We’ve all been there. You’re staring at your podcast planning doc, trying to come up with your next brilliant episode idea… and nothing’s happening. No spark. No lightbulb moment. Just that little voice in your head whispering, “Maybe I’ll just skip this week…”
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to be “inspired” to be consistent. You need a system. Something you can rely on even when the muse has ghosted you.
Here’s your go-to guide for generating episode ideas when your brain’s on empty — complete with real-life strategies, action steps, and examples that work.
1. Mine Your Inbox and DMs for Gold
Your audience is literally telling you what they want to hear. You just have to listen.
Emails, Instagram comments, Facebook group posts, DMs… these are all places where people are already engaging with you. They’re asking questions, sharing their struggles, or responding to things you’ve said. That’s content begging to be recorded.
Example: If you get a lot of messages like “How did you stay consistent when you were just starting your business?” — that’s not just a kind comment. That’s a podcast topic.
Action Step: Start a “Content Clues” doc or note in your phone. Every time someone asks a question, screenshot it or write it down. You’ll be surprised how quickly you build a list of highly relevant episode ideas. Set a goal to check that list once a week before planning your content.
2. Reverse-Engineer Your Offers
Here’s a secret: your podcast isn’t just a way to share your story or teach cool stuff. It’s also a lead magnet for your business. So why not make your content warm people up for the transformation you offer?
Think about your main product or service. Now ask: what mindset shifts, knowledge, or frameworks does someone need before they’re ready to buy from me?
Example: Let’s say you’re a mindset coach. Before someone works with you, they probably need to understand why their inner critic is holding them back, or how self-sabotage shows up in business. Boom — there’s two episodes right there.
Action Step: Break your offer down into key themes or “pillars” — mindset, strategy, systems, etc. Then brainstorm 3 episode ideas under each one. These episodes not only serve your audience, they also strategically position your offer.
3. Revisit Your Top Performers
The past has clues. When you’re out of fresh ideas, go back and look at what’s already working.
Your most-downloaded episodes, the ones with the most shares or comments, the titles people keep referencing — they’re telling you what’s resonating. So why not give them more of that?
Example: If your most popular episode is “How I Doubled My Revenue in 6 Months,” you could create spin-offs like:
- “The One Decision That Made Doubling Revenue Possible”
- “What I’d Do Differently If I Started Again”
- “Client Case Study: Doubling Results in Half the Time”
Action Step: Once a quarter, audit your top 5 episodes or blog posts. Ask yourself:
- Can I turn this into a series?
- Can I share an updated version?
- Can I interview someone who went through something similar?
4. Steal Like a Podcaster (With Integrity)
No, this doesn’t mean copying someone else’s content. But if you’re feeling stuck, it helps to look outside your own head and into the world your audience lives in.
Other podcasts, YouTube channels, online communities — these are treasure troves of insight. What’s trending? What questions are coming up over and over?
Example: Let’s say you help creatives with time management. You see another podcaster talking about “how to build a 3-day workweek” and their audience is going wild for it. You might spin that into something like: “My Take on the 3-Day Workweek as a Creative (And What Actually Worked for Me).”
Action Step: Pick 2–3 shows your audience listens to. Browse their latest episode titles or top episodes. Use these as prompts, not blueprints. Ask yourself: “What’s my version of this?”
5. Let AI Be Your Brainstorm Buddy
You don’t have to go it alone — especially when tech can help. If you’re staring at a blinking cursor and feeling zero creative energy, lean on tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, or even Google’s “People Also Ask” feature to jog some ideas.
Example Prompt for ChatGPT:
“Give me 15 podcast episode ideas for a wellness coach who helps busy moms find time for self-care.”
You might get results like:
- “5-Minute Habits That Actually Work”
- “Why Guilt Is the Real Time Thief”
- “How to Create a Self-Care Plan You’ll Stick To”
They won’t all be winners, but they’ll definitely give you a jumping-off point.
Action Step: Schedule a 30-minute brainstorming session with an AI tool once a month. Come in with a theme or audience segment and see what comes up. It’s like having a co-writer in your back pocket.
6. Turn Real Life into Real Content
Some of the best podcast episodes don’t come from research or strategy. They come from life.
That client conversation that made you think. That breakthrough you had while journaling. That moment you almost gave up but didn’t. These are the episodes that connect on a human level — and often resonate the most.
Example: Maybe a client came to you with a win that you helped create. You could record an episode called “How One Shift Helped My Client Book Her First $10K Month — Without Hustling.”
You don’t need a fancy case study — just a story and the takeaway that your audience can apply.
Action Step: Start a weekly “What came up?” reflection. What happened this week that was emotional, unexpected, frustrating, funny, or insightful? That’s your next episode idea.
The truth is, you’ll always have moments when ideas feel just out of reach. That’s normal. But with a simple system and a few go-to prompts, you’ll never be stuck for long.
So the next time you don’t know what to say — start with what you already know. Because chances are, your next great episode is hiding in your inbox, your offer, or your own life.
Feeling inspired?
Pick one of the action steps above and schedule 20 minutes today to put it into motion. Your next brilliant idea might just be one journaling session, voice memo, or DM away.