What makes a podcast ad sound “host-read”?
Host-read ads work because they sound like the host talking to a friend, not like a radio commercial. You can get that feel with an AI voice by writing the way people talk:
- First person: “I have been using…” or “Here is why I like…”, but only say what is true for you or your show.
- One clear benefit: a single reason to care beats a list of features.
- Short sentences and contractions written out the way you want them read.
- A simple call to action: one web address and one promo code, said twice.
For a true host-read sound, clone your own voice from a clean 5 to 30 second clip in Voice Cloning (10 languages). Only clone a voice with that person’s permission. If a sponsor’s contract says the host must read the ad personally, follow the contract.
Pre-roll, mid-roll and post-roll: which length?
A conversational read runs about 2.5 words per second (150 words per minute).
| Placement | Typical length | Words | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-roll (before the episode) | 15 to 30 seconds | 35 to 75 | Short and punchy; listeners want the show to start |
| Mid-roll (during the episode) | 30 to 60 seconds | 75 to 150 | The most personal read, with a story or example |
| Post-roll (after the episode) | 15 to 30 seconds | 35 to 75 | A quick reminder of the offer and code |
Podcast ad scripts you can adapt
Swap in your sponsor, offer and code. Read each one out loud once before you generate it.
- 15s pre-roll:
This episode is sponsored by Fernway Coffee. Fresh beans, roasted the week they ship. Get twenty percent off your first bag at fernway dot com with code CALM20. - 15s post-roll:
Thanks again to today’s sponsor, Northpine Mattress. One hundred nights to try it at home. Visit northpine dot com and use code SLEEP for fifty dollars off. - 30s pre-roll:
Today’s show is brought to you by Ledgerly, the simple bookkeeping app for freelancers. Snap a photo of a receipt, and Ledgerly sorts it for tax time. No spreadsheets, no shoebox of paper. Try it for thirty days at ledgerly dot com slash podcast. That is ledgerly dot com slash podcast. - 30s mid-roll (story style):
Quick break to thank our sponsor, Trailhead Meals. Here is the idea: real meals for camping, just add hot water. Breakfast skillet, chili, pad thai, all ready in ten minutes. If you are heading out this fall, go to trailhead meals dot com and use code OUTSIDE for fifteen percent off your first order. - 60s mid-roll:
This part of the show is sponsored by Brightpath, an online tutoring service for kids in grades three to twelve. If homework time at your house turns into a battle most nights, you are not alone. Kids get stuck, parents forgot how long division works, and everyone ends up frustrated. Brightpath matches your child with a tutor for math, reading or science, and sessions happen right in the browser, on your schedule. You pick the tutor, you get short progress notes after every session, and you can change tutors or cancel any time, with no long contract. Our listeners get their first two sessions. Go to brightpath dot com slash show, that is brightpath dot com slash show, and use code LEARN at sign-up. Brightpath. Homework help that actually helps. - Show promo swap (two voices): turn on Two speakers and use
A: Hey, it is Maya from The Weekly Garden.B: And I am Theo. If you like this show, you will love ours.A: Search The Weekly Garden wherever you listen.
Tell listeners it is an ad
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guides expect a clear disclosure when content is paid for, and its guidance says that when a claim is made out loud, the disclosure should be made out loud too. For podcasts, that means saying it, not only writing it in the show notes. Simple phrases work:
- “This episode is sponsored by…”
- “Today’s show is brought to you by…”
- “Quick break for our sponsor…”
Put the disclosure at the start of the ad. Keep endorsements honest: only say you use or love a product if it is true. If your listeners are in the UK, Canada or Australia, check the local advertising rules too. A clear spoken disclosure is a good habit everywhere. If you use an AI voice that sounds like a real person, it should be your own voice or one you have permission to use.
Add sound branding with Music and Sound Effects
- Make an ad stingIn the Music tool, describe something like “warm acoustic guitar sting, friendly, 30 seconds, no vocals” and keep the first few seconds as your ad intro.
- Make an ad bedGenerate a quiet, steady instrumental to sit under the voice. Keep it well below the voice so every word is clear.
- Add a transition soundCreate a soft whoosh or chime in the Sound Effects tool (3 to 15 seconds, one clear sound per prompt) to mark the start and end of the break.
- Assemble the spotIn your podcast editor, place sting, voice and bed together. Use the same sting for every sponsor break so listeners recognize it.
- ExportDownload the voice as MP3 or WAV and export the final spot in the format your host or ad platform asks for.
More for podcasters
Make your show opener with the podcast intro generator and intro script examples, create full two-host segments with the AI podcast generator, and turn episodes into show notes with podcast transcription.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an AI voice for podcast ads?
How long is a podcast ad?
Do I have to say an ad is sponsored?
Can I make the ad in my own voice without recording it?
How do I add music to my podcast ad?
Is it included in Speechma Pro?
Make better voiceovers, faster
- New voices and features the day they launch
- Script templates and tricks that make AI voices sound human
- Creator stories, community picks and early access