Show Design Series: Podcast Production Budgets

In this episode, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, makes the case for treating production budgets as a strategic decision rather than an afterthought.The episode breaks down the components that make up a typical production workflow: research, recording, editing, quality control, and asset creation. Different budget tiers are examined alongside the trade-offs each involves, and the connection between production choices and the long-term quality and sustainability of a show is explored in detail. Poor planning in this area is one of the more common routes to burnout, and the episode addresses how to avoid it through realistic scheduling and a clear-eyed view of what each production commitment actually requires.00:00 Introduction: Production as Strategy01:21 What Production Actually Includes02:48 Production Time Breakdown04:25 High Production vs High Quality05:53 Budget Tiers and Trade-offs08:42 Time as the Real Constraint09:53 In-House vs External Production11:13 Episode Frequency and Sustainability12:15 Designing for Longevity13:12 Key Takeaways13:59 Next Episode PreviewAbout 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.