Should You Script Your Podcast?

In this episode of Showmakers, Ed Barker from Studio 1878 dives into the benefits and drawbacks of scripting your podcast. Learn about the three levels of podcast scripting - fully scripted, bullet points, and off the cuff - and discover when each approach might be best for your show. Ed also discusses how scripting can aid in focus, brand voice consistency, and accessibility, as well as the potential downsides like sounding flat and lacking spontaneity in interviews. Get tips on finding the right balance between structured content and natural conversation, and hear why practice makes perfect. Tune in to determine the best scripting strategy for your podcast!00:00 Introduction00:29 What is podcast scripting?01:16 Benefits of scripting02:24 Disadvantages of scripting03:30 Finding the right balance04:11 Final recommendations04:33 Next episode preview and outroAbout Your HostEd Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎Studio 1878A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.