Podcast production checklist for podcast teams

Allow one to two weeks for a standard interview episode once the guest is confirmed. Research and scheduling often take longer than the recording, while editing and review usually need two to four business days. A scripted narrative episode can require several weeks because fact checking, pickups, music clearance, and sound design add separate approvals.

A named producer should own the episode from the approved brief through distribution checks. The host owns the conversation or script, and the audio editor owns the master file, but the producer resolves timing and approval conflicts. Put the producer's name beside the release date in the editorial calendar for every episode.

Interview episodes usually need a timed run sheet and researched questions. Narrative episodes often need a full script before recording. The producer should choose the format during the episode brief, then require the host to approve that document at least one business day before the recording session so everyone prepares from the same version.

Schedule a pickup recording for the affected sections whenever the guest is available. The audio editor should first identify exact timecodes and determine whether the backup track can replace them. If repair would leave speech hard to understand, move the release date and record the affected sections again with the guest.

Complete the approved master at least three business days before release for a weekly show. That window gives the producer time to correct metadata, captions, or feed errors without changing the public schedule. Teams that publish seasons often finish several episodes before the premiere so one guest cancellation doesn't interrupt the release cadence.