git:20260527.9e8b548 to git:20260707.40eb9b3

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name: kai-podcast

description: Launch a podcast or plan podcast guest strategy — format, content planning, episode production, guest outreach, and distribution. Use when "podcast", "start a podcast", "podcast marketing", "podcast guest", "podcast strategy", "be a podcast guest", "launch a show", or any request related to podcast creation or guest appearances.

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# Kai Podcast Skill

Launch a podcast OR plan a podcast guest strategy. Two modes: Host (launch your own show) and Guest (get booked on other shows).

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## Phase 0: Load Product Context

Check if `MARKETING.md` exists in the **project root** (same directory as CLAUDE.md, README.md, package.json).

**If it exists:** Read it — skip product discovery questions. It has the product name, ICP, value prop, monetization, brand voice, current channels, and competitive landscape.

**If it does NOT exist:** Auto-explore the codebase to create it in the **project root** (next to CLAUDE.md). Do NOT ask the user what the product is. Read CLAUDE.md, README.md, PROJECT.md, package.json, landing pages, and any project files. Search for email/ad/analytics config. Then create `MARKETING.md` using the template from `/kai-email-system`. Present draft to user for confirmation.

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## Phase 1: Discovery

Read from `MARKETING.md`. Only ask about things not covered there:

1. **Mode** — Are we launching a show (Host) or getting booked on shows (Guest)?

2. **Goal** — Brand awareness, thought leadership, lead gen, networking, SEO backlinks?

4. **Topic territory** — What subjects can we own? What's our unique angle?

5. **Existing assets** — Blog posts, talks, interviews that prove expertise?

6. **Commitment level** — Weekly, biweekly, monthly? (Host) / How many appearances per month? (Guest)

7. **Equipment/setup** — Current mic, recording, and editing capabilities

### Transcript and RSS Ingest

If the user provides an RSS feed, episode URL, transcript, raw audio, or show notes, ingest before planning derivatives.

Create `workspace/podcast/_ingest-log.md` with:

- **Source**: RSS URL, episode URL, transcript path, audio path, or show-notes path

- **Permission status**: owned, guest-approved, public citation, internal review, or unknown

- **Episode metadata**: title, guest, publish date, runtime, canonical URL

- **Transcript status**: provided, generated, partial, missing, or low confidence

- **Repurpose candidates**: quotes, stories, objections, frameworks, clip timestamps

Guardrails:

- Preserve source locations for every quote, claim, and clip candidate.

- Use public RSS metadata for planning only; do not imply endorsement by a host or guest.

- Ask for approval before publishing show notes, clips, outreach, or guest quotes.

- Do not create fake expert authority from a transcript. Attribute ideas to the right speaker or keep them as internal notes.

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## Phase 2: Plan

### Host Mode — Launch a Podcast

3. **Show concept**:

- Name (3-5 candidates, check availability)

- Format (solo, interview, co-host, panel, hybrid)

- Episode length (target: 20-45 min for interview, 10-20 min for solo)

- Unique angle — Why listen to THIS show over 100 others in the category?

4. **First 10 episodes** — Map topics and guests for the launch batch

5. **Production workflow** — Record, edit, show notes, publish, promote

6. **Distribution plan** — Apple, Spotify, YouTube, RSS, website embed

7. **Promotion plan** — Social clips, email, cross-promotion, guest sharing

### Guest Mode — Get Booked on Shows

2. **Speaker positioning**:

- 3 signature topics you can speak on

- Unique stories/frameworks/data you bring

- One-liner that makes a host say "I need this person on my show"

3. **Target show list** — 20-50 shows where your audience listens

4. **Pitch template** — Personalized outreach to podcast hosts

5. **Media kit** — Bio, headshot, topic list, past appearances, social proof

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## Phase 3: Produce

### Host Mode Assets

1. **Show description** — For podcast directories (under 600 characters)

2. **Episode template** — Intro, segments, outro, CTA structure

3. **Episode outlines** — First 10 episodes with talking points

4. **Guest interview questions** — If interview format

5. **Show notes template** — Summary, timestamps, links, CTA

6. **Promotion templates** — Social posts, audiogram scripts, email announcements

### Guest Mode Assets

1. **Speaker one-sheet** — Bio, topics, audience value, past appearances

2. **Pitch emails** — 3 variants for different show sizes/types

3. **Talking points per topic** — So you're always prepared

4. **Follow-up template** — Post-appearance thank-you + content sharing plan

5. **Tracking spreadsheet structure** — Shows pitched, status, air dates, results

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## Phase 4: Quality Gates

Validate written assets:

- Minimum: **12/16** for show descriptions and episode outlines

- Minimum: **10/16** for emails and pitches

3. **AI Slop Check** — No filler. Every sentence earns its place.

4. **Pitch specificity check** — Does the pitch reference the host's show specifically?

Max 2 auto-retry cycles on gate failures.

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## Phase 5: Output

Deliver the podcast package:

### Host Mode

- **Show concept document** (name, format, angle, positioning)

- **First 10 episode outlines**

- **Production workflow checklist**

- **Distribution and promotion plan**

- **Show notes template**

- **Gate pass/fail summary**

### Guest Mode

- **Speaker one-sheet**

- **Target show list** (20-50 shows with rationale)

- **Pitch email templates** (3 variants)

- **Talking points per topic**

- **Tracking spreadsheet structure**

- **Gate pass/fail summary**