17. How to Plan Your First Podcast Season (Step-by-Step Guide)

In this episode of Press Play, I’m walking you through exactly how to map out your very first podcast season—step by step—so you’re not staring at a blank page wondering what to talk about.

This episode builds directly on the last two conversations we’ve had about messaging and whether or not to use seasons, because your first season should never be random. It should be intentional, strategic, and designed to introduce you, your perspective, and your work in a way that actually moves listeners toward trusting you.

If you’re brand new to podcasting—or if you already have a podcast that feels scattered or unclear—this framework works for both. Think of this as your “reset button.”

Here’s how I break down your first podcast season:

1. Start with a mission episode
2. Your very first episode is all about buy-in. I walk you through how to clearly share who you are, who you help, why you care, and what you stand for—so listeners immediately understand your bigger mission and why they should keep listening.
3. Create episodes that show what you believe
4. Next, you’ll use your messaging work to create episodes around what you want your audience to stop doing, start doing, and rethinking. These episodes help you stand out, call out bad advice in your industry, and clearly communicate what you believe.
5. Teach your framework
6. The back half of your season focuses on how you actually help people get results. I show you how to break your process into episodes that demonstrate your expertise and move listeners from point A to point B.
7. End with a sales (aka “girlfriend chat”) episode
8. The final episode of your season is where you speak directly to the person who’s been listening, nodding along, but still hasn’t taken action. This isn’t a hard sell—it’s a real, honest conversation about what’s possible if they finally say yes to themselves.

The goal of your first season isn’t to go viral or be perfect. It’s to clearly position you, build trust, and create momentum—for you and for your listeners.

I’ve dropped the First Season Framework inside my school community so you can follow along and map this out easily. Once you’re in, let me know where you’re at in your podcast journey—I’d love to see what you’re building.

If you have questions, come find me on Instagram or inside the community. I’ll see you in the next episode.