Let's discuss the idea of segmented podcasts. This is similar to a radio clock—segmenting your content into digestible, palatable chunks. It allows you to make future marketing decisions, as well as help you expand your reach. Think of it as micro- or segmented branding, where each segment is branded as a show or a shareable piece of media. Plan your work and work your plan. If you have new ideas, keep them in a separate file and revisit the plan once a month or so. This will allow your brain to hunker down and get some serious work done in between. A plan is nothing more than a plan unless you are building a foundation along the way.
Are there different kinds of podcast structures?
Picking a podcast format can be daunting. Luckily, there are several types of podcast structures that you can use for your content. We’ll cover the most common structures in this article so that you can pick the best one for your needs.
There are different ways to structure your podcast, and they can overlap depending on your content.
There are different ways to structure your podcast, and they can overlap depending on your content. For example, you may want to use a narrative structure with an interview episode. Or perhaps you’re more interested in using a conversational structure with a monologue episode. You could also use an interview format for one episode, then switch over to a monologue-style approach for another.
You needn’t be limited by one style or structure as long as it suits the type of show that you want to create. As long as each episode has some sort of theme or topic—or at least something interesting going on—you can experiment with different types of shows until you find one that works well with your audience and helps grow your audience
We’ll cover the most common structures in this article.
There are many podcasting structures that can be used to organize your content. As a podcaster, you will want to choose the structure that is most appropriate for your show and its content. This article will cover the three most common podcasting structures: linear, episodic, and arc structure.
Linear Structure
In this structure, each episode of your podcast builds on top of previous episodes in terms of narrative or topic progression. For example: if you have guests on every episode and it's clear that they're building towards something (like an event or milestone), then using a linear structure may be best for you. When using this type of format make sure that new listeners can easily understand where they should start listening; otherwise they might get confused about where they should begin listening from (this could also lead to higher drop-off rates).
Episodic Structure
In this format each episode stands alone as its own story with no continuity between them like in a sitcom or episodic TV show but still has some overarching themes throughout each season like “Parks & Recreation” does with Leslie Knope trying to make government better or “The Office” does with Michael Scott trying his best despite being an awful boss/manager
Host-read narrative
In this style, the host will read the script and tell a story in a monologue. The host may be the only person on your podcast or they may be reading an actual script (either pre-written or improvised).
Interview with a guest
The host is the main focus of the podcast. The guest, who is usually an expert in their field, comes on to talk about a specific topic. The host asks questions and the guest answers them. This format can be used for many types of podcasts, but it’s most often used for ones that have a human guest like “The Tim Ferriss Show” or “Dirty John” (which is actually a true-crime podcast).
If you want to create an interview-style podcast but don't know how to find guests or where to start interviewing them, here are some tips:
Reach out to experts in your field and ask if they'd be interested in being interviewed on your show
Use social media as a way of finding potential interviewees by following people who may be interested in being interviewed on your show or who are already talking about topics related to yours
Network with other podcasters and see if there are any mutual connections between you two
Panel discussion
Panel discussions are a type of podcast in which a group of people get together to discuss one or more topics. A panel discussion can be recorded in front of an audience, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. It usually has a host or a panel moderator who guides the conversation and makes sure everyone gets to speak their mind without feeling cut off or left out of the discussion.
The number of topics discussed during a single episode varies; some may focus on just one topic while others may cover multiple topics at once.
Monologue
The only way you can do this is to be a seasoned public speaker and be comfortable talking about your topic for an extended period of time. If that's not you, then don't try to pull it off. It's much better to have your podcast feel like a conversation than an interrogation.
Reporter-style
A reporter-style podcast is a narrative structure that's most often used in news and investigative journalism. It's great for presenting information that is complex but not necessarily interesting on its own, such as an extended interview with an expert or a roundup of several different interviews with people who have all experienced the same thing. Because it's usually based around one person talking, this format can be very easy to listen to and follow. However, if you're looking for more active engagement from your listeners (such as by having them write down or type things as they go), this isn't necessarily the best option for you.
In order to make sure that your podcast doesn't feel too dry or boring for listeners, consider adding some background music or sound effects to help keep their interest!
Documentary style
Documentary-style podcasts are often used in podcasts that are long-form and feature extensive interviews. These podcasts can range from current affairs, politics, or other newsworthy topics to history and culture.
Because this structure is so flexible, it's a good choice for those who want flexibility in their podcast's structure but don't know exactly what shape that will take yet.
There are different types of podcast formats that you can use for your podcast and choose which type suits your content the best.
There are different types of podcast formats that you can use for your podcast and choose which type suits your content the best.
The following is a list of some of the most common types of podcasts:
Interviews
Q&A sessions
Interviews with experts from specific fields (e.g., doctors, lawyers, etc.)
There are many different types of podcast structures. The most common ones include host-read narratives, interviews with guests, panels discussions and monologues. You can also record interviews with experts or other people in your field and turn those into a documentary-style podcast.