Podcast intro: a 15-second opener written, voiced and mixed
The first 15 seconds tell new listeners what your show is and why they should stay. This prompt has your todo.is agent write three intro scripts in your show's tone, record them as voice-overs, and mix your chosen one over a music track you supply, so every episode starts the same polished way.
The prompt
- Write 3 different podcast intro scripts for my show [SHOW NAME], about [WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT], for [AUDIENCE]. Tone: [TONE]. Each one must say the show name, who hosts it ([HOST NAME]) and what the listener gets, and take no more than [LENGTH] seconds to read. Record all 3 as MP3 voice-overs in a [VOICE] voice. Then mix my favourite over the attached music track: music in at full volume for 2 seconds, lower it under the voice, bring it back up at the end and fade out. Also write a matching 10-second outro.
What to change
- [SHOW NAME]: E.g. "Side Hustle Kitchen".
- [WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT]: E.g. "people who turned a home recipe into a food business".
- [AUDIENCE]: E.g. "home cooks thinking of selling at markets".
- [TONE]: E.g. "warm and chatty", "high-energy", "calm, NPR-style", "dry and funny".
- [HOST NAME]: Your name, or "me and my co-host Dev".
- [LENGTH]: 10 to 20. Shorter is better once people know your show.
- [VOICE]: An AI voice like "deep, warm male", or "none, I'll record it myself: just write the scripts".
Example result
- Podcast intro: Side Hustle Kitchen
- For home cooks thinking of selling · warm and chatty · host: Maya Okafor · 15 seconds max
- Script 1: the promise (14 s)
- "From a home kitchen to a market stall, and sometimes all the way to the supermarket shelf. This is Side Hustle Kitchen, where real cooks tell you how they did it, what it cost, and what they'd do differently. I'm Maya Okafor. Let's get cooking."
- Script 2: the question (12 s)
- "What would it take to sell your grandmother's recipe? Every week on Side Hustle Kitchen, I ask someone who actually did it. I'm Maya Okafor, and this is the business side of good food."
- Script 3: the cold open (10 s)
- "Forty jars. One Saturday. Sold out by noon. That's how today's guest started. Welcome to Side Hustle Kitchen. I'm Maya."
- (Swap the first line each week for a quote from that episode.)
- Files delivered
- • intro_script_1.mp3, intro_script_2.mp3, intro_script_3.mp3: voice only, warm female voice
- • side_hustle_kitchen_intro.mp3: script 1 mixed over your track: 2 s of music, music lowered under the voice, back up at 14 s, fade out at 16 s
- • side_hustle_kitchen_outro.mp3: "Thanks for listening to Side Hustle Kitchen. If this helped, share it with one friend who's always saying they should sell their cookies. See you next week."
- Mixing notes
- • Voice and music levels were evened out so the intro is about as loud as a normal spoken episode
- • Your music file was trimmed at a beat so the ending doesn't cut off mid-note
- • Use the same intro for at least 10 episodes; repetition is what makes a show feel familiar
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your show name, topic, audience, tone and host.
- Attach a music track you have the rights to use (MP3 or WAV), then send it from the Today screen or Telegram.
- Listen to the 3 voice-overs and the mixed intro your agent sends back.
- Reply with "use script 3" or "shorter, more energy" to get a new mix in minutes.
Tips for a better result
- Say the show name in the first 5 seconds. New listeners decide fast, and they need to know where they are.
- Use royalty-free or licensed music only. Podcast platforms can flag or remove episodes with copyrighted songs.
- A cold open (a short line from the episode before the intro) hooks listeners better than a long theme.
- If you record the voice yourself, attach your recording and ask your agent to clean up the volume and mix it over the music.
podcast intro: FAQ
- How long should a podcast intro be? Usually 10 to 30 seconds. Many popular shows keep the theme under 15 seconds and get into the content quickly.
- What should a podcast intro include? The show name, the host, and what the listener gets from the show. A short hook or teaser from the episode makes people stay.
- Where can I get music for my podcast intro? Use a royalty-free music library or a track you licensed. todo.is mixes the music you supply; it doesn't compose music.
- Can I use an AI voice for my podcast intro? Yes, many shows do. Check the voice service's terms for commercial use, and keep the same voice for every episode so it becomes part of your brand.
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