Podcast Design Prototyping

Trust your gut

Which concept wins?

The one that excites you most, of course!

It’s the concept that sparks your imagination and feels right for this moment.

Yup! It’s that simple.

I know. I hear you. Yes, it’s also complicated.

No worries. If you are unsure, that is fine. This part is all about exploration. You’re supposed to be unsure because you’ve never done this before. This is why I want you to test different directions and see which one grabs your attention. I’m betting one of them already has and that understanding is what I want.

You’re looking for the concept that resonates with you.

Is your concept not quite right? Then do some more exploring some of your wild ideas. Maybe you imagine hosting solo but have now realized a co-hosted format feels more natural. Good! Time to make or recruit a friend. Maybe you set out to create an investigative show, only to find that a relaxed, conversational tone fits your style better. These are features, not bugs. The goal is to find out what you want the show to be, and then work on what’s missing.

You’re supposed to be feeling things out and trying out different approaches to see which ideas keep calling to you. That is the purpose of prototyping.

You do not need twenty concept sketches either. You don’t even need five. Three solid ideas are good enough to push you into comparing different formats, tones, and structures.

I often find that one of the three resonates with me, but the other two make me think, “What if?”

What if my podcast idea was a solo deep dive?

What if it became a roundtable discussion?

What if it was an interview-driven show?

Having a few versions allows you to explore your range without getting stuck in endless planning. It is a balance. You want enough options to see possibilities but not so many that you get lost in decision fatigue.

At some point, you have to make a choice. You can’t keep creating prototype concepts forever.

When do you know you’re done?

The moment you have one prototype that excites you, is aligned with your WHY Statement, and works within all of your Podcast Blueprint’s design constraints. All a concept sketch can do for you is highlight decisions you have already made. It should define why you are doing a podcast (purpose), who you are doing this podcast for (audience), and how you plan to lay out your structure, format, and delivery (blueprint). You decide if it all fits. If a concept doesn’t fit, let it go.

The best choice is the one that feels right to you.

Hesitation is normal. You might feel like you need more time, more sketches, or more feedback before deciding. You can let your choices marinate for a day or two but at some point, you just need to commit.

Every great podcast started with an idea that was a little uncertain. The difference between the ones that succeed and the ones that never launch is that someone made a decision and moved forward.

Once you choose, take a walk. Let the choice sink in. A good walk will tell you if you made the right choice. When you return, satisfied with your decision, then it’s time to refine it. Lock it in. Move forward with purpose. Do not let doubt creep in. The exploration phase gave you clarity, but the real work starts when you commit. The only wrong choice is not making one at all.

Trust your gut and move forward.