TL;DR — Listener shout-outs work best when the ask is specific, the link sits somewhere listeners already are, and the clips get reused rather than left on a hard drive. A single prompt in your show notes or newsletter, repeated across a few episodes, beats a one-off call for submissions.
- Put the request where listeners already are: show notes, the newsletter, the episode description.
- One specific prompt gets better clips than "send us a message".
- Reuse submissions as a trailer, an intro segment, or a recurring feature, not a one-time stunt.
- Audio and video listeners behave differently, so ask for video deliberately rather than assuming it.
On this page
Why a video ask, not just a written review
A written review tells a future listener the show is good. A video message from a real listener tells them why, in that listener's own voice, which carries differently than five stars and a sentence. It also gives you something to actually use: a clip that works as a trailer moment, an intro segment, or filler between a long interview and the next one.
Podcast listening itself has grown steadily as a habit across age groups, per general audience research from Edison Research — which is part of why a short video ask lands well here: listeners are already used to consuming audio and video content in short bursts, and a sixty-second clip fits that pattern.
Where to put the request
- The show notes for two or three consecutive episodes, not buried once and forgotten.
- The newsletter, if you send one — it reaches people who already opened an email from you once.
- A line at the end of the episode itself: a short, specific ask spoken by the host works better than a written-only call-out.
- Social posts linking back to the same request, so every channel points to one place.
What to actually ask for
Avoid an open "tell us what you think" — it produces one-line replies or nothing at all. A specific prompt gets a usable answer:
- "What's one thing you changed after listening to an episode?"
- "Which episode would you tell a friend to start with, and why?"
- "Where do you usually listen — on a commute, at the gym, doing chores?"
- "What do you wish we covered that we haven't yet?"
Turning clips into something you reuse
A single strong clip can open a trailer, close an episode, or anchor a recurring "from our listeners" segment every few episodes. Keep a running folder of the best ones so you're not scrambling to find a quote when you need one. If you also run a blog or a product page tied to the show, see Collecting Customer Video Content for Your Blog or Product Page for how the same clips can do double duty there.
Keeping it low-friction for listeners
The biggest drop-off in any listener ask is the extra step between "I'd do that" and actually doing it. A direct link that opens straight to a camera, with no account to create and no app to download, keeps that gap as small as it can be. For the decision criteria behind picking a tool for this, see Group Video Message Apps Compared.
Collecting listener clips with Whoosh
Share one link in your show notes with a specific prompt attached. Listeners record straight from their phone or laptop browser, and clips land in one place as they come in, ready to clip into an episode or a trailer.
- 1.Write one specific prompt rather than an open-ended request.
- 2.Drop the link into show notes, the newsletter and the episode close.
- 3.Leave the request live across a few episodes, not just one.
- 4.Review clips as they arrive and keep a running shortlist of the strongest ones.
Frequently asked questions
How many shout-outs do I need before using any?
A handful is enough to start a recurring segment. Quality and specificity matter more than volume here.
Should I ask for audio or video?
Video gives you more to work with: it can run as a visual clip on social as well as audio in the episode itself, which a voice memo can't do.
Do I need to credit the listener by name?
Ask first, and use whatever name or handle they're comfortable with — some listeners prefer to stay anonymous even when happy to be featured.
What if nobody responds the first time I ask?
Repeat the ask across a few episodes rather than assuming it failed after one mention — most listeners need to hear a request more than once before they act on it.