> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.podigee.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.podigee.com/documentation/create-and-publish/production/episodes/create-and-publish-an-episode.md).

# Create and publish an episode

Create a new episode, add its details, upload the audio, and publish it for the first time.

Use this tutorial to take one episode from an empty draft to a live publication. It uses a single audio file from your computer and publishes the episode immediately.

## What you will complete

At the end of this tutorial, you will have one published episode. It has a title, a description, and an encoded audio file that listeners can play.

## Before you start

* You are the podcast owner, or you have permission to create, edit, and publish episodes in the podcast.
* Your subscription is active and not paused. Publication also requires an account in good standing.
* You have one audio file in a supported format on your computer. See [Upload audio or video](/documentation/create-and-publish/production/episodes/upload-audio-or-video.md) for the format list.
* The podcast is not in the middle of a first-time import from another host. Podigee blocks episode creation while the import runs.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Classic view" %}

### Follow the tutorial

#### 1. Create the episode

1. Open the podcast.
2. Select **Create new episode** in the episode sidebar.

Expected result: Podigee shows the notice "Episode successfully created. Now you can add some more details." and opens the new episode on its **Media Files** tab. The episode has the title "New Episode", the next free episode number, and the **Not published** state.

![Episodes tab of a podcast in the classic view with the Create new episode button, the search field, and one draft episode row](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e1daa8157117a47a61db1f0893759f5b81a5de29%2Fdoc-production-002-classic-episode-list.png?alt=media)

The Episodes tab of the podcast holds the Create new episode button above the episode list.

#### 2. Add the details

1. Open the **General** tab.
2. Enter the **Title**. The title is required.
3. Enter the **Subtitle** and the **Description**.
4. Optional: add **Show notes**, keywords, and a cover image.

Expected result: the form saves automatically when you change a field. The footer shows **Autosaved**. See [Edit episode details](/documentation/create-and-publish/production/episodes/edit-episode-details.md) for every field and its limit.

![General tab of a draft episode in the classic view with the Title, Subtitle, and Description fields](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ea2bf9adf255e491a1198648f4b74287bc66aad4%2Fdoc-production-002-classic-general-tab.png?alt=media)

The General tab holds the title, subtitle, and description of the episode and saves each change automatically.

#### 3. Upload the audio file

1. Open the **Media Files** tab.
2. Drop your audio file on the upload area, or select it from your computer.
3. Stay on the page until the upload completes. If you leave or reload the page, Podigee cancels the upload. You can open other tabs of the episode while the upload runs.

Expected result: the media section shows "You can now schedule the publication of this episode." If the file contains chapter marks or a cover image, Podigee imports them in the background.

#### 4. Publish the episode

1. Select **Publish now\...** in the episode header.
2. In the **Publish episode** dialog, keep **Publish now** selected under **Choose when to go live**.
3. On the current plans (Launch, Starter, Grow, Scale, Creator, Pro, Enterprise, Broadcaster, Network), **Publish now** uses the audio defaults of the podcast. It also sends an email notification and creates a transcript. To change the processing options, set the podcast defaults first or schedule the publication. See [Choose audio processing options](/documentation/create-and-publish/production/episodes/choose-audio-processing-options.md). On an older plan, open **Advanced options** to change the options for this publication.
4. Confirm the dialog.

Expected result: Podigee shows "The publication of the episode has been started." The media tab shows **Preparing audio files for publication** with a progress bar. Processing runs in the background, so you can leave the page.

### Check your result

* The episode header shows the **Published** state with the publication time.
* The **Media Files** tab shows the encoded audio in the web player and offers **Download MP3**.
* When you chose an email notification, you receive an email with the subject "\[episode title]" from "\[podcast title]" is live.

### If the result is different

* **Publish now\...** is disabled with the tooltip "In order to publish your episode, you first need to upload an audio file.": the upload did not complete. Upload the file again.
* The publish buttons are disabled with a permission tooltip: ask the podcast owner or an admin for the permission to publish episodes.
* The media tab shows "There was an error publishing the episode. Please check whether the audio file is valid and not too short.": upload a valid file, then publish again. See [Episode publishing fails or is stuck](/documentation/connect-and-administer/troubleshooting/episode-publishing-fails-or-is-stuck.md).
* A dialog says that you reached the episode publish limit or the podcast limit of your plan: see [You reached a plan limit](/documentation/connect-and-administer/troubleshooting/you-reached-a-plan-limit.md).
* An email with the subject "\[episode title]" was not published tells you that the publication did not finish. The episode is not live. Open the episode and publish it again.
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Podigee workspace" %}
In the Podigee workspace the upload comes first. Podigee prepares the episode details for you to review, and you publish from a separate page.

### Follow the tutorial

#### 1. Start the episode with the recording

1. Open the podcast and select **Episodes** in the sidebar.
2. Select **New episode**. The page shows the drop zone **Drop your video or audio file here**.
3. Drop the recording on the drop zone, or select **Choose a file** and select it on your computer.
4. Stay on the page while the **Selected file** card shows **Uploading your file...**.

Expected result: the card shows **Upload ready**. The page then shows **Preparing episode details...** with the steps **Upload**, **Analyze content**, **Draft details**, **Suggest chapters**, and **Ready for review**. There is no empty draft and no confirmation notice.

![New episode page of the Podigee workspace with the drop zone Drop your video or audio file here and the Choose a file button](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-35753d63cf7eaf7b6aa6778e7fd0ae0c7be0faaa%2Fdoc-production-004-drop-zone.png?alt=media)

A new episode starts with the recording: drop the file or select Choose a file.

#### 2. Review the prepared details

1. When the page shows **Episode details are ready.**, select **Review episode details**.
2. In the editor, check the **Title** and the **Description** under **Title & description**.
3. Optional: check **Chapter markers**, **Show notes**, and **Keywords**.
4. Select **Save changes**. The editor does not save automatically. The banner **Save changes when ready** reminds you.

Expected result: Podigee shows "Episode saved." and opens the episode preview. The **Publishing** panel shows the **Status** **Draft** and the **Public page** **Available after publishing**.

![Episode editor of the Podigee workspace with the Title & description panel, the Save changes when ready hint, and the Visibility check list](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2ed0c8fe3e7739e22adee9102e9bbff7f0ebf1d3%2Fdoc-production-002-episode-editor.png?alt=media)

The editor shows the drafted details and the Visibility check that tells you what the episode still needs.

#### 3. Publish the episode

1. In the **Publishing** panel of the preview, select **Publish episode**.
2. On the page **Choose when this episode goes live.**, check the details under **Review**.
3. Check the **Publish readiness** list. Each item must show **Done**. An item with **Needed** blocks the publication.
4. Keep **Now** selected under **Publishing time**.
5. Select **Publish episode**.
6. The browser asks you to confirm. The question warns that the episode becomes public straight away. Confirm it.

Expected result: Podigee shows "Episode published." and opens the episode preview.

### Check your result

* The **Publishing** panel of the preview shows the **Status** **Published** and offers **Open public page**.
* In the editor, the **Published** panel offers **View live**.
* In the **Episodes** list, the episode has the **Published** status.

### If the result is different

* The **Selected file** card shows "Upload failed. Choose the file again.": select the file again and stay on the page.
* The page shows **Preparation needs attention.**: the upload is saved, but Podigee could not draft the details. Select **Add details manually** and enter the title and the description yourself.
* The publish page shows "Processing is still running. The publish button unlocks when the file is ready.": Podigee still processes the recording. Stay on the page. The page reloads itself until the button unlocks.
* The publish page shows "Publishing unlocks when the checklist is complete.": an item of the **Publish readiness** list is **Needed**. For **Show cover art**, add a cover to the podcast under **Settings** > **Cover art**, or set **Use a custom episode cover** under **Expert fields** in the editor. **Upload complete** and **Processing finished** need the recording.
* Podigee shows "Add a title and description before publishing.": select **Edit details**, fill both fields, and select **Save changes**.
* Podigee shows "We could not publish this episode yet. Check the readiness items and try again.": complete the **Publish readiness** list, then publish again.
* Podigee shows "Publishing will finish after processing completes.": the publication started before the processing was complete. Podigee publishes the episode when the processing completes.
* The publish page shows "This episode is already live.": the episode is published. To change or cancel a publication, use the classic view.

What is different:

* The upload comes first. There is no empty draft and no **Media Files** tab.
* The episode needs a title and a description before you can publish. The **Visibility check** in the editor and in the preview lists what is still missing.
* The publish page has no **Advanced options**. It uses the audio defaults of the podcast. See [Choose audio processing options](/documentation/create-and-publish/production/episodes/choose-audio-processing-options.md).
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

## Next step

To publish a later episode at a chosen time, see [Schedule or change an episode publication](/documentation/create-and-publish/production/episodes/schedule-or-change-an-episode-publication.md). To structure the episode for your listeners, see [Add chapter marks](/documentation/create-and-publish/production/episodes/add-chapter-marks.md).


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