Castos
Free Podcast Tool

Podcast Episode Planner

Plan your next episode, then get the guest email, a run sheet for recording day, and a start on your show notes. Free, and your plan stays in your browser.

What the episode is about, in a sentence a new listener would understand.

What listeners should know, think, or do by the end of the episode.

Notes, sources, and links to have open while you record.

Full name and title, what they work on now, and why you invited them.

What to check with the guest before recording: their mic and room, the format, and the questions they should expect.

More than you need, in the order you plan to ask them.

Subjects or stories that should come up, even without a set question.

What to remember afterward: moments to use in promotion, ideas for future episodes, people to contact.

Instructions for whoever edits the episode: music, sound effects, cuts, and timestamps.

The segments in order, with rough timings.

Use your plan

Each of these is made from what you've filled in above, and updates as you type.

The whole plan, to share with a co-host or editor. The Word file opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages, and LibreOffice.

Your plan is saved in this browser as you type. Nothing is uploaded.

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How To Plan A Podcast Episode

  1. Step 1

    Fill In What You Know

    Start with the topic and the goal. Fill in the rest as you research. Uncheck the guest box for a solo episode. Your plan saves as you type.

  2. Step 2

    Shape The Episode

    Add your questions and talking points, then put the segments in order in the outline, with rough timings.

  3. Step 3

    Use What It Makes

    Send your guest the email, take the run sheet into recording day, and start your show notes from the draft. Download the full plan as a Word file or PDF for a co-host or editor.

One Place For Everything About The Episode

Research in one tab, questions in a notes app, and editing instructions in an email make for a stressful recording day. A plan keeps the topic, the guest details, the questions, and the outline together, so you and anyone helping you work from the same page.

Write It Once, Use It Everywhere

The details you put in the plan are the same ones you'd otherwise type again in a guest email, a recording-day outline, and your show notes. The planner builds those for you from what you've already written, and every gap shows up in brackets so you can see what's still missing.

Episode Planned? Publish Your Podcast In 3 Steps

  1. Upload a new episode in Castos

    Upload The Episode

    Create a show in Castos and upload your recording with your episode title, description, and artwork.

  2. Fill in podcast details in Castos

    Get Your Feed And Website

    Castos creates the RSS feed podcast apps need and a customizable site where listeners can find every episode.

  3. Link your feed to each podcast directory

    Publish Everywhere

    Submit your feed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other directories once. Future episodes are distributed automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a podcast episode plan include?
At minimum: the topic in one sentence, the goal for the listener, your research, the talking points, and an outline with rough timings. Interview episodes add notes about the guest, a pre-production call checklist, and your questions. Production notes tell your editor what you want in the final cut.
Is this episode planner free?
Yes. It's free, needs no account, and you can plan as many episodes as you like.
Is my plan uploaded or saved anywhere?
No. Your plan is saved only in your own browser so it's still there when you come back. Castos never receives it. Clearing your browser data, or clicking Start A New Plan, removes it.
Can I open the plan in Google Docs, Pages, or Notion?
Yes. The Word file opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, and LibreOffice. For Notion or any other app, click Copy As Text and paste the plan in. Print Or Save As PDF gives you a clean copy on paper or as a PDF.
Do I need a guest to use it?
No. Uncheck This episode has a guest and the guest, pre-production call, and questions sections disappear, from the form and from the download.
What does the guest email include?
The recording date, time, link, and length, what the episode is about, the points you'd like to cover, and a short list of things that make remote audio sound better. You can add your questions too, so nothing catches your guest off guard. Copy it into your email app and change anything you like.
How does the run sheet work out the episode length?
It reads the timings you put in your outline, like Intro (2 min) or Interview (30 to 35 min), and adds them up. Open In Teleprompter puts the run sheet in our free Teleprompter so you can read it on screen while you record.
Is there a blank version I can print or share with my team?
Yes. Our podcast planning template guide has a blank Word file and a printable PDF with the same sections.

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