# Podcast Episode Checklist: From Pre-Recording to Publish

Run this checklist for every episode. Skipping steps is how podcasts end up with bad audio, missing show notes, and zero promotion.

## 1. Pre-recording (planning)

1. Episode topic and angle locked — one clear promise for the episode.
2. Episode title drafted (under 60 characters, keyword included).
3. Outline or bullet script written — talking points, not a word-for-word script.
4. Guest confirmed (if any): bio received, questions sent, recording link tested.
5. Research done: facts checked, names pronounced correctly, sources bookmarked.

## 2. Recording setup

6. Quiet room chosen — soft furnishings up, notifications and appliances off.
7. Microphone positioned 4-6 inches from mouth, slightly off-axis to avoid plosives.
8. Pop filter or windscreen on; headphones plugged in (no speaker monitoring).
9. Test recording made and played back — levels peaking around -12 to -6 dB.
10. Backup recording running (phone recorder or second app) — non-negotiable.
11. Water nearby; phone on silent; "do not disturb" sign up if needed.

## 3. During recording

12. Clap or say "marker" at mistakes for easy finding in editing.
13. Record 10 seconds of room tone at the start for noise reduction.
14. Re-record flubbed lines immediately instead of "fixing it in post."
15. Keep energy 10% higher than feels natural — mics flatten enthusiasm.

## 4. Post-production

16. Edit out mistakes, long pauses, and filler using the markers from step 12.
17. Apply noise reduction using the room-tone sample, then light compression and EQ.
18. Normalize loudness to podcast standards (-16 LUFS stereo / -19 LUFS mono).
19. Add intro/outro music and keep it under the voice (ducked, not competing).
20. Export as MP3, 128 kbps minimum (192 kbps for music-heavy shows), with ID3 tags filled in.

## 5. Publishing

21. Episode title, description, and show notes finalized — links included, keywords natural.
22. Episode artwork meets directory specs (3000x3000 px for Apple Podcasts).
23. Uploaded to host; audio plays back correctly from the feed.
24. Scheduled or published; submitted to Apple, Spotify, and YouTube if new show.

## 6. Promotion

25. One audiogram or clip cut for social media within 24 hours.
26. Episode announced on all active channels with a direct listen link.
27. Guest tagged and sent assets (if any) — guests are your best promoters.
28. Next episode's topic chosen so momentum never stalls.

## Common mistakes this checklist prevents

- **No backup recording:** one corrupted file = one lost episode. Always record twice.
- **Skipping room tone:** without it, noise reduction creates artifacts.
- **Publishing without ID3 tags:** players show "Unknown" and car apps can't navigate.
- **No promotion plan:** the best episode in the world gets 12 downloads without step 25-27.