#36: 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 Strategy

01:21 What Production Actually Includes

02:48 Production Time Breakdown

04:25 High Production vs High Quality

05:53 Budget Tiers and Trade-offs

08:42 Time as the Real Constraint

09:53 In-House vs External Production

11:13 Episode Frequency and Sustainability

12:15 Designing for Longevity

13:12 Key Takeaways