Show Design Series: Designing a Podcast as a Show

In this episode, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, sets out why designing a show and simply producing a podcast are two very different things.A well-designed show has a clear, repeatable idea at its centre, and that consistency is what builds audience trust and loyalty over time. Two companies' podcast strategies are compared to illustrate what that difference looks like in practice. The episode also addresses a common mistake: replicating a format that works for someone else without understanding why it works, which rarely produces the same results. For marketing teams starting from scratch, the episode offers a framework for thinking through show design strategically before a single episode is recorded.00:00 The Power of Podcasts for Brands00:39 Starting with the Right Question01:21 Podcast vs Show: Understanding the Difference02:16 Example: Two Companies, Different Outcomes03:24 Why Interviews Alone Aren't Enough04:50 The Importance of a Central Idea05:53 The Risk of Copying Successful Shows06:49 Three Strategic Questions to Ask08:22 Designing for the Return08:50 Reducing Risk Through Upfront Design09:51 Closing and Next StepsAbout 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.ContactWeb: www.1878.studioEmail: [email protected]: 425-520-3483 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.