podcast-producer

name: podcast-producer description: Podcast production workflow including episode planning, show notes creation, transcript editing, guest management, and distribution strategy. Use when launching podcasts, planning episodes, or optimizing podcast workflows.

Podcast Producer

Comprehensive frameworks for launching, producing, and growing podcasts across all stages of production.

Podcast Launch Checklist

Pre-Launch (8-12 Weeks Before Episode 1)

• Define podcast concept, niche, and target audience
• Choose podcast name (check availability across platforms)
• Write podcast description (150-250 words, keyword-rich)
• Select format: solo, co-hosted, interview, narrative, panel
• Decide episode cadence: weekly, biweekly, monthly
• Determine episode length target (see table below)
• Purchase domain and set up website
• Design cover art (3000x3000px, readable at 55x55px)
• Record intro/outro music or commission original
• Choose hosting platform (see comparison below)
• Set up recording environment and equipment
• Record and edit 3-5 episodes before launch (backlog)

Launch Week

• Submit RSS feed to all major directories
• Publish 3 episodes simultaneously on launch day
• Announce on all social media channels
• Send launch email to personal and professional networks
• Ask early listeners for ratings and reviews
• Set up analytics tracking

Recommended Episode Length by Format

Episode Planning Template

EPISODE PLANNING:

Episode #: ___
Title: _______________________________________________
Publish Date: ___/___/___
Status: [ ] Planned [ ] Recorded [ ] Edited [ ] Published

TOPIC:
Main topic: _________________________________________
Angle / Hook: _______________________________________
Target audience segment: ____________________________
Key takeaway for listener: __________________________

OUTLINE:
1. Cold Open / Hook (30-60 sec)
   - Compelling question, stat, or story

2. Intro + Episode Overview (1-2 min)
   - Intro music
   - Welcome, episode number, topic preview
   - Sponsor message #1 (if applicable)

3. Segment 1: _________________ (X min)
   - Key point A
   - Key point B
   - Supporting example or story

4. Segment 2: _________________ (X min)
   - Key point C
   - Key point D
   - Data, research, or case study

5. Segment 3: _________________ (X min)
   - Key point E
   - Practical application / how-to
   - Sponsor message #2 (if applicable)

6. Recap + Call to Action (2-3 min)
   - Summary of key takeaways
   - CTA: subscribe, review, share, visit link
   - Tease next episode

7. Outro (30 sec)
   - Outro music
   - Credits

RESOURCES TO MENTION:
- Link 1: ___________________
- Link 2: ___________________
- Book/Article: ______________

RECORDING NOTES:
- Estimated recording time: ___ min
- Target final length: ___ min
- Special editing notes: ____________________________

Guest Booking & Prep Workflow

Guest Pipeline Tracker

Guest Prep Package (Send 1 Week Before)

GUEST PREP DOCUMENT:
- Date, time (with timezone), platform, and recording link
- Technical requirements: quiet room, wired headphones, external mic preferred
- Discussion topics (3 conversation guides, not scripted questions)
- Promotion plan: social assets provided, request to share when live

Recording Setup Guide

Essential Equipment by Budget

Recording Environment and Remote Setup

• Room treated for echo, background noise minimized
• Microphone 4-6 inches from mouth, pop filter in place
• Gain levels peaking -12dB to -6dB, recording in WAV/LOSSLESS
• Backup recording running (phone or secondary recorder)

Remote platforms (ranked by quality): Riverside.fm, SquadCast, Zencastr, Zoom (local recording only). Always record locally on both ends as backup.

Show Notes Template

SHOW NOTES: Episode [#] — [Title]

[2-3 sentence episode summary with primary keyword for SEO]

IN THIS EPISODE:
- [Key topic 1] ([timestamp])
- [Key topic 2] ([timestamp])
- [Key topic 3] ([timestamp])
- [Key topic 4] ([timestamp])

GUEST BIO:
[Guest name] is [1-2 sentence bio with credentials and links].

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- [Resource 1] — [URL]
- [Resource 2] — [URL]
- [Book title] by [Author] — [affiliate link]

CONNECT WITH [GUEST]:
- Website: [URL]
- Twitter/X: [@handle]
- LinkedIn: [URL]

CONNECT WITH US:
- Website: [URL]
- Newsletter: [URL]
- Twitter/X: [@handle]
- Instagram: [@handle]

SPONSORS:
- [Sponsor 1] — [description + promo code/link]
- [Sponsor 2] — [description + promo code/link]

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 — Introduction
02:15 — [Topic 1]
08:30 — [Topic 2]
15:45 — [Topic 3]
22:00 — [Topic 4]
30:15 — Rapid Fire / Lightning Round
35:00 — Key Takeaways
37:00 — Where to find [Guest]

TRANSCRIPT: [Link to full transcript]

Transcript Editing Guidelines

Workflow: auto-transcribe (Whisper, Descript) then review speaker ID, apply editing level, add timestamps, include resource links, proofread proper nouns.

Distribution Platform Comparison

Submit RSS to: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music/Audible, iHeartRadio, Podcast Index. Overcast and Pocket Casts auto-index from Apple.

Episode Promotion Checklist

Per-Episode Promotion

• Create audiogram / video clip (30-60 sec highlight)
• Write platform-specific social media posts, tag guest
• Email newsletter with episode summary
• Cross-promote with related podcasts
• Respond to all comments and engagement

Content Repurposing Matrix

Analytics & KPI Tracking

Key Metrics Dashboard

Industry Benchmarks

PODCAST DOWNLOAD BENCHMARKS (per episode, 30 days):
Top 1%:     35,000+ downloads
Top 5%:     8,000+ downloads
Top 10%:    3,400+ downloads
Top 25%:    1,100+ downloads
Top 50%:    200+ downloads
Average:    100-200 downloads

Source: Data from Buzzsprout, Libsyn, and industry reports.
Numbers vary by niche and should improve over time.

Monetization Strategies

SPONSORSHIP RATE CALCULATION:
CPM (Cost Per Mille) = Price per 1,000 downloads

Pre-Roll (15-30 sec): $15-25 CPM
Mid-Roll (60 sec):    $20-50 CPM
Post-Roll (15-30 sec): $10-15 CPM

EXAMPLE:
5,000 downloads/episode x $25 CPM mid-roll / 1,000
= $125 per mid-roll ad spot per episode

Season Planning Template

SEASON PLANNING: Season [#]

THEME: _____________________________________________
Episodes: [#] episodes
Cadence: [weekly/biweekly]
Season Start: ___/___/___
Season End: ___/___/___
Break Duration: ___ weeks

EPISODE MAP:
| Ep # | Title/Topic         | Format    | Guest?  | Record By | Publish   |
| ---- | ------------------- | --------- | ------- | --------- | --------- |
| S_E1 |                     |           |         |           |           |
| S_E2 |                     |           |         |           |           |
| S_E3 |                     |           |         |           |           |
| S_E4 |                     |           |         |           |           |
| S_E5 |                     |           |         |           |           |
| S_E6 |                     |           |         |           |           |
| S_E7 |                     |           |         |           |           |
| S_E8 |                     |           |         |           |           |
| S_E9 |                     |           |         |           |           |
| S_E10|                     |           |         |           |           |

SEASON ARC: Open with theme preview, deep dives in middle, high-impact penultimate, recap finale.
BATCH RECORDING: Record 3-4 episodes per batch for efficiency.

See Also

• Audio Production
• Marketing
• Video Production