Podcast run-of-show template
A run-of-show removes the dead air and forgotten questions that make episodes hard to edit. Follow this structure so every recording feels like the same, professional show.
0/2 filled - the rest of the [prompts] you finish in your copy.
RUN-OF-SHOW - [Show name], Episode [#] Guest: [Guest name] Recording date: [Date] 00:00 COLD OPEN - Quick, punchy clip-worthy line to hook listeners (record after, or grab live) 00:30 INTRO - Welcome to [Show name], the show for [audience] - Today's guest: [Guest name], [title / company] - One-line tease of what they'll learn 02:00 WARM-UP - Easy opening question to settle the guest 05:00 CORE SEGMENT 1 - [Pillar / theme] - [Question 1] - [Question 2] 15:00 CORE SEGMENT 2 - [Pillar / theme] - [Question 3] - [Question 4] 25:00 QUICK-FIRE / SIGNATURE SEGMENT - [Your recurring segment] 30:00 CLOSE - Where listeners can find the guest - Consistent call to action: [subscribe / your CTA] - Thank the guest NOTES - Keep questions open-ended; follow the interesting tangents - Restate the question if the guest wanders, for cleaner edits
pick a version, copy it, or download as .docx or .pdf — then make it yours.
How to fill it in
Keep a consistent open and close
The same intro and CTA every episode make the show recognisable and give the editor clean, predictable markers.
Time-box the segments
Rough timings keep recordings on track and protect the guest's time - and stop a 40-minute show becoming a two-hour edit.
Write open questions
Open questions get stories; yes/no questions get dead air. Leave room to follow the interesting tangents.
Common mistakes
- No structure, so the recording rambles and the edit takes hours.
- Reading questions robotically instead of having a conversation.
- Forgetting a consistent call to action at the end of every episode.
Want the whole episode produced for you?
Fame produces clients' shows end to end - from run-of-show to a polished, promoted episode and a stack of clips.
Frequently asked questions
What is a podcast run-of-show?
The minute-by-minute plan for a recording - the cold open, intros, the core questions or segments in order, any sponsor reads, transitions and the closing call to action, with rough timings against each.
Why use a run-of-show?
It keeps recordings on time and consistent, protects the guest's time, and gives the editor clean markers - which together cut the editing effort dramatically.