# Podcast Production > Complete workflow for producing podcast episodes from raw transcript to publishable YouTube and social media assets. Four-checkpoint system for strategic decision-making plus final polished assets. - **Type:** Skill - **Install:** `agentstack add skill-cdeistopened-content-os-podcast-production` - **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior - **Seller:** [cdeistopened](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/cdeistopened) - **Installs:** 0 - **Category:** [Content & Media](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/content-and-media) - **Latest version:** 0.1.0 - **License:** MIT - **Upstream author:** [cdeistopened](https://github.com/cdeistopened) - **Source:** https://github.com/cdeistopened/content-os/tree/main/skills/video/podcast-production ## Install ```sh agentstack add skill-cdeistopened-content-os-podcast-production ``` Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent. ## About # 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 --- ## 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 --- ### 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 --- ### 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? --- ## 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) --- ## 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 --- ## 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 --- ## 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 --- ## 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](https://github.com/cdeistopened) - **Source:** [cdeistopened/content-os](https://github.com/cdeistopened/content-os) - **License:** MIT Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above. ## Pricing - **Free** — Free ## Security capabilities Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access: - **Network access:** no - **Filesystem access:** no - **Shell / process execution:** no - **Environment & secrets:** no - **Dynamic code execution:** no *"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.* ## Versions - **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source. ## Links - Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-cdeistopened-content-os-podcast-production - Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/cdeistopened - Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse --- Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.