Podcast Preparation Checklist: Research to Recording

Use this podcast preparation checklist before each recording. Start with the question your episode will answer, then collect only the material that helps you explore it.

Define the episode before collecting more links

• Write one sentence describing the audience and the question you want to explore.
• Choose a working title that reflects that question.
• Set the scope: what belongs in this episode, and what should wait?
• For a guest episode, confirm the topic, recording time and the guest's name and pronunciation.

Gather and organize your research

• Keep sources in one queue rather than across disconnected tabs and messages.
• Save the original URL, author and publication date with each useful source.
• Add a note explaining why the source matters to the episode.
• Look for a credible counterargument or an example that challenges your first impression.
• Group related notes into topics. Remove duplicates and interesting distractions.

The Podcast Prep browser extension lets you save research while you browse. You can also add links and notes in the app.

Build a brief you can use while speaking

• Write a short opening that establishes the episode's question.
• Give each segment a purpose and a few talking points.
• Separate verified facts, direct quotations, opinions and unresolved questions.
• Prepare follow-ups that ask for examples, reasoning and limitations.
• Choose a closing takeaway that the episode's evidence actually supports.

Use the worked episode prep example to see how a question, source list and rundown fit together. Or start from a podcast outline template or a podcast script template.

Verify the material

• Open original sources rather than relying only on summaries.
• Check names, dates, numbers and the surrounding context of quotations.
• Label anything you could not confirm; remove it or present it as an open question.
• Review AI-generated notes before using them. They can omit context or introduce errors.
• Keep attribution and permissions appropriate to the material you plan to use.

Make the recording handoff simple

• Put the rundown and source links where the host and producer can find them.
• Check microphone input, headphones and recording settings with a short test.
• Confirm how guests will join and how you will handle interruptions.
• After recording, note corrections and unanswered questions for editing.
• Keep the finished brief with the episode so you can revisit the research later.
• Prepare podcast show notes for the episode description.

Ready to collect the next episode's research? Sign in to Podcast Prep, or read how its research queue and episode prep work.

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