Ever wondered what makes a podcast website truly stand out? Many hosting services offer a free website as part of their package, and there are numerous podcast website providers available.
But what if you want to create your own website using WordPress or another online hosting service?
We flipped the question to ask: What makes a podcast website great? Here are our thoughts in bullet form about the art of creating a fantastic podcast website.
What should my podcast website include?
- Consistent branding (logo, colors, tone)
- Episode filtering (by topic, guest, date)
- Full transcripts (good for accessibility + SEO)
- Short transcripts (good for scan reading)
- Fast loading & mobile-optimized (a must!)
- Strong CTAs (subscribe, newsletter, merch, support – get me involved)
- Multiple listening options (Spotify, Apple, etc. as the saying goes, ‘where you get your podcasts’)
- Good metadata structure (OG tags, schema markup)
- Podcast episode page (make it possible to find previous episodes)
- Search (and make it work!)
That’s essentially it – ensure it’s easy for me to locate your latest episodes, your top episodes, and those from the past, as well as any CTA mentioned in any episode. It should embody your brand, visually represent your brand, and your episodes should sound as your brand appears.
Here’s some examples of this art form of great podcast websites at work.
99% Invisible
https://99percentinvisible.org
Why it works:
- Clean, minimalist design that reflects the brand’s aesthetic
- Strong use of imagery and episode artwork
- Clear categories and tags for episodes
- Embedded audio with show notes and transcripts
The Daily (by The New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily
Why it works:
- Integrated within a news site, but still has a strong individual identity
- Each episode has a detailed write-up
- SEO-friendly URLs and structure
- Easy to subscribe on multiple platforms
Radiolab
https://radiolab.org
Why it works:
- Visually rich and engaging
- Each episode has detailed notes, visuals, and related links
- Categories and themes make it easy to browse
How I Built This (NPR)
https://www.npr.org/sections/how-i-built-this
Why it works:
- Part of NPR’s ecosystem, but has a unique visual identity
- Emphasis on the entrepreneurs’ stories through design
- Accessible archives and related content
The Rest Is Politics
https://www.therestispolitics.com
Why it works:
- Strong, minimalist layout with high contrast and clear CTAs
- Focused on community engagement and newsletter signups
- Easily browsable archive with clean episode thumbnails and summaries
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk
Why it works:
- Whimsical branding that fits the show’s tone
- Clear links to listen, subscribe, and follow
- Each episode has a unique guest illustration — great visual identity
- Easy navigation and site performance
High Performance Podcast
https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com
Why it works:
- Clean, modern, and aspirational design
- Strong use of video and motivational branding
- Integrated blog, guest bios, and live events
- Good SEO and a structured layout
