Here's what you can expect from this episode:
Podcast episode planning doesn’t have to take hours or drain your creative energy.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever sat down to record, stared at your mic, and instantly forgotten what you were going to say. 🙋♀️ Been there… and re-recorded that more times than I’d like to admit.
Here’s the thing: Preparing your podcast episodes can quietly consume way more time than you expect. Over-prep? You sound stiff. Under-prep? You’re editing out tangents for hours. Either way, it’s exhausting.
But there’s a better way.
In this Thursday Quick Win, I’m walking you through the exact 3-step method I use for myself and my clients to plan episodes in under 30 minutes without sacrificing clarity or quality. This is about sounding confident, keeping your content on track, and making recording days feel like a breeze
Here’s what’s covered
[00:00:46] How to set one clear goal so your episode stays focused and binge-worthy
[00:01:25] My go-to loose outline formula that keeps you polished but conversational
[00:01:54] The 5-minute mental rehearsal that smooths transitions (even if you’re folding laundry)
[00:02:33] Why less overthinking = less editing (and more free time)
Recording days shouldn’t feel like a root canal. This simple, repeatable process helps you edit less, sound more confident, and keep your podcast working for your business—not against it.
So, what’s your biggest podcast prep struggle? Are you an over-prepper, an under-prepper, or a “hit record and hope” kind of host? DM me or leave a comment—I’d love to help you make it easier.
Hit play to learn how to make your podcast episode planning lightning-fast, stress-free, and actually fun again. And if you want more behind-the-scenes strategies I use with clients, the link to my weekly newsletter is in the show notes. Your streamlined podcast is closer than you think.
Want more tips like this?
Subscribe to the
newsletter for simple, smart podcast strategies that actually work.
Ready for podcast growth?
Have a podcasting question you’d love answered on air?
Resources Mentioned:
Efficient Podcast Episode Prep: Fast-Tracking Your Workflow
Leah Bryant [00:00:00]:
Foreign hello and welcome back to the Podcasting Problem Solver. I'm Leah Bryant, your podcast producer and certified growth coach for entrepreneurs who want their podcast to work for their business. And you're tuning in to Thursday Quick Wins, those short tactical episodes designed to help you podcast smarter, not harder. And today is all about how I prep podcast episodes fast. So have you ever sit down to record and find yourself rambling, re recording or staring blankly at the mic? Well, this one is for you. One of the biggest time sucks for podcasters. It could be over prepping or worse under prepping and then editing for hours. Right? Here's a three step method I use to plan podcast episodes in under 30 minutes for myself and for clients.
Step 1: Defining Your Podcast Episode Goal
Leah Bryant [00:00:57]: Step number one we want to define the goal. Before I touch an outline, I ask what's the one takeaway I want the listener to walk away with? This keeps your episode focused and prevents tangents. So for an example, it would be something like if the episode is about podcast growth metrics, the goal might be help listeners understand which three numbers actually matter. And then once we have that mapped out, we're going to create a loose outline. Not a script, not a novel, just a short hook, three to four bullet points, a call to action, and a takeaway. And just to be clear, this is not me saying you should never script an episode. Some of my clients script every word and I've done it a time or two as well because hello perimenopause. But in most cases, this loose outline is what helps you sound confident and conversational without winging it.
Step 2: Creating a Loose Podcast Episode Outline
Leah Bryant [00:01:54]: And then once we have our outline done or the script done, we are going to move to step three, which is run a mental rehearsal. So I do kind of like a dry run in my head sometimes while folding laundry or walking. It helps me smooth out transitions and catch any awkward phrasing before I hit record. And that's it. No overthinking, no massive time block. Just 30 minutes or less and I'm ready to go. If you've been dreading recording days, this simple prep flow can make a huge difference in how you show up. And if you want more tips like this that I use with clients, I share them in my weekly newsletter.
Step 3: Mental Rehearsal for a Smoother Podcast Recording
Leah Bryant [00:02:33]: You'll also gain access to more behind the scenes systems and shortcuts to help keep your show sustainable. The link is in the show notes, so I want you to try this three step prep method before your next episode and watch how much smoother your recording feels. Until next time, keep showing up with purpose. Keep sharing your story and keep it seamless. See you next week.
Have a question or comment?
Send it to Leah!
