Podcast training course curriculum
Our course has 16 lessons or modules, modeled on the traditional academic semester. It is very thorough, designed for committed and self-motivated students willing to put in serious effort to develop their creative and podcasting skills. There are 21 different speakers, 44 audio tutorials and reflections, and 99 exercises, assessments, diagrams, and templates. Materials cover the full spectrum of activities and skills from initial idea to podcast launch, as well as complementary practices for long-term creative fulfillment.
Lesson 1: why create?
Topics
> Creative motivation: what gets and keeps us going
> Modes of thinking: paper vs. dictation vs. forms
> Goals, tradeoffs, potential changes
Exercises
> “Building your podcast from scratch” form
> Workview, lifeview, work-life integration
> Further growth: calendars, feedback, podcast description template
Audio tutorials
> Welcome message
> Why create?
> Behind-the-scenes reflection: what the adventure can teach us
Speakers
Lesson 2: great story
Topics
> Writing and story structure techniques, part one
> Different story diagrams
Exercises
> Scriptwriting starter form
> Creative cross-training
> Three difference story structure models
> “Crafting a scene” form
> Further growth: Ira Glass, Kurt Vonnegut, and more
Audio tutorials
> Great story
> BTS reflection on “Letting the light in”
Lesson 3: creative personality
Topics
> Discovering your unique authorial point of view, strengths, and weaknesses
Exercises
> Personal bio form
> Big Five & Enneagram types & creativity
> Big Five & Enneagram tests
> Podcast planning: values statement
Audio tutorials
> Creative personality
> BTS reflection: episode “Special”
Speakers
Lesson 4: great sound
Topics
> Audio editing approaches and techniques
> Microphones / comparison, gear, and recording setup
> Sound dampening at home: before/after photos
Exercises
> Trailer listening
> Short bio
> Gear vs. audio quality chart
> Writing your audio editing philosophy
> Podcast planning: Descript, choosing a DAW
Audio tutorials
> Tutorial: great sound
> Reflection: “Lost & Found”
> EQ & audio editing with Katie Semro
Lesson 5: tell me more
Topics
> Interviewing ethos, techniques, preparation
> Remote vs. in-person recording
Exercises
> “Approaching guests” cheat sheet
> Scheduling an interview
> Writing your interview ethos
> Standard interview questions
> Podcast planning: media release form, guest info form
Audio tutorials
> “Tell me more”
> BTS reflection: “A better age”
> Breaths & fillers
Speakers
Lesson 6: finding your voice(over)
Topics
> Recording, VoiceOver, and narration best practices
> Remote vs. in-person recording
Exercises
> “Approaching guests” cheat sheet
> Scheduling an interview
> Writing your interview ethos
> Standard interview questions
> Podcast planning: media release form, guest info form
Audio tutorials
> “Tell me more”
> BTS reflection: “A better age”
> Breaths & fillers
Speakers
Lesson 7: let’s get personal
Topics
> Personal boundaries and sharing in scriptwriting
> Evaluating your role as character and narrator
Exercises
> Scriptwriting: are you a character?
> Voiceover three ways
> Sketching out stories
> “Tell me where it hurts”
> Get interviewed
Audio tutorials
> “Let’s get personal”
> BTS reflection: “In the tunnel”
Speakers
Laura Joyce Davis
Eve Bishop
Melissa Lent
Winnie Shi
Lesson 8: how not to podfade
Topics
> Planning, creative habits, and sustainability in work
> Podcast planning: budgeting, support promos, hosting, and more
Exercises
> Pilot episode scriptwriting
> Pilot episode outline
> Priorities, obituary, use of time
> Triple Venn diagram
> “Warren Buffett” 25/5
Audio tutorials
> “How not to podfade” parts 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5
Speakers
Laura Joyce Davis
Cori Fry Hengst
Laurel Earheart
Lauren Popish
Nate Davis
Halfway through the course? It’s time for your private coaching call.
Lesson 9: great structure
Topics
> Scriptwriting: modes of thinking
> More advanced writing and story outlining modes
Exercises
> Episode outlining: the post-it note exercise
> Clarifying questions
> Story pitch for your show
> Master study
> “Great structure” form
Audio tutorials
> Great structure
> BTS reflection: great structure
Speakers
Laura Joyce Davis
Melissa Lent
Lesson 10: the messy middle
Topics
> Tools for overcoming different creative blocks
> Podcasting and creative work in real life
Exercises
> Scriptwriting free-write
> Blockage audit
> Mind mapping
> Walk & talk
> Podcast planning: chat about your podcast
Audio tutorials
> “The messy middle”
> BTS reflection: the messy middle
Speakers
Laura Joyce Davis
Hannah Fowler
Lesson 11: befriending the beast
Topics
> Podcast production and project management
> Time blocking / task batching, scheduling strategies
Exercises
> podcast production schedule template
> podcast production process flow chart
> four burners theory
> The Wheel of Life
> PICK diagram
Audio tutorials
> befriending the beast
> BTS reflection: Stuck on the Staircase
Speakers
Laura Joyce Davis
Alana Herlands
Lesson 12: sonic storytelling
Topics
> Deeper principles for podcast editing and sound design
> Step-by-step audio editing
Exercises
> episode building: compression technique / creative constraints
> audio inspiration bank
> play against type
> making a trailer
> scoring experiments
> self-review
Audio tutorials
> sonic storytelling
> reflection: sonic storytelling
Speakers
Clara Smith
Laura Joyce Davis
Nate Davis
Lesson 13: beyond networking
Topics
> Framing collaboration and connection in relationships
> Planning networking and relationship-building efforts
Exercises
> Promo swap prep
> Outreach email templates
> Promo trailer example
> Networking code of conduct
> Promo swap talking points
Audio tutorials
> Beyond networking (Laura)
> Networking (Pod People
> Networking (Arielle)
> BTS reflection: why we need the friends we’ve never met
Speakers
Laura Joyce Davis
Ashton Carter
Jasmine Hammond
Arielle Nisenblatt
Lesson 14: pitch perfect
Topics
> Presenting yourself and your ideas
> Promotions prioritization
Exercises
> Master podcasting checklist
> pitch email
> Pitch deck template
> Email newsletter
> Newsletter welcome message
Audio tutorials
> Pitch perfect (Laura)
> Pitching: Lauren Passell
> Pitching: Naomi Mellor
> Reflection: pitch perfect
Speakers
Laura Joyce Davis
Lauren Passell
Naomi Mellor
Lesson 15: collabs + critiques
Topics
> Skills for maximizing the value of partnerships and creative feedback
> Modes of collaborating & elements for successful collaborations
Exercises
> Key self-assessment questions for collaboration
> Collaboration retrospective
> Collaboration code of conduct
> Critique code of conduct
Audio tutorials
> Tutorial: collabs & critiques
> BTS reflection: collaborating & critiquing
Speakers
Lesson 16: why keep creating?
Topics
> Auditing and planning for creativity and life
> Creative modes diagnostics
Exercises
> Self-management: weekly 1-on-1 meeting agenda with yourself
> Podcast sharing tips
> Hall of champions
> Letter to yourself
> Podcast planning: calendar & strategy
Audio tutorials
>Tutorial: why keep creating?
> BTS reflection: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Speaker