Podcast Show Notes Template
A copy-paste outline for episode pages: guest bio, summary, timestamped chapters, quotes, links, and a subscribe CTA.
Good show notes do two jobs. They help a listener decide whether to press play, and they give search engines and AI assistants indexable text to pull from. This template covers both. Fill in each field once per episode and you get a consistent page every time, without staring at a blank document.
The fastest way to fill it is to work from a transcript. Timestamped chapters, exact quotes, and the names of tools or books mentioned are all sitting in the recording already. Run the audio through Pepys' podcast transcript tool, then copy the moments you want. If you also plan to repurpose the episode into an article, the same transcript feeds how to turn a podcast into a blog post.
The template
Podcast Show Notes Template
Episode details
Episode title:(a descriptive title, not just Episode 42)
Episode number:
Publish date:
Run time:(e.g. 48 min)
Guest
Guest name and title:(name, role, company)
Guest bio:(2 to 3 sentences; who they are and why they were on)
Guest links:(website, book, or social handles to credit)
Episode summary
One paragraph, roughly 3 to 5 sentences. Say what the episode is about and the single thing a listener will walk away with.
Summary:
Chapters and timestamps
List the main topics in order with the time each one starts. Even a short episode reads better with 4 to 6 markers. Pull these straight from your transcript so the times are exact.
00:00 - Intro and guest welcome:
00:00 - Topic:
00:00 - Topic:
00:00 - Topic:
00:00 - Closing and where to find the guest:
Key quotes
Copy 1 to 3 of the most shareable lines from the transcript, word for word. A strong quote can double as a section heading and gets picked up in search.
Quote 1:(“…” - Guest name)
Quote 2:(“…” - Guest name)
Links and resources mentioned
Every book, tool, person, article, or company named in the episode. Scan the transcript so nothing gets missed.
Resource:(name - URL)
Resource:(name - URL)
Resource:(name - URL)
Subscribe and follow
Close with a clear next step. Ask listeners to follow the show, and point them where you want them to go.
Subscribe links:(Apple, Spotify, YouTube, RSS)
Call to action:(e.g. Rate the show, join the newsletter, share this episode)
Tip: paste the full episode transcript at the bottom of the page. It gives search and AI assistants far more text to index, and it saves listeners who prefer to read.
How to use it
- 1
Copy the template into your show notes editor or CMS and fill in the episode details and guest fields.
- 2
Transcribe the episode with a tool like Pepys' podcast transcript so you have searchable text to work from.
- 3
Read the transcript and lift your chapter timestamps, key quotes, and every resource mentioned into the matching fields.
- 4
Write the one-paragraph summary last, once you know the episode's main takeaway.
- 5
Add subscribe links and a call to action, optionally paste the full transcript at the end, and publish.
Recorded it? Transcribe it here
Drop in the recording for a speaker-labeled, timestamped draft in minutes. Your first 60 minutes are free, no card.
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Frequently asked questions
How long should podcast show notes be?
There is no fixed rule. A platform preview reads well at 100 to 300 words, while a full web page with a summary, timestamps, quotes, and links often runs several hundred words or more. Write enough to be useful and skimmable, then stop.
How many timestamped chapters should I include?
Enough to let a listener jump to what they want. Four to six markers work for most episodes, and longer ones can use more. Pull the exact start times from your transcript so they are accurate.
Do I need a transcript to fill this in?
No, but it makes the job much faster. Chapters, exact quotes, and the names of tools or books are all in the recording already, so working from a transcript means less rewatching and fewer errors.
Where do the key quotes come from?
Copy them verbatim from the transcript. Pick the one or two most shareable lines. A strong quote can also serve as a section heading, which helps the page get found in search.
Can I reuse show notes as a blog post?
Yes. The same transcript that fills your show notes can seed a full article. See how to turn a podcast into a blog post for the steps.
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