Podcast Episode Planner with Segments and Talking Points
Added Apr 2, 2026
About This Prompt
This prompt creates a complete episode blueprint that transforms preparation from hours of scattered notes into a structured, ready-to-record plan. The cold open teaser and targeted soundbites ensure every episode has shareable moments that drive discovery. The interview question progression from warmup to deep-dive helps hosts navigate conversations naturally while still hitting the important topics. The included social media clip suggestions mean your marketing content is planned before you even press record. Whether you host a solo show, interview format, or co-hosted discussion, this prompt adapts to your format while maintaining the structure that keeps listeners engaged through the full episode. Particularly valuable for new podcasters learning episode structure and experienced hosts who want to prepare more efficiently.
Variables to Customize
[PODCAST_NAME]
The name of your podcast
Example: The Build in Public Show
[EPISODE_TOPIC]
What this episode covers
Example: How to validate a SaaS idea in 72 hours without writing code
[PODCAST_FORMAT]
The style of the podcast
Example: solo deep-dive with occasional guest interviews
[TARGET_LISTENER]
Who listens to your show
Example: aspiring SaaS founders and indie hackers who are pre-revenue or in the idea stage
Tips for Best Results
- Share your top 5 performing episode titles so Claude can match the style your audience responds to
- Include the guest's bio and recent work if it is an interview episode so questions feel researched
- Ask Claude to generate a pre-recording checklist specific to this episode's technical needs
Example Output
# Episode Plan: SaaS Validation in 72 Hours ## Title Options 1. "Validate Your SaaS Idea in 72 Hours — No Code Required" 2. "The 72-Hour Test: Know If Your Idea Is Worth Building" 3. "Stop Building. Start Validating. Here's How." ## Cold Open (45 seconds) "Last month, I watched someone spend six months building a SaaS product that three people wanted. Six months. I'm going to show you how to figure that out in three days — for free — and I'm going to walk you through the exact process I used to validate my last two ideas before writing a single line of code." [INTRO MUSIC] ## Segment 1: Why Most Founders Skip Validation (5:00-12:00) **Talking Points:** - The "builder's bias" — we default to building because it feels productive - The stat: 42% of startups fail because there's no market need (CB Insights) - My own story: the project I built for 4 months that nobody wanted **Transition:** "So if building isn't the answer, what do you do in those 72 hours instead? Let me break down the framework..." ## Segment 2: The 72-Hour Validation Framework (12:00-28:00)... ## Social Media Clips 1. [14:30-15:15] "If you can't get 10 people to give you their email for a product that doesn't exist, you definitely can't get them to pay for one that does." 2. [22:00-22:45] The fake door test explanation — visual, tactical, shareable