Podcast outline template, with an example

A podcast outline is a one-page plan for an episode: the question it answers, the segments in order, the points and sources under each, and how it ends. It's lighter than a script. You talk from it rather than read it. Copy the template below, see a filled-in example, then read how to write your own.

Podcast outline template

EPISODE OUTLINE

Working title:
Episode question: [the one question this episode answers]
Audience: [who it's for]
Angle: [your take, in one sentence]
Target length:

OPEN
- Hook: [story, question or fact]
- Why this matters now:

SEGMENT 1: [heading]
- Main point:
- Source (author, date, link):
- Example:
- Question to raise:

SEGMENT 2: [heading]
- Main point:
- Source:
- Contrasting view:
- Question to raise:

SEGMENT 3: [heading]
- Main point:
- Source:
- What it means for the listener:

CLOSE
- Takeaways (2 or 3):
- What's still open:
- Call to action:

CHECK BEFORE RECORDING
[ ] Every claim has a source
[ ] Names, dates and quotes confirmed
[ ] Segment order makes sense out loud

Interview outline template

Guest: [name], [one-line credential]
Episode question:
What only this guest can answer:

INTRO: [guest intro, 2 sentences]
WARM-UP: [one easy, specific question]
CORE QUESTIONS (in order):
1.
2.
3.
4.
FOLLOW-UPS TO HAVE READY:
-
CLOSE: Where can people find you? Thank-you. Call to action.

Send the guest the topic and scope beforehand. Keep the core questions to four or five so there's room to follow the conversation.

Example podcast outline

This is an illustrative example for an imagined episode, not a customer's show or a sample generated by Podcast Prep.

Working title: Repair or replace? How we decide what to keep
Episode question: When something breaks, what information helps us decide whether to repair it?
Audience: People who want a practical way to think through everyday purchases
Angle: Neither repair nor replacement is always right; the decision depends on information you can gather.

OPEN
- Hook: an item I considered repairing last month
- Why now: [a recent news item on repair, with source]

SEGMENT 1: A repair that worked
- Main point: what failed, what was tried, what it cost in time
- Source: a firsthand repair account (author, date, link)
- Question: what would have changed the decision?

SEGMENT 2: A replacement that made sense
- Main point: the priorities behind replacing
- Source: a replacement account; the manufacturer's support page
- Contrasting view: convenience and reliability vs attachment

SEGMENT 3: Questions to ask about your own item
- Time, cost, reliability, personal value

CLOSE
- Takeaways: three questions to ask before deciding
- Still open: what's hard to measure
- Call to action: send us your repair-or-replace story

The same episode is worked through from research to rundown in the episode prep example.

How to write a podcast outline

1. Write the episode question first

One sentence. Everything in the outline should help answer it. If you can't write it, the episode isn't ready to outline.

2. List what you know and where it came from

Gather your sources and note the author, date and link for each, and the point it supports. Keep quotes separate from your own summaries.

3. Group the material into two to four segments

Group by idea, not by source. Each segment gets a heading you could say aloud.

4. Put the segments in an order that builds

Usually: the problem, the evidence or examples, then what it means. Put your strongest example where the episode needs energy.

5. Write the open and the close

The open sets up the question. The close gives two or three takeaways and says what's still unresolved.

6. Check it

Read the outline aloud. Confirm every name, date and quote against its source.

Outline or script?

Use an outline for interviews and conversation, where reading sounds stiff. Use a script for solo narrative episodes and anything that must be said exactly, like sponsor reads. If you want full wording, see the podcast script template.

From research queue to outline

Most of the work in an outline is steps 2 and 3: gathering sources and grouping them. Podcast Prep does a first pass of that. Save articles, posts, emails and notes to your research queue during the week, and it groups related stories into topics and drafts talking points and key quotes from your show's perspective. You review it, check the sources, and shape it into your outline. Plans are $9.95 a month or $79.95 a year.

FAQ

What is a podcast outline?

A one-page plan for an episode: the question it answers, the segments in order, the main points and sources under each, and the close.

What should a podcast outline include?

A working title, the episode question, your angle, an opening hook, two to four segments with points and sources, takeaways and a call to action.

How do I write a podcast outline?

Write the episode question, collect sources, group them into segments, order the segments so they build, write the open and close, then check every fact.

Is an outline better than a script for a podcast?

For interviews and conversations, usually yes, because you talk naturally from bullet points. For solo or narrative episodes, many hosts prefer a script.

Is there a free podcast outline template?

Yes. Copy the templates on this page.

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