Turn Your Podcast Idea Into a Concept in 30 Minutes (Free Guide)

Bracing myself for impact and using my stereotypical English teacher cardigan as an emotional shield, I announced, “Ok, students, today we’re going to start writing your personal narrative essays.”

A collective GROOOOOAAAAANNNN filled the classroom.

One of my passions in life, back when I was an English teacher, was helping high school students realize they could write.

Every time without fail, they would start the task with the worst attitude known to teenagekind, but by the end of the process, about 80% of them were proud of their work.

And about 60% admitted to enjoying the process… a bit!

I attribute these success rates to teaching them that all good writing begins with a “shitty first draft,” a concept coined by the writer Anne Lamott.

Allowing yourself to have a shitty first draft is liberating because it protects you from writer’s block and leads you to discover ideas you didn’t even know you had. But alas, all shitty first drafts have to undergo a rigorous process to turn into polished pieces of writing.

And the same is true for your podcast idea!

You want to start a podcast and have a vague notion of what it will look like, but you have to turn that idea into a solid concept that appeals to your ideal listener AND stands out from all the other podcasts in your niche.

I hear you groaning right now just like my students, but by the end of this blog, you’ll be buzzing with excitement.

I just know it!

Your podcast idea is probably too vague

If I ask you right now, “What’s your podcast idea?” and you reply with something along the lines of:

“I want to interview interesting people with unique stories.”

“I want to start a [insert Apple Podcasts category here] podcast.”

“I just wanna talk about whatever’s on my mind on any given week.”

95% of the time, I’d say your podcast idea is too vague.

“But, what about a podcast like Giggly Squad???” you ask. “Don’t they just yap about whatever’s on their mind every week?

Yes, BUT they still have a unique concept: two reality TV stars, one a comedian and the other a model / influencer, discuss pop culture, fashion, dating, and other aspects of modern life, while giggling the entire time.

Look at any successful podcast, and you’ll see that there’s a special THING that sets them apart from everybody else in their niche.

A broad podcast topic might feel safe and less likely to fail, but the truth is that if you try to appeal to everybody, you’re not gonna find your people, the ones who will fall in love with your show and start talking about it to everyone they know.

To grow, you gotta have a unique podcast concept, not just a vague podcast idea.

Podcast Idea vs. Podcast Concept — what’s the difference?

A podcast idea is just a fleeting, hazy notion you have of what your podcast will be like.

PODCAST IDEA = category/topic

For instance, I want to start a “podcast about books” or a “podcast that interviews other entrepreneurs in my niche.”

A podcast concept requires a lot more thinking.

PODCAST CONCEPT = specific, memorable, unique

Just take a look at these concepts from three popular podcasts:

• “A podcast that critiques the airport bestsellers that have ruined us” (If Books Could Kill)
• “Smart people in random fields of science are asked stupid questions” (Ologies)
• “Amy interviews a celebrity with the only purpose being to have a good hang” (Good Hang)

They’re short and sweet but MEMORABLE. In one short sentence, you get it. This is what you’re aiming for with your own podcast concept.

If you’re not sure about your podcast idea, ask yourself this question…

“If I searched my podcast category or topic on Apple Podcasts right now, what would make someone choose MY show over the 50 others in the results?”

Can you answer this in one sentence?

Bad answers:

• “Because it’s good”
• “Because I’m passionate”
• “Because I have great guests”

There are a lot of podcasts that talk about the exact same thing you want to talk about. So being good or having a fun personality is simply not enough if you want to stand out.

If you pose this question to any successful podcast, you’ll get an example of a strong answer:

• “Because we were the first show ever to combine true crime with comedy” (My Favorite Murder)
• “Because I ask scientists (in random fields) the dumb questions everyone’s afraid to ask” (Ologies)

When you ask yourself this question, your answer should be as specific as that. It should state what makes your show unique and why your ideal listener would choose your show over all the others.

If you’re still not sure…

Here are three red flags that suggest your podcast idea needs some work:

Red Flag #1: You can’t describe your podcast concept in one sentence.

If you try to describe your future podcast to a friend, and it requires a whole paragraph of explanation to really capture its essence, you’re not clear on the concept yet. Your podcast concept should be so clear that it’s easy to explain in just one sentence.

Red Flag #2: You get stuck trying to come up with an idea for episode 10.

Good podcast concepts enable you to generate endless episode ideas.

For instance, with the podcast If Books Could Kill, there will always be new airport bestsellers to tackle. The hosts can record new episodes until they’re two elderly men and still not run out of ideas.

Can you sit down and easily brainstorm at least 15 episode topic ideas for your own podcast?

Red Flag #3: It sounds like it could easily belong to anyone in your podcast category.

Search your category / topic on Apple Podcasts. Can you find several other podcasts that sound exactly like your podcast concept?

If yes, it’s back to the drawing room.

If no, congratulations, you can exit this blog post now!

If your idea failed one (or all three) of these tests, don’t panic. This doesn’t mean your podcast idea is doomed forever!!!

It just needs some refining, and refining is exactly what The Podcast Starter is designed to help you do…

How to Fix a Vague Podcast Idea

Download my freebie, The Podcast Starter.

It includes a free 11-minute video training and Notion workbook with exercises that will show you exactly how to come up with a unique podcast concept of your own.

Here’s what people are saying about it:

“Adrienne does a fantastic job breaking down key elements in her video like concept brainstorming, competitor research, and audience appeal in a way that actually sticks with me. If you’re serious about starting a podcast, this is a must-have!” —Kassidy Frommann from Revival Growth Marketing

“I’m now buzzing with ideas for how I can create an ownable format that feels fresh and unconventional in my industry.” —Jess Andrea from Spring Society

“This was a perfect introduction to what makes a good podcast, with some expertly guided exercises to develop not only a concept and a listener profile but ACTUAL EPISODE TOPICS!” -Kalyl Kadri from Words Hurt Copy

“Adrienne’s former teacher skills shine through her educational content in the best way. The information was easy to understand and actionable.” —Robyn Fenstermacher from Virtually Robyn

“It affirmed that I’m on the right track and that my target audience is yearning for something exactly like I’m creating.” -Shaina Longstreet from Dawn and Delight

Your podcast idea isn’t actually shitty, it’s just not finished yet!

Every successful podcast you love started exactly where you are, with a vague idea they had to refine. But they got specific AF, and that’s what made them successful.

The Podcast Starter will help you do the same. It’s free, takes 30 minutes, and will give you more clarity than you’ve had in months of “thinking about maybe starting a podcast someday.”

When you’re done working through it, feel free to DM me on Instagram! I’d love to hear what you came up with and give you feedback if you want it.

Download The Podcast Starter!

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