Day 15: Creating Topic Outlines

Today we discuss how to create topic outlines and goals for each episode so you know exactly what to talk about and why you should be talking about it. The lesson includes creating an episode flow, how to write a topic outline, what questions to ask yourself to decide your episode goals, and some tips on initial content ideas.

Steps for Skill Mastery:

1. Create your overall show flow
2. Set your episode goal
3. Create an episode outline

Step 1: Create The Overall Flow

Today we are going to focus on creating episode outlines and goals so that we know exactly what value we want to provide with each episode and what we should talk about.

First we will decide the overall flow of our podcast episode.

For interview based podcasts, the flow will consist of the questions you ask your guest and the different phases or segments you have of each episode.

For topic based podcasts, the flow will be the various parts or segments that you include in your episodes. For example:

• A hook or teaser audio snippet
• An intro
• A topic lesson
• A reflection of that lesson
• A call to action
• An outro

No matter how you build the flow of your episode, putting one together will help you create a consistent system around your content creation. Below are some sample flows you could use and room to create your own.

Interview – Based Show Sample

• Welcome listeners and introduce your guest
• Ask Guest to share why the topic is important (why the listeners should care)
• Dive into the main purpose of the episode (have your guest dissect the topic)
• Wrap everything up (give listeners a summary / share key takeaways)
• Give a call to action
• Let listeners know what’s coming up next on the podcast

Topic – Based Show Sample

• Welcome listeners, intro the topic that will be discussed, and say why it’s important
• Break down the steps or parts that make up that topic (how to)
• Summarize key points and repeat why it’s important
• Give a call to action
• Let listeners know what’s coming up next on the podcast

Q&A – Based Show Sample

• Welcome listeners and give a brief overview of what to expect from today’s episode
• State the question you’ll be answering
• Provide a succinct answer to the question; include actionable steps
• Thank the individual for the question and summarize next steps
• Move to the next Q (repeat however many times you’ll be answering a question)
• Wrap up the show, thank everyone for their questions
• Give a call to action
• Let your listeners know what they can expect next on the podcast

Now let’s start crafting your podcast episode flow.

Activity: Create Your Flow

Depending on the type of show you will be creating, start crafting the flow you would like for your overall show.

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Now let’s start diving into creating goals and outlines to fit in this flow

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Step 2: Set Your Episode Goal

Before you create each episode, you need to decide what the goal of that episode is. This will ensure that:

• You’re not just creating content for the sake of creating content
• You actually have a plan to maximize the content

Each piece of content might have different goals but it is important that you have those clearly defined before you start creating.

Activity: Set a Goal

Before outlining and creating any podcast episode, set a goal for the episode. Here are some questions you can consider when setting a goal:

1. Why do you believe this episode will be valuable for your listeners?
2. What is the lesson or message you are delivering in this episode?
3. What is the goal of this episode?
4. How will you accomplish this goal? What will be your call to action for your listeners?
5. Once your listener takes this action, what is the next step for them?

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Now you're ready to start creating an outline for your first podcast episodes.

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Step 3: Create an Episode Outline

A podcast episode outline, or script, is meant to structure the ideas of any given podcast episode and ensure that a clear, concise narrative is conveyed to the audience. It brings together all the ideas you have floating around in your head and puts them in a easy to digest format for your listener.

Now everyone has their own way they like to deliver content and outline their episodes. This is great because it allows you set your podcast apart from all the other podcasts out there.

If you are struggling to come up with a structure for your podcast episode, I recommend reading the transcripts of some of your favorite podcasts to give you some inspiration on how they structure their outline.

Below is a sample outline of a typical topic based podcast. We will cover interviews later this week. By no means must you follow this structure and I encourage you to create your own.

Sample Outline 1

Title of Episode/ Topic

Intro: Who you are and what you’re going to discuss (30-60 seconds).

Music Jingle: Plays at the start of each episode so listeners can easily identify your podcast (30 seconds).

Topic 1: Setting up your theme and topics (5 minutes).

Topic 2: Discussing your topics in detail (10 minutes).

Interlude: Music break or sponsor ad (30 seconds).

Topic 3: Continuing discussing your topics (10 minutes).

Outro: Summary of theme and topics with conclusion (5 minutes).

Closing Remarks & CTA: Thank the listener and talk about your next show (2 minutes).

Music Jingle: Plays at the end of each episode so listeners can easily identify your podcast (30 seconds)

Sample Outline 2

Title of Episode/ Topic

Hook: What is the hook of this podcast episode?

• Answer the question: What is the main desire or false belief people have about this topic?
• This becomes the first two sentences to say at beginning of episode to draw people in to listen to more

What story or experiences do I have with this topic or problem?

What is WRONG way of thinking or old false beliefs patterns about this topic or problem?

• What stories and examples do I have of this way of thinking?

What is RIGHT way of thinking or old false beliefs patterns about this topic or problem?

• What stories and examples do I have of this way of thinking?

Present possible solutions, what are biggest obstacles they will have, how can you solve them?

What will winning feel like for them when they do this process?

• Show them a vision
• Give them hope it is possible

Closing Remarks & CTA: What is my call to action for this episode?

Activity: Create a Topic Based Episode Outline

Choose an outline above or find your own and draft out an outline for your first podcast episode.

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Now let's look at outlines you can create to tell stories.

One of the most powerful things you can do is share your story. This connects you and your audience on a more personal level. It is what sets you apart from every other show out there because you are the only one with your unique story. It also allows your audience to more easily understand complex topics and how they fit into real life experiences. Most of all it connects your listener emotionally rather than just logically

The first method we will use to help create outlines for our stories is using Russell Brunson’s Epiphany Bridge Script seen below:

The epiphany bridge script helps bridge your listener from their current situation to their desired situation by taking them through the journey you went through to achieve the same goal. By sharing your story, the listener understands how to do it, what they will face, and begin to have the belief that they can cross the same bridge.

The script has 8 sections that pull your through the journey with a question that goes through each to start creating the story.

The Backstory: What is your backstory that gives context of the current situation and gets the listener vested in your journey?

Your Desires: What is the desired situation, outcome, or thing you want to accomplish?

• External Desire: What are the external things you are struggling with?
• Internal Desire: What are the internal things you are struggling with?

The Wall: What was the wall or problem you hit within your current situation that started you on this new journey?

The Epiphany: What was the plan you created to achieve your desire?

The Conflict: What conflict did you experience along the way?

The Achievement: What was the end result of your journey?

• Did you achieve your goal & get your external desire?

The Transformation: What was the transformation you experienced on your journey?

• What changes did you have internally?
• Who did you become as a person after going on this journey?

Activity: Create an Epiphany Bridge Outline

Chose a story that you tell using the script above that would be appropriate for your podcast topic. Write notes for each of the eight sections:

1. Backstory
2. External Desires
3. Internal Desires
4. The Wall
5. The Epiphany
6. The Conflict
7. The Achievement
8. The Transformation

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You probably already have some ideas about what you want to talk on about on your podcast. But if you are struggling to come up with your first ideas, try curating some stories you could tell. A good practice is to keep a running list of stories & experiences from your life that you could use to help explain complex topics, share ideas, or how answer people’s questions.

One way to start compiling that list is using Marie Forleo’s SERVE Content Method, which has over 100+ content ideas for you to start telling your story with.

SERVE stands for:

• Solve a problem
• Explain your industry or niche
• Reveal your secrets
• Visualize
• Embrace your quirks

Solve A Problem

Identify what struggles, fears, or problems your audience is having and answer their questions using your knowledge, experiences, and expertise to solve that problem.

Explain Your Industry or Niche

Your niche is often confusing to those outside of it, so use stories and experiences to show the behind the scenes of your business and help people better understand your niche. This will make you an expert you is authentic and can be trusted because you are showing what goes on behind the curtain.

Reveal Your Secrets

Increase engagement and emotional connection between you and your listeners by sharing the raw moments, events, and thoughts you have behind what you do. This will create greater connection and make people want to do business with you.

Visualize

Help your audience visualize what it is like for them to move from their current situation to their desired situation. Tell them what it feels like to reach their future, their desires, their goals. Elevate their ambition and who they are. Also help them to visualize what it is like to be a part of your community or using your product or service

Embrace Your Quirks

Share some of the things that make you unique. This is what sets you apart from every other podcaster out there and why your listener will keep coming back to you.

Activity: Create Some Initial Content Ideas

Using the SERVE method, create some initial content ideas. Use the following questions to help guide you:

• Problems my audience has are
• Stories I could use to showcase solutions to those problems
• What things does your audience not understand about your niche
• Stories I could use to explain my niche are
• Some secrets my audience could relate or learn from are
• Stories I could use to showcase those secrets are
• Desires or Goals my audience has are
• Stories I could use to help them visualize reaching those are
• Some quirks, memories, or things that make me unique are
• Stories I could use to showcase my uniqueness are

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Now that you have an outline for your first episode, you are ready to start creating it!

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Skill Lesson Mastered

Demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills presented in this lesson by applying it to the above activity. If, and only if, you have a full understanding and have mastered the knowledge and skills presented in this lesson, select the next lesson in the navigation.