Building the Backbone: How I Create Rundowns for Podcasts and Audio Shows

The Invisible Blueprint

Every great show — whether it’s a sports podcast, a comedy series, or a narrative feature — is held together by an invisible structure. In radio, we call it a rundown. In television, a script format. But in my world? It’s the spine that lets spontaneity thrive without falling apart.

When you hear SportsIQ flow from a hot take to a guest interview to a “Moment of Awe,” you’re hearing a template in action. That’s by design — and behind every episode is a flexible, repeatable rundown system built for rhythm, clarity, and speed.

Why a Rundown is Everything (Even for “Casual” Shows)

Without a rundown:

• Hosts ramble

• Segments bleed

• Timing breaks

• Energy tanks

With a rundown:

• The host knows where they are and where they’re going

• Edits are faster (for me)

• Sponsors know when and how they’ll appear

• And listeners stay engaged

Even on relaxed shows like Nerd Word, a soft skeleton manages intros, cold opens, definitions, and skit timing. It’s structure without rigidity — the good kind of scaffolding.

My Templating Process

Step 1: Define the Fixed Anchors

What must be in every episode?

• Intro/theme

• Segment 1 (hosted content)

• Ad break or sponsor cue

• Guest segment(s)

• Outro or CTA

These form the immovable pieces.

Example – SportsIQ:

• Segment 1: Larry’s opening monologue or current events

• Segment 2: First guest

• Segment 3: Second guest

• Segment 4: “Moment of Awe”

• Segment 5: Headlines or final thought

Step 2: Assign Time Goals (Not Limits)

Each block gets a target duration, but nothing is locked:

This gives the host breathing room and me a roadmap when cutting.

Step 3: Format for Readability

I style rundowns visually to make them scannable and practical.

Formatting I use:

• Bold = Section headers

• Italics = Estimated durations or tone notes

• Code blocks = Inserted host copy or sponsor reads

• 🔁 = Recurring segment cue

• 🎧 = Audio cue reminder

This keeps me fast and organized — and reduces confusion in the recording phase.

Adjusting on the Fly

Templates aren’t sacred. If a segment flops, I rewrite the structure. If a new sponsor appears, I rebuild the rhythm.

For Nerd Word, we added cold opens and sketch content mid-season — forcing a shift to an A-Block/B-Block structure with Comedy up front and Education behind it.

I treat rundown templates like a living score. When the show grows, so does the shape of the episode.

Tools I Use

• Google Docs – For easy collaboration and formatting

• Notion – For reusable templates and archival

• Apple Numbers – For production calendars and segment planning

• TextExpander – For inserting boilerplate copy/formatting

• Instinct – For pacing, mood, and tone (no tool replaces this)

My Rundown Philosophy (TL;DR)

• Start with what never changes

• Timebox just enough to give shape

• Format with intention

• Let structure evolve with content

• Don’t lose the human element

Want My Template?

I’ll be releasing my Podcast Rundown Template — the same one I use for SportsIQ, Nerd Word, and client shows.
Drop your email on RevisionSound.com to get it early.

Or contact me directly if you want help building your own custom structure.