So, you want to start a podcast. It’s a good idea: according to Edison Research, 55% of Americans aged 12 or older listen to podcasts monthly. That’s a lot of potential eyes and ears on your content.
Maybe you woke up one day with an incredible idea for a podcast, went online to look at equipment and find a hosting platform, but now you need to learn how to write your first podcast script. Writing a podcast script is an important first step in your podcast journey. Podcast scripts are the foundation of your topic, and they help you stay on track so your content makes sense.
But if you’ve never written a script before, you may not know where you should begin.
That’s where this guide comes in. You’ll be able to see podcast script examples, templates, and more so you can start off on the right foot.
What Should You Write in Your Podcast Script?
The content of your script will largely depend on the subject of your podcast. Regardless of what you’ll be talking about, your script should follow a specific flow for best practices and productivity.
The Best Structure For Your Script
- Introduction. Make sure to start each script by introducing the episode's topic. It’s important that your listeners understand what they’re getting into early on.
- Content/Main Topic. Write out what you want to say about the topic you have. If you have a true crime podcast, for example, go ahead and lay out the story in a creative and captivating way. Try to write in a way that would sound natural when speaking.
- Add Notes Where Needed. Sometimes, you’ll need extra notes to remind yourself of certain talking points or just to give a quick glance at certain information pertaining to your topic. Don’t be afraid to add some notes to the script itself.
- Conclusion. End the podcast strongly by concluding your script and connecting your reflection to your main point. Make sure your listeners walk away with a clear understanding of what you intended to convey and your position on the topic. The conclusion, or ending, is the time to remind your audience of your stance, perspective, and thank them for listening.
Podcast Script Examples
There are many different kinds of podcasts, which is why it’s important to use a script that matches your style and topic. Here are some script examples and tips based on podcast genres.
True Crime Podcast
True crime podcasts make up over 24% of non-fiction podcasts, according to Pew Research. The genre has a cult following, with loyal fans integrating their favorite true crime podcasts into their daily lives. Start with the introduction and get the listeners invested in the topic. Then move into your narrative.
[Example]
Introduction:
Indie singer D4VD has been accused of being involved in the murder of his alleged girlfriend. As the LAPD investigates, let’s review everything we know about the case and the allegations against him.
Narration:
Last year, fans of D4VD were preparing to see him on his first world tour, more excited than ever. That was until the news broke that a body was found in the trunk of the singer’s car.
Continue writing the facts of the case and ensure to verbally cite your sources. It can be helpful to read the script aloud before recording to ensure it sounds natural.
With a true crime podcast, you’ll want to mostly stick to the facts of the case. If you want to insert your opinion, you have to ensure your audience knows it’s an opinion. You can note the difference between the narration and the opinion.
You’ll continue with the body of the podcast script, then write your conclusion/ending.
[Example]
Outro:
As we wait for the conclusion of the investigation, it’s important to prioritize victims' voices and continue to allow the justice system to do its job.
News Podcast
According to Pew Research, 15% of the top ranked podcasts focus on news. They are very similar to true crime podcasts, except you shouldn’t insert your opinion anywhere in the script. Think of yourself as a news anchor here. It’s important that you remain impartial, and therefore your script should reflect that.
[Example]
Introduction:
Former President Barack Obama recently sat down for an interview where he admitted that aliens are real. Although he gave this shocking news, he also said that they are not in Area 51 as far as he knows.
Narration:
Former President Obama was interviewed by Brian Tyler Cohen and was asked some heavy-hitting questions. Among them was a question that had been plaguing the nation for decades: are aliens real?
Again, you’ll create an outro for the script. While you should wrap up the podcast with a reflection, most news podcasts cover multiple stories in a single episode. Because of this, you’ll want to give a broad overall conclusion.
[Example]
Outro:
The confessions of the former president have sparked online debate: what rights do the people have to information like this? Why do government officials only admit these things when they’re no longer in office? We should all join the conversation as we absorb the revelation casually offered by former President Obama.
If you find it easier, you could choose news stories with the same “gist” or concept, so the conclusion is easier to reach, and you can leave your listeners with a memorable message at the end.
Fiction Podcasts
According to DemandSage, fiction podcasts have an over 85% completion rate. This means that over 85% of people who listen to these podcasts, specifically on Spotify, will finish the episode. Fiction podcasts can include comedic podcasts, mysteries, and even those with elaborate characters and plots. Fiction podcasts give listeners an opportunity to immerse themselves in a new world, and they give creators the chance to share their imagination and creativity.
Fiction podcast scripts are more rigid than other scripts. It’s more important to follow them, and they truly tell the story. If you’re the only one recording for your fiction podcasts, without any additional guests or voice actors, your script should look like this:
[Example]
Narration: In a faraway land, there lived a young boy and his mother. They were alone in the world, all one another had, but that was about to change on this fateful day.
James: Mom, would you like to go to the market today?
Mom: Why, yes, that sounds lovely.
If other people are playing the parts of James and his mother, you’ll want to print out copies of the podcast script for each person. It’s helpful if you highlight the lines of the character each person will play; that way, it’s easy for them to memorize.
For a fiction podcast, you can include an ending to your story and an outro thanking the listeners and sponsors.
[Example]
Narration:
James and his mom sat on the rooftop of their castle, looking out at their brand new kingdom. They cherished the freedom they now had and knew they would do anything to keep it.
Outro:
Thank you for listening! Next week, we have another great story for you. And a big thank you to Saspod for sponsoring today’s episode.
Sponsored Content
One way people make money from podcasts is through podcast sponsorship, accepting brand deals, endorsements, and ads. Each brand deal is different. Some companies are okay with a mention of their product, while others want more dedicated segments about their product/company.
It’s important to script out what you’re going to say during these sponsored segments, even if your podcast follows an outline rather than a script. Many companies have specific talking points they want you to cover about their product or service. You’re only human, so it’s easy to forget things. To ensure you’re complying with your contract, scripting these segments is important.
Podcast Outline Vs. Podcast Script
According to Rephonic, over 80% of podcasts are non-fiction of some kind, whether that’s the news, true crime, legal, personal anecdotes, or interview-style podcasts. If you’re recording a non-fiction podcast like true crime or a news podcast, you’ll want to fully write your script in advance. Because these are based on true events, you’ll want to fully research your talking points and ensure that you’re being factual. For this, a podcast script is perfect.
If your content is more conversational, it could help to create an outline of talking points, rather than an actual script. This could be the case for podcasts that feature guests or interview people. With an outline, you’re not bound by the rigidity of a script, and it allows you and your guests to express yourselves freely while also staying on topic.
How to Write a Podcast Outline
As we talked about above, sometimes you don’t need a dedicated script but just an outline. An outline is something that will give you direction on what to talk about so you don’t waste your allotted podcast time, while still giving you the freedom to let your words and thoughts flow. You can also set a maximum time for the discussion.
Outlines are great for anecdotal podcasts where you’re talking about your life, ensemble podcasts where a group of people have discussions, and interview-style podcasts where you’re interviewing new people in each episode.
Podcast Outline Templates
Here are some examples and templates for outlines:
Anecdotal Podcasts
These can include telling stories from your past or talking about whatever is on your mind. Some people love hearing others' thoughts and opinions. These kinds of podcasts fill that need. Say you want to record a podcast about the time you first learned how to ride a bike. You could either create an outline that features the topics you want to touch on, or one that also includes time stamps to keep yourself on track.
It would go something like this:
[Example 1]
Outline:
Intro.
Talk about how you became afraid of riding bikes.
Talk about how your dad had the same fear, where it came from, and how he overcame it.
Bike shopping with your dad.
Your dad taking you to the park to ride a bike.
The actual act of riding a bike.
The moral of the story/what you want to communicate to your audience by telling the story.
Outro.
[Example 2]
Outline:
Introduction. Greet the audience and do your preamble.
20 minutes talking about where your fear of riding a bike originated from.
10 minutes talking about how your dad had the same fear.
5 minutes talking about the bike shopping.
5 minutes talking about the act of riding the bike.
10 minutes on the moral of the story.
2-minute outro.
Interview Style Podcasts
When interviewing another person, it can be trickier because you want to make sure they have enough time to tell their story and answer your questions. You don’t want to rush them, but you don’t want to get stuck on one topic for too long. Part of maintaining this balance is having an outline so you know which topics to cover and when you’ve gotten off topic.
Let’s say you’re interviewing a celebrity. Here’s an outline that you could write that would help keep things on track.
Outline:
Introduce the guest.
Let the guest talk about their current projects.
Ask about controversy 1.
Discuss controversy 1.
Plug in sponsor. (Note: some sponsors ask to put their content at specific points in the podcast, so this order will depend on the kind of sponsor you have and your contract.)
Ask about controversy 2.
Discuss controversy 2.
Outro.
Write a Podcast Script You Can Be Proud Of
Scripting can feel daunting. You can feel like you’re out of your depth or you don’t know where to start, but that’s just fear talking. Presumably, if you’re starting a podcast, it’s to talk about something that you are passionate about or enjoy, just lean into that, and the words will flow.
When in doubt, you can reference the templates, examples, and outline in this article to help guide you into a perfect podcast script.
FAQs
Do I need to pay for script-writing software?
Nope! You can if you’d like; that software can certainly be helpful, but it’s not necessary. Using whatever word processing software you have available to you (Google Docs, Pages, Microsoft Word, etc) is perfectly fine.
How many words should be in a script for an hour-long podcast?
On average, a podcast script should be about 9,000 words on the lower end and 15,000 words on the higher end. This word count is for an average reading/talking speed; it can change depending on how fast you talk.
Can I use AI to help me write it?
That’s not advised, as you’re going to actually speak those words. It has to sound human; it should be written by a human as well. Listeners can usually tell if the script is written by AI; you wouldn’t want to disappoint them.
Should I hire a script-writer?
Hiring a script-writer is 100% up to you and is a valid choice many podcasters make. Hiring a professional script writer can lighten the load of creating your podcast, especially if you find script writing to be difficult. It can also ensure your script is of high quality, leading to a better podcast. At Saspod, as a part of our podcast production services, we provide excellent script-writing services and resources for our clients.
Do I have to format my podcast script in a certain way?
The examples and templates above are great places to start! Those provide the general gist of how to write a podcast script; however, you can make it unique and understandable to you and your content.
Does everyone use podcast scripts? Even the huge, professional podcasts?
Of course, everyone is different, but a good majority of podcasts follow some sort of script or outline. This is even true with YouTube videos. Scripts help podcast hosts stay on topic and factual, and use their time wisely. These are aspects that everyone can benefit from, not just the pros.
How long should I spend writing my script?
You should spend whatever amount of time it takes for the script to convey the message and tone of the episode you want to make. You have to center your own creativity and intention when creating your script.
Can I use teleprompters to help me read my script while recording?
Of course! Teleprompters can be an essential part of script reading. They will display your script on a separate screen so you can record. This helps you keep track of where you are in your script and reduces the likelihood of forgetting your lines. It’s common for professionals to use teleprompters across a wide range of settings. This includes news, talk shows, and even speeches. Having a teleprompter reduces mistakes, especially on live television. They’re even used when people present at award shows like the Grammys!
Though you most likely won’t be doing your podcast live, using a teleprompter can help your recording be smoother with fewer pauses and fewer takes. Teleprompters can be especially useful when doing video podcasts as well, so you aren’t looking away from the camera to read your script. Many teleprompters have a remote so you can control the speed of the script as it moves, adjusting to your preferences.
It may take some practice to be able to look over at the teleprompter and read from it, but you’ll get the hang of it as you practice.
I’m not used to reading scripts. How do I make it sound natural?
If you’ve never read a script before, no worries! Practice makes perfect, and reading the script multiple times will help you sound natural. You don’t have to record the podcast in one go; it’s perfectly fine to do multiple takes to get it right. You can also fix any imperfections during post-production after recording.
At Saspod, we offer post-production services that ensure your podcast is high-quality. We offer audio and video editing, audio restoration, sound design, color grading, social media repurposing, copywriting, and podcast distribution. We can even edit out pauses, filler words like “um, uh,” and stuttering to make the listening experience smoother for your audience. These services will give you confidence in your podcast, ensuring that the final result is professional and something to be proud of. Book a discovery call with Saspod today to discuss our production services.
Comments
No comments yet!