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In this week’s episode, I hope to help you with brainstorming ideas for your podcast. Here are a few tips you’ll find on the show:
Remember your mission
Create pillar content topics for the year that solves problems
Map it out in your tool of choice then your calendar
Plan your first recording session
Keep brainstorming!
What happens when you know that there will be many weeks and months ahead to fill up your podcast with helpful content for your listeners, but where you will need to make sure to fill up your podcast with incredible content, but the idea of planning is stressing you out a little?
I’m going to give you four very basic tips to help you move forward in that direction toward making sure that you feel more confident.
What do you wanna be talking about so that your audience feels a certain way?
What are you trying to accomplish on your podcast?
Every single episode should be supporting that overall goal. So if you want your audience to feel encouraged, then every episode should be encouraging them.
If you want your audience to feel entertained, then by the end of every episode, your audience should feel really entertained, whether they’re laughing, whether they’re amused.
What is your goal?
Do you want them to feel spiritually fulfilled?
Or do you want them to feel enlightened?
Figure out what that is, because in every single show that you do, the topics will lend themselves into your final goal. Your topics should always be supporting your mission.
Create pillar content topics for the year that solves problems
Here’s what I mean: if you are in the health industry and you are going to be talking about your physical health (such as fitness), mental health, and emotional health, there will be different aspects of health that you will cover on your podcast this year and you’ll want to take those pillar content topics and break them down into subtopics.
Those are the subtopics that are going to solve specific problems for your audience. You’ll want to talk about these topics on your podcast, interview guests if that’s the format you’re using, or just share your own experiences, or find statistics and information online that can help your audience. You may also like to share excerpts from a book that you’ve written and talk about things that are going to help support your listener in solving the problems that they’re having.
Just be sure that the topics that you’re talking about throughout the year are going to help your listener in a very specific and concrete way.
Map out your podcast topics
The next thing is just to make sure that you have enough content. And I am almost 100% positive that you won’t run out of ideas, and there are specific strategies that I use to curate ideas for my podcast from year to year.
I always encourage my clients to have a strong podcast start. So if there are 12 months in a year, how often do you want to release a podcast episode? Figure out the number of episodes you want to publish each month and multiply that times 12 so that you know how many you want to publish in a year.
Whether that number is 48, 24, or something else entirely is completely up to you and your comfort level for your production schedule.
Go ahead and write those down, and type it up into your idea bank, so that when it’s time to actually start finding who’s going to be on that episode to interview about that content piece, or where you’re going to find information for that content piece, you’ll already have the topic provided. Then all you have to do is fill in the missing pieces to create the episode itself.
The idea of topic curation is one of the most basic foundational parts of podcasting but it is what’s going to help you to get a head start and to have a foundation for the year.
You’ll want to make sure that you feel confident in what you’re going to be talking about before you go and fill in the content. (Filling in the content is simply just gathering your interviewees or finding the information that you want to present on your episode.) If you have the topic ideas, then you can create your outlines for each show. Each of these is a very separate step, but in this episode, we’re only talking about brainstorming your topics.
When I first started this podcast about podcasting, I knew that I wanted to initially start with a once-per-week publication schedule. At some point, I kind of tapped back to about twice a month or every other week and we’ll see if I want to revamp that to weekly again. I made sure that I already had 48 episode ideas ready to go. In fact, I’m looking right now at 51 ideas that I have ready to go to talk to you guys about this year. (No excuses for me!)
I can always open this Google Doc that lists all of my episodes. And at any point when I’m ready to start creating outlines for one of those episodes, I already have my topic, I just need to do the research for it and create the outline. And then it’s time for me to record, produce and edit. All I have to do is sit down at my microphone and record this information.
Next, after you’ve created those podcast topics for the year, you kind of have an idea of how many episodes you want. You’ll just want to map it out. Use your tool of choice. That could be your Google Calendar, it could be Trello, Asana, ClickUp, or any project management tool that works for you.
And so I always like to recommend starting with just Google Calendar to begin with and plugging in those days of the week that you plan to, first of all, record based on the topics that you’ve selected for the year and the outlines you’ve created for those topics.
Plan your first recording session
Now it’s time to pick a day that you’re going to edit that episode for the week or whether you’re going to have someone else do that for you. Then, you’ll have a day of the week that your episode is going to be scheduled to be published. Every day that you want your podcast to be published needs to show up on your calendar so that you’re aware that it’s a publication date.
That means your show needs to already have been edited, and ready to release. This could mean that your episode has already been uploaded and scheduled to release that day. This is going to help you stay consistent.
After you brainstorm those podcast topic ideas, make sure you’re consistent with publishing.
Keep brainstorming your podcast topics!
And lastly, just keep on brainstorming.
Just keep right on curating ideas. This is going to look very different for everybody, but it could be that you take one day out of the month to sit down and look in KeySearch to see what people are looking for, or do a Google Keyword Tools, or use some type of search engine optimization tool to help you figure out what people are looking for and what your ideal audience would be searching for so that you have even more ideas that you could add to your content idea bank.
Stay motivated and keep content curation a part of your routine for the days and weeks to come.
🌟Pick up your FREE copy of your Business Clarity Guide before you start your podcast, plus download your Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist: https://impactpodcastcoach.com/
So, you’ve decided to start a podcast. That’s exciting! Podcasting is one of the most powerful ways to share your message, build authority, and connect with your audience on a deeper level. But before you hit record, there’s something crucial you need to do—plan your podcast.
Too many aspiring podcasters dive in without a solid strategy, leading to inconsistency, lack of focus, and eventually, podfade (where podcasts fizzle out after just a few episodes). But that won’t be your story! With the right plan in place, you’ll be set up for long-term success.
Let’s walk through the essential steps of planning your podcast so you can launch with confidence and clarity.
Step 1: Define Your Podcast’s Purpose
Before you get into the technical side of things, ask yourself: Why am I starting this podcast?
Are you building your personal brand?
Do you want to attract clients or customers?
Are you passionate about a subject and want to share it with others?
Do you want to educate, entertain, or inspire?
Your purpose will drive everything else—from your content to your marketing strategy. It also keeps you motivated when challenges arise. Write down your purpose and keep it front and center.
Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience
A successful podcast speaks directly to a specific audience. Who are you creating this for?
What are their interests, struggles, and pain points?
What questions are they asking that you can answer?
What kind of content do they enjoy consuming?
The clearer you are about your audience, the easier it is to create content that resonates. You’re not just speaking into a mic—you’re speaking to real people who need what you have to offer.
Step 3: Choose Your Podcast Format
Podcasts come in different styles. Choose the format that best fits your strengths and goals:
Solo episodes (great for personal branding and thought leadership)
Interviews (excellent for networking and leveraging guests’ audiences)
Co-hosted shows (engaging conversations with a partner)
Narrative/storytelling (ideal for educational or documentary-style content)
There’s no right or wrong choice—just what works best for your audience and your content style.
Step 4: Develop Your Podcast Structure
To keep your show organized and professional, establish a structure:
Episode length – Will your episodes be 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour?
Release schedule – Will you publish weekly, biweekly, or monthly?
Episode segments – Consider intro music, main content, ads, Q&A, and outro.
Consistency is key to building an engaged audience. Whatever schedule you choose, stick to it.
Step 5: Name Your Podcast and Create Branding
Your podcast’s name should be clear, memorable, and relevant to your niche. Avoid overly complicated names—make it easy for listeners to find and remember you.
Once you have a name, create branding elements:
Cover art – Eye-catching visuals that reflect your podcast’s theme
Intro and outro music – Sets the tone for your show
A compelling podcast description – Tells potential listeners what to expect
Step 6: Plan Your First 10 Episodes
Before launching, map out your first 10 episodes. This ensures you have enough content to stay consistent and prevents you from scrambling for ideas later.
Create an episode outline for each, including:
Topic
Key points
Possible guest (if applicable)
Call to action (what you want listeners to do next)
Batch-recording episodes in advance can help you stay ahead and avoid burnout.
Step 7: Invest in Quality Equipment
You don’t need an expensive setup, but quality audio is crucial. Here’s what you need:
Microphone – A USB or XLR mic like the Audio-Technica ATR2100x or Shure SM7B
Headphones – Helps with sound clarity and editing
Recording software – Audacity (free) or Adobe Audition (paid)
Hosting platform – Libsyn, Buzzsprout, or Anchor
Good sound quality keeps listeners engaged, so test your setup before launching.
Step 8: Record and Edit Your Episodes
Find a quiet space and record your first episodes. Speak clearly, stay on topic, and keep your energy high.
Editing is where the magic happens. Remove background noise, add music, and tighten up the conversation. If you’re not tech-savvy, consider hiring an editor to polish your episodes.
Step 9: Set Up Your Podcast Hosting and Distribution
A podcast host stores your audio files and distributes them to platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Popular hosting platforms include:
Libsyn
Podbean
Buzzsprout
Anchor
Once your episodes are uploaded, submit your RSS feed to major directories so people can easily find and subscribe to your show.
Step 10: Market Your Podcast for Maximum Reach
A great podcast deserves an audience! Use these strategies to promote your show:
SEO-optimized show notes – Helps new listeners discover your episodes
Social media marketing – Share snippets, quotes, and behind-the-scenes content
Email marketing – Send new episodes to your list
Guest appearances – Get featured on other podcasts to expand your reach
Repurpose content – Turn episodes into blog posts, videos, and social media posts
Consistency and engagement will help you grow your audience over time.
Step 11: Track Your Podcast’s Performance
After launching, keep an eye on your podcast’s metrics:
Downloads and listens
Audience retention
Listener feedback and reviews
Social media engagement
Use this data to refine your content and improve your show based on what resonates most with your audience.
Final Thoughts About Planning Your Podcast: Plan Now, Succeed Later
Planning your podcast might seem like a lot of work upfront, but trust me, it’s worth it. A well-planned podcast not only helps you stay consistent but also positions you as an authority in your niche.
If you’re serious about making an impact through podcasting, take the time to map out your strategy. Your future listeners (and your future self) will thank you!
Resources mentioned on the show
Download your Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist
Finding your podcast purpose doesn’t have to be a difficult process, and that’s what I’m sharing on this week’s show.
So, you’re thinking of starting a podcast and you’re very excited about the possibility of launching a show that will resonate with your audience. Plus, you might believe that this brand-new podcast idea will help to strengthen your business and grow it. Before you get started with creating your podcast, my friend, I want to stop you in your tracks and ask you a few deep-dive questions that will help you create the best experience, not only for your listener, but for you, the podcast host.
In this episode, I share a few questions you should ask yourself when starting your podcast. First things first…
Let’s discover your podcast purpose.
Creating a show that helps to grow your business and increases your audience so that you can build a network is a noble thing…but it’s not the only thing you should consider when considering investing your time in a project like this. I share a bit about starting your podcast in a way that is authentic to you later on in episode 7: soul podcasting. For now, let’s get started on this episode with a few questions that will help guide you along that direction.
What message do you want to share?
Podcasting is the means by which you will get your message out. There must be a specific and tangible reason you wish to begin podcasting, and likely, it has something to do with your own passions. What is that core, central message you want to convey throughout your episodes?
Why are you passionate about this podcast topic?
Perhaps you’ve been through some difficulties in life or you’ve overcome a particular challenge that you want to share with your audience. Maybe it’s just a subject you’re excited about and can’t wait to share more. Usually, when someone tells me they want to start a podcast, it’s because they want to be a support system and help their audience achieve something of value.
On my business podcast for women of faith, I often share marketing and mindset tips that can help entrepreneurs along their business journey. Why do I feel excited to share this advice on my podcast? Because I’ve been in their shoes, and I understand the burdens that accompany building a solopreneur business from the ground up.
This is what I mean by finding a topic you’re passionate about. Think about what this means for you when considering your podcast purpose.
What is it you hope to achieve with your podcast?
What is the end result for your listener? How will guide your listeners through the process of solving their unique problems? How does your podcast help to answer those main questions they may be having?
Thanks for listening, friends, and I’ll be back next week with more tips for you on my podcast about podcasting!
