Why You NEED to Plan Your Podcast Episodes

Whilst every podcast is different, some form of planning should always take place before an episode is recorded. Without at least a basic idea of what topics and conversations are going to take place within an episode, you’ll end up talking over one another, repeating points, and generally getting in a muddle.

Before we get started, I’m sure you’re wondering what I, a graphic designer, know about creating a podcast, and you’d be justified in thinking this. Well, I’m the current producer/editor of The (award-winning) Giraffe Social Media Podcast, which discusses all things social media, digital marketing, and more. Whilst I’ve never made an appearance on the podcast myself, I’ve been heavily involved, behind the scenes, in the planning, recording, editing, and publishing processes.

Right then, with that out of the way, let’s get into it…

How Do I Plan a Podcast Episode?

As I said right at the very top, every podcast is going to be different. For the most part, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to planning out a podcast episode.

With some podcasts being factual and informative, and some being comedic and entertaining, each one will have different requirements when it comes to the planning process.

But, generally speaking, every podcast will need some planning, so this guide should provide you with a good jumping-off point that you can then go forward and tweak to best suit your podcast and your workflow.

Creating an Outline

If you’re reading this guide, I’m going to assume that you already have your podcast all set up with branding, hosts, social accounts, the whole nine yards. If not, go back and take time to really flesh out what it is your podcast is about, who the audience is and, most importantly, how interested you are in pursuing podcasting.

The very first step in creating an outline for your podcast episode is establishing what the topic is going to be. This should include the title, overarching theme, making notes of any guests that will appear.

You should also write down the date that this specific episode will be published. You’ll be able to keep this in mind regardless, but seeing it written down will ensure you’re working efficiently, helping you to hit the deadline.

Once a topic is decided on, you should then go through and work out some talking points to include within the podcast episode. Think of this as your script.

Note: You don’t need to literally write a script, but you should instead aim for a handful of talking points that will help keep you on track when recording the episode.

When your outline has been created, you then need to work out whether or research any of the topics you want to cover will be required. If so, move into this stage.

Grab a FREE printable podcast planning template here!

Conducting Research

If an outline is the backbone to any good podcast episode, think of the research as the muscles helping to keep everything move along.

Trust me when I say this, your listeners will be able to tell when you haven’t done your research on the topics you’re discussing. As said, some podcasts won’t need any research at all. Things like comedy podcasts, for the most part, can be recorded without any prior research on topics.

But if you have a factual podcast that has the goal of educating its listeners, research must be conducted. Even if you’re already highly knowledgeable on the topics you’ll be discussing, brushing up on some important statistics, key facts and vital metrics is always a good idea.

It’s better to have the research and not need it than to be stuck without research and fumbling for information.

Keep in mind here that if during the research phase, you come across some interesting ideas that you haven’t included in your original outline, you can always go back and make changes. Nothing is set in stone until the episode has been published and released into the wild.

Interviewing a Guest

Not all podcasts are going to have guests. Some podcasts are going to feature a set cast of hosts each week, but this isn’t the case for them all.

If you are going to have a guest on your podcast episode, it’s vital that you understand who the person is, their background, their work and what they’re coming to discuss.

Even if you already know the person and have a good relationship, it’s a good idea to have at least the basics down.

During the research phase, you should have already boned up on your guest, but if you haven’t, now is the perfect time.

During the interview, make sure you have some information to hand in case you get stuck. Good things to include in your notes are:

• Your guest’s name

• Their profession or what they do

• A bit of info about their background

• Around 10 or so question to call on if conversation starts to slow

When it comes to recording with your guest, make sure your equipment is working beforehand, set a time limit to help you both keep on track, and supply your guest with a copy of the episode outline. Nobody wants to be greeted with questions they’ve not prepped for, including your guests.

Conclusion

As stated, each and every podcast will require different levels of planning. Some you can create a rough outline and get recording, whilst others will require some in-depth research, and some may even require a fully fleshed-out script.

Regardless of how much planning your podcast needs, it’s always a good idea to write down your topics, thoughts and talking points beforehand.

And you can do this easily with my printable podcast episode planner, which you can download here for free!

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