Chapter 3: Planning

Good podcasts begin with intriguing ideas. Podcasts continue because of good planning, understanding the audience, and quality. This chapter looks at the prework of creating an idea and completing the complete first draft script.

Topic Ideation

Topic ideation is the process of generating topics for podcasting content. It involves brainstorming, researching, and exploring various subjects or themes that are relevant for the target audience. The goal of topic ideation is to come up with a compelling idea that resonates with listeners and align with the content objectives set out. In the case of this class, the audience for most students were wildlife professionals and stakeholders; their approach to the script was nonfiction storytelling.

The following techniques are especially useful for small groups; several can also work well for individuals. For students who want to work online, synchronously or asynchronously, we recommend something like a Zoom whiteboard, a Jamboard, or Figma. If you generate many ideas, use a system such as placing dots to upvote your favorites.

1. Mind Mapping: Start with a central concept or problem and create a visual diagram branching out into related ideas. Use keywords, images, and colors to represent different concepts and connections.
2. Random Word Association: Select a random word and associate it with your problem or challenge. Generate ideas based on the word’s characteristics or any connections you can make between them.
3. Rolestorming: Assign participants different roles or perspectives related to the problem. Encourage them to think from that perspective and generate ideas accordingly. This technique helps to break away from habitual thinking patterns.
4. Silent Brainstorming: Provide each participant with sticky notes or index cards and give them time to write down their ideas silently. Then, collect and display the ideas for further discussion and exploration.

Outline of Script

Once the brainstorming has reached a point of saturation, where no major new ideas are emerging, spend some time sorting through the ideas generated. If a writer has used sticky notes or a similar method, pull the notes into the pieces of a podcast outline discussed in Chapter 2 (i.e. the intro, the content, the outro). The following example of ideation for an Athens foodie podcast illustrates the process.

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Rough Drafts

Our thought on podcast script writing is that no matter how bad the initial draft, it’s best to create something to work from, rather than have a blank page. Even doodles and random ideas can lead to inspiration. In a time crunch, students may be tempted to skip the rough draft. This is unfortunate. That rough draft is every bit as important as the final, polished version. Here are some reasons we think rough drafts are vital to a good podcast script:

1. Continue the Brainstorm: Using your initial ideas, organize them into a blueprint for the final script. What is working? How does the script flow? Do the words make sense? Feel free to move around and play with the script in this stage.
2. Idea Exploration: At this stage, the podcaster can test ideas and experiment. There is no pressure of perfection in this rough draft.
3. Mind the Gaps: A rough draft allows writers to identify gaps in content, logical placement of ideas, and inconsistencies.
4. Time Counts: Let’s disrupt the notion that a rough draft takes more time. It actually can separate the tasks of generating ideas and refining them. This allows a writer to focus on the creative aspect
5. Collaboration and Feedback: Sharing a rough draft with others can facilitate collaboration and invite valuable feedback. It allows others to provide constructive criticism and insights.

Research

As part of brainstorming or in the earliest stages of scriptwriting, research is essential. We recommended that students look at their topic in general (i.e. barred owls) along with related, existing podcasts. Strickland et al. (2021) provided an extensive list of wildlife podcasts to examine, and indeed, Deer University was a major leader in developing wildlife podcast expectations.

1. Core Content:  Research existing podcasts or content related to subject matter to understand what has already been covered in order to provide a unique perspective or add value.
2. Audience Analysis: Determine target audience and research their interests, needs, and preferences.
3. Guest Selection: Research potential guests who are knowledgeable and experienced in the podcast’s subject area. Become familiar with their work, expertise, and recent contributions they have made to the field.
4. Fact-checking and Accuracy: Fact-check using credible sources, such as peer-reviewed research papers, reputable news outlets, academic publications, or authoritative websites.
5. Statistics and Data: If appropriate for the subject and audience, collect and summarize data for podcast content
6. Industry Trends and News: Stay updated on current trends, news, and developments related to the podcast’s topic. We suggest following industry publications, blogs, and social media.
7. Podcast Format and Production Techniques: Research different podcast formats and production techniques to find inspiration and ideas for structuring episodes.
8. Copyright and Legal Considerations: Become familiar with copyright laws, fair use guidelines, and legal considerations relevant to podcasting. Be sure to obtain necessary permissions when using copyrighted material. One helpful resource is the Creative Commons website.

Craft a Hook

Creating a hook, something to draw in the readers, is essential. Whatever the medium (movie, podcast, novel), the goal is the same: Capture the audience in 30 seconds. Here are some suggestions for doing this:

1. Open the podcast with an inciting event.
2. Throw the listener right into the story’s action.
3. Write a logline (a one-sentence elevator pitch) for the podcast. If it seems dull, consider how to improve it.
4. Use vivid language. Stimulate the listener’s senses.

Iterative Revision

Our strong suggestion is that the podcasters step back a moment before completing the first draft and look at the materials they’ve built. They may want to share with peers and get feedback, or set up a meeting with the instructor. This process is one of iterative revision. Podcasters don’t want until final draft to revise. Instead, they make repeated revisions and improvements to their work in cycles. Iterative revision recognizes that refinement and enhancement often come through multiple rounds of review, not a single polish before podcast release.

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First Complete Script Draft

The CDC (2011) developed recommendations for engaging podcasts that draw in listeners. In considering the script, they offer the following advice:

• Make the script invisible. If it sounds like a script, listeners will know it’s not spontaneous.
• Use conversational writing with natural pauses and contractions.
• Avoid long, jargony, formal words.
• Keep writing simple and for the ear, not the eye.
• Make words exactly as you’ll speak them. For example, write out “dollars” as opposed to using a symbol ($).
• Shorter sentences, not lengthy ones, sound best.

The first complete draft should be polished, but it doesn’t need to be perfect. Remember, the goal is complete, not final.

Iterative Revision

Get feedback on the first complete draft. Read it, record it, and make changes.

Final Script and Title

At some point, the podcaster has to stop tweaking the script and prepare for production.

Iterative Revision

Use feedback when it arrives from the first podcast, to make refinements and improvements to the next one.

Sample Student Podcast Example

Sometimes Things Are Just Owls by student podcaster Katherine Carlsrud (used with permission) had an intriguing title and set the context for a spooky theme discussing the folklore “mothman.” It’s an informative podcast about barred owls with some excellent storytelling.

Intro:

The intro draws on human primal fears of the unknown to evoke emotion and pull in the listener.

“On November 15, 1966, in Point Pleasant West Virginia, two young couples went out for a nighttime drive, expecting nothing more than a relaxing evening out. However, their night would be anything but. They soon encountered a strange creature in the dark of that forested road… a creature that spurred on years of myth and legend that haunt Point Pleasant… a barred owl.They would later report to the police that a strange gray creature with no arms, no head, a feathered body, and glowing red eyes had chased them down the road until they eventually escaped. It swooped the car repeatedly, even at one point landing on the hood of the car, terrifying its occupants.”

Main Content:

The podcaster uses some irony and humor well in the content. At the same time, she provides information about the barred owls as a species.

“Local newspapers would report this creature as the mysterious mothman, and after a tragic bridge collapse soon after these sightings, the mothman was cemented in West Virginia’s folklore. Despite its fame, myself and many others think it’s most likely that the mothman is just a barred owl. Barred owls, Strix varia, are large birds, with wingspans that can be anywhere from 39 to 49 inches, which is to say, big enough to fill the windshield of a car driven by scared teens. Their bodies are covered in mottled grey feathers, with little distinction between their body and head, as they have no ear tufts. Barred owls also have large brown eyes that reflect red when exposed to light in the dark, similar to the glowing eyes of the mothman. So obviously, there are some similarities between the two. Any other differences, such as the size of the mothman (reported to be about six feet tall at one point), I put down to people exaggerating out of fear. These people were making actual police reports of their sightings, and wouldn’t you make the monster just a liiiiittle bit taller so the cops will take you seriously?

“But why would an owl have chased a car miles down the road you ask? Easy answer: territory, baby. Barred owls are incredibly territorial all year round, and have been known to swoop people that get too close to their nests, and chase threats out of their territory, which can be hundreds of acres in size. To me, this is actually the easiest part of the story to explain away. You get too close to an owl nest, and it WILL come get you.

“Roll your windows up. It’s possible, though unlikely, that they could have even crossed multiple owls. As a fun little fact, the area that the mothman was originally sighted in, the TNT area, is now the McClintic Wildlife Management Area, and they note that there is a thriving population of barred owls in the area.”

Music and Sound:

The podcaster used an interesting mix of low-key music and background to noise to evoke an X-Files “tape you found in that dusty box in the attic” ambience. Though her voice was soft, the mysterious tone was appropriate for the script and story.

Outro:

Another touch of humor along with the continued spooky vibe provides a theory and a question about the mysterious mothmen.

“So to add all that up, mothman’s description and behavior lines up with that of a barred owl, and we know there’s a ton of them in the TNT [Point Pleasant] area today. So is mothman just a barred owl? Or are there a hundred little mothmen, flying around the McClintic Wildlife Management area to this day? It’s probably the owls.”