Podcast voice: make a clear story before buying a microphone

Practice pathway
1. Episode question: ____________________
2. Spoken script: ____________________
3. Sound test: ____________________
4. Edit and transcript: ____________________
5. Cover and distribution: ____________________
6. Listener review: ____________________

Worked example
Five-minute episode: question 20 s; context 40 s; interview 120 s; source comparison 80 s; close 40 s. The total is 300 seconds. At 150 words/minute, 600 scripted words take 240 seconds, leaving 60 seconds for clips and pauses. Time the real delivery.

Review before publishing
[ ] The main question has a clear answer.
[ ] Claims have a source and date.
[ ] Script, sound and pictures agree.
[ ] Names, numbers and quotes are checked.
[ ] Materials have permission for use.
[ ] The transcript or text alternative is reviewed.

Project deliverable
A reviewed piece, its source sheet and a note explaining what changed.


Extended practice: from a source record to a reviewed piece
This is a 2026 adaptation of topics documented in the former catalog. It is not a reproduced course, assessment by former faculty, enrollment offer or promise of a placement. Complete the deliverables at your own pace and review the result before publishing it.

1. Episode promise
Define the listener, question and outcome in three lines. State what the available sources cannot resolve. Test the title with someone who has not read your script.
Result: ____________________

2. Spoken script
Draft an opening, three sections and a close. Use the text timer as an estimate, then time a real read. Note the difference: breaths and changes of speaker also take time.
Result: ____________________

3. Two recording tests
Record thirty seconds in two positions using the same device. Compare noise, distance and intelligibility at a comfortable volume. Keep the tests to justify your choice without treating them as technical certification.
Result: ____________________

4. Interview and editing
Prepare an open question and an evidence-based follow-up. Edit an answer without changing its meaning and keep the original clip. Identify any reconstruction or synthetic voice rather than presenting it as a real interview.
Result: ____________________

5. Distribution and context
Prepare a title, description, credits, transcript and music provenance. Make sponsorship recognisable if present. Check the chosen platform’s requirements instead of promising income or reach.
Result: ____________________

6. Review listening
Deliver a five-minute episode and its rundown. Ask a listener to summarise the main idea. Correct an unclear transition and document why it changed.
Result: ____________________

Deliverable and review criteria
Keep the first version, the reviewed piece, its source sheet and a change log. Check names, attribution, rights and a text alternative. Completing a checklist does not verify every claim in the piece.
https://totalmediaacademy.com/en/editorial-method/#archive-records