# data[].attributes.body
Civil Rights Icon
John Lewis

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Rep. John Lewis doesn't want today's fighters to give up. "You must be able and prepared to give until you cannot give any more,' he says. 'We must use our time and our space on this little planet that we call Earth to make a lasting contribution."

About Cape Up with Jonathan Capehart

Opinion writer Jonathan Capehart talks with newsmakers who challenge your ideas on politics, and explore how race, religion, age, gender and cultural identity are redrawing the lines that both divide and unite America. "Cape Up" is a podcast from Washington Post Opinions.

In this episode

Related Cape Up episodes:

About Cape Up with Jonathan Capehart

Opinion writer Jonathan Capehart talks with newsmakers who challenge your ideas on politics, and explore how race, religion, age, gender and cultural identity are redrawing the lines that both divide and unite America. "Cape Up" is a podcast from Washington Post Opinions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Opinion | Civil rights icon John Lewis is 'deeply moved' by today's demonstrations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rep. John Lewis doesn't want today's fighters to give up. "You must be able and prepared to give until you cannot give any more,' he says. 'We must use our time and our space on this little planet that we call Earth to make a lasting contribution."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free Online Video Editor | Interactive Video | WeVideo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The #1 video editor for schools, businesses, and solopreneurs. Create professional-looking multimedia projects with powerful, easy-to-use tools. Try free today!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The structure of podcast episodes is just as important as the content itself. The individual elements of your episodes have to be in the right order to make an impact on your listeners.

Having a clear structure to your episodes can:

hook listeners and keep them engaged

make editing easier in post-production

make interviews run more smoothly

This guide walks through five ways to structure the perfect podcast episode so each one gets and keeps your listener's attention!
JUMP TO A SECTION:

Step #1. Choose your podcast segments

Every podcast should have a beginning, middle, and end. But you might add more segments depending on your content. There's a lot of room for creativity.

Every podcast should have these essential elements:

Introduction. A good intro can hook your listeners and give them an idea of what to expect. Let them know what you'll talk about, and how it could help them solve a problem or enhance an aspect of their life.

Main content. This is the body of your podcast and where most of the action takes place. This is where you deliver the bulk of your message.

Conclusion. A good conclusion helps summarize the episode for listeners. You can include outro music and a quick synopsis of the episode with the key takeaways. You can also set up the next episode's topic to keep listeners coming back.

This is just the very basic structure of an episode. You can get as creative as you want from here based on your own podcast format.

POPULAR PODCAST FORMATS

Podcast with multiple cohosts:
Podcast intro
Introduce each cohost
Discussion
Audience Q&A
Summary and CTA
Outro

Solo podcast:
Intro
Topic #1
Segue or sound effect
Topic #2
Segue
Highlight listener emails or social media comments
Summary and CTA
Outro

Interview show:
Intro
Topic #1
Segue or sound effect
Topic #2
Segue
Highlight listener emails or social media comments
Summary and CTA
Outro

Step #2. Apply the elements of storytelling

Storytelling is what podcasting is all about, and what makes it such an effective medium. Incorporating the elements of storytelling is key to engaging content and helps keep your listeners engaged throughout the whole episode.

The three basics of storytelling are:

1. The setup. The purpose of the setup is to build interest and suspense and make your audience want to hear the rest of the episode.

2. The delivery. The delivery is the core part of your story where you teach, entertain, or inspire your audience.

3. The application. This is where you can apply the content to your listeners in a way that helps them or solves a problem.

You can apply these elements to podcasts of all different formats, whether fiction or nonfiction.

Step #3. Determine episode length

There's no set rule for how long a podcast should be. An episode's length depends on your preference, genre, and how much time you have to commit to your show.

Here's a breakdown of the percentage of podcast episodes with various durations according to Buzzsprout's Global Stats:

less than 10 minutes: 15%

10-20 minutes: 14%

20-40 minutes: 31%

40-60 minutes: 22%

over 60 minutes: 17%

For new podcasts, it's better to start with shorter episodes and increase the duration of your show as you build trust with your audience.

Once listeners know you have valuable content, they'll be willing to listen to longer episodes.

No matter how often you release episodes, we suggest keeping your episode length to no longer than is necessary to get your message across.

PRO TIP: A podcast can take six to eight times the length of an episode to create. To find out how long your episodes should be take the number of hours you can commit to each week and divide it by six.

Step #4 Write an outline or script

A podcast script can be anything from a list of bullet points that help you stay on track to a formal, word-for-word script.

A script or outline can help you decide how to break up segments, how long to spend on each one, and where to include segues and sponsor ads.

If you host a interview podcast, jotting down the questions beforehand can help make transitions smooth and put your guest at ease.

This step is a good idea whether you r ecord remote interviews via Skype or Zoom, or conduct real-life interviews. You can also send your guest the outline ahead of time to ensure you're both on the same page upfront.

FICTION SCRIPT TEMPLATE

Act I Duration: (____)
Establish setting and introduce main characters
Inciting incident: The problem, or question that the character-or you-is trying to solve or answer.
Turning point: The character turns in a new direction in response to the inciting incident).

Act II Duration: (____)
The struggle: The attempt to solve the problem or question at hand. This is the "rising action" of the plot where you can develop your narrative arc.

[ Sponsor message]

Act III Duration: (____)
Climax: Theme reaches its most intense point of conflict
The resolution: Episode's conflict is resolved and story ends

Closing remarks and or teaser for next episode

[ Call to action]
[ Sponsor message]

Step #5. Include one call-to-action

A call-to-action is when you ask your listener to do one thing at the end of your episode. This step is an important part of your episode structure because it gives encourages podcast growth and can attract new listeners.

Try to limit yourself to one CTA, so you don't overwhelm your audience.

You could ask listeners to:

download a free resource

sign up for an e-course

fill out a survey from a link in your show notes

leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Try to make directions simple and include a compelling incentive. For example, you could run a contest and give a prize to the first ten people to leave a review.

Final thoughts

Podcasts typically benefit from a little structure, and a few parameters can even help creativity thrive.

With a little planning, you can make every episode an engaging, shareable, audience-growing piece of content.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Structure Your Podcast in 5 Steps

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This step-by-step guide breaks down how to structure an engaging podcast episode so listeners come back for more!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you've been podcasting for a while, you probably know why podcast show notes are critical to the success of your show. After all, search engine giants like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! are not currently equipped to root through your audio content and find those juicy keyword terms.

But, many podcasters - especially new podcasters - tend to stumble when it comes time to sit down and write their show notes. Questions about how to structure and format the show notes and what to include in the copy are creeping up more and more in many of the online communities for podcasters that I am a member of.

So, I thought I'd share some of the critical components that I believe make up a great quality podcast show note. I'll break down each section that my team includes in our client's show notes, explain why we feel these parts are important, and what we include in each of these sections.

Some call it a headline, some call it a title. Despite your choice of words for this first critical part, having a good, strong, catchy episode title is important. But not just any title will do!

Your title should include keywords - preferably long-tail keywords that are relevant to the content in your episode. If your show is like many others in the pod-o-sphere (especially interview-based shows), you probably discuss many different topics or have many different talking-points. My advice would be to pick the subtopic you spoke about the most and choose the keyword phrase for your title based on that.

If you feel you are not very good at creating keyword-rich, catchy titles for your show, there are many tools, such as Co-Schedule's Headline Analyzer, that can help.

Some show notes have them and some don't, but in my opinion, all podcast show notes should include at least one or two intro paragraphs. At Lidwell Writing Services, our standard is typically two paragraphs - especially for interview-based shows.

If you're hosting a solo-cast, these paragraphs may closely resemble a very short blog post with the first paragraph designed to attract your audience's attention or get them thinking about the general topic discussed in your episode. The second paragraph may briefly explain a few key points they can expect to learn about in the episode.

For interview-based episodes, though, it's a little different. Most podcasters ask their guests to provide a one-sheet or to fill out a form on their website while scheduling their interview appointment to answer a few basic questions such as:

Those guest bios can come in handy, not only when you are introducing your guest on the show, but you can also use them in the first intro paragraph of your show notes. (Just be sure to rewrite it in your own words so it doesn't get flagged for copyright infringement or duplicate content!)

Lastly, be sure to sprinkle in some of those keywords to help boost your SEO-juice.

Pro Tip: Write short paragraphs. Keep each paragraph between 2-4 sentences long.

Quotes have become increasingly popular with podcasters and their listeners. That's why our team includes at least one quote in the show notes we write for our clients.

These quotes are often repurposed and used on a podcast's social media posts, episode memes and images, and a variety of other marketing strategies.

Whether we want to admit it or not, we have entered an age of instant gratification. That being said, a lot of people aren't reading long-form blog posts - or at least not in their entirety.
(Yes, I realize the irony of this statement in this post!)
While search engine crawlers may love long-form articles due to their increased keyword capacity, your podcast listeners are often more inclined to skim long content pieces.

This is where substituting (or complementing) a long blog post for a bullet point summary may be more valuable!

The bullet points simply list highlights of the different topics discussed or points that were made throughout your episode. In my opinion, best practices when it comes to the bullet point list is to write each point in a way that is relatable to your audience.

For instance, instead of writing something like...

...instead, try writing it like this:

Pro Tip: Shoot for a minimum of 5 bullet points, but try to keep it at 10 or less.

Do you or your guest frequently mention resources or links in your episodes? Often, especially in business-related shows, resources such as books, tools, and apps come into the conversation.

I've listened to, quite literally, thousands of podcast episodes - for work as well as for my own personal and professional development. One mistake I've noticed many new (and some veteran) podcasters make is that instead of providing links to the resources they mentioned in the episodes, they simply tell their listeners to Google the resource.
Why is this a mistake?
Consider this: An Edison Research Report states that

69% of podcast listeners in 2017 tuned into their favorite shows from their mobile device (smart phone, tablet, etc).

81% of podcast subscribers listen to your show with those same devices.

The same Edison report shows that 65% of podcast listeners are listening to your content while driving, 42% while walking or on foot, and 29%, respectively, while working out or riding public transportation.

So, if the majority of your listeners are out and about when listening to your amazing audio content, what do you think the chances are that they would bother Googling those resources mentioned?
My guess: pretty slim.
What are the chances they may even forget the name of that book or app you told them to check out?

If I were a betting girl - I'd bet the majority of them would, which would mean they'd have to either listen to your episode again to find that resource (which may frustrate them!) or they'd choose to give up and never bother looking it up anyway.

Make it easy for your listeners. Let them know they can visit your website for the show notes to find the resources you mentioned in the episode.

One of the biggest benefits of being a guest on someone's podcast is increased visibility and awareness for yourself, your business, and your brand. There are also SEO benefits - if the host includes links to your website in their show notes.

Referral traffic provides a variety of benefits to podcast guests. Not only can it help their website traffic and ranking on search engines, but linking to your guest's social media pages, authored books, and freebies or other offers can also help them grow their audience, email lists, and income as well as connect with your listeners on a more personal level.

This is one of the many reasons why I advise our clients to ask their guests for the "best ways to reach them" while recording their interviews.

Your listeners want to be able to connect with the people you interview, so make it easy for them! Ask your guest to drop their website and social media handles at the end of your interview. Then, add those links in your show notes to make it even easier for your audience to connect with them - as well as a way to say thanks to your guest in the form of referral traffic.

Pro Tip: Keep your resource links separate from your guest's links. This makes it easier for your audience to find the specific links they're looking for and prevents your guest's links from getting lost in a sea of blue (or any other color) text!

We all know the value of having a call-to-action on our websites, landing pages, and sales pages, but a lot of podcasters tend to forget to include a call-to-action in their podcast audio and show notes. How this powerful sales strategy gets overlooked so frequently, I don't know.

What I do know is that podcast shows often grow their audiences faster when you actually tell your audience what you want them to do next!

So, whether you want your listener to subscribe to your show on iTunes, leave a review, or follow you on social media - help them take that next step with a call-to-action within the audio and your show notes.

A few other calls-to-action you may want to consider including are:

I realize this post was quite long and covered a lot of ground, so let's recap the 7 must-have parts of a great show note, shall we?

1. A keyword-rich, descriptive headline/title

2. 1-2 brief intro paragraphs introducing the episode topic and/or your guest

3. A powerful quote that would impact your audience if seen standing alone on social media

4. Bullet points highlighting the different topics you discussed in the episode, written in a way that is relatable to your audience and piques their curiosity enough to click play

5. A list of all the resources you or your guest mentioned in the episode

6. Links to your guest's website and social media pages

7. Calls-to-action

Need an easier way to remember all this information?

Subscribe to our mailing list to claim your FREE show notes template! This download includes much of the information packed in this post, as well as a customizable template you can use for your show!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Must-Have Parts of a Great Podcast Show Note - Lidwell Writing Services

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you've been podcasting for a while, you probably know why podcast show notes are critical to the success of your show. After all, search engine giants like Google, Bing, and Yahoo!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our Podcast intro and Outro Specifications:

* 30-second audio introduction and closingfor your podcast, video, webcast, radio or television show or other presentation with our voice talent, production music and/or sound effects.

* U p to 75 words each. We believe you know the content of your presentation better than anyone. So we leave the writing to you. Feel free to use and modify our sample script.

* Professional Voice Talent. Choose either Jack or Cathy (she does North American and British accents). You'll also have the opportunity to give us further guidelines on the style of voice delivery. For example: serious, smile, tongue-in-cheek, sexy. laid-back, slow pace, medium pace, fast pace, relaxed, or excited.

* Choice of any genre of music. Tell us what style of music (ex: "corporate") you want on our Script and Instructions form, or select the exact music track you want. We'll provide you with a link to our music library after you've made a purchase. If you don't like music we choose for you, we'll remix it with new music.

* Fast Turnaround. Our turnaround time is within 2 business days.

* Our Guarantee: You have 7 days after we've sent you our first email letting you know that your audio is ready to let us know if we need to correct anything. See the details of our guarantee.

* Easy Instructions Process. After you've completed your online purchase, leave your browser open because you'll be taken to our Script and Instructions form . Fill out the form with your script, music choice, voice talent choice, and any instructions for us. When you've completed the form, click the send button and we'll take it from there. When we complete your audio, we'll post it on a special download web page for you to hear and download, and we'll send you an email informing you it's ready. Here's an actual download page we recently created for a customer (which includes their feedback).

* We accept credit and debit cards and PayPal. All of our orders are processed through PayPal (even if you use a credit or debit card). You don't need to have a PayPal account to make a purchase from us. You can purchase as a guest.

Samples:

Buy an intro

Get a 30-second intro:
Voice, music and sound effects and/or voice effects: $129 Voice and music: $109 special $77
Voice only: $79 special $57

Select the Intro you want from the dropdown menu, then click the Add to Cart button:

Plus 8.25% sales tax for Texas residents

Buy an intro and outro
Get a 30-second intro and a 30-second outro:
Voice, music and sound effects and/or voice effects: $189 special $157
Voice and music: $159 special $137
Voice only: $129 special $107

Select the Intro and Outro package you want from the dropdown menu, then click the Add to Cart button:

Plus 8.25% sales tax for Texas residents

(Prices are in U.S. dollars. Not from the U.S.? Here's a currency converter just in case you need it).

---------------------------

Get a bumper for special segments or short intros

* 15-second bumper (also known as a liner, sweeper, sweep, teaser, segue, and transition) for your podcast, video, radio or television station, or other presentation with our voice talent, production music, and/or sound effects. A bumper makes a nice introduction to a show topic or use them between songs if you have a music podcast. You can also use a bumper as a quick 15-second intro or outro to your presentation.

* U p to 30 words in length. We believe you know the content of your presentation better than anyone. So we leave the writing to you. If you have more than 30 words in your script, see our 30-second Intro section above.

SAMPLE SCRIPT:

Use bumpers to announce special features on your show (15 seconds or up to 30 words):

"It's time for this week's feature guest on the Entrepreneurs Show!"

Use as a 15-second Podcast Intro or Outro:

"Welcome home, to the Sierra Nevada Real Estate podcast; connecting you with experts in the Northern Nevada Real Estate Market. Introducing your host, Brian Woods."

Note: We allow you to count your web address (www.yourwebsite.com) as just one word.

* Fast Turnaround. Our turnaround time is within 2 business days.

* Our Guarantee: You have 7 days after we've sent you our first email letting you know that your audio is ready to let us know if we need to correct anything (excluding script changes). See the details of our guarantee.

samples:

Buy a Bumper

Buy a 15-second bumper:
Voice, music and sound effects and/or voice effects: $59
Voice and music: $49
Voice only: $39

Select the Bumper you want from the dropdown menu, then click the Add to Cart button:

ales tax for Texas residents

Prices are in U.S. dollars. Here's a currency converter just in case you need it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our Podcast intro and Outro Specifications: * 30-second audio introduction and closingfor your podcast, video, webcast, radio or television show or other presentation with our voice talent, production music and/or sound effects. * U p to 75 words each . We believe you know the content of your presentation better than anyone.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Podcast By Kids, For Kids - The Johncast #1

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Podcast

The Kids Listen Activity Podcast is a collaborative effort from members of Kids Listen. While kids across the globe are unexpectedly home from school we'll be packaging and releasing daily episodes. Each day will be a favorite episode of a new Kids Listen Show, including an activity suggestion to help parents and kids engage more deeply and get the most out of these days. Kids Podcasts can help with learning and fun (which should go hand in hand).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
children kids podcast ios apps education science discovery sharing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Kids Listen: Kids Listen Activity Podcast

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Kids Listen Activity Podcast is a collaborative effort from members of Kids Listen. While kids across the globe are unexpectedly home from school we'll be packaging and releasing daily episodes. Each day will be a favorite episode of a new Kids Listen Show, including an activity suggestion to help parents and kids engage more deeply and get the most out of these days.

# data[].attributes.headline
12 Podcasts Your Kids Should Be Listening To

# data[].attributes.subject
12 Podcasts Your Kids Should Be Listening To

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Take a break from screens and perk up your kids' ears with these entertaining (and shhhh....educational!) podcasts for young listeners.

Podcasts are all the rage these days ( Serial and S-Town, anyone?) and cover every topic imaginable- pregnancy, cooking, fitness, pop culture... You name it, there's a podcast for it. But why should adults get to have all the fun? Lucky for kids, there has been a rise in the number of high-quality podcasts for young listeners. Harkening back to the days of yore when family entertainment meant sitting around the radio, podcasts for kids are a great way to engage the other senses (no screens!) and experience entertainment and education in a new way.

Kids are responding well to this form of entertainment, too. A recent survey by Kids Listen found that 80 percent of kids listen to a podcast more than once, and after they're done listening, 75 percent start discussions based on what they've learned. On top of that, kids learn better when they listen. According to the Audio Publishing Association, comprehension, vocabulary, reading speed, even motivation are all positively impacted by auditory learning.

So, where to begin? We've done the research to find 11 awesomely entertaining podcasts that your kids (and you) will enjoy. You can test out any of the free episodes via their websites, iTunes, or Google Play and then subscribe to the ones your kids love. Just be prepared to listen to them repeatedly!

Created by 4 Emmy winning journalists, KidNuz is a daily 5-minute news podcast made with kids in mind. The podcast provides briefings on the day's top stories that are appropriate for kids ages 8-14-which means no talk of murder, terrorism, assault, or anything else too gruesome for children. The reporting is unbiased and nonpartisan, too. This podcast is an amazing way to teach your kids the importance of caring about what goes on in the world around them, while still trusting they aren't taking in any information that is inappropriate for them.

Story Pirates is a captivating audio show by real actors, comedians, and entertainers who tell stories that have been written by kids. With episodes like "Eat a Spider Day" and "Princess Lifeguard Camp," the silliness and imaginative tales will keep kids entranced.

This series is a great way to test out your kids' interest in podcasts, since most of the stories hover around the 10-minute mark. Some are shorter, some are longer, but all are original stories that primarily feature whimsical tales about animals. There are also a few bedtime tales in the mix that are more low-key to help kids wind down for the night. (Free, iTunes)

Speaking of bedtime, there's no magic formula for getting kids to calm down in the evening, but the series of podcasts from Peace Out comes close. These calming stories teach mindfulness and meditation, and are a perfect introduction to cultivating this life-long skill.

This clever podcast is designed to ease the burden for parents who get asked hard-hitting questions like, "What if cars could talk?", "What if it rained candy?" and "What if elephants were alive?" For a moment in time, What If World makes these questions reality, and describes what these worlds would be like in vivid, imaginative detail.

For the ever-curious kids who ponder our existence, this podcast answers questions that are based in reality. Topics like how butterflies fly, why the sea is salty, and the universal question on why the sky is blue are all featured. There's even an episode with the Kratt brothers of the eponymous Wild Kratts show on PBS.

For a fresh and upbeat compilation of songs that will appeal to young and old(er), this podcast/audio stream is a great way to introduce music from your generation. There are familiar kids' tunes, mixed in with favorites from groups like They Might Be Giants, for a continuous playlist that everyone will bee bop to.

Of course, there's a Sesame Street podcast! And it features the adorable characters your kids know and love, including Elmo, Abby, Cookie Monster, and the newest character, Julia. Fun stories, songs, and ABC activities with their familiar friends will keep the love for the Sesame crew going when the TV is off.

Families can explore scientific concepts together like the recent slime craze, how elevators work, and life on other planets. What's cool is that each episode is co-hosted by a different kid, who gives a unique perspective on these topics and makes it fun for fellow kids to listen to.

This sweet podcast series stars a dad and his two young kids, and features genuine conversations between the three of them about everyday things like courage, kindness, how to show love, and being a good sport. This authentic podcast lets its audience listen in to teachable moments and how a caring dad interacts with his kids.

NPR's first entry in the podcasts for kids department is its brand-new series called Wow in the World. This series will help kids discover worldly things, how things work, why things are the way they are, and so much more. One of the first questions explored in the series, "How do astronauts poop in space?" is sure to be a hit with your kids. Anything poop-related, right?

A podcast idea that masks entertaining content with underlying ethical questions is a brilliant way to engage in discussions with your kids. From serious questions like "Is it ever OK to lie?" to sillier ones like "Should you move to Mars?", Short and Curly makes kids think about decisions based on what they know (and are learning) to be wrong and right.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
12 Podcasts Your Kids Should Be Listening To

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Take a break from screens and perk up your kids' ears with these entertaining (and shhhh....educational!) podcasts for young listeners. Podcasts are all the rage these days ( Serial and S-Town, anyone?) and cover every topic imaginable- pregnancy, cooking, fitness, pop culture... You name it, there's a podcast for it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
The Solopreneur Hour Podcast with Michael O'Neal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 HUGE Podcast Mistakes to Avoid | How To Podcast

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Press play on podcasts: Whether you're new to podcasts or looking for something fresh to add to your queue, our (screen-free!) picks keep kids of all ages listening and learning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the dead of the NBA summer, we look at where Damian Lillard fits in the career statistics columns for the Blazers organization.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We are lucky to have a guinea pig lover right next door! Jen is the one who visits with Grace and Ada every day when I'm not in town, making sure they get food, water, treats, and love.

Jen's dogs Goldie and Poppy are with us too. We talk a bit about the monthly guinea pig spa that's put on by the Portland Guinea Pig Rescue. And Jen reminisces about her childhood guinea pig, Sunny.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We are lucky to have a guinea pig lover right next door! Jen is the one who visits with Grace and Ada every day when I'm not in town, making sure they get food, water, treats, and love. Jen's dogs Goldie and Poppy are with us too.

# data[].attributes.body
Tech4Teens - Day 7

# data[].attributes.body
Podcasting Day 1