How to Launch a Celebrity-Style Podcast in 90 Days (Template Inspired by Ant & Dec)

Kick off a celebrity-style podcast in 90 days — without the guesswork

You're a creator or publisher who needs predictable audience growth, reliable monetization, and a launch playbook that actually works. The challenge: turning a celebrity-style conversational show into a repeatable production and revenue engine within three months. This guide gives you a day-by-day roadmap, episode templates, a production checklist, a sponsor kit blueprint, and a promotional calendar modeled on how celebrity duos (think Ant & Dec's new show and other high-profile launches in 2025–2026) go from idea to scale.

Why now: 2026 trends to use as your launch fuel

• Subscription & membership acceleration: Companies like Goalhanger passed 250,000 paying subscribers in early 2026, showing premium podcast revenue is real. Membership perks — ad-free audio, bonus episodes, early tickets — convert well when bundled with live events and community access.
• Short-form discovery: Platforms prioritize short clips and vertical video. Celebrity launches now combine long-form episodes with 60–90 second social clips that drive search and streams.
• Multi-channel distribution: Big-name creators launch on YouTube, socials, and podcast platforms simultaneously. Ant & Dec used their channels to ask fans what they wanted — an audience-first approach you can copy.
• AI-powered production: Faster transcripts, highlight extraction, and automated editing tools speed production — use them to scale but maintain human oversight and ethical standards.

Big-picture launch goal (90 days)

Deliver a 6–8 episode flagship season, publish with a coordinated 12-week promotional engine, and have a sponsor/outreach kit ready to open monetization conversations by week 8. That’s the celebrity-duo cadence: consistent episodes, high-volume clips, and membership/prod extensions.

90-day step-by-step checklist (high level)

1. Days 1–7 — Strategy & brand: Define audience, show format, value proposition (e.g., "two friends hang out and answer listener questions"), name, and primary platforms.
2. Days 8–21 — Preproduction & tech: Book studio/remote stack, design cover art, write episode outlines, draft sponsor kit, create social templates.
3. Days 22–42 — Record pilot & episodes: Record 2–3 pilot episodes, iterate format, then batch-record remaining episodes.
4. Days 43–60 — Edit, assets & distribution: Edit episodes, create show notes + transcripts, export audiograms and video clips, set up hosting & RSS, submit to platforms.
5. Days 61–75 — Press, guests & partnerships: Activate PR outreach, finalize guest bookings for season timeline, offer early listening to press and partners.
6. Days 76–90 — Launch and post-launch scale: Release episodes, execute promotional calendar, pitch sponsors, and open membership sign-ups.

Detailed 90-day calendar (week-by-week)

Weeks 1–3: Strategy & foundation

• Day 1: Run a 60-minute creative sprint — choose show name, elevator pitch, target KPIs (downloads, retention, paid conversions).
• Day 2–4: Audience mapping — survey your existing audience or run a 1-question poll: "If we launched a podcast, what would you want?" (Ant & Dec used their audience to shape format.)
• Day 5–7: Build core assets — logo/artwork, intro/outro music brief, trailer script.
• Day 8–14: Tech stack — pick host (Libsyn, Captivate, Transistor, etc.), record stack (Rode/Zoom/AES setup or Riverside/Descript for remote video), editing tools, transcript provider (Sonix/Rev/Descript), analytics plan.
• Day 15–21: Sponsor one-pager template, media kit draft, and basic legal templates (guest release, music license check).

Weeks 4–6: Produce & iterate

• Batch record 6–8 episodes. Start with the trailer + first 3 release episodes. Test flow and chemistry in pilot and adjust timing.
• Produce video versions to capture B-roll, reaction shots, and short-form clips for Reels/TikTok/YouTube Shorts.
• Create templates for show notes, SEO titles, and episode timestamps.

Weeks 7–9: Polish assets & outreach

• Edit and finalize episodes; create 3–5 short clips per episode (30–90s) and 1 vertical trailer clip.
• Finalize sponsorship kit with audience projections and sample ad copy.
• Begin guest outreach for season 1 and 2 (use warm intros, press contacts, and mutual connections).

Weeks 10–13: Launch & scale

• Submit RSS to platforms and set a launch date with 3 episodes live on day one (common celebrity tactic).
• Execute launch week: daily social clips, email blast, press release, paid social for best clips, live Q&A or watch party.
• Start sponsor conversations based on initial metrics and offering: host-read spots, custom episodes, or series sponsorships.

Episode templates (plug-and-play)

Below are three celebrity-duo friendly episode outlines designed for scale. Keep each episode to a consistent length so listeners know what to expect.

Template A — The “Hang Out” episode (40–50 mins)

1. 0:00–1:00 — Quick hook + show ID
2. 1:00–4:00 — Banter & personal update
3. 4:00–20:00 — Main segment (storytelling & discussion)
4. 20:00–30:00 — Listener questions / voicemail segment
5. 30:00–40:00 — Rapid-fire segment or mini-game
6. 40:00–45:00 — Sponsor read + CTA
7. 45:00–48:00 — Teaser for next episode & sign-off

Template B — The guest long-form (50–70 mins)

1. 0:00–1:30 — Intro + guest intro
2. 1:30–10:00 — Warm-up & personal anecdotes
3. 10:00–35:00 — Deep-dive interview (use 5–7 narrative questions)
4. 35:00–45:00 — Lightning round / social questions
5. 45:00–50:00 — Sponsor read
6. 50:00–55:00 — Takeaways + CTA

Template C — Event or special (30–40 mins)

1. Intro + context (what makes this special)
2. Main discussion or roundtable
3. Highlights & call-outs to community entries (fans, UGC)
4. Sponsor read + exclusive offer
5. Wrap + membership plug

Production checklist — never miss a step

• Pre-recording: Script bullets, pre-interview with guests, soundcheck, backups set.
• Recording: Use dual-channel Where possible; record local high-res audio; mark ad spots with a clap or beep.
• Post: Edit for pace, remove dead air, normalize levels, noise reduction, add music beds and stings.
• Assets: Create 3–5 short clips, one audiogram, episode artwork, episode SEO title & description, transcript.
• Distribution: Upload to host, set episode scheduling, add chapters & timestamps, publish show notes and embed player.
• Analytics: Track downloads by day 1/7/30, completion rate, listener location, and subscribe growth.

Sponsorship kit: what to include (and a pricing primer)

Create a one-page PDF + multi-page media kit. Make it easy for busy advertisers to say yes.

Essential kit items

• Show elevator: 25–50 words describing tone, format, and USP.
• Audience snapshot: current reach, demo, platform mix, engagement metrics (newsletter open rates, socials, Discord members).
• Launch forecast: expected downloads for launch month (use comparable benchmarks or internal list growth).
• Ad formats & pricing: host-read 30s/60s, mid-roll, pre-roll, branded segment, episode sponsorship.
• Creative examples: mock host-read script + CTA, and a short clip of a past ad read or sample read.
• Case study: any prior branded content wins or audience growth story (even small tests matter).
• Contact & timelines: how early you need creatives, delivery dates, and attribution format.

Pricing primer (practical)

In 2026, standard approaches still apply. Use a hybrid model: baseline CPM + fixed host-read premium and tested discounts for season-long buys.

• Estimate CPM range by platform and audience quality (use 20–50 USD CPM as a reference for host-read in premium shows; adjust by demo value and geography).
• Offer bundled packages: e.g., 3-episode host-read + 6 social clips + newsletter placement at a fixed rate.
• For celebrity-backed launches, sell scarcity: limited series sponsorships at a premium with exclusivity in category.

Guest booking: tactics that convert

• Warm intros matter: Use mutual contacts or PR reps to secure high-value guests; celebrities and busy guests prefer an intro from someone they trust.
• Make booking low-friction: Offer 30/45/60-minute slots, clear pre-interview questions, logistics sheet, and a release form.
• Sell the benefit: Explain reach, audience fit, post-episode promo, and clips they'll get to repost.
• Use templates: Keep a short email pitch (two sentences value + one sentence logistics). See the sample outreach below.

Sample guest outreach (short)

"Hi [Name], we host [podcast name], a conversational show with [audience / notable guests]. We’d love to have you on for 45 minutes to discuss [topic]. We’ll handle recording, promo clips and give you three clips to share. Are you available [two date options]? — [Host name]"

Promotion calendar — launch week and first 12 weeks

Celebrity launches succeed because they flood multiple channels with purposeful content. Below is a lean but high-impact promotional calendar you can adapt.

Launch week (Days 1–7)

• Day 0 (pre-launch): Publish trailer + email list signup + press release to entertainment/industry outlets.
• Day 1: Release 3 episodes. Post 3 clips (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts), publish full video on YouTube, and send newsletter.
• Day 2–6: Daily short-form clips, one paid social boost per top-performing clip, live Instagram or YouTube Q&A on Day 3.
• Day 7: Host a community listening party on Discord or Clubhouse-style room and collect listener questions for episode flow.

Weeks 2–12 (scale & retention)

1. Weekly: Publish 1–2 episodes (depending on cadence) + 3–5 short clips.
2. Biweekly: Newsletter with behind-the-scenes, transcripts, and CTAs for membership.
3. Monthly: Run paid acquisition campaigns for top clips targeted to known lookalike audiences; test creative and placements.
4. Ongoing: Leverage guests’ networks—provide ready-made social assets for them to post the week their episode drops.

Monetization roadmap beyond ads

• Memberships: Offer tiers — ad-free, bonus episodes, early tickets, Discord access. Use a 2026 model: hybrid free + paid driven by exclusives.
• Events & live shows: Turn popular episodes into ticketed live recordings; sell VIP meet-and-greets.
• Branded content: Create mini-series for sponsors or co-produced episodes with partners (higher margin than raw ad slots).
• Merch & affiliate bundles: Issue limited-run merch tied to inside-jokes or memorable episode moments.

KPIs to track (and benchmarks to aim for)

• Day-1 downloads: critical for early sponsor conversations — strong launches aim for 5–10k day-1 downloads for high-profile shows; adjust by your baseline.
• 30-day retention/completion rate: 50%+ completion is excellent; 30–40% is solid for conversational shows.
• Conversion to paid membership: 1–3% is a realistic early target; high-trust celebrity projects can do better.
• Social engagement per clip: aim for 2–5% engagement on owned channels and measure paid CPMs by platform.

Tools & templates (shortlist)

• Recording: Riverside.fm, SquadCast, Zoom (backup)
• Editing: Descript (fast edits), Hindenburg, Reaper
• Hosting & RSS: Captivate, Libsyn, Transistor
• Transcripts & highlights: Descript, Otter, Sonix
• Video repurposing: VEED, CapCut, Premiere Pro
• Analytics: Chartable, Podtrac, native host dashboards

Ethics & 2026 cautions (AI, deepfakes, and trust)

AI tools speed production — but celebrity-level shows carry brand risk. Always disclose when AI's used for editing or enhancement, never synthesize a guest voice without explicit consent, and keep clear release agreements. Trust is your most valuable currency for sponsor deals and memberships.

Quick wins you can execute this week

• Run a one-question poll to your followers asking exactly what they want to hear — use those results in your trailer copy (Ant & Dec's audience-led approach works).
• Create a 30-second trailer and schedule it for day 1 of the launch week.
• Draft your sponsor one-pager — even a simple PDF helps you start conversations early.

Case study snapshot: What Goalhanger and celebrity launches teach us

Goalhanger's 2026 milestone (250k paying subscribers across shows) proves memberships scale when paired with premium benefits like early access, ad-free listening, and community features. Celebrity duos who leverage existing channels and audience-first content — as Ant & Dec did by asking fans what they wanted — create immediate demand and convert faster when they follow a coordinated content-and-clip strategy.

Final checklist before launch (48-hour run-up)

• Confirm RSS & platform approvals.
• Upload episodes and scheduling metadata (titles, descriptions, timestamps).
• Prepare 6 promo assets: trailer vertical, trailer horizontal, 3 clips, and one audiogram.
• Email the press list + partners with assets and embargo info.
• Brief hosts on livestream plan and guest posts schedule.

"We asked our audience if we did a podcast what they would like it to be about — and they said 'we just want you guys to hang out.'" — Declan Donnelly (example of audience-first format planning)

Actionable takeaways

• Plan for multi-format content: Long-form + vertical clips = discovery + retention.
• Batch produce: Record multiple episodes to maintain weekly cadence without weekly recording pressure.
• Build monetization early: Draft a sponsor one-pager in week 1 and test offers by week 8.
• Use audience feedback: Polls and early listening rooms reduce creative risk and increase word-of-mouth.

Next step (call-to-action)

Ready to ship a celebrity-style podcast in 90 days? Grab the downloadable 90-day workbook and plug-in templates (episode outlines, sponsor one-pager, outreach email templates, and a 12-week promo calendar) to execute faster. Launch with confidence — build audience, lock in sponsors, and turn listeners into paying fans.

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