How to Make a Podcast Intro: 2025 Edition

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Your Podcast Intro Might Be Too Damn Long

Take a knee, fellow podcaster. It’s time for some real talk about your podcast intro.

In today’s world of people’s attention spans being on the level of goldfish, chances are your intro could be doing more damage to your show than good.

That first 30–60 seconds is make-or-break time. If it’s too long, too wordy, or too self-important, people are gone before you even get to the point.

Today’s audiences expect quick, engaging starts that get to the point. By shortening your intro and removing unnecessary elements, you improve listener retention and engagement.

In other words: Get to the good stuff. Now!

Podcast Intros Should Hook, Not Hinder

As of June 2024, the average adult attention span was 8.25 seconds. As I put pen to paper with this blog post a year later, I’m operating under the assumption that number has stayed consistent or gotten worse.

Now, to be fair, a listener will most likely give you longer than eight seconds when they decide to consume your show. But the faster you can get them to the reason they pressed play, the faster you can earn trust, make an impact, and increase the chances of them staying tuned in until your episode concludes.

And in doing that, your intro shouldn’t be a barrier. It should:

Set the tone
Build excitement
Get out of the way

Think about the way people (and you, yourself) consume content today. They skip ads. They scroll past fluff. They hit “skip intro” on Netflix like it’s a reflex.

So why would they sit through a rambling podcast open that doesn’t offer immediate value?

What You Can Learn From TV Theme Songs

TV figured this out before podcasting did.

Theme songs used to be full minutes of exposition. Now? You’re lucky if they last more than 10-15 seconds.

And streaming platforms doubled down by literally giving viewers a “skip intro” button.

That tells you everything you need to know. People want to get to the story. Not the setup.

Your podcast is no different.

If your intro’s still holding on to outdated radio-style intros or ego-heavy taglines, it’s time to cut the cord.

Build an Intro That Actually Works

So what makes a podcast intro effective?

Here’s what you want to include AND what to ditch:

Include:

A quick line that sets up what the show is all about (you can even just say the name of the show like I do to introduce Let’s Blow This Up)
A simple music bed or sound cue (optional)
A clear transition into the main content

Ditch:

A full bio or guest list rundown
Overused phrases like “the podcast where we talk about…”
Generic hype that doesn’t serve the listener

Often times, hosts feel they need to validate the guest’s appearance by reading off a full bio and a laundry list of accolades.

In reality, listeners didn’t click play because of those items. They clicked play because of the subject matter you presented in your title, show description, and show notes.

By telling great stories, providing on-point expertise, and engaging with the host, the guest will validate their appearance naturally.

And as a loyal listener of your podcast, I trust you to bring on guests who will steal the show. You don’t have to explain it to me.

Want to Keep Listeners? Don’t Waste Their Time

The more friction you remove from your podcast, the better your numbers get.

When you make it easy for listeners to stay engaged — by trimming the fat and delivering value quickly — they’ll stick around longer. They’ll binge more episodes. They’ll share your podcast with others.

If your retention numbers are dropping early in the episode, look at your intro first.

Chances are, that’s where you’re losing people.