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Sounds Debatable

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Branding that actually sounds like something.

Cover art, sonic logos, and visual identities from shows that didn’t settle for a stock template, the picks worth studying before you build your own.

What great podcast branding does

Reads at thumbnail size

Most listeners first see your cover smaller than a postage stamp, in a grid of competitors. If the title and image don’t survive that, nothing else matters.

One idea, not five

The strongest covers commit to a single image or a single typographic move. Microphones, headphones and stock photos of hosts say “podcast”, not “this podcast”.

Honest about the genre

True crime should look like true crime, and a business show shouldn’t. Clear signals help the right listener click and the wrong one scroll past.

Works as a system

The cover is only the start. The best shows carry the same type, color and image style into episode art, the website, social clips and print.

Gold: the best cover art in podcasting

The covers we hold up as the standard. Each one is instantly recognizable at any size.

Dr DeathDr DeathWonderyTwin FlamesTwin FlamesWonderyBad BatchBad BatchWonderyDarknet DiariesDarknet DiariesIndependent

Silver: better than 95% of covers

Not quite the top tier, but well ahead of almost everything in the charts.

CatfishCatfishMTV / WonderyThe CFO ShowThe CFO ShowAcquiredAcquiredAcquiredArmoredArmoredAudiochuck

Bronze: worth studying

Strong ideas, with one or two things we’d still change.

Panic WorldPanic WorldCourierDrilledDrilledKilledKilledAudiochuckMedical MurdersMedical MurdersSpotify

The best podcast websites

Real DictatorsReal DictatorsBest dedicated show pageBallen StudiosBallen StudiosBest visual-first websiteDarknet Diaries websiteDarknet Diaries websiteBest indie websiteBankless websiteBankless websiteBest news-driven websiteThe CISO CircleThe CISO CircleBest B2B show website

Unique merch

Insider JokeInsider JokeStunning DesignStunning DesignAdvertisers DreamAdvertisers Dream

Print and physical branding

Killed (print)Killed (print)Print and physical

IRL podcast promotion

Social Proof Is KingSocial Proof Is KingKiller Billboard PlacementKiller Billboard Placement

Set design and studio builds

Most On Brand Social SetMost On Brand Social SetMost Overkill Single-Episode SetMost Overkill Single-Episode Set

Before you publish your cover

  1. Square, between 1400 and 3000 pixels, saved as JPEG or PNG in RGB (Apple Podcasts’ requirements).
  2. Shrink it to the size of a fingernail. Can you still read the title?
  3. Check it on both light and dark backgrounds.
  4. Cut anything a listener doesn’t need to choose your show: taglines, host names, episode counts.
  5. Put it next to the top ten shows in your category. Does it stand out or blend in?
  6. Keep the layered source file so episode art and social posts can match it.

Want a cover that earns a place on this page?

We review covers, websites and full brand systems for podcasts, and tell you exactly what to change.

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