Podcast Intro Script · Podcast intro and outro
Footnotes (History Podcast Intro and Outro)
Free history podcast intro and outro script about the forgotten names on street signs, written for a curious host who loves the fine print.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Length
- 106 words · ~42 sec
- Skills
- storytelling, callback delivery, curiosity in the voice
- License
- CC BY 4.0
The script
(Intro)Every town has a street named after somebody, and most of us walk past that sign without ever wondering who they were.
This is Footnotes, the history podcast about the people who ended up in the margins. I'm [Host Name]. This week, we're picking one name off one street sign and following it all the way back. Fair warning: it gets stranger than you'd think.
(Outro)That's this week's Footnotes. Our sources are in the show notes, as always. Next time you pass a street sign, take a second look. Somebody, somewhere, decided that name mattered. I'm [Host Name]. Thanks for reading the fine print with me.
Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0. Original script drafted with AI assistance and edited by SceneDub; any resemblance to existing characters is coincidental.
Practise it now
The teleprompter scrolls at the speed you set in words per minute. Tick "Record audio while reading" to capture a take; the audio stays in your browser until you download it.
Coaching notes
- 'most of us walk past that sign without ever wondering who they were' should feel like a gentle nudge, not a scolding. Say it with a curious half-smile.
- Lean into 'Fair warning: it gets stranger than you'd think.' A slight drop in volume makes the listener lean toward the speaker.
- 'Thanks for reading the fine print with me' is a callback to the show's name. Slow down and land 'fine print' warmly, like a joke you and the listener share.
Try it three more ways
- Read it as a dusty, delighted librarian who just found something odd in the archives.
- Read it as a fast-talking high school teacher trying to win over a class right after lunch.
- Read it as a polished, measured documentary narrator with an orchestra waiting in the wings.
Take it further
More scripts to practise
Frequently asked questions
How long is the "Footnotes (History Podcast Intro and Outro)" script?
106 spoken words, about 42 sec at a conversational 150 words per minute and 49 sec at a slower 130 wpm. Your take will vary with pauses and character choices.
Can I use this script in my voice acting demo reel?
Yes. SceneDub's original scripts are licensed CC BY 4.0. You can perform, record, edit, and publish them, including in demo reels, classes, and auditions, as long as you credit "Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0" where you share the recording or the text.
How should I practise this script?
Read it silently once, then perform it with the direction above: curious, warm, lightly conspiratorial, storyteller pace, ~145 words per minute. Record a take with the teleprompter, listen back, and try one of the alternate reads to stretch your range.