How to Plan Solo Podcast Episodes: My Step-by-Step Workflow
Have you ever listened to a solo podcast episode and thought, "I wonder how they stay on track with their thoughts?
I promise it didn't happen by accident.
Every solo podcast episode starts with a system. While creativity is important, consistency is what helps you grow a podcast over the long term. Having a workflow makes the process less overwhelming and allows you to focus on creating valuable content instead of wondering what to talk about next.
If you’re new around here, I host two podcasts: one is interview style, and the other is solo episodes. So very quickly, I’ve had to develop a workflow that keeps me organized without making podcasting feel complicated.
Today, I'm taking you behind the scenes of exactly how I plan my solo podcast episodes from idea to publish.
Why You Need a Podcast Planning System
One of the biggest mistakes new podcasters make is recording episodes whenever inspiration strikes and winging it.
While inspiration is great, it's not a strategy.
If you want to stay consistent, avoid burnout as a podcaster, and see results from your podcast, you need a repeatable process.
The good news? Your workflow doesn't have to be complicated.
It just has to work for you (and your brain).
Step 1: Capture Podcast Ideas as They Come
Ideas rarely show up when you're sitting at your computer.
Mine usually come while I'm listening to another podcast, scrolling on Threads, working with a client, or simply living life.
Instead of hoping I'll remember them later, I immediately save every idea in the Notes app on my phone.
Nothing fancy.
Just one folder filled with future episode ideas.
This has become my personal content bank that I pull from every month.
Pro Tip: Never trust yourself to remember a great idea. Write it down immediately.
Step 2: Plan Content One Month at a Time
Once a month, I sit down and plan my content for the following month. I have a monthly reminder on my phone.
This includes:
Solo podcast episodes
Interview podcast episodes
Blog posts
Newsletter content
Medium articles
Instead of deciding what to publish each week, I plan all at once.
This helps me stay ahead instead of constantly feeling behind or scrambling at the last minute.
Step 3: Organize Everything Inside Trello
After choosing my topics, I move them from my Notes app into Trello.
Each podcast episode gets its own card with a checklist that walks me through my entire production process.
My checklist includes tasks like:
Research or outline the episode
Record the episode
Edit the audio
Upload to my podcast host
Write the show notes
Create the blog post
Publish the episode
Schedule newsletter
Having this checklist means I never wonder what comes next.
I simply work through the process one step at a time.
Simple.
Repeatable.
Consistent.
Step 4: Create an Outline Before Recording
One thing I never do is hit "Record" without an outline.
If I've already written a blog post on the topic, I simply use that as my podcast outline.
If it's a brand-new topic, I use ChatGPT to help organize my thoughts into a logical flow. I tell Chat the main theme, my experience with it, and ask it to help me outline an episode around it.
The outline keeps me focused and prevents me from going off on random tangents that don't serve the listener.
Remember, your audience came for the topic in your title.
Your outline helps you deliver exactly that.
Step 5: End Every Episode with a Clear Call to Action
A podcast should do more than educate.
It should guide listeners toward the next step.
Every episode I publish ends with a call to action.
That might be inviting listeners to:
Join my email list
Download a podcast resource
Sign up for a webinar
Book a coaching call
Check out one of my offers
Don't assume listeners know what to do next.
Tell them.
Step 6: Record, Edit, and Publish
Once my outline is finished, recording becomes the easy part.
I record with Riverside because I can keep my notes open while recording, which helps me stay on track throughout the episode.
After recording, I:
Edit the audio
Generate a transcript (WhisperTranscribe)
Write my show notes
Upload everything to my podcast host
Schedule the episode
Once it's published, I remove the topic from Trello and delete it from my Notes app so I don't accidentally create duplicate content.
Then the process starts all over again.
Your Workflow Doesn't Have to Look Like Mine
One thing I've learned from talking with other podcasters is that everyone's brain works differently.
Some creators love Trello.
Others prefer Notion, ClickUp, Asana, or even Google Docs.
There isn't one perfect system.
The best workflow is the one you'll actually use consistently.
Don't spend months searching for the perfect productivity app.
Build a process that supports your creativity and helps you publish consistently.
Consistency Beats Perfection
People often ask how I've managed to keep podcasting for years and multiple podcasts at that.
The answer isn't motivation.
It's systems.
When you remove the guesswork from planning your episodes, podcasting becomes much more sustainable.
Instead of wondering what to talk about next, you'll already know.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you'll have a clear roadmap.
And that's what allows you to keep showing up week after week.
Final Thoughts
If you're serious about growing your podcast, don't just focus on buying the perfect microphone or creating the perfect logo.
Create a repeatable planning process.
Your future self—and your listeners—will thank you for it.
The goal isn't to have the fanciest workflow.
The goal is to have one that helps you stay consistent long enough to see your podcast grow.
Ready to Launch Your Podcast?
If you've been thinking about starting a podcast but aren't sure where to begin, I'd love to help.
I regularly teach aspiring podcasters how to launch with confidence, simplify the tech, and build a podcast that supports their business.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your current workflow, remember this:
A successful podcast isn't built by chance—it's built through consistent systems.
Con Amor, Coach Heidy
