Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are now widely available for podcasters—handling everything from mundane tasks (like transcribing) to creative work such as cover art, music, cloned voices, or even generating entire podcasts from AI. See Chapter 1 for coverage of AI issues in podcasting.

Prepare for a class discussion on the following issues:

• Are there good uses of AI in podcasting, if so, what are they?
• Are there downsides, and if so, what are they?
• Since AI is built from existing data bases, do you have concerns over discrimination abuses against individuals or groups?
• How important is disclosure of use of AI tools in podcasting? Should listeners be informed that AI has been used in research, preparing guest bios, doing ads, or performing any other part of podcast production, or is it assumed in the world we live in today?

This exercise may be used for Discussion Boards, Blog Posts, Podcasts, or written papers.

The goal of this assignment is to help students understand the diversity of podcast formats and the techniques used to produce them.

Students should take notes and listen critically—not as casual listeners but as analysts studying how the podcast is made. Your written analysis should be clear enough for someone who has not heard the episode to understand how it works.

See Chapter 6 for guidance on podcast deconstruction. By examining how creators structure their episodes, you will gain insights into storytelling approaches you can apply to your own work.

Instructions:

Select a nonfiction, conversational podcast to analyze. Listen to the entire show, so pick one that is 20-60 minutes or so in length. Take notes to dissect how the show is put together by producers. Include a live link to the episode you analyzed.

1. Identify the podcast name and description.

• Explain whether they match the content you heard.
• Evaluate the podcast’s music and artwork and provide a link to the artwork.
• Discuss whether these elements fit the topic and tone.

2. Evaluate the content.

• Was it interesting or compelling?
• Provide specific examples that show why.

3. Identify the show’s format.

• Is it single-host, co-hosted, or a roundtable?
• Is the podcast interview-based, a round-table format, or a nonfiction narrative (with the story told through narration plus edited audio clips)?
• Identify the genre (such as crime, investigative, sports, politics, pop culture, self-help, educational).

4. Evaluate technical quality.

• Consider audio quality, clarity of speech, and host/guest vocal energy.

5. Identify one thing you DO want to imitate and one thing you DO NOT want to imitate.

This assignment has two components, posted on the course online Discussion Board, and/or also do a class discussion. 

1. Write a Podcast Pitch
• Propose a podcast title.
• Describe your podcast in 10 words or fewer.

2. Review Classmates’ Pitches
• Respond to the pitches of two other students.
• Provide constructive, helpful feedback—critical is fine, but your goal is to guide improvement.

The goal of this assignment is to create your podcast’s standard opening using music and voiceover narration. An audio example appears at the end of this exercise.

You will voice and edit the narration and music audio and upload the final version to the course Assignments area, or whatever outlet your instructor provides. Another option is SoundCloud, a free cloud-based distribution system.

Instructions:

• Select music for your open using royalty-free tracks or original compositions. (See Chapter 11 for places to find royalty-free music).
• Submit a written sheet documenting where you obtained the music and how you followed copyright rules.
  • If credit is required, note how you will give oral and website credit.
• Your show open should include:
  • The show name
  • Your name
  • A short description of the podcast
• Edit the audio:
  • Place the music on one track, narration on another.
  • Start with full-volume music, lower it when narration begins, then bring it back up and fade out after narration ends.
• Export as an MP3 and send it to your instructor.

{Audio Example}

This assignment introduces the difference between written storytelling and audio storytelling. In sound-based stories, listeners must immediately recognize what they are hearing.

An audio example appears at the end of this exercise.

Instructions:

• Create a short fictional audio story (50–90 seconds).
• Use a combination of:
  • Sound effects
  • Original recorded sounds
  • Only 1–5 spoken words
• Edit into an MP3, upload it to your Assignment area, SoundCloud account, and whatever your instructor provides.

{Audio Example}

This assignment focuses on writing vivid, sensory descriptions that help the listener imagine a scene, like the one below.

Instructions:

• Select a photo from the 100 most influential photos of all time.
• Research the historical context, then write about the scene without explicitly stating what the photo depicts.
• Use strong adjectives, adverbs, and sensory details.
• Record your writing using clear articulation and vocal energy.

{Audio Example}

The goal of this option is to expose students to a broad range of podcast topics and styles, comparing how different creators approach content, structure, and production.

• Go to a podcast directory and select two podcasts on different subjects to listen to for at least 15 minutes.
• Go to a podcast directory and select two podcasts on the same subject (hopefully on a topic you expect to cover on your podcast) and listen for at least 15 minutes.
•  Write a 4-5 page critical analysis based on the following criteria:

1.  Describe/critique the podcast name, description, music, and artwork;
2.  How interesting or compelling is the content? Think in terms of quality, style, format, and genre;
3.  How well is the technical portion of the podcast done? Think about audio quality and clarity of speech;
4.  Identify one thing from each of the four podcasts that you DO or DO NOT want to imitate.

This assignment requires combining your previous work into a small pilot episode, adding three new elements: narration, bumper, and show ending. To understand these terms review Chapter 6 on scripting.

Assembly Instructions

Your mini-podcast should include:

1. Your completed podcast open
2. Your audio sound story
3. Make a voiceover recording of your descriptive-writing photo story
4. Create a bumper, such as:
   • “You are listening to ‘Home Gardening Newbies’—helping you grow your green thumb.”
5. End your show by thanking the audience for listening, and give a call-to-action (podcast website, where to listen, etc.), and tease your next episode (optional).

Export the final combined audio as an MP3, upload to the Assignments area, your SoundCloud account or whatever platform your instructor provides.

{Audio Example}

The goal is to create your first complete podcast episode.

Requirements:

• Length: 8–10 minutes for undergraduates; 10-15 minutes for graduate students
• Must include at least one guest interview
• Must include:
  • Show open with music
  • Interviews
  • Bumper
  • Show ending

The goal is to design a promotional audio trailer or audiogram for use on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Requirements:

• Create :30–:50 second trailer or audiogram your podcast.
• Free tools for audiograms are listed in Chapter 8, including the Headliner app, see this video.
• Examples of audio and video trailers appear in Chapter 9.

The goal is to create an online home for your podcast.

Requirements

• Create a blog or website using WordPress or another platform
• Embed your podcast audio
• Include:
  • Host bio
  • Photo
  • Contact details
  • Podcast name & description
  • Podcast artwork
• Provide:
  • A show transcript
  • Show notes
  • Links to additional resources