Intro to Podcast Design

Love your idea

Passion fuels podcasts. Without it, your idea doesn’t stand a chance.

When you first imagine your podcast, you might picture an educational solo series, a gripping true crime documentary, or even a cliffhanger-filled audio drama. From there, you narrow your focus, filter topics, and settle in on a single direction. Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step.

But before you go any further, ask yourself this one question: “Do I love this idea?”

Be honest. If you don’t love it, you’re setting yourself up for a slog. Creating stories you don’t care about isn’t just hard—it’s soul-sucking. Loving your idea isn’t optional; it’s essential. Passion is the glue holding your podcast together. It’s what powers you when your energy runs low and life gets in the way.

No passion? No podcast. Call it love. Call it passion. Call it the “P-word” if that helps. Whatever you call it, the point is the same: passion is the most important part of your podcast.

And here’s why: one day, you’re going to get stuck.

You’ll wake up and decide you don’t feel like podcasting. Maybe it’s the flu. Maybe it’s work stress. Maybe it’s the messy middle as in that moment where the excitement has worn off, and everything feels hard. When that day comes, your love for your idea will save you. It’s the ship that gets you through the storm. The boards and nails holding it together? That’s your passion. The wind in the sails? That’s your energy. Without those, you’re dead in the water.

When you genuinely enjoy your podcast, you’ll find infinite ways to keep going. Passion keeps the wheels turning even when you’re running on empty.

So, let’s ask the question again: “Do you love this idea?”

The best podcast ideas are the ones that light you up and are the things you’re already good at or obsessed with. It’s the stuff you can’t stop thinking about, the topic you can’t shut up about (even when your friends wish you would).

Still stuck? Ask your friends or family. Chances are, they already know what you’re passionate about. The answer will probably be the thing they lovingly tease you about. Think of it as your bread and butter or your go-to topic.

I'm betting you already know which one that is.

But be careful. Make sure it’s something you genuinely love, not just something you love to complain about. There’s a big difference between building a podcast on passion and building it on bitterness. One thrives. The other burns out.

Passion doesn’t only power your podcast, it protects it. It’s what helps you show up week after week, long after the novelty has worn off.

So, I’ll ask one last time: “Do you love this idea?”

If the answer is yes, you’re ready to create something amazing.