Podcast Editing Checklist: 8-Step Post-Production Workflow

Editing a podcast is easier when you follow the same steps every time. A fixed workflow stops you from forgetting things (like checking loudness or adding chapter markers), makes every episode sound consistent, and makes it simple to hand the job to someone else later.

This is the post-production checklist our editors use for audio and video podcasts. Copy it, adapt it to your show and work through it for every episode.

Stage 1: Prepare your files

• Back up the raw recordings before you touch anything. Keep one copy in the cloud.
• Use a clear folder and file naming system, for example EP042_GuestName_2026-11-05, with subfolders for audio, video, music and exports.
• Collect separate tracks for each speaker (and each camera). Tools like Riverside, Zencastr and StreamYard can record each person locally.
• Write down notes from the recording: mistakes to cut, sections to remove, the best moments for clips.

Stage 2: Rough cut

• Sync all audio and video tracks using the waveform or a clap at the start.
• Get a transcript. A text-based editor (such as Descript or Premiere Pro’s text-based editing) makes the rough cut much faster.
• Remove the obvious waste: pre-show chat, false starts, technical problems and long silences.
• Check the length. Aim for the length your listeners expect, not the length of the recording.

Stage 3: Content edit

• Cut off-topic tangents and answers that repeat earlier points.
• Remove excessive filler words (“um”, “uh”, “you know”), but leave some so people still sound natural.
• Tighten pauses and crosstalk so the conversation flows.
• Consider a cold open: a 10–30 second highlight at the start that hooks new listeners.
• Listen back to every edit point to check that no cut sounds abrupt.

Stage 4: Clean the audio

• Noise reduction for hum, hiss, fans and air conditioning. Go gently: heavy settings sound robotic.
• Remove clicks, mouth noises and plosives (popping “p” and “b” sounds).
• Reduce echo if the room was untreated.
• EQ each voice: cut muddy low frequencies, add a little clarity.
• Compression to even out loud and quiet parts so listeners do not keep changing the volume.
• De-ess sharp “s” sounds.

Stage 5: Mix and master

• Balance the speakers so every voice sits at the same perceived loudness.
• Add intro, outro, music beds and transitions, and keep music well below the voices.
• Insert ad reads or sponsor spots if you have them.
• Master to the right loudness. The common target for podcasts is −16 LUFS integrated for stereo (about −19 LUFS for mono), with true peaks no higher than −1 dBTP.

Stage 6: Video edit (for video podcasts)

• Switch cameras to follow whoever is speaking, with wide shots for reactions.
• Color-correct so all cameras match.
• Add lower-third name titles for the host and guest.
• Add captions. Many people watch with the sound off, and captions make your show accessible.
• Add chapter markers (YouTube chapters and podcast chapters) so people can jump to topics.
• Design a thumbnail with a clear face and a short, readable headline.

Stage 7: Export and quality check

• Export audio as MP3 (128 kbps mono or 192 kbps stereo is common for speech) and keep a WAV master.
• Export video in 1080p or 4K for YouTube, plus vertical versions for clips.
• Fill in the ID3 tags: episode title, number, artwork.
• Listen to the full episode once more, at 1.5–2× speed if needed, with headphones.
• Check the loudness meter on the final file, not just the project.

Stage 8: Publish and promote

• Write an SEO-friendly title that says what the episode is about, not just the guest’s name.
• Write show notes with a summary, key points, timestamps and links.
• Upload a transcript for accessibility and search engines.
• Upload to your podcast host (which sends it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others) and to YouTube.
• Cut short clips from the best moments for Reels, Shorts and TikTok. Here is our guide on turning one episode into 10 short clips.
• Share with your guest with ready-made clips and links, so they promote it too.
• Check that everything is live on every platform and that links work.

How long does this take?

For a one-hour interview episode, working through this checklist usually takes 4–6 hours for audio only and 6–10 hours with video, clips and publishing. Text-based and AI tools can speed up the rough cut, but the content edit, mix and quality check still need a person.

If that is more time than you have each week, you can hand the whole list to an editor. Read our guide on how much podcast editing costs to see what to budget.

Frequently asked questions