> 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/start-here/ai-agents/manage-episodes/change-an-episode-publication-state.md).

# Change an episode publication state

Move an existing episode between draft, scheduled, and published states safely.

Use the publishing workflow to change whether an episode is offline, scheduled, or live.

## Before you start

* Read the episode and confirm its current state.
* Confirm playable media before publishing now or scheduling.
* Prepare one stable idempotency key for the intended state change.

## Choose the target state

| Intended state   | Publication object                                                     |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Draft or offline | `{ "mode": "draft" }`                                                  |
| Publish now      | `{ "mode": "now" }`                                                    |
| Schedule         | `{ "mode": "scheduled", "published_at": "2026-08-20T09:00:00+02:00" }` |

## Change the state

1. Preview `publish_episode` with the podcast ID, existing episode ID, and target publication object.
2. Review the exact episode and publication plan.
3. Confirm the fresh preview with the same idempotency key and the `confirm` value from the preview.
4. Monitor the returned operation to a terminal state.
5. Read the episode and verify `published_at` and the resulting state.

Draft mode is the reversible way to take an episode offline. Do not delete the episode for this purpose.

## Expected result

Podigee records the intended draft, immediate, or scheduled publication state for the existing episode.

## If the state does not change

Read the operation and episode again. Resume only a retryable operation. Create a new preview when the episode or intended state changed after the first preview. Keep the current state when the correct target is uncertain.

## External directory boundary

Podigee updates its feed and connected workflows. Podcast directories control when their own copies refresh. Verify Podigee first, then check the external platform when timing matters.

## Next step

[Inspect an episode](/documentation/start-here/ai-agents/manage-episodes/inspect-an-episode.md) to verify the current state.


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