USB Audio Interface?

According to our 2024 Podcast Gear & Software report, over half of podcasters use an audio interface, digital recorder, or mixer.

The primary reason to add one of these to your setup is to record with others who are in the same room as you. You never want to share a microphone, and it’s tricky to record with more than one USB mic on a single computer.

With a USB audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or Vocaster 2, you can run two XLR mics (like the Samson Q2U) into your computer.

Or, if you’d rather be away from the computer altogether, a digital recorder is the perfect option. These let you plug in multiple XLR mics and record on separate tracks. The Zoom range is great, and the Zoom PodTrak P4 even lets you record phone calls and play “live” music and sound effects.

If money is no object, the Rode Rodecaster II is an incredible all-in-one podcast recorder. Total overkill for most creators, but many aspire to own one nonetheless.

What About Smartphone Recording?

Many podcasters record directly into smartphones, and the quality has come on leaps and bounds in recent years.

Even the built-in mics on the average new smartphone sound good, though adding in external kit will help you with better technique and more consistent delivery.

My favourite smartphone recording kits are the Rode Wireless Micro and the BOYA Mini. Both are extremely affordable, and enable you to record yourself alongside an in-person guest or co-host.

Your Podcast Recording Studio, Reverb, & Background Noise

You can employ the best gear and software in the world, but if you’re using them in a sub-par environment, your podcast can sound bad.

Excessive reverb will make even the most thorough and well-planned content sound amateurish. And hearing your flatmate playing Grand Theft Auto in the background is going to distract from your message, too.

The good news is that creating a pro-sounding podcast studio doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Check out our full guide there for a load of different options on that front.

The way you use a mic also impacts its sound quality. We can help you sound your best in front of whatever mic you use with our microphone technique for podcasters’ guide.

You’ll find sophisticated AI audio cleanup via tools like Alitu on the market, these days. AI audio cleanup isn’t an excuse to get sloppy or not care about your source material. But it can be a lifesaver in a pinch. Check out these sound samples for an example of what’s possible:

Noise Reduction

Reverb Elimination & Technique Optimisation

Recording Video Podcasts

There’s no rule to say that you must record video as well as audio, but if you do, you’ll need some additional equipment.

On the mic front, the Samson Q2U is still a great option. But if you’re really leaning into the visuals, it can look a bit utilitarian. A few video podcasters I know prefer the look of something like the Shure MV7+ or Rode Procaster instead.

You can use your built-in webcam to get started, but if you’re looking to upgrade, then the Logitech C920 is a fine choice. Video podcast lighting is a whole subject of its own, but you get some good little kits for mounting cameras and illuminating your shots.

We get deeper into this in our pillar guide: How to Make a Video Podcast in 2026

3. What Software Do I Need to Record a Podcast?

Regardless of your podcast format, if you’re recording into your computer, you’ll need some software to capture it.

Let’s look at the options.

Recording Solo into your Computer

I’ll start with the simplest option first: recording a podcast alone.

If you’re flying solo, Audacity is an obvious and free choice. It’s also the most popular podcast recording tool, with 17% of creators using it to record and 24% using it to edit their shows.

Audacity and other tools like Adobe Audition and Reaper are known as DAWs, or Digital Audio Workstations. They each have powerful capabilities that give you intricate control over your productions, but they have their downsides, too:

• DAWs can take time and effort to learn
• They don’t have remote recording capabilities
• They don’t have video recording capabilities

But if you just want to record solo audio monologues, then Audacity is a great free on-ramp.

Remote Recording: Audio & Video

Most podcasters want the option to record with guests or co-hosts worldwide. Fortunately, we’re well covered in that area nowadays.

I’ve mentioned podcast maker tool Alitu already for its amazing post-production capabilities. Alitu is also a fully-fledged podcast recording platform, too.

Alitu lets you record audio or video, and it runs those recordings locally on each participant’s computer. This protects your recordings from WiFi dropouts and other such glitches.

With Alitu, you can also publish and distribute your podcast, meaning you have everything you need in one single account. Try it free for seven days and see for yourself!

Some other great podcast recording tools we’ve used in recent years are Zencastr, Riverside, and Iris. Check out a full list of pricing and sound samples in our remote recording tools roundup.

You can also record your podcast on Zoom, and many do. The audio quality isn’t remarkable, but it gets the job done. Just be aware that on the Zoom free tier, you’ll be limited to recording sessions of no more than 40 minutes.

Smartphone Recording Software

If it’s a phone you’re using, then any default voice or video apps will do the trick for solo episodes, or if you have a co-host with you and are recording with wireless lavalier kit.

If you want to record remotely, then, honestly, I’d recommend using a computer or laptop. The Riverside mobile app is a decent attempt at doing this on a phone, but in my experience, it’s still a bit unreliable.

How to Record a Podcast in the Same Room

Most podcasters record remotely these days. But if you’ve got the luxury of getting everyone in the same room, the ideal setup is what I covered earlier in the audio interface and digital recorder section.

Best Digital Voice Recorders in 2026: From Budget to Pro-Level Gear

Read article called: Best Digital Voice Recorders in 2026: From Budget to Pro-Level Gear

You’ll want something like the Focusrite Vocaster 2 (computer needed) or Zoom PodTrak P4 (no computer needed) with an XLR mic like the Samson Q2U for each person.

When recording in the same room, avoid sharing mics. Give everyone their own microphone and record each person on a separate track. It makes editing far easier and leads to a cleaner, more consistent sound!

Once You’ve Recorded That Podcast

You’ve done the hard bit. Though, hopefully after reading this guide, it wasn’t hard at all!

There are still a few things to do to get that episode out to the world, and Alitu ensures they’re all quick and straightforward.

Firstly, you can top and tail your recording and easily remove any mistakes or interruptions. You can even edit by deleting text from Alitu’s automatically generated transcripts.

At the touch of a button, you can remove ums, ahs, and long pauses.

Alitu automatically cleans, levels, and optimises your audio. In the episode builder, a simple drag-and-drop interface lets you add music, segments, and transitions.

When your episode is ready, you can publish and distribute it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hundreds of other platforms – all from within Alitu.

No matter what kind of podcast you make, Alitu gives you everything you need to save time and smooth out the tech. Try it free for seven days and see for yourself!