Do you have any unfinished episodes? Maybe you already recorded them but just haven't gotten around to editing them. Or maybe you started writing the outline, but you never finished. Then this challenge is for you!
This year—and I’m not saying today, this week, or even this month—I challenge you to finish those unfinished episodes!
Here are a few thoughts and strategies to help you clear that backlog.
“If it'll keep, it'll preach”
This phrase usually applies to holding up against scrutiny. But the first time I heard it was when I was at an evening church service and the power went out several minutes before the preacher was about to start. We had already sung multiple songs in the growing darkness and lack of sound amplification. But when it came time for the sermon, the preacher realized the kids were too restless in the dark, the audience wouldn't be able to hear the message without the sound system (even if the kids were perfectly quiet), and he would be extremely distracted by the environment. So he dismissed the service early, saying of his sermon, “If it'll keep, it'll preach” (and he admitted he heard that from someone else).
His application of the saying was that if that particular sermon remained on his heart after the scrutiny of time, that he would preach it again.
I want you to apply this to your podcast. Look at those ideas that have been burning on your mind or sitting on a list for a while. If they have kept under the scrutiny of time, if you are still interested in those ideas, and if the script still excites you, then do it. Actually finish and publish that episode.
I have so many drafts in my own folders. Back in 2010, during my planning stage for The Audacity to Podcast, I made a handwritten list of about 35 episode topics. Over 15 years and 400+ episodes later, there are actually items on that original list that I still haven't done yet. But I also revisit my list and see drafts that I put on hold because I wanted to do more research or talk to more people.
If an idea has “kept” for you, treat that as a sign to finally produce it.
Complete the preproduction for draft episodes
A big step to clearing your list is completing the preproduction. If you are like me, you might have episodes where you have started preparing—maybe you are reading a guest's book, writing a question list, or refining some jokes.
Whatever preproduction task has been sitting undone, take action on it. This could be planning, researching, or scheduling.
I was inspired by this at Podfest 2026 recently. During an influencer meet-and-greet, they told us, “Don't leave this room without an appointment with someone. Don't just say, ‘Let's follow up.'” I met a gentleman who offers podcast editing services, and I wanted to talk to him about how my products, PodChapters and Podgagement, could add value to his clients.
Instead of a vague promise to talk later, we looked at our calendars and scheduled the call right there. As I’ve heard from SAS Academy, “BAMFAM”—Book A Meeting From A Meeting.
Apply this to your podcast. If you need to interview someone to finish a draft, don't just reach out and say, “Can we find a time?” Send your booking link or offer specific times. Make it easy on your guest. Finish the preproduction so you can move those drafts into the recording phase.
Finish the editing, or publish with minimal editing
Once you have recorded the episodes, you need to move them out of the draft phase. You might have recordings sitting around because of a little impostor syndrome; maybe you feel the episode wasn't very good.
I am not saying you have to publish bad episodes, but you can frame them differently. If you have audio from five or ten years ago, you can release it as a “time capsule” episode. You can tell your audience, “I found an old episode… my voice sounds different, I wasn't as confident, but there is still value here.”
I am guilty of this. More than 10 years ago, I recorded an interview with Chris Brogan. I still haven't published it because I simply didn't want to edit an interview. It’s an interesting conversation, but it has just sat there.
If you are in this position, consider publishing with minimal editing. You can use “bookend editing,” where you record a new intro and outro to explain the context. You can even interrupt your old self—like Dave Jackson does—to interject with “Future Me” to update advice or correct something that no longer works.
Discard what no longer “sparks joy”
The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but also the most accurate yardstick by which to judge.
—Marie Kondō, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Look at your unfinished list—topics, guest ideas, movie reviews, or product tests. Ask yourself:
- Does this episode still spark joy?
- Am I still interested in this topic?
- Do I still want to share this with my audience?
If the answer is no, discard it. You don't have to delete it permanently, but remove it from your active list. If you try to record an episode about something you aren't passionate about, that lack of enthusiasm will come through in your voice.
However, there is a nuance here I call “Bathtub Philosophy.” When I was a kid, I hated taking baths until I actually got in the water. Then, I loved it and didn't want to get out. Sometimes, you might feel lazy about a topic, but once you force yourself to start working on it, the joy sparks.
You can even use AI tools like Magi or ChatGPT to help you break the inertia. Ask it to write an intro paragraph just to get you moving. I've done this before; often, I just need a sentence or two to get started, and then I end up writing pages of content because the momentum kicked in.
Try to get the momentum going. If it eventually sparks joy, finish it. If it doesn't, delete it.
Special thanks
- $5 from Joshua Liston saying, “A little help for someone helping Indie Podcasters.”
- $25 from Leslie Martin saying, “If you ever get to Anchorage, Alaska, give me a shout. I'd love to meet with you and take you out to dinner.”
If you love The Audacity to Podcast and value the podcasting inspiration and education I provide, would you please consider giving back what it's worth to you?
Supercharge your podcast engagement and grow your podcast!
Do you ever feel like your podcast is stuck? Like you're pouring your heart into your podcast but it seems like no one is listening?
Try Podgagement to help you supercharge your podcast endgagement!
Get speakable pages to simplify engaging with your audience, accept voicemail feedback (with automatic transcripts), see and share your ratings and reviews from nearly 200 places, follow your podcast rankings across nearly 34,000 global charts, discover networking opportunities, and more!
Ask your questions or share your feedback
- Comment on the episode
- Send a written or voicemail message here
Follow The Audacity to Podcast
- Apple Podcasts, Spotify, other Android apps, or in your favorite podcast app.
- Subscribe on YouTube for Podcasting Videos by The Audacity to Podcast
- Follow @theDanielJLewis on X-Twitter
Disclosure
This post may contain links to products or services with which I have an affiliate relationship. I may receive compensation from your actions through such links. However, I don't let that corrupt my perspective and I don't recommend only affiliates.
Related Content
