5 Workflow Templates to Speed Up Your Podcast Production in Descript

Podcasters live or die by processes. Even small efficiencies multiply when you produce multiple episodes per month. Descript offers templates and project structures that can shorten editing time dramatically. Here are five practical templates you can implement today to standardize production and reduce decision fatigue.

1. Solo Show Template — Fast Turnaround

Designed for episodes where one host records monologues or commentary.

• Assets folder: raw recordings, music beds, sponsor spot(s).
• Scene structure: Intro (0:00–0:30), Main (0:30–XX), Ad (XX–XX), Outro (last 30s).
• Descript workflow: Transcribe, remove filler words, apply a global noise reduction and limiter preset, export.

This template removes decision points by making the intro/outro and ad insertion consistent across episodes.

2. Interview Template — Two Guests or Co-Host

Optimized for remote interviews with multiple speakers.

• Separate tracks for each call participant uploaded individually.
• Speaker labels applied before editing.
• Markers for timecodes where sponsor reads are or key quotes appear.
• Mix notes section for level adjustments and emoji-based priority markers.

Keep a dedicated multitrack export for raw stems to use if re-mixing is needed later.

3. Narrative/Research Template — Episode with Field Audio

For story-driven episodes with interviews, ambient audio, and music.

• Field audio folder labeled by location and mic type.
• Sequence document in the script area mapping interview excerpts to scene sketches.
• Clip metadata for permissions and rights management.

This template emphasizes documentation and legal clarity so you can reuse clips across seasons without hunting permissions.

4. Repurposing Template — Short Clips for Social

Turn long-form episodes into shareable clips quickly.

• Clip markers for potential 30–90 second highlights.
• Prebuilt aspect ratios for vertical video, widescreen, and square crops.
• Caption export settings optimized for social platforms.

Include a simple checklist for adding captions, punchy subtitles, and a call-to-action overlay.

5. Sponsored Episode Template — Compliance and QA

For ad reads and sponsored content that must meet legal and sponsor guidelines.

• Ad copy folder with approved scripts and timestamps.
• QA checklist for spot length, disclosure language, and placement.
• Versioning for alternate reads and approvals.

Automate checks: export a version with markers burned in for sponsor review before final export.

How to Implement Templates in Descript

1. Create a base project that contains folders, a sample transcript, and standardized marker names.
2. Save as a template project or duplicate the project for each new episode.
3. Use macros or keyboard shortcut lists to further speed up repetitive steps.

Team Tips

Document exactly what each folder contains and standardize naming conventions. For example, use YYYY_MM_DD_showname_guestname for raw files. Keep a shared editorial note with expected turnaround times and responsibility for each task: transcription cleanup, rough cuts, sponsor approvals, and final mix.

Measuring Impact

Track metrics like time-to-publish, number of revisions per episode, and listener feedback. Templates should reduce revision counts and accelerate publishing. Run a pilot for three episodes and compare metrics to baseline to quantify improvement.

Final Thoughts

Templates turn repetitive decision-making into predictable execution. With Descript’s text-based editing and collaboration tools, these templates can shave hours off production time and free creative energy for story and marketing. Start with one template and iterate based on your team’s actual bottlenecks.