Podcast Research Template

Podcast Research Template, within the Milanote app

Organize your articles, images, video & notes

Whether your podcast is a true-crime thriller or an interview series, research is a crucial step in the early creative process. It's a springboard for new ideas and can add substance and authenticity to each episode. As author Robert McKee says "when you do enough research, the story almost writes itself. Lines of development spring loose and you'll have choices galore."

Milanote helps you organize your research in one place and see everything side-by-side. When you do this, new ideas and perspectives start to emerge naturally. This template is part of our guide on How to plan a podcast.

  • Collect inspiration
  • Organize visually
  • Share with your team
  • Gather feedback
  • Export to PDF

How to use this template

Grab the free Milanote template above and follow this step-by-step guide to learn the modern process of organizing your research in Milanote, a free tool used by top creatives.

1. Start with an empty template

The Podcast Research template contains empty placeholders for notes, images, video links and more.

Podcast research empty template
How to do this in Milanote
  1. Create a new board for your research.

    Create a new board

    Drag a board out from the toolbar. Give it a name, then double click to open it.

  2. Choose the Podcast Research template.

    Choose a template 

    Each new board gives you the options to start with a beautiful template.

2. Add any existing notes

You probably know a lot about your chosen topic or guest already. Start by getting the known facts and knowledge out of your head. Even if these topics seem obvious to you, they can serve as a bridge to the rest of your research. You might include facts about the guest, topic, period in history, or events that take place in your show.

Podcast research step02
How to do this in Milanote
  1. Add notes to capture your existing knowledge.

    Drag a note card onto your board

    Start typing then use the formatting tools in the left-hand toolbar.

Wikipedia, blogs, and news websites are a goldmine for researchers. It's here you'll find historical events and records, data, and opinions about your topic. We're in the 'collecting' phase so just save links to any relevant information you stumble across. You can return and read the details at a later stage.

Podcast research step03
How to do this in Milanote
  1. Drag a link card onto your board to save a website.

  2. Install the Milanote Web Clipper

  3. Save websites and articles straight to your board.

    Save content from the web

    With the Web Clipper installed, save a website, image or text. Choose the destination in Milanote. Return to your board and find the content in the "Unsorted" column on the right.

4. Save quotes & data

Quotes are a great way to add credibility and bring personality to your topic. They're also a handy source of inspiration for interview questions or talking points during your show. Remember to keep the source of the quote in case you need to back it up.

Podcast research step04
How to do this in Milanote
  1. Add a note to capture a quote.

    Drag a note card onto your board

    Start typing then use the formatting tools in the left hand toolbar.

5. Collect video & audio

Video and audio are great sources of inspiration for your podcast. Try searching for your topic or guest on Vimeo, or Youtube. Other podcasts are a great reference too. Find conversations about your topic on Spotify or any podcast platform and add them into the mix.

Podcast research step05
How to do this in Milanote
  1. Embed Youtube videos or audio in a board. 

    Embed Youtube videos or audio tracks in a board

    Copy the share link from Youtube, Vimeo, Soundcloud or many other services. Drag a link card onto your board, paste your link and press enter.

6. Collect important images

Sometimes the quickest way to understand a topic is with an image. They can transport you to another time or place and can help you describe things in much more detail. They're also easier to scan when you return to your research. Try saving images from Google Images, Pinterest, or Milanote's built-in image library.

Podcast research step06
How to do this in Milanote
  1. Use the built-in image library.

    Use the built-in image library

    Search over 500,000 beautiful photos powered by Unsplash then drag images straight onto your board.

  2. Install the Milanote Web Clipper

  3. Save images from other websites straight to your board.

    Save content from the web

    Roll over an image (or highlight text), click Save, then choose the destination in Milanote. Return to your board and find the content in the "Unsorted" column on the right.

That's a great start!

Research is an ongoing process and you'll probably continue learning about your topic throughout your creative process. Reference your research as you go to add a unique perspective to your show.

Start organizing your research

Collect & organize your research.