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Produce and Publish One Real Episode

The capstone project for Podcast Production — a free Creative course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.

Start the course free Download the project workbook

The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.

What you will submit

A single shared document link (Google Doc or Notion, set to 'anyone with the link can view') containing: your one-page show bible, a link to the published/uploaded 10-15 minute episode (with intro, outro and music), the cover art image, the full show notes, and a one-page publishing-and-promotion plan including clip ideas and at least three monetisation routes with how you will get paid.

What to do, step by step

  1. Define your show: write a one-page show bible stating your target listener (be specific), your one-line promise, your format (solo, interview or co-hosted) and why, your episode length and publishing day, and your repeatable episode skeleton — exactly as in Lesson 1. Give your show a clear, searchable name and a 3-4 sentence description.
  2. Record one episode of 10-15 minutes using good technique from Lessons 2 and 3: steady mic distance, healthy (non-red) levels, a soft quiet room, room tone captured, and monitored on headphones. If you include a remote guest, use a local-recording approach (Riverside, or Zoom with separate tracks) plus a phone backup, with headphones on both ends (Lesson 4).
  3. Edit the episode in Audacity, CapCut or Descript (Lesson 5): cut the rambles and dead air to a tight 10-15 minutes, trim the worst filler 'ums', balance the levels, apply gentle noise reduction, and add a reusable intro and outro with royalty-free music kept low under your voice.
  4. Create custom cover art (a readable 3000x3000 square in Canva) and write full show notes — a punchy summary, the main points or timestamps, any links, a guest mention if relevant, search keywords, and a clear call to action (Lesson 6).
  5. Publish or upload the finished episode so it has a shareable link — host it free on Spotify for Podcasters, or upload the audio (or an audiogram video) to YouTube unlisted/public, so you can share the actual episode link.
  6. Write a one-page publishing-and-promotion plan: which platforms you will distribute to (Spotify, Apple, YouTube), three short-clip ideas you will cut from this episode for TikTok/Reels/Shorts, your weekly cadence and how you will get your first listeners, and at least three ways you plan to earn (e.g. local sponsors, Patreon, your own product, lives, AdSense) plus how you will get paid from Nigeria. Put EVERYTHING — show bible, the episode link, cover art, show notes and this plan — in one shared document and submit the link.

Files to work with

Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 7 KB

How it is graded

CriterionWeight
Clear show concept: a one-page show bible with a specific target listener, a one-line promise, a justified format, length, publishing day, episode skeleton, and a searchable name plus description20%
A 10-15 minute episode that is actually recorded and linked, with watchable, clean audio — steady levels, minimal noise, no obvious clipping or heavy background gen/traffic, and (if a guest features) properly recorded remotely30%
Solid editing: tight pacing with rambles and worst filler cut, balanced levels, gentle noise reduction, and a reusable intro and outro with royalty-free music kept low under the voice20%
Professional packaging and publishing: a readable square cover art, complete keyword-rich show notes with a call to action, and the episode actually hosted/uploaded with a working shareable link20%
A realistic publishing-and-promotion plan: distribution platforms, three clip ideas, a sustainable cadence and first-listeners approach, and three-plus monetisation routes with how to get paid from Nigeria10%

You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.

Before you submit: make your link public

If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to finish Podcast Production before submitting the project?

Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Podcast Production is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.

How is the project graded?

An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.

Can I resubmit if I fail?

Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.

What do I actually submit?

A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.

Is the certificate real?

Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.

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Ready to earn this certificate?

Podcast Production is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.

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