Podcast Production

Podcast Production Skill

Overview

Transform a raw podcast transcript into polished, multi-platform content assets through four strategic checkpoints. Each checkpoint delivers decision-ready analysis in a markdown file for your feedback before proceeding. You'll provide feedback directly in the checkpoint documents, then we'll iterate before moving to the next phase. Final outputs include publication-ready YouTube strategy and a narrative-driven blog post.

Workflow Structure:

• Start with [Guest]_Source_Material.md (raw transcript + notes)
• Create Checkpoint_1_Comprehensive_Analysis.md (your feedback here)
• Create Checkpoint_2_Cold_Opens_and_Clips.md (your feedback here)
• Create Checkpoint_3_YouTube_Strategy.md (your feedback here)
• Create Checkpoint_4_Polished_Transcript_and_Blog.md (final deliverable)

When to Use This Skill

• You have a raw podcast transcript and need to identify the strongest marketing angle
• You want to create a cold open that hooks listeners immediately
• You need YouTube titles and thumbnail strategies
• You're creating social clips from podcast material
• You want to create SEO-optimized blog content from the episode
• You want all assets aligned with your brand identity

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THE FOUR CHECKPOINTS

Checkpoint 1: Comprehensive Analysis (90-120 min)

Goal: Understand the episode and identify the strongest themes for marketing.

Your deliverable: Checkpoint_1_Comprehensive_Analysis.md

What it contains:

• 5 Big Ideas (potential marketing angles)
• The TED Talk Version (core insight)
• AI Summary Beats (key narrative moments)
• Chapter Outline (timestamped)
• Surprising Points (contradictions with common belief)
• Quote Bank (organized verbatim quotes)
• Social Clip Highlights (5-6 potential clips)
• TAM Assessment: For each Big Idea, rate its Total Addressable Market (1-10). Which angles appeal only to the existing niche audience? Which could reach anyone with kids? Which would make a non-parent stop scrolling? Prioritize broad-appeal angles over niche-specific ones. A Big Idea that only homeschool parents care about scores 3; a Big Idea that every parent with a child under 12 cares about scores 8.

User decision point: Which Big Idea is strongest? (Consider both quality AND reach.)

Reference: See references/checkpoint-1-template.md for detailed template

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Checkpoint 2: Cold Opens & Clips (120-150 min)

Prerequisites: Checkpoint 1 complete + Big Idea selected

Goal: Create one approved cold open script and identify 3 approved social clips with on-screen hooks.

Your deliverable: Checkpoint_2_Cold_Opens_and_Clips.md

What it contains:

• One selected cold open script (22-35 seconds, verbatim clips arranged for narrative momentum)
• On-screen text hooks (2-4 words each for social media captions)
• 3 approved social clips (1:00-1:30 each, full verbatim transcripts)
• Each clip includes: duration, on-screen hook, full transcript, platform recommendations, use case
• Design specifications (font, placement, timing)

Output format:

• Cold open: Simple clip sequence with speaker labels and timestamps
• Clips: Verbatim, with complementary on-screen hooks (not redundant)
• Hooks: 2-4 words maximum for mobile readability
• All clips ready to copy/paste directly into production

Skills used:

• video-caption-creation: For on-screen text hooks and short-form video captions (generates 3-5 hook options per clip)
• cold-open-creator: For cold open methodology (optional reference)

User decision point: Approve cold open and social clips for Checkpoint 3

Reference: See references/checkpoint-2-template.md for detailed template

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Checkpoint 3: YouTube Strategy (90-120 min)

Prerequisites: Checkpoint 2 complete + Cold open selected

Goal: Define YouTube title, thumbnail, description, and chapter timestamps.

Your deliverable: Checkpoint_3_YouTube_Strategy.md

What it contains:

• Final YouTube title (see channel-size rules below)
• Thumbnail specification (2-4 words max, minimal design — NOT a podcast screenshot)
• YouTube description (opening hook sentence + full description + resources + chapters)
• Cold open script (verbatim clips)
• All 3 approved social clips with on-screen hooks
• Chapter breakdown (5-10 words per chapter title, keyword-rich)

Title strategy by channel size:

• ** Checkpoint 2:

Is the analysis complete?

• All 5 Big Ideas clearly differentiate from each other?
• One Big Idea is "the obvious choice" for marketing?
• Have you mined the entire transcript (not just first/last sections)?
• Quote bank is organized by theme?
• Chapter outline matches actual content?

Before Checkpoint 2 -> Checkpoint 3:

Does the cold open work?

• Passes 4 out of 5 quality tests? (Stranger, Itch, Stakes, Tease, Emotion)
• Ends with unresolved cliffhanger (doesn't answer the question)?
• All clips are verbatim (no paraphrasing)?
• Duration is 22-35 seconds?
• Social clips have distinct angles (not all making same point)?
• On-screen hooks are 2-4 words max?

Before Checkpoint 3 -> Checkpoint 4:

Is the strategy aligned?

• YouTube title provokes curiosity (not just describes content)?
• Title uses guest credentials appropriately for channel size (see channel-size rules)?
• Thumbnail is simple (2-4 words only)?
• Thumbnail shows concept/emotion (NOT a podcast recording screenshot)?
• Thumbnail visual is complementary (not redundant with title)?
• Thumbnail text lands instantly without episode context?
• Description hook is compelling (1 sentence)?
• Chapter titles are 5-10 words (keyword-rich, compelling)?
• All resources/links are correct?
• Aligned with your brand?

Before Checkpoint 4 -> Publication:

Are final assets publication-ready?

• Transcript is clean and readable?
• Blog post is ~1,000 words with clear narrative arc?
• All quotes are verbatim with proper attribution?
• Guest bio includes credentials and links?
• SEO headers present and optimized?
• Tone is conversational (sounds like you, not formal)?
• Ready for blog publishing?
• Social clips ready to post with on-screen hooks?

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COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID

• Using only one section of transcript (mine the entire episode)
• Paraphrasing quotes (all quotes must be verbatim)
• Creating complex thumbnails (keep to 3 elements max)
• Choosing the "safe" angle instead of the surprising one
• Making cold open too long (25-35 seconds max)
• Resolving the cliffhanger (always cut before the answer)
• Skipping quality gates (get approval before each phase)
• Making blog post too long or too short (target ~1,000 words)
• Burying guest credentials (introduce early and naturally)
• Writing blog post in formal tone (write like you're talking to your audience)

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FILE STRUCTURE & DELIVERABLES

Source Material Phase

[Guest]_Source_Material.md

• Raw transcript (rough or cleaned)
• Guest background/context
• Episode links and resources
• Notes on tone, highlights, structure

Checkpoint 1 Output

Checkpoint_1_Comprehensive_Analysis.md

• 5 Big Ideas (potential marketing angles)
• TED Talk Version (core insight)
• Chapter outline with timestamps
• Quote bank (organized by theme)
• Surprising points
• Social clip highlights

You provide feedback: Which Big Idea is strongest?

Checkpoint 2 Output

Checkpoint_2_Cold_Opens_and_Clips.md

• One approved cold open script (22-35 seconds)
• On-screen text hooks (2-4 words each)
• 3 approved social clips (1:00-1:30 each)
• Design specifications
• Platform recommendations

You provide feedback: Approve cold open and clips, suggest on-screen hook edits

Checkpoint 3 Output

Checkpoint_3_YouTube_Strategy.md

• YouTube title (with guest name)
• Thumbnail specification (visual + 2-4 words)
• YouTube description (hook + full description + resources)
• Chapter breakdown (5-10 words per chapter, keyword-rich)
• Cold open script (final)
• All 3 social clips (with final on-screen hooks)

You provide feedback: Approve title/thumbnail/chapters

Checkpoint 4 Output (Final Deliverables)

Checkpoint_4_Polished_Transcript_and_Blog.md

• Full polished transcript (cleaned for readability)
• ~1,000 word blog post (in your voice)
• Guest bio with credentials and links
• SEO headers and structure

You provide feedback: Review for publication

Ready for Distribution

• YouTube: Upload video with Checkpoint 3 specs (title, thumbnail, description, chapters)
• Blog: Publish Checkpoint 4 content
• Social: Share Checkpoint 2 clips with on-screen hooks
• Newsletter: Promote with Checkpoint 4 blog excerpt

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REFERENCES

For detailed instructions and templates, see:

• references/checkpoint-1-template.md - Checkpoint 1 template
• references/checkpoint-2-template.md - Checkpoint 2 template
• references/checkpoint-3-template.md - Checkpoint 3 template
• references/checkpoint-4-template.md - Checkpoint 4 template

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RELATED SKILLS

• [cold-open-creator](../cold-open-creator/SKILL.md): Scene selection, clip arrangement, quality testing
• [video-caption-creation](../video-caption-creation/SKILL.md): Caption/overlay suggestions for clips
• [youtube-title-creator](../youtube-title-creator/SKILL.md): YouTube title and thumbnail strategy
• [podcast-blog-post-creator](../podcast-blog-post-creator/SKILL.md): SEO-optimized blog post
• [transcript-polisher](../transcript-polisher/SKILL.md): Polish raw transcript for readability
• [brand-identity-wizard](../brand-identity-wizard/SKILL.md): Brand alignment verification

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SUCCESS METRICS

For YouTube Performance:

• CTR: Title + thumbnail is compelling (>6% is good for most niches)
• Retention: Cold open hooks in first 5 seconds
• Conversion: Viewers finish episode

For Blog Performance:

• SEO: Post ranks for target keywords
• Engagement: Readers make it to guest bio/links
• Sharing: Post is shareable (format, length, voice)

For Social Performance:

• Shareability: Clips standalone compelling
• Captions: Text makes sense without audio
• Platform fit: Clips work on target platforms

For Overall Strategy:

• Alignment: All assets reinforce same theme
• Brand consistency: Recognizable across formats
• Topic clarity: Viewers immediately understand episode topic
• Asset completeness: All deliverables ready for team handoff

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: cdeistopened
• Source: cdeistopened/content-os
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.