---
title: "Keep a show format file so AI writes show notes in your voice"
description: "Record your segment structure, timestamp style, written voice, episode index, and social rules so AI turns a transcript into show notes that sound like you."
canonical: "https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/ai-for-podcasters"
date: "2026-01-28"
modified: "2026-09-25"
---
## Site navigation

- [Scale With Search](https://scalewithsearch.com/)
- Real estate
  - Real estate
    - [Real estate](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate)
- Work
  - Start here
    - [Send your brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#send-your-brief)
    - [Prepare your six-question brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#prepare-your-six-question-brief)
  - Build
    - [Site build, content library with SEO, signal desk](https://scalewithsearch.com/work)
- For your business
  - Trades and home services
    - [Auto body and collision shops](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/auto-body-and-collision-shops)
    - [Foundation and home repair contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/foundation-and-home-repair)
    - [Garage door and fencing contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/garage-door-and-fencing-contractors)
    - [HVAC contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/hvac-contractors)
    - [Janitorial and commercial cleaning companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/janitorial-and-commercial-cleaning)
    - [Locksmiths](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/locksmiths)
    - [Moving companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/moving-companies)
    - [Pest control companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/pest-control-companies)
    - [Plumbing and electrical contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/plumbing-and-electrical-contractors)
    - [Restoration and water or fire damage companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/restoration-and-water-fire-damage)
    - [Roofing companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/roofing-companies)
    - [Towing companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/towing-companies)
    - [Tree services and landscaping companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/tree-services-and-landscaping)
    - [Solar installers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/solar-installation)
    - [General contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/general-contractors-and-construction)
    - [Paving, concrete, and flooring contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/paving)
  - Practices and professional services
    - [Bookkeeping and tax practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/bookkeeping-and-tax-practices)
    - [Dental practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/dental-practices)
    - [Family and criminal defense law firms](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/family-and-criminal-defense-law-firms)
    - [Med spas and aesthetics practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/med-spas-and-aesthetics)
    - [Personal injury law firms](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/personal-injury-law-firms)
    - [Veterinary clinics](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/veterinary-clinics)
    - [Gyms and fitness studios](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/fitness)
    - [Therapy and outpatient health practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/therapy-and-outpatient-health)
    - [Medical billing companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/medical-billing)
    - [Insurance agencies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/insurance-agencies)
    - [Financial advisors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/financial-advisors)
    - [Property management companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/property-management)
    - [Recruiting and staffing agencies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/recruiting-and-staffing)
    - [Architects and interior designers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/architects-and-interior-designers)
    - [Logistics and supply chain companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/logistics-and-supply-chain)
  - Agencies, MSPs, and manufacturing
    - [IT and managed service providers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/it-and-managed-service-providers)
    - [Machine shops and precision manufacturers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/machine-shops-and-precision-manufacturing)
    - [Marketing agencies and freelancers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/marketing-agencies-and-freelancers)
    - [SEO agencies and consultants](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/seo-agencies-and-consultants)
    - [Small manufacturers and fabricators](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/small-manufacturers-and-fabricators)
  - Restaurants, shops, studios, and nonprofits
    - [Restaurants and hospitality businesses](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/restaurants-and-hospitality)
    - [Retail stores and ecommerce sellers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/retail-and-ecommerce)
    - [Photographers, event planners, and travel agents](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/photographers)
    - [Churches and nonprofits](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/churches-and-nonprofits)
  - [All industries](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/)
- Learn
  - For your office
    - [Office job guides](https://scalewithsearch.com/guides/)
    - [Browser calculators](https://scalewithsearch.com/tools/)
  - Start here
    - [How it works](https://scalewithsearch.com/how-it-works)
    - [Free Starter Kit](https://scalewithsearch.com/kit/business-memory-starter-kit.zip)
    - [Synthetic specimen](https://scalewithsearch.com/specimen/working-session-specimen.zip)
  - Guides
    - [The Complete Guide to Business Memory for AI Agents](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/business-memory-for-ai-agents-guide)
    - [The Complete Small-Business Guide to AI Agent Governance](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/ai-agent-governance-guide-small-business)
    - [The Complete Guide to Leaving Vendor AI Memory](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/leaving-vendor-ai-memory-guide)
  - Articles by cluster
    - [Business memory](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/business-memory-for-ai-agents-guide)
    - [Agent governance](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/ai-agent-governance-guide-small-business)
    - [Migration and ownership](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/leaving-vendor-ai-memory-guide)
  - For machines
    - [llms.txt](https://scalewithsearch.com/llms.txt)
    - [llms-full.txt](https://scalewithsearch.com/llms-full.txt)
    - [Machine view](https://scalewithsearch.com/?view=machine)
- Company
  - Evidence
    - [Proof](https://scalewithsearch.com/proof)
  - Company
    - [About](https://scalewithsearch.com/about)

# Keep a show format file so AI writes show notes in your voice.

You record for an hour. Then you spend another hour on show notes, quote pulls, social posts, and research for the next guest.

You tried an AI assistant. The show notes sounded like every other podcast: generic bullet points, summaries in business-networking language, social posts that read as automated.

The writing ability is not the problem. The assistant has no record of the show. It does not know the format and has not heard past episodes. It cannot reference the running joke with the co-host or the framework the host explains every third episode. So it guesses, and the output sounds like someone else's podcast. A show format file and an episode index fix that.

## What goes wrong without a record

You paste a transcript into a chat and ask for show notes. You get:

- bullet points that fit any business podcast;
- a guest bio copied from the guest's professional profile;
- timestamps that do not match your format;
- social posts in corporate marketing voice;
- episode titles that sound like conference talks.

Next week, the same request gives the same result. The assistant does not know that your show:

- starts with a cold open before the intro music;
- has a "rapid fire" segment at the 30-minute mark;
- asks every guest the same closing question;
- writes show notes in second person, not third;
- refers to past episodes when topics overlap;
- uses a different call to action for each audience segment.

You spend 20 minutes editing each draft to sound like you. At that point, you could write it yourself.

## What the show format file holds

Transcription is solved. A tool such as Descript produces the transcript. The assistant's job starts after that, and it needs these sections:

| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| Format | Segment structure, typical runtime, recurring elements, timestamp style |
| Written voice | How you write show notes, how that differs from how you talk on air, guest intro style, title rules |
| Frameworks | Core concepts you explain often, with the words you use for them |
| Episode index | Each episode's topics, guests, key timestamps, and links to related episodes |
| Social rules | Which clip types perform on each platform, how you tease without spoiling, calls to action by content type |
| Guest research | Question types you always use, interview style, research depth your audience expects |
| Sponsors | How you integrate reads and which placements work |

## Inspect the format section

This is a synthetic example.

```markdown
# Show format

updated:: 2026.09.25

## Structure
- Cold open (60 to 90 seconds), then intro music.
- Rapid fire segment at about 30:00.
- Closing question for every guest: "What would you undo?"

## Show notes
- Second person: "You'll learn...", not "Host and guest discuss...".
- Timestamps in [00:00] format.
- Episode summary first, guest bio after it.
- Link earlier episodes on the same topic.
- Practical takeaways over theory.

## Social
- 3 quote cards for Instagram per episode.
- LinkedIn: longer, professional, one question at the end.
- X: short, open with a question.
```

## Load the files each session

Claude Code reads a file named `CLAUDE.md` from the working folder when a session starts ([Claude Code memory documentation](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/memory), checked 2026.09.25). Put the show format file there, or point to it, and list where the episode index lives. The files stay on your computer, but the text Claude Code reads goes to Anthropic for processing.

## Episode 47, before and after

Before the file, you export the transcript from Descript and paste it into a chat with "Write show notes for this podcast episode." You get 300 words of corporate summary. You spend 20 minutes rewriting it, add timestamps by hand, and write the social posts yourself because the drafts read like a press release. Total: about 45 minutes of editing.

After the file, you export the transcript, give it to Claude Code, and type "Show notes for episode 47." The assistant reads the format file and the index. It knows the weekly format, pulls the guest bio from your research notes, writes the summary in second person, and uses your timestamp format. It links episode 31, which covered a similar topic. It drafts three quote cards and two social posts: a longer one for LinkedIn and a short question-led one for X.

You read it, change one word, and publish. Total: about five minutes, plus your check that each timestamp and quote matches the recording.

## What changes when the assistant knows the show

Show notes no longer sound generic. They match your tone, refer to your past work, and speak to your audience.

Social posts sound like you wrote them. They follow your platform rules instead of a template.

Guest research gets faster. The assistant knows your interview style and produces prep notes that match how you run a conversation. The companion guide on [AI for podcast hosts](/articles/ai-for-podcast-hosts) covers guest files and episode planning in depth.

Episode planning improves. Ask "what should I cover next?" and the assistant reads the gaps in your episode index and the topics your audience asks about.

Sponsor email gets tighter. Drafts can cite your show's metrics, audience profile, and past sponsor results, if those are in the file. Date each number, because download counts change every month.

## Keep quotes and claims accurate

A quote card must quote the guest exactly. Ask the assistant to pull quotes only from the transcript and to give the timestamp for each one. Check each quote against the audio before you publish. The guide to [AI memory for interview transcripts](/articles/ai-memory-interview-transcripts-summaries) shows how to keep the evidence, the summary, and your decisions separate.

Your voice file can go stale. An approved example from last year may describe a segment you dropped or a sponsor you no longer carry. Label old examples as voice only. The guide to [AI brand memory for content creation](/articles/ai-brand-memory-content-creation) covers that problem in depth.

## Test the format file on one old episode

Before you trust the file on a new episode, run it on one you already published.

1. Pick an episode whose show notes you wrote by hand and were happy with.
2. Give the assistant that episode's transcript and ask for show notes.
3. Put the draft beside your published notes. Check the order of sections, the timestamp format, the person the notes are written in, and the linked episodes.
4. Ask for the three quote cards. Check each quote against the transcript, word for word, and check each timestamp against the audio.
5. Write each mismatch into the format file as a rule you can check, then run the same transcript again.

The file passes when the second draft differs from your published notes only in wording you would accept. A draft that still misses the section order means the rule is stated as a preference, not as an order. Number the sections in the file.

## Correct the file, not only the draft

When a draft misses, the fix belongs in the file. If the assistant puts the guest bio first again, the rule is unclear. Rewrite it as something checkable, such as "Guest bio goes after the summary, never first." The guide on [how corrections become part of the system](/articles/corrections-become-system-memory) shows how to record each fix so it holds.

## Set up the file in one afternoon

1. Write the format and written voice sections from your last five show notes.
2. Add your frameworks and the words you use for them.
3. Build the episode index from your publishing platform: number, date, guest, topics.
4. Add your social rules and your guest research template.
5. Run the next episode through it and compare the draft with what you would have written.

This setup fits solo shows that write their own notes and co-hosted shows that need one voice. It also fits interview shows with several guests a week and narrative shows that need summaries and cross-references.

----

```text
                  .|########||.                                       .|########||.                                       .|########||.
               |##||.      .||##|.                                 |##||.      .||##|.                                 |##||.      .||##|.
             |#|.              .|#|.                             |#|.              .|#|.                             |#|.              .|#|.
           |#|                    |#|                          |#|                    |#|                          |#|                    |#|
         .#|                        |#.                      .#|                        |#.                      .#|                        |#.
        .#.                          .#|                    .#.                          .#|                    .#.                          .#|
       |#.                            .#|                  |#.                            .#|                  |#.                            .#|
      |#             ......             #|                |#             ......             #|                |#             ......             #|
     .#           ||#########|           #|              .#           ||#########|           #|              .#           ||#########|           #|
    .#.         |######||######|.        .#.            .#.         |######||######|.        .#.            .#.         |######||######|.        .#.
    #.        .##|###|##|#|######|        .#            #.        .##|###|##|#|######|        .#            #.        .##|###|##|#|######|        .#
   ||        |##|#||||||||||||#||#|        ||          ||        |##|#||||||||||||#||#|        ||          ||        |##|#||||||||||||#||#|        ||
   #        |#||||||||||||||||||||#|        #.         #        |#||||||||||||||||||||#|        #.         #        |#||||||||||||||||||||#|        #.
  ||       |#||||||||||||||||||||||#|       ||        ||       |#||||||||||||||||||||||#|       ||        ||       |#||||||||||||||||||||||#|       ||
  #       .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#|       #        #       .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#|       #        #       .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#|       #
 ||   ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. ||      ||   ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. ||      ||   ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. ||
 #.  .  ....|#  ....#|||   ||| .#|||  ....#. .#      #.  .  ....|#  ....#|||   ||| .#|||  ....#. .#      #.  .  ....|#  ....#|||   ||| .#|||  ....#. .#
 #   .  ||||#| .#####||  . .#| .#|||  ||||#   #.     #   .  ||||#| .#####||  . .#| .#|||  ||||#   #.     #   .  ||||#| .#####||  . .#| .#|||  ||||#   #.
.|   |||||  #. |#|||||. ||  #. |#||. .|||||   ||    .|   |||||  #. |#|||||. ||  #. |#||. .|||||   ||    .|   |||||  #. |#|||||. ||  #. |#||. .|||||   ||
||   |....  #. ....|#.      |. ...|. ....||   ||    ||   |....  #. ....|#.      |. ...|. ....||   ||    ||   |....  #. ....|#.      |. ...|. ....||   ||
#.  .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#|   .#    #.  .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#|   .#    #.  .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#|   .#
#    .||####|###########################|.     #    #    .||####|###########################|.     #    #    .||####|###########################|.     #
#      .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#|      #    #      .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#|      #    #      .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#|      #
#      .#|||||| ..  |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#|      #    #      .#|||||| ..  |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#|      #    #      .#|||||| ..  |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#|      #
#      .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#|      #    #      .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#|      #    #      .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#|      #
#      .#||||||############|######|||||#|      #    #      .#||||||############|######|||||#|      #    #      .#||||||############|######|||||#|      #
#   |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.|  #    #   |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.|  #    #   |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.|  #
#. .. ||||# .|||##|.  |#| .|| || .|||#. #|  # .#    #. .. ||||# .|||##|.  |#| .|| || .|||#. #|  # .#    #. .. ||||# .|||##|.  |#| .|| || .|||#. #|  # .#
|| |  ...||  ...##| |  #| .|. |. #####  .. .| ||    || |  ...||  ...##| |  #| .|. |. #####  .. .| ||    || |  ...||  ...##| |  #| .|. |. #####  .. .| ||
|| ||||| || ||||#|  .  |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || ||    || ||||| || ||||#|  .  |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || ||    || ||||| || ||||#|  .  |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || ||
.# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #.    .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #.    .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #.
 #.|||||||#############################| ||| .#      #.|||||||#############################| ||| .#      #.|||||||#############################| ||| .#
 ||       ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##.      ||      ||       ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##.      ||      ||       ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##.      ||
  #       .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#|       #        #       .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#|       #        #       .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#|       #
  ||       |#||||||||||||||||||||||#|       ||        ||       |#||||||||||||||||||||||#|       ||        ||       |#||||||||||||||||||||||#|       ||
  .#        |#||||||||||||||||||||#|        #.        .#        |#||||||||||||||||||||#|        #.        .#        |#||||||||||||||||||||#|        #.
   ||        |#||||||||||||||||||#|        ||          ||        |#||||||||||||||||||#|        ||          ||        |#||||||||||||||||||#|        ||
    #.        .######|#|#########|        .#            #.        .######|#|#########|        .#            #.        .######|#|#########|        .#
    .#.         |#####||||#####|         .#.            .#.         |#####||||#####|         .#.            .#.         |#####||||#####|         .#.
     |#           ||########||           #.              |#           ||########||           #.              |#           ||########||           #.
      |#             ......             #|                |#             ......             #|                |#             ......             #|
       |#.                            .#|                  |#.                            .#|                  |#.                            .#|
        |#.                          .#.                    |#.                          .#.                    |#.                          .#.
         .#|                        |#.                      .#|                        |#.                      .#|                        |#.
           |#|                    |#|                          |#|                    |#|                          |#|                    |#|
            .|#|.              .|#|.                            .|#|.              .|#|.                            .|#|.              .|#|.
               |##||.      .||##|                                  |##||.      .||##|                                  |##||.      .||##|
                 .||########||.                                      .||########||.                                      .||########||.

Scale With Search  2026  [scalewithsearch.com](https://scalewithsearch.com)
```