AI-Powered Podcast Production Workflow: From Idea to Episode

Why AI Changes Podcast Production

Podcast production involves extensive work beyond recording: topic research, guest preparation, scriptwriting, audio editing, show notes, transcription, social media promotion, and analytics. AI tools automate or accelerate each of these steps, enabling solo podcasters to produce professional-quality shows and helping teams scale production without proportional cost increases.

Step 1: Topic Research and Episode Planning

Tools: Perplexity AI, ChatGPT

Use Perplexity to research trending topics in your niche with current data and sources. Use ChatGPT to brainstorm episode concepts: “I host a [niche] podcast. Generate 10 episode ideas that would interest [target audience], including a compelling title and 3 key discussion points for each.” Plan your content calendar 4-8 weeks ahead.

Step 2: Script and Outline Creation

Tools: Claude, ChatGPT

Create detailed episode outlines with AI. For interview podcasts, generate research briefings on guests and prepare thoughtful questions. For solo episodes, create structured outlines with talking points, data references, and transition notes. Claude excels at creating comprehensive, well-organized outlines that keep episodes focused and engaging.

Step 3: Recording Enhancement

Tools: Descript, Adobe Podcast AI

After recording, use AI-powered audio tools to enhance quality. Adobe Podcast’s AI removes background noise and normalizes audio levels. Descript provides text-based audio editing: delete words from the transcript, and the audio adjusts automatically. Remove filler words (um, uh, like) with one click. These tools turn amateur recordings into professional-sounding audio.

Step 4: AI Transcription and Show Notes

Tools: Descript, Otter.ai, ChatGPT

Generate accurate transcriptions with Descript or Otter.ai. Paste the transcript into Claude or ChatGPT to generate comprehensive show notes including episode summary, key takeaways, timestamps with chapter markers, mentioned resources with links, and guest bio. Show notes improve SEO discoverability and provide value for listeners who prefer reading.

Step 5: Content Repurposing

Tools: ChatGPT, Canva, ElevenLabs

Turn each episode into multiple content pieces. Use ChatGPT to extract quotes, create Twitter threads, write LinkedIn posts, and draft newsletter summaries from the transcript. Use Canva to create audiogram graphics and quote cards. Create short-form video clips for TikTok and Instagram Reels highlighting the most engaging moments.

Step 6: Distribution and Growth

Use AI to optimize your podcast listing: generate compelling episode titles, write SEO-friendly descriptions, and create keyword-rich show notes. Submit to all major platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts). Use ChatGPT to draft promotional emails and social media announcements for each episode.

Podcast AI Toolkit

Stage	Tool	Purpose
Research	Perplexity AI	Topic research with sources
Scripting	Claude	Outlines and guest prep
Recording	Adobe Podcast AI	Noise removal, enhancement
Editing	Descript	Text-based audio editing
Show notes	ChatGPT	Summaries, timestamps, notes
Promotion	Canva + ChatGPT	Graphics, social media copy