Podcast Show Notes Generator
Fill in the parts of your episode once and get clean, consistent show notes for your website, podcast host and newsletter. Timestamps are tidied up automatically, links are formatted for you, and you can copy the result as Markdown, HTML, rich text or plain text.
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Episode details
Your show notes
How to use the Podcast Show Notes Generator
- Fill in the basics: show name, episode number, title and a short summary. Press Load example to see a finished set of notes.
- Paste your timestamps one per line in any common format, then press Sort by time if they are out of order.
- Add the guest, links and sponsor using one "Label | URL" pair per line. Leave any section empty to skip it.
- Pick an output tab: Preview, Markdown, HTML or Plain text, and set the options such as emoji headings.
- Copy or download the notes and paste them into your podcast host, website or newsletter.
What goes into great podcast show notes
Show notes do three jobs at once: they help a new listener decide to press play, they help an existing listener find something they heard, and they give search engines text to index, since audio itself is hard to search. A predictable structure makes them quicker to write every week and easier to scan.
| Section | What to write | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Title line | Episode number and title | Keep the most specific words first; apps cut long titles. |
| Summary | 2 to 4 sentences on what the listener will learn or hear | Lead with the payoff, not "In this episode we talk about". |
| Key takeaways | 3 to 5 one-line points | Make each line useful on its own. |
| Timestamps | Start time and a short label for each segment | Start at 0:00 and keep labels under about 50 characters. |
| Guest | Who they are, in 1 to 3 sentences, plus where to find them | Ask guests for their preferred bio and links before recording. |
| Links & resources | Every book, tool, article or past episode mentioned | Note mentions while editing so nothing is missed. |
| Sponsor | Sponsor name, a short description, link and code | Match the wording the sponsor approved for the audio read. |
| Call to action | One clear ask: follow, rate, join the newsletter, send a question | One ask performs better than five. |
| Credits | Host, producer, editor, music licence | Keep music credits exactly as your licence requires. |
Timestamp formats this tool understands
Paste timestamps straight from your editing software or a chapter list. Each line needs one time; the rest of the line becomes the label. All of these are read correctly:
0:00 Introand00:00 - IntroIntro 1:45(time at the end of the line)[12:30] Listener questionsor(12:30) Listener questions1:02:10 Wrap-upfor episodes longer than an hour
In Auto style, an episode that runs past one hour switches every timestamp to the 0:00:00 form so the column lines up. Times are checked so minutes and seconds never exceed 59, and lines without a time are skipped with a warning.
Tips for faster weekly show notes
- Write the summary right after recording while the conversation is fresh, then finish the rest during editing.
- Keep your call to action, subscribe links and credits the same every week; the tool remembers them in this browser.
- Reuse the same section order on every episode so regular listeners know where to look.
- Use plain, descriptive link labels ("Seed-starting calendar") rather than "click here".
- If you also publish on video, the plain-text output pastes neatly into a video description.
Frequently asked questions
What should podcast show notes include?
Good show notes usually have a short summary of the episode, the main takeaways, timestamps for each segment, a few lines about the guest with links to their work, every resource mentioned on the show, any sponsor message and a call to action such as following the show or leaving a rating. This template has a section for each one.
How long should show notes be?
There is no fixed rule. Many shows use 150 to 300 words for the summary plus lists for timestamps and links. Put the most important sentence first, because podcast apps often show only the first line or two before a "more" link.
Which format should I copy: Markdown, HTML or plain text?
Use Markdown for Notion, Ghost, GitHub Pages and static-site generators, HTML for a host's code or HTML view, rich text (from the Preview tab) for visual editors like WordPress or Substack, and plain text for places that strip formatting, such as YouTube descriptions.
Do timestamps in show notes become clickable chapters?
Not by themselves. Some apps and players turn timestamps in the episode description into tappable links, but true chapters are stored in the audio file or in a chapters file supported by your host. Timestamps in show notes are still useful for listeners skimming the episode.
Will my podcast host accept the HTML?
This tool only uses basic tags: h1, h2, p, ul, li, a, strong, em and small. Most hosts allow those in episode descriptions, although some remove headings or links. Check the preview in your host before publishing.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything is built in your browser and your draft is saved only in this browser's local storage so it is still there when you come back. Use Clear form to remove it.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.