Affiliate Disclosures on Podcasts
Audio recommendations need audible disclosures. Say it aloud near the recommendation; show notes are a supplement, not a substitute.
Podcasts are an audio medium, so disclosure must be audible. Show notes alone do not satisfy the standard, because many listeners never read them — they listen while driving, exercising, or commuting. The recommendation reaches the audience through their ears, so the disclosure has to as well.
The rules
- Say the disclosure aloud, close to the recommendation — not only in the show notes or episode description.
- For host-read affiliate or sponsor segments, state the relationship before or as the segment begins.
- Include a written disclosure in the show notes as a supplement, not a substitute.
- If affiliate links appear in the notes, disclose there too, next to the links.
Match the medium
Because the endorsement is audible, the disclosure must be at least audible. A text-only disclosure in the notes fails the “same manner” criterion for an audio recommendation.
Host-read vs. dynamically inserted ads
Two ad models raise different issues. Host-read endorsements — where you personally vouch for a product — are endorsements and need a clear spoken disclosure of the material connection. Dynamically inserted ads, stitched in programmatically, are more obviously advertisements, but if you are also personally endorsing a product through your own affiliate link, that endorsement still needs its own disclosure. When in doubt, disclose.
A worked example
Compliant: “Quick note before this next part — the product I’m about to recommend is an affiliate partner, so I earn a commission if you use my link,” spoken immediately before the recommendation and echoed beside the link in the notes. Non-compliant: the endorsement is read as if it were independent, with “affiliate link” appearing only in the episode description.
Podcast checklist
- Spoken disclosure near each affiliate recommendation.
- Written disclosure beside links in the show notes.
- Clear wording (“affiliate partner,” “I earn a commission”).
- Consistent across episodes, including evergreen back-catalog episodes.
Authoritative sources
Last reviewed July 2026. This page is general educational information, not legal or tax advice.