Website Examples
Podcast Website Examples: 20 Real Show Sites and What They Get Right
Podcast website examples from 20 real shows, plus the episode pages, subscribe buttons, show notes, transcripts, and homepage layout to copy.
A podcast website needs four things on the first screen: the latest episode with a player that works on the page, buttons for the apps people already listen in, a one-line description of the show, and a way to get to every past episode. The good ones add show notes and transcripts on each episode page, a host bio, a newsletter, and pages for guests and sponsors. This page collects 20 podcast website examples from real shows (public radio and narrative shows, independent shows, interview shows, business, tech, and comedy podcasts), each described by what is actually on its homepage. It then lists the pages and features every podcast site needs, breaks down the anatomy of a podcast homepage and episode page, and ends with a checklist. It is part of the website examples library.
Jump to a type: narrative and public media · independent shows · interview shows · business · tech and developer · comedy and culture
Podcast website examples at a glance
Every site below is the official website of a real, currently publishing podcast, not a template demo. Each is broken down in more detail in the next section.
| Website | Type | Main action on the homepage | What to copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| This American Life | Public radio show | Play this week's episode | One featured episode, three recent ones, and a link to the archive |
| 99% Invisible | Narrative show | Play an episode | Play, queue, download, and transcript on every episode |
| Snap Judgment | Narrative show (KQED) | Play this week's episode | Season and episode numbers on every item |
| The Memory Palace | Narrative show (Radiotopia) | Play a random episode | A random-episode button for an evergreen archive |
| Song Exploder | Music show | Play the newest episode | The player and listen links inside each episode post |
| The Allusionist | Independent language show | Read the latest episode post | Transcripts as a top-level menu item |
| Darknet Diaries | Independent narrative show | Play the latest episode | A "Listener Favorites" grid for new listeners |
| Ologies | Independent show | Browse episodes | Transcripts and clean versions in the menu |
| The Tim Ferriss Show | Interview show | Browse episodes | Show notes and transcripts for every episode in one place |
| Lex Fridman Podcast | Interview show | Watch or listen | Video, audio, and transcript links on every episode |
| Armchair Expert | Interview show and network | Subscribe | The release schedule stated on the homepage |
| Freakonomics Radio | Podcast network | Play a featured episode | Follow buttons on each show card |
| My First Million | Business show (Podpage) | Play the latest episode | A newsletter offer that matches the show's topic |
| Acquired | Business show (Webflow) | Play the latest episode | A sponsor page and media kit linked from the site |
| Startups For the Rest of Us | Business show | Listen now | An "About Your Host" section and an Ask a Question page |
| Syntax | Developer show | Play an episode | A Play button on every episode card |
| Changelog | Developer podcast network | Play an episode | A guest guide and a "request episode" link |
| Accidental Tech Podcast | Tech show | Play an episode | Full show notes with links on the homepage feed |
| My Favorite Murder | Comedy show (Squarespace) | Listen on your app | A membership with its perks listed |
| Last Podcast on the Left | Comedy show (Squarespace) | Subscribe | Separate contacts for advertising and booking |
What a podcast website needs to do
A podcast website exists to turn a visitor into a subscriber. Podcast apps handle the listening; the website handles everything the apps do badly: being found in search, convincing a new listener in one screen, and giving each episode a permanent, shareable page. Most visitors arrive with one of these questions:
- What is this show? A one-line description, the host, and how often new episodes come out
- Can I hear it right now? A player on the page, without installing anything
- Where do I subscribe? Buttons for Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and an RSS feed
- Which episode should I start with? Featured, best-of, or "start here" picks
- What was in that episode? Show notes, links, guests, and a transcript
- How do I get involved? Newsletter, membership, guest pitches, sponsorship, and contact
In structure, a podcast site is a blog website where each post is an episode. The same rules apply: a reverse-chronological archive, one URL per item, categories, and search.
Best podcast website examples
The descriptions below are limited to what is publicly visible on each site's homepage: navigation, listen and subscribe buttons, episode lists and players, show notes and transcripts, newsletters, memberships, stores, and sponsor and contact links. Nothing here states download numbers, rankings, reviews, or awards. Podcast sites change with each new episode, so the episode titles and menus may differ when you visit.
Narrative and public media shows
Narrative shows publish fewer, longer episodes, and many listeners start in the archive rather than with the newest episode. These sites feature one current episode and then make the back catalog easy to browse.
This American Life: thisamericanlife.org
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Public radio show and podcast, produced with WBEZ Chicago and distributed by PRX |
| Navigation | Life Partners, How to Listen, Episodes, Recommended, and About (staff, FAQ, submissions, merch, contact), with search and a newsletter field |
| Listen and subscribe | A Subscribe panel with Spotify and Apple Podcasts |
| Episodes and player | This week's episode with a play button, then "Recently Aired" (three episodes, each playable), and "View archive"; the site-wide player has a Transcript button |
| Other features | A newsletter ("Sign up for our newsletter for weekly news and updates."), the Life Partners membership with a free trial, a store, and a live show video |
| What to copy | Feature one episode, list a few recent ones, and put the archive one click away |
99% Invisible: 99percentinvisible.org
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Narrative show with its own series, articles, and book |
| Navigation | Episodes, Series, Articles, About (staff, contact, press, sponsors, pitch, newsletter), Subscribe, Book, Store, and search |
| Listen and subscribe | A Subscribe menu with SiriusXM Podcasts+, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SiriusXM, Pandora, and a "Ways to Listen" page |
| Episodes and player | A featured episode and a list below it; every episode has Play, Add to Queue, Download, and Transcript, and the player stays on screen as you browse |
| Other features | The "99% Invisible Newsletter" sign-up and a "Support the Show" donation panel |
| What to copy | Give every episode the same row of actions: play, queue, download, transcript |
Snap Judgment: snapjudgment.org
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Narrative show, part of Snap Studios, a KQED company |
| Navigation | Episodes, Series, About (pitches, contact, team, careers), Listen, and Snap+ |
| Listen and subscribe | "Listen on Apple" buttons, including one for full series |
| Episodes and player | A "This week on snap" block with an audio player, then Latest Episodes numbered by season and episode (for example "S17 E48"), with free episodes labelled |
| Other features | "Unlock Snap+" membership, "The Snaptastic Newsletter", a pitch page, and a sponsor credit line |
| What to copy | Number episodes by season, and label which episodes are free when you also sell a member feed |
The Memory Palace: thememorypalace.us
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Narrative show, part of Radiotopia |
| Navigation | Episodes, About, Events, Donate, and a Subscribe button that goes to Apple Podcasts |
| Episodes and player | A greeting for new listeners with a "Play a Random Episode" button, the latest episode with its running time and a play button, a list of earlier episodes with play buttons, and "More Episodes" |
| Other features | An episode search ("Search in title") and a donate link |
| What to copy | If your episodes do not need to be heard in order, a random-episode button is the shortest path from landing to listening |
Song Exploder: songexploder.net
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Music show; its donate link goes to Radiotopia |
| Navigation | Episodes, Subscribe, newsletter, Live Events, Support the Show, Merch, and About |
| Listen and subscribe | Each episode post ends with "LISTEN:" links to Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and other apps |
| Episodes and player | The homepage is a feed of full episode posts, each with an embedded player and, on some, a video |
| Show notes and transcripts | Long show notes with an "in this episode:" credits list; at least one post links to a transcript |
| What to copy | Put the player, the listen links, and the notes inside each episode post, so a shared link has everything |
Independent shows on their own domain
Independent shows often run on a website builder or a hosted CMS. They have less design budget, so the useful lessons are in the menus: what they choose to put at the top level.
The Allusionist: theallusionist.org
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Independent show about language, by Helen Zaltzman, built on Squarespace |
| Navigation | Episodes, Listen, Transcripts, Tranquillusionist, Events, Lexicon, Donate, Contact, and Merch |
| Episodes | A blog-style feed of episode posts with tags, "Read more" links, and "Older Posts" |
| Other features | A search box and icons for Patreon, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Bluesky in the sidebar |
| What to copy | Put Transcripts in the main menu; it helps deaf and hard-of-hearing listeners and gives search engines the words of each episode |
Darknet Diaries: darknetdiaries.com
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Independent narrative show ("true stories from the dark side of the internet") |
| Navigation | Episodes, Bonus Episodes, Shop, and LOW (a sister show) |
| Listen and subscribe | A Subscribe section with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and RSS buttons |
| Episodes and player | The latest episode with its number, date, running time, and an in-page player, then a "Listener Favorites" grid |
| Other features | "Get Root Access", a pitch for a paid tier with early access, bonus, and ad-free episodes; a press quotes section ("Reports From The Field"); a promo for LOW |
| What to copy | A favorites grid gives new listeners a starting point that the newest episode often is not |
Ologies: alieward.com/ologies
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Independent show, hosted on the host's own site (Squarespace) |
| Navigation | About (press, contact), Ologies (Episodes, Topics, Smologies, Transcripts & Bleeped Episodes, Sponsors, Ologies Gives Back, Ologies Live!), Shows, and Merch |
| Episodes | A grid of episode posts with dates, titles, and "Read More", plus "Older Posts" |
| Other features | A footer search box and social links |
| What to copy | Let listeners browse by topic, and offer clean (bleeped) versions if your show has explicit language and a younger audience |
Interview shows
Interview shows publish often and build large archives, so their sites lean on episode numbers, guest search, and show notes. The host's name is usually the brand.
The Tim Ferriss Show: tim.blog/podcast
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Interview show, part of the host's blog |
| Navigation | About, Blog, Books, Podcast (All Episodes, All Transcripts, Sponsorship & Advertising, sponsors), TV, Newsletter, and search |
| Listen and subscribe | "Listen on" Apple Podcasts and Spotify, "Watch and Listen on" YouTube, and a More menu with RSS and other apps |
| Episodes | A numbered episode list with "Play Episode" links to each episode page, a guest search, and a "Start here" set of featured interviews |
| Show notes and transcripts | A block headed "Show Notes, Links, Transcripts, and Resources for All Episodes" |
| Other features | A "Sponsor Interest Form" and an email sign-up for the 5-Bullet Friday newsletter |
| What to copy | Give new listeners a "start here" list, and let them search the archive by guest |
Lex Fridman Podcast: lexfridman.com/podcast
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Interview show |
| Navigation | Lex Fridman, Podcast, Contact Lex, X, and YouTube |
| Listen and subscribe | Subscribe links for Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS, and YouTube |
| Episodes | Latest episode thumbnails that link to YouTube, a "Some Select Recent Episodes" list, and a full episode list on the same page |
| Show notes and transcripts | Each episode has three links: Video, Episode, and Transcript |
| Other features | A "To support this podcast, please consider doing the following:" list (sponsors, Patreon, PayPal) |
| What to copy | If you publish video, link the video, the audio, and the transcript side by side for each episode |
Armchair Expert: armchairexpertpod.com
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Interview show with Dax Shepard and a network of related shows, built on Squarespace |
| Navigation | Store, Our Shows (one entry per show in the network), Episodes, and Armchair Anonymous |
| Listen and subscribe | A "Subscribe Now" button and footer links to podcast apps |
| Episodes and player | A latest episodes grid with guest names and dates, and an embedded player under "LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE" |
| Other features | The schedule ("Come back Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for new episodes."), a store section, and a newsletter ("Get on the list for exclusives") |
| What to copy | State your release schedule on the homepage; it tells a new listener what subscribing gets them |
Freakonomics Radio: freakonomics.com
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Podcast network site for Freakonomics Radio and related shows |
| Navigation | Shows, Books, Shop, Archives (older shows, blog), About (hosts, team, how to listen, FAQ, jobs, contact), and search |
| Listen and subscribe | "Follow this show" on each show and episode card, with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, and YouTube |
| Episodes and player | Featured episodes, each with its own audio player, and "More Episodes" |
| Other features | The "Freakonomics Radio Network Newsletter" sign-up |
| What to copy | On a network site, give each show card its own follow buttons instead of one generic subscribe link |
Business podcast websites
Business podcasts use their sites to grow an audience they can reach outside the apps: newsletters, communities, and sponsor sales. Two of these three are built with a site builder.
My First Million: mfmpod.com
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Business ideas show with Shaan Puri and Sam Parr, built with Podpage |
| Navigation | Episodes (Greatest Hits, seasons, All Episodes), About, Store, Rate Show, Reviews, Search, and Follow |
| Listen and subscribe | A "Listen On" list with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and several other apps |
| Episodes and player | A video playlist in the hero, "Play Latest Episode", and Recent Episodes with "Listen to the Episode" links |
| Other features | A newsletter offer ("Get 50+ Free Business Ideas In Your Inbox"), merch, and a "Rate on Apple Podcasts" link |
| What to copy | Offer a newsletter freebie that matches what the show is about, not a generic "subscribe for updates" |
Acquired: acquired.fm
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Business history show with hosts Ben and David, built with Webflow |
| Navigation | Home, Episodes, Library, Artifacts, About, Sponsor, and ACQ2 Show (a second show) |
| Listen and subscribe | "Listen to Acquired" with Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Overcast, and Pocket Casts |
| Episodes and player | "Every Company Has a Story" hero with a Play Episode button and an in-page player; recent episodes each have a player and an episode page link |
| Other features | An email sign-up ("Never miss an episode"), a Slack community, an email archive, merch, and a media kit in the footer |
| What to copy | Put Sponsor in the main menu and a media kit in the footer if ads pay for the show |
Startups For the Rest of Us: startupsfortherestofus.com
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Business show for bootstrapped software founders, hosted by Rob Walling |
| Navigation | About, Greatest Hits, Full Archive, FAQ, Ask a Question, and search |
| Hero | "The Original Podcast for Bootstrapped SaaS Entrepreneurs" with Subscribe and Listen Now buttons |
| Episodes | Recent Episodes with episode numbers and dates, and "View All Episodes" |
| Other features | An "About Your Host" section and an email sign-up ("Subscribe for exclusive episodes + updates") |
| What to copy | An Ask a Question page turns listeners into contributors; label it as plainly as this site does. Note that the Subscribe button here leads to an email form, and no podcast app links appear on the homepage |
Tech and developer podcasts
Developer audiences expect fast pages and full show notes with links. These three sites are custom-built and play episodes in the page.
Syntax: syntax.fm
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Web development show, produced by Sentry |
| Navigation | Shows, Video, Newsletter, About, Potluck Qs, Swag, and search |
| Listen and subscribe | RSS, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Overcast, Pocket Casts, and Amazon Music |
| Episodes and player | Latest Episodes, each numbered and with its own Play button, under "Served Fresh Twice Weekly" |
| Other features | Footer links to Sick Picks, a guest list, the site's source code, and a Discord community |
| What to copy | A Play button on every card in the episode list, so a listener never has to open a page to start |
Changelog: changelog.com
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Network of software podcasts with a news brief |
| Navigation | Podcasts, News, Beats, Community, Merch, Changelog++, Submit News, and Sign In |
| Episodes and player | Recent Episodes labelled by show and number, each with a Play button, guest avatars, notes, and Discuss and Share links; a player bar at the bottom of the page |
| Other features | Changelog++ membership ("Ditch the ads, get bonuses & directly support our work."), and footer links to Sponsor, Guest Guide, and Request Episode |
| What to copy | Publish a guest guide so booked guests know what to expect, and let listeners request episodes |
Accidental Tech Podcast: atp.fm
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Tech show with Marco Arment, Casey Liss, and John Siracusa |
| Navigation | Episodes, Feedback, Live, Sponsor, Store, and Membership |
| Listen and subscribe | "Listen for free in your favorite podcast app:" Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, and RSS |
| Episodes and player | A feed of numbered episodes, each with its running time, a download link, and a standard audio player; members-only episodes say "Join now to listen!" |
| Show notes | Full show notes on the homepage as link lists, with a "Sponsored by:" section per episode |
| What to copy | Publish the links you mention as show notes; it is the content listeners come back to the website for |
Comedy and culture podcasts
Comedy shows sell tickets, merch, and memberships, so their homepages read like a fan hub. Both of these run on Squarespace.
My Favorite Murder: myfavoritemurder.com
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | True crime comedy show with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, built on Squarespace |
| Navigation | Listen, Shop, Fan Cult, MFM Animated, and Updates, with About, Contact, and Recommendations in a second menu |
| Listen and subscribe | "Listen on" icons for iHeart, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and RSS |
| Episodes | Latest episodes with numbers and "See episode details" links |
| Other features | The Fan Cult membership with its perks listed (ad-free content, store credit, early ticket access), "Merch corner!", and a newsletter sign-up |
| What to copy | List membership perks in plain words next to the join button |
Last Podcast on the Left: lastpodcastontheleft.com
| Field | Observation |
|---|---|
| Type | Comedy show, single-page Squarespace site |
| Navigation | Anchor links to sections: About, Listen, Merch, Watch, Live Shows, Episodes, Patreon, Press, Follow, Specials, and Contact |
| Listen and subscribe | "subscribe... if you dare!" with Subscribe and Patreon buttons, and an embedded player |
| Episodes | No episode list on the site; a button links to an episode list on Wikipedia |
| Other features | "upcoming live shows" with dates, merch, "get our newsletter", live specials, and a contact section with separate addresses for advertising and booking |
| What to copy | Separate contact addresses for advertisers and bookers. Avoid sending listeners to a third party for your episode list; that is the page a podcast site should own |
Must-have pages and features for a podcast website
Every podcast site needs an episode archive, one page per episode with a player, subscribe buttons, an about page with the host, and a way to contact you. The table lists the rest and where to see each one done well.
| Page or feature | Why it matters | Example to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Latest episode with a player | Lets a visitor hear the show without installing an app | This American Life, Darknet Diaries, Acquired |
| Subscribe / listen-on buttons | Sends listeners to the app they already use | Darknet Diaries, Accidental Tech Podcast, My First Million |
| Episode archive | Most listening happens in the back catalog | This American Life, The Tim Ferriss Show |
| Episode pages with show notes | A permanent URL to share and a place for links | Accidental Tech Podcast, Song Exploder, Changelog |
| Transcripts | Accessibility, plus searchable text for each episode | 99% Invisible, Lex Fridman Podcast, The Allusionist |
| Start-here or best-of list | Tells new listeners which episode to try first | The Tim Ferriss Show, Darknet Diaries, My First Million |
| Host bio / about page | Who is talking, and why to listen | Startups For the Rest of Us, The Tim Ferriss Show |
| Newsletter sign-up | An audience you can reach outside the apps | My First Million, Freakonomics Radio, 99% Invisible |
| Membership or support | Funds the show; label what members get | My Favorite Murder, Snap Judgment, Changelog |
| Guest and listener pages | Pitches, questions, and guest guidelines | Changelog, Startups For the Rest of Us, Syntax |
| Sponsor / advertise page | Gives advertisers a direct route in | Acquired, The Tim Ferriss Show, Accidental Tech Podcast |
| Search and topics | Finds one episode in a large archive | The Memory Palace, Ologies, 99% Invisible |
Podcast page design
The episode page matters more than the homepage: it is what people share, what search engines index, and where most visitors from Google land. A good episode page has, in this order:
- Title, episode number, date, and running time, as Darknet Diaries and Accidental Tech Podcast show
- A player that works on the page, plus download and listen-on links
- A two- or three-sentence summary of the episode in plain words
- Guest names with a short bio and links, as Changelog shows with guest avatars
- Show notes: every book, tool, article, and person mentioned, with links and, ideally, timestamps
- A transcript, either on the page or one link away, as 99% Invisible and Lex Fridman Podcast offer
- Subscribe buttons and a newsletter sign-up at the end, for listeners who finished the episode
- Links to related or previous episodes
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| HEADER Logo Episodes About Newsletter [ Subscribe ] |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| EP 142 · 12 Nov · 48 min |
| Episode title in plain words |
| [ > Play ] ===========o-------------- [ Download ] |
| Apple Podcasts · Spotify · YouTube · RSS |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| SUMMARY Two or three sentences on what the episode covers |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| GUEST Photo · name · one-line bio · links |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| SHOW NOTES |
| 00:00 Intro · 04:12 Topic one · 21:40 Topic two |
| Links mentioned in the episode |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| TRANSCRIPT [ Read the full transcript ] |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| SUBSCRIBE + NEWSLETTER · RELATED EPISODES |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
The diagram is an illustrative pattern, not a specific real site.
Subscribe buttons and listen links
List three to six apps, not twenty: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and an RSS feed cover most listeners, with Overcast and Pocket Casts if your audience uses them. Use each app's own badge or name so the button is recognizable, link straight to your show in that app, and repeat the buttons on every episode page. Accidental Tech Podcast labels its list "Listen for free in your favorite podcast app:", which answers the question a new listener has before they click. Keep the word "Subscribe" for app links; if your Subscribe button leads to an email form, label it as a newsletter.
Show notes and transcripts
Show notes are the part of a podcast site that apps do not replace. Accidental Tech Podcast publishes every link mentioned; The Tim Ferriss Show collects show notes and transcripts for all episodes behind one menu item. Transcripts make the show usable for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors and give each episode page searchable text. Most podcast hosts and editing tools can generate a draft transcript; correct names and terms before you publish it.
Podcast website builder
You can build a podcast website on a dedicated podcast site builder, a general website builder, or a CMS. In this list, My First Million runs on Podpage, Acquired on Webflow, The Allusionist, Ologies, Armchair Expert, My Favorite Murder, and Last Podcast on the Left on Squarespace, and Startups For the Rest of Us on WordPress; Syntax, Changelog, and Accidental Tech Podcast are custom-built. Podcast-specific builders and hosting-platform sites import episodes from your RSS feed automatically, which saves the most time. General builders and WordPress give you more control over design and content, and usually need a plugin or embed for the player and episode import. For WordPress patterns, see WordPress website examples.
The anatomy of a podcast homepage
Most podcast homepages use the same skeleton: show description and subscribe buttons at the top, the latest episode with a player, a path into the archive, and sign-ups below. The diagram below is an illustrative pattern, not a specific real site.
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| HEADER Logo Episodes About Newsletter Support |
| [ Subscribe ] |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| HERO |
| [ cover art ] Show name |
| One line: what the show is about, who hosts it, how often |
| Apple Podcasts · Spotify · YouTube · RSS |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| LATEST EPISODE |
| EP 142 · Title · 48 min [ > Play ] Show notes -> |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| RECENT EPISODES |
| EP 141 [>] · EP 140 [>] · EP 139 [>] [ All episodes ] |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| START HERE |
| Three to six favorite episodes for new listeners |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| ABOUT THE HOST |
| Photo · short bio · link to About |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| NEWSLETTER |
| Email sign-up · what you send and how often |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| SUPPORT AND SPONSORS |
| Membership or donate · Advertise with us |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| FOOTER Contact · Be a guest · Sponsor · Transcripts · |
| RSS · Social · Privacy |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
The sections in order:
- Header: logo, a short menu, and a Subscribe button
- Hero: cover art, the show name, a one-line description, and listen-on buttons
- Latest episode: title, number, running time, a player, and a link to its notes
- Recent episodes: a short list with a play button on each, and a link to the full archive
- Start here: favorite episodes for people who have never heard the show
- About the host: a photo and a short bio
- Newsletter: an email sign-up that says what subscribers get
- Support and sponsors: membership or donations, and a link for advertisers
- Footer: contact, guest pitches, sponsorship, transcripts, RSS, and social links
The real examples above stretch this skeleton in different directions. The Memory Palace puts a random-episode button in its hero; Song Exploder and Accidental Tech Podcast turn the whole homepage into a feed of full episode posts; Darknet Diaries and The Tim Ferriss Show add a favorites or start-here list; and Freakonomics Radio and Changelog turn the episode list into a network directory. To sketch your own version before designing it, see the website wireframe example.
Typical podcast site structure
A podcast site is shallow: a handful of top-level pages, with every episode one level down. For more on planning pages and navigation, see website structure examples.
PODCAST: shallow structure
example.fm
+-- Home
+-- Episodes
| +-- /episodes/142-episode-title/ (player, notes, transcript)
| +-- /episodes/141-episode-title/
| +-- Topics or seasons
+-- Start Here
+-- About
| +-- Host bio
| +-- Press
+-- Listen / Subscribe
+-- Newsletter
+-- Support / Membership
+-- Be a Guest
+-- Sponsor / Advertise
+-- Contact
+-- [ Subscribe ] button in the header on every page
Networks add a Shows page with one section per show; interview shows add a guest index; shows with live tours add Tour or Live Shows; and shows with a strong host brand often put the podcast inside the host's own site, as The Tim Ferriss Show and Ologies do. If the podcast is one part of what you do, see personal website examples for that kind of site.
Podcast website checklist
- One-line show description, host name, and release schedule in the homepage hero
- Subscribe button in the header, linking to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and RSS
- Latest episode on the homepage with a player that works on the page
- Full episode archive with numbers, dates, and running times
- One page per episode with a player, summary, guest links, and show notes
- Transcripts on episode pages or one click away
- Start-here or best-of list for new listeners
- About page with a host photo and bio
- Newsletter sign-up that says what subscribers get
- Membership, donate, or support page if listeners fund the show
- Be a guest and contact pages; a sponsor page or media kit if you sell ads
- Search, or topic and season pages, once the archive is large
- Tested on a phone: menu, player, subscribe buttons, and sign-ups all work
If your host or builder generates the site from your RSS feed, check that each episode page shows your full show notes, not a shortened description.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What should a podcast website include?
Do I need a website for my podcast?
What makes a good podcast page design?
What is the best platform for a podcast website?
Should a podcast website have transcripts?
How do I get people to subscribe from my podcast website?
Are the examples on this page real podcast websites?
Where to go next
Start from the must-have pages and the homepage and episode page diagrams above, then borrow the specifics from the shows closest to yours in format and size. A podcast archive is organised like a blog, so the blog website examples cover categories, archives, and post pages in more depth. If the show is part of a site about you or your work, see personal website examples and portfolio website examples. To plan the pages, use website structure examples and the website wireframe example; to build on a CMS, see WordPress website examples. For more sites by type and industry, browse the full website examples library.