Are your podcast listeners dropping off? Once a listener hits play, research shows that you have about five minutes to catch and hold their interest before 1 in 4 of them stop listening.

The good news is, in the world of audio and video content, five minutes is a good chunk of time—more than enough to pull your audience in with a punchy hook and thoughtfully-crafted introduction.

In this guide, we’ll cover the different types of hooks and intros and take a close look at six podcast intro examples and why they work.

🙋🏼‍♀️ Just here for the scripts, templates, and examples? Jump to Podcast Intro Examples.

The difference between a podcast hook and an introduction is sort of a rectangle/square situation. A hook is a vital piece of an introduction—but an introduction is more than just the hook.

A podcast hook grabs the listener’s attention immediately. Think of a movie teaser or a cold open on a TV show. It’s designed to intrigue listeners and get them to stick around for those crucial first 30 seconds of a podcast episode.

A podcast introduction, on the other hand, includes the hook, and the next few pieces that follow: welcoming the audience, introducing the host and guest, and setting expectations for the episode. It grounds the listener and locks their attention in.

Hooks can take many different forms. Figuring out which hooks will work for your podcast comes down to understanding your audience. An excellent hook surprises your audience and makes them think.

Here are four common types of podcast hooks to experiment with.

What makes podcasting such a unique and valuable content format is that it’s a long-form, unscripted discussion. During long chats like this, a few controversial sound bites are bound to surface.

Opening with a bold statement that challenges the status quo can stop your listeners in their tracks. Questioning a popular belief or industry practice invites your audience to explore a new perspective. They’ll want to stick around to hear your argument unfold (and decide whether they agree 🙃).

➡️ Example: “Today we’re exploring why the common advice to ‘follow your passion’ is the worst career move you can make.”

Remember back in high school when you learned to use a statistic or quote in your essay introductions? There’s a reason that’s such a cemented best practice. It works. Start your episode off with a statistic that shocks or a quote that resonates. These grab attention and keep listeners around for the rest of the discussion.

➡️ Example: “In a recent study by MIT, 71% of marketers admit they don’t fully understand how AI impacts their strategies. Are you one of them?”

Another reason people love podcasts: It’s not content from a faceless brand. It’s humans having a conversation. Hook listeners by starting with a human experience—a story or anecdote that ties into your episode’s theme. Bonus points if it’s an experience your audience can relate to, and become invested in right away.

➡️ Example: “Last summer, while in Tokyo with my kids, my phone died in the middle of the day. I didn’t know how to get anywhere. Asking for help was a challenge. I realized just how much we rely on our phones while traveling.”

Don’t have an anecdote? Make one up. Pose a "what if" scenario related to your episode topic to ignite listeners’ imaginations. Consider painting a picture of a challenge your audience frequently encounters—one that your guest can solve with their expertise.

➡️ Example: “Imagine waking up tomorrow to find that your biggest competitor slashed their pricing plans in half. How would you respond?”

Remember: The type of hook you use depends on your audience as well as your episode guest and topic. Finding the right hook sets the stage for an engaging and thought-provoking episode, ensuring your audience listens from start to finish.

Once you’ve got your hook, it’s time to craft the rest of the introduction. This is your chance to set the stage and draw listeners into the conversation from the very first impression.

The best podcast intros are more than a formality—they’re a tool to help you keep the interest you’ve already earned with your hook.

• Host’s greeting: Next to an ultra catchy theme song, an engaging host is the most recognizable piece of every successful podcast. Create a personal connection right away with a friendly introduction of the podcast host.
• Podcast identification: Clearly state your podcast’s name and tagline, important for consistency and new listeners.
• Value proposition: When the background music fades, tell listeners what they can expect to take away from today’s episode and the unique insights your guests bring to the table.
• Introduction of guests: Introduce who guests are, including their professional credentials and a recap of relevant experiences shared during the conversation.
• Sponsor messages: Include any sponsorship announcements and disclaimers.
• Episode overview: Give a concise summary of the episode’s content, and include the episode number and episode title.
• Call to action: How do you want listeners to engage? Don’t leave it unspoken. Ask them explicitly to subscribe, visit your podcast website, or listen to your next episode.

When it comes to podcast marketing, you can’t win without a plan. If you have an explicit goal for your B2B podcast, for example to drive traffic from Apple podcasts or Spotify to your YouTube channel, be sure to reinforce that goal in your podcast intro CTA and show notes.

The technical elements of your podcast intro are as important as the words you say.

• Music and sound effects: Choose podcast intro music that reflects your podcast's tone, whether it’s royalty-free music or a custom jingle. Consider using the same track as podcast outro music for consistency. Use effects sparingly and intentionally.
• Ideal length: Keep intros concise, ideally between 30 to 60 seconds. This engages the audience without overwhelming them with information.
• Tight editing: Pauses and filler words happen during human conversations—but the intro is not the place to leave them unchecked. Remove these with podcast editing software to keep the momentum going.
• Audio quality: Nothing loses listeners faster than poor audio quality. Make sure your intro (and the rest of your episode) are high-quality audio files.

A good podcast intro is a balance of technicality and creativity. Master both with Goldcast’s podcast recording software built specifically for B2B teams.

Need to see it in action? Here are six great podcast intro examples that are all different, yet all effective. Plus, we’ve broken them out into templates you can use for your podcast intro script.

Deep Questions delves into topics like focus, productivity, and creating meaningful lives in a world full of distractions.

🔊 Listen to the episode

Script template: [Music beat] + [Host introduction] + [Value prop] + [Sponsor] + [Guest introductions]

1. Music. A long beat (10 seconds!) of relaxing music helps listeners enter the right headspace.
2. Host introduction. Cal Newport introduces himself.
3. Podcast identification and value prop. Cal identifies the podcast and specific series, as well as its mission to “talk to interesting people about the quest to cultivate a deep life.”
4. Episode sponsor
5. Guest introductions. Two guests are introduced with brief overviews.

What’s next-level about this intro: The beginning of this intro is a masterclass in defying audience expectations. While most intros include 1-2 seconds of music before the speaking begins, Deep Questions starts off with a full 10 seconds of relaxing music. It catches the listener off-guard, helping them shed distractions and prepare for, well, deep questions.

The AI show seeks to demystify AI, exploring how it can drive smarter growth for businesses within marketing and beyond.

🔊 Listen to the episode

Script template: [Hot take] + [Value prop] + [Introductions] + [Value prop detail] + [CTA]

1. Hot take. Cold open with an intriguing clip from the 1.5-hour discussion. “These models are already super-human at persuasion.”
2. Podcast identification and value prop. The name of the podcast is called out, along with the tagline: “The podcast that helps your business grow smarter by making AI approachable and actionable.”
3. Host introductions. Paul Roetzer, institute founder and CEO, introduces himself and his cohost, Mike Kaput, chief content officer.
4. Value prop continuation. Paul speaks a bit more about the value prop: “As we break down all the AI news that matters…”
5. Sponsor and CTA. They welcome listeners, and then use the opportunity to promote the upcoming event AI for Writers Summit.

What’s next-level about this intro: We can’t overstate how much we love the cold open for this episode, which is a short clip from the discussion ahead, summarizing some of the potential pitfalls of generative AI models. It hooks the listener right away. We also appreciated how hyper-relevant the sponsor and CTA were to the show’s mission “to accelerate AI literacy for all.” (And, okay, we co-sponsored the Summit so we might be biased.)

Diary of a CEO is an intimate exploration into the lives and stories of influential business leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers.

🔊 Listen to the episode

Script template: [Hot take] + [Introductions] + [CTA]

1. Hot takes. The episode starts with clips taken directly from the interview.
2. Guest introduction. The guest’s name and background are briefly introduced via clips inserted among the hot take clips.
3. CTA. The host, Steven Bartlett, asks listeners to follow and subscribe so he can keep the show free forever.

What’s next-level about this intro: This intro starts off with hot takes on steroids—almost clickbait in audio form. Whether you love it or hate it, you can’t deny its efficacy. In this episode, the guest, a child attachment expert, addresses common misunderstandings and failings of modern-day parents. We noted that this is a very popular podcast, so it may be able to get away without some of the essentials (e.g. identifying the podcast) in order to get to value faster.

From Lab to Launch shares insights and stories from the life sciences space, featuring founders, scientists, and innovators who are shaping the future.

🔊 Listen to the episode

Script template: [Value prop] + [Host introduction] + [CTA] + [Guest introduction]

1. Podcast identification and value prop. The listener is welcomed and hit with the podcast’s mission right away, “where we share inspiring stories from the people on the front lines of life sciences.”
2. Host greeting. Host Meg Sinclair identifies herself.
3. CTA. Rate and share the podcast; apply to be a guest.
4. Guest introduction. Meg shares a more detailed introduction of guest Mark Roskey, chief scientific and collaboration officer at Quanterix.

What’s next-level about this intro: Not only did Qualio include a CTA to rate and share the podcast in the intro; they also invited listeners to apply to be a guest on the show.

In Evolving the Enterprise, thought leaders discuss challenges and opportunities in the data, automation, and AI fields.

🔊 Listen to the episode

Script template: [Value prop] + [Host introduction] + [Value prop detail] + [Episode preview] + [Guest introduction]

1. Podcast identification and value prop. “A podcast that brings together leaders from the worlds of data, automation, AI, integration, and more.”
2. Host identification: The pre-recorded intro voiceover states the host’s name, Dale Hall, CMO.
3. Value prop continued. “Lively discussions with industry leading executives and experts.”
4. Host greeting and contextualization. Dale muses about the upcoming discussion.
5. Guest introduction. Dale introduces Mark Clare, chief architect at Dentsu.

What’s next-level about this intro: As soon as Dale starts talking, his passion is evident. We love how he creates intrigue right away with the phrase, “These are probably my favorite podcasts to do,” before introducing the guest.

The Modern Experience Marketer offers expert interviews and tips to help marketers convert experiences into engagement and revenue.

🔊 Listen to the episode

Script template: [Clips/social proof] + [Introductions] + [Episode preview]

1. Discussion clips. The intro opens with music overlaid with audio clips from previous discussions.
2. Host and guest introduction. Host Dave Lehman, president and CEO of Birdeye, introduces himself and then provides a more detailed introduction of the guest, Microsoft CVP Azure AI Platform Eric Boyd.
3. Episode preview. A brief outline of the discussion to come.

What’s next-level about this intro: What we love about this intro are the audio clips at the beginning. Ranging from “AI visionaries” to “The lay of the land on where things are? Yeah, I’d be happy to,” these clips act as both context for the conversation to come and social proof.

A great B2B podcast is all about striking a balance between polished and raw; professional and human. Your intro and outro are opportunities to lean toward the polished end of the spectrum.

Once you’ve perfected these elements, don’t continue to reinvent the wheel. Instead, consider pre-recording the pieces that don’t change from episode to episode. With Goldcast’s Recording Studio, you can create a polished intro with video and branding—then seamlessly piece it together with your dynamic, episode-specific content.

When your episode is assembled and published, don’t stop there. Use Content Lab to repurpose your valuable podcast content into social media clips, blog posts, and more to maximize reach, drive engagement, and build your subscriber base.

Create your Goldcast Content Lab account to try everything for free, or let us show you around by scheduling a free demo today.