Episode Planner V2.1: Stop Guessing and Start Planning

I’ve spent the last eight years having over 700 conversations on my podcast. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from talking to hundreds of guests and agency owners, it’s this: most people are winging it.

They have a great guest lined up, but they haven't done the research. Or they have a brilliant idea for a solo show, but they’re staring at a blank screen ten minutes before they hit record. The result is always the same, a disjointed conversation, a host who sounds unsure, and a listener who eventually tunes out.

At PodGlue, we’re obsessed with fixing that. We want to move you away from the manual chaos and into a system that actually works for you.

That’s why we built Episode Planner V2.1.

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The Problem with "Winging It"

For too long, podcast planning has been scattered across half-finished Notion pages, random Google Docs, and last-minute emails. You think you're being "spontaneous," but what you're actually doing is leaving the quality of your relationship, and your content, to chance.

I’ve said this before: the episode is not the product. The relationship is the product. But you can't honor that relationship if you aren't prepared.

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Introducing Input-First Archetypes

The core of V2.1 is a new concept we call Input-First Archetypes.

Instead of starting with a blank page and hoping for inspiration, you choose a structure that fits your episode. Think of these as guardrails. They don't restrict your creativity; they give it a foundation to stand on.

For the Interviewer: The Multi-Guest Forge

If you’re bringing guests onto your show, you need a workflow that treats their time with respect. The Multi-Guest Forge is designed to handle the heavy lifting of research and narrative.

• Guest Research & Angles: Before you write a single question, the system prompts you for the guest’s bio, their expertise, and the specific "hook" for the episode.
• The Blueprint: This is where you map out the narrative arc. No more wandering off-topic for twenty minutes. You plan the flow so the story actually lands.
• The Forge Handoff: Once your research is in, you can hand it off to your team, or our AI, to "forge" the final questions and show notes. You know they have the context they need because the input was solid from the start.

For the Solo Creator: Solo Reflection Guardrails

Solo episodes are some of the hardest to get right because there's no one to bounce ideas off of. The Solo Reflection archetype gives you the structure to talk to your audience with confidence.

• Defining the Takeaway: Start by answering one question: what do I want the listener to do after this?
• Structured Outlining: The planner guides you through a detailed outline process so you don't repeat yourself or lose the thread halfway through.
• Manuscript Generation: Once your outline is tight, PodGlue’s AI can help you turn those points into a full manuscript. It saves you hours of staring at a blinking cursor.

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Systems Over Hacks

Consistency is not a character trait. It’s a system.

By starting with the inputs, you ensure that every episode is well-researched, well-structured, and, most importantly, well-executed. You stop being the bottleneck in your own production.

I want you to come in, do the work, and then go spend time with your family. That’s what PodGlue is for.

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Try It Yourself

Episode Planner V2.1 is live for all PodGlue users right now. If you’re tired of the spreadsheet archaeology and the last-minute scramble, sign up for a free trial.

Let’s build something that lasts.

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Junaid Ahmed is the host of Hacks and Hobbies and the founder of PodGlue. He’s been building systems for creators since 2000.