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