Hey Friend!

In today’s Quick Tip episode, we got a great question from Michelle Byrd! She asks, “How do I map out a podcast episode quickly?! I’m wasting time planning and drafting episodes.” I loveeeee this question so much and I am revealing for the FIRST TIME EVER… how I personally map out my episodes in 10 min or less.

You are going to save so much time with this simple podcast layout system. Freedom is waiting!

Grab your pen and paper, let’s get to it.

Enjoy.

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION:

(00:00):
Hi friend! Welcome to another episode of Quick Tip Tuesday. It’s so fun to say it like that. Today I’m answering a question from my prior student, Michelle Bird. I’m so excited to dig into this juicy question and I cannot wait to help you guys optimize your show and begin to move faster in that planning process so that you can just pump out content like a boss, girl. Stay tuned.

(00:29):
Hey, Stef! This is Michelle Bird and I miss working with you. You are so amazing. I loved taking P2P with you and just getting to know you a little bit better. I have a quick question. I’m getting stuck with trying to map out episodes and it takes forever to map out what I want to say for an episode. I’m not as well versed and I feel like if I don’t map it out, I kind of, ad lib as I’m going in.

(01:02):
So it does sound like I’m not mapping everything out, but I feel that sometimes if I don’t take the time to really think about what I want to say, it won’t get out into the podcast. So I’m wondering, do you have any hacks or tips for being able to kind of map out what you want to say in an episode versus doing it off the cuff?

(01:27):
It’s taking me about an hour to map it out for each course, maybe an hour and a half for each podcast episode. And I know that’s like way too long. So I’m hoping that you have some helpful tips and tricks. Thanks, Stef, for all you do!

(01:49):
Michelle Bird! I miss working with you. You are the most fun. You were the cutest most amazing little bright ray of sunshine that I need in my zoom screen every single day. So, I miss you. And I’m so excited to answer this question for you.

(02:05):
I sat here and I’m like, okay, I have heard this time and time and time again from my peeps, like Stef I’m spending so much time planning and preparing and drafting and I’m writing the whole thing out. Like this is killing me and I’m like, what is going on? And then I realized I got a system for that.

(02:26):
So what I’m about to walk you through, Michelle, is how to prep your podcast episodes in 10 minutes or less. I hope you’re so here for this, grab a notebook, girl. We’re about to do this. So step one is to write down the end result of the podcast.

(02:46):
So I want you to think about the next show that you’re going to go create. And I want you to think about the end result. What is the outcome of this next podcast episode? What do you want to get your person to do? Also, what do you want to have them accomplish? What do you want to get them to create? Like what’s the outcome?

(03:06):
So let me think of an example. Your podcast, The Busy Vibrant Mom is really for those hot mess mamas who want to create a more optimized, productive home life and be more intentional with their kids. So let’s say that your end result outcome of your next episode is to create a productive atmosphere for homework.

(03:26):
Let’s say that’s your outcome. I want to help these moms create a productive atmosphere for homework. Now, Michelle, what I want you to do is a way to work backwards from this outcome. And I want you to create for me three steps to get this mama this result.

(03:43):
So step one, let’s say that it’s choose your space. I’m writing this down as we go choose your space. And let’s say that your mom chooses the kitchen table. Number two, let’s say that we then want to envision your atmosphere. And I’m just jotting these down in a notebook, like very high level. I’m not putting a bunch of details in here, Michelle.

(04:11):
This is just to keep me on track when I go to prepare or to record the show. So in envision the atmosphere. So let’s say that she envisions a clean space. It’s got an essential oil, essential oil diffuser going with vitality oil, or a nice peppermint blend. And then let’s say that she has a snack plate in her mind, in the middle of the table.

(04:39):
And then she’s got this soft music playing in the background and she’s going to create a focus workspace. Ooh. She wants to call it a focus workspace for one hour. And it’s going to allow everybody to work on their homework and then mama can actually work on her homework, whatever that might be, her Bible study her journaling, et cetera. She’s going to envision her atmosphere.

(05:04):
Number three, she’s going to create her atmosphere based on her vision. So if you are going to go and create this focus workspace atmosphere that you and I just dreamt up while I dreamt it up, giving it to you, make it your own, but what would she need to do? You’re going to take her through tactically and tell her what to do.

(05:27):
So step one is you need to get your supplies. Step two is you need to clean the area. Step three is you need to prep the meal plate. And, step four is that you need to explain the new focus workspace time, communicate, and step five is you need to do it. Easy.

(05:51):
So I just in two minutes outlined your next episode. You’re welcome. I love you. What are we doing? We’re going to help this mama create a productive atmosphere for homework. How do we get her there? Write down three steps, guys. Three simple ways. We get our person to an end result.

(06:06):
Number one, we’re going to choose her space. Number two, we’re going to envision her atmosphere. And, number three, we’re going to create the atmosphere based on the vision. Now you go in and you’re going to create sub-steps under step one, two and three. You were allowed, gosh, two to five sub-steps you’re not always going to have a sub step, like choose your space has no sub step.

(06:27):
She’s choosing the kitchen. Cool. But two, envision your atmosphere, this may have a sub step, you know, like how do I get from point 2 topoint 3 and again, high level. Give yourself freedom to flow. And then number three, we came up with five sub steps for number three, get her supplies, clean her area, prep the snack plate, explain our new focus workspace to the kids and then do it.

(06:53):
So she has five sub steps. Now, at this point you have the meat of your episode. The only other thing we need is what we want our person to do. So the last thing we need, Michelle is a CTA. So what’s the call to action for your person. Are they going to come hire Michelle for coaching? Are they going to come join your Facebook group? Or, are they going to join your email list?

(07:14):
Are they going to check out a course that you have? What do you want them to do? That’s last. And you guys link your call to action with whatever your podcast is about. So Michelle, you know, obviously what I would love to see you have is some type of productive home decluttered home mini course that you sell every time you have an episode around the home, you know, productivity or decluttering in the home.

(07:41):
I don’t know if you have that yet. If you do great, if you don’t just build your email list as your CTA. Now I have right now, a four by six piece of paper with my entire episode on it, that took me three to four minutes to create it, guys. I am not spending more time than that.

(08:00):
The next thing I’m going to do is I’m going to click record and I’m just going to go from this outline. I’m going to trust my heart, trust my gut, trust my imagination, let Holy Spirit lead me through these steps and these sub steps. And these are only here to keep me on track. They’re only here to help me navigate what I’m trying to say and where I’m trying to get them and everything coming out of your mouth is linking to step 1, 2, 3, or that end result.

(08:29):
Guys, don’t create more fluff that needs to be there. If you can get through your podcast episode outline in 10 minutes, that’s better. It’s better to have less. That is more effective than more that is fluffy or emotional or not getting them a result. So that’s what I actually do in my own life. I’m handing that system to all of you. I hope that this blessed you.

(08:53):
Recapping, how do I create a podcast outline for my episodes in 10 minutes or less? Number one, you’re going to begin with the end result. What’s the outcome of today’s episode? Then you’re going to create the three steps to get your person. And I say three, however many steps it is, between three and six steps to get your person to the end result, very high level.

(09:15):
Then you’re going to go in and add sub steps. What does it take to get from step one to step two? This is just a few things, a few little notes that you want to touch on. Probably one, two or three sub-steps and last but not least, what is the call to action? How are you wrapping it up? How are you bringing it full circle? And you are done, Michelle. Good luck, sister.

(09:35):
Let me know if this blesses you and you guys if you want to be featured on a Quick Tip Tuesday podcast episode, just like this head to stefaniegass.com scroll all the way to the bottom of the homepage. Click that Ask Stef button and ask away.

(09:49):
I am an open book. I can’t wait to answer your questions around faith, business, entrepreneurship, balancing babies and business or anything in between. I’m here to serve you. I can’t wait to help you get Clarity on Your Calling and build a profitable online business. I’ll see you here back on Thursday. God bless friend. Bye!