2 Epic Podcast Outline Examples!
Posted on 21st October 2019 at 18:55
Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash
A podcast lives or dies by its content. A weekly stream of recorded consciousness just won’t hack it!
Good podcast formats comprise segments that give structure to your show. Once you’ve decided on a format – make sure you remain faithful to it throughout the series.
There are lots of different kinds of formats, but here are two epic examples...
(Please note: These are skeleton rundowns - the final scripted version will look quite different.)
1. “Circular Waste” is a major player in the recycling and resource management world. It has an established and regular podcast which explores recycling innovations, changes in regulations and a range of opinions on how to eliminate waste to protect the environment.
Their podcast, named “Energetic Waste”, appeals to a niche audience (like most corporate podcasts). The segment breakdown for, let’s say, episode 19 of a 30-40 minute podcast, broadcast weekly over an eight-week series, could look like this:
“Energetic Waste”
Episode 19
Episode theme - Recycling industrial packaging
Rundown
1. Interview with packaging expert, Joel Mayston of INCPEN
2. Latest recycling news
3. Q&A session answering listeners’ questions
Segment Breakdown
|
Segment 1 (max: 15 seconds) |
Fade in music (and leave it running gently beneath voice throughout Segment 2). |
|
Segment 2 (1-2 minutes) |
Intro Announce podcast name, your name and description of your podcast. Explain what you’re discussing today with today’s guest - Joel Mayston of INCPEN. Call to Action: Remind listeners they can subscribe to the podcast. Fade out music... |
|
Segment 3 (20 minutes) |
Interview More detailed introduction of guest, set up the discussion theme – recycling industrial packaging with reference to recent changes in the law – and launch into your prepared list of questions. |
|
Segment 4 (1-2 minutes) |
Exit from interview Thank guest. Remind the audience where the show notes can be found which will feature useful links to what Joel referred to during the interview, as well as to INCPEN’s own websites/blogs, etc. |
|
Segment 5 (max: 15 seconds) |
Sound effect to mark division between segments. |
|
Segment 6 (5 minutes) |
News Section Talk about two items of news in your sector, e.g.:- 1. New Secretary of State for the Environment – what changes could they bring in? 2. Latest figures show councils struggling with recycling obligations. |
|
Segment 7 (2 minutes) |
Outro Talk about the next episode and why it’s unmissable! Invite feedback through social media/blog/webpage and encourage listeners to visit your podcast landing page on your website to read the show notes. Music fades in under outro and closes the show. |
2. You run an association representing cyber security companies. The podcast is called “Cyber Hacks” and is hugely popular with cyber security professionals.
The segment breakdown for a 30-40 minute podcast could look like this:
“Cyber Hacks”
Episode 25
Episode theme – Recruitment problems in the cyber security world
Rundown
1. Panel discussion with Erin Proud of Cyber Jobs, Rudolph Brown of Let’shack.com, and Sue Everton of Libertia
2. Q&A session answering listeners’ questions
3. Plug for Cyber Hack’s annual December congress
Segment Breakdown
|
Segment 1 (15-20 seconds) |
Short extract from the panel discussion. |
|
Segment 2 (1-2 minutes) |
Intro Announce podcast name, your name and description of your podcast. Explain what you’re discussing today and who’s on the discussion panel. Call to Action: Remind listeners they can visit your website at the end of the podcast for show notes following this episode. Also provide information on joining your association. |
|
Segment 3 (5 minutes) |
Association Q&A Answering listeners’ questions submitted through social media/website/blog. |
|
Segment 4 (25 minutes) |
Introduce panel discussion More detailed introduction of guests; set up the discussion theme – recruitment problems in the cyber security world – and launch into the first question on your prepared list. |
|
Segment 5 (1 minute) |
Exit from interview Thank guests. Highlight a point that came out of the talk as worth thinking about or acting upon. |
|
Segment 6 (2 minutes) |
Plug Discuss upcoming annual congress, speakers, sessions, awards ceremonies, etc. Direct listeners to website for more information. |
|
Segment 7 (2 minutes) |
Outro Talk about the next episode and why it’s unmissable! Invite questions through social media/blog/webpage and direct listeners again (as above) to your podcast landing page for the show notes. Ask people to subscribe to your podcast. |
Made4U Podcasts recommends listening to speech-based podcasts for further inspiration.
Don’t be overambitious to begin with, because segments require forethought and time to plan and produce.
Made4U Podcasts is happy to advise on any aspect of podcast planning. We also do all the heavy lifting in podcast production (click HERE for more info) and provide training courses (click HERE for more info).
Contact us anytime on serena@made4U-podcasts.co.uk for a chat.
Have you got any interesting ideas for podcast formats – or want to see what other people think about your ideas? Please feel free to comment.
Tagged as: Podcast formats, Podcast structure
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