Why can't you just create the core of a podcast? Why do you need an introduction? Why do you need a recap?

The introduction for your podcast and the recap are more than just a tradition. They are an important part of your podcast. They are necessary.

In this article I'm going to explain the importance of an introduction and a recap.

There are three elements that your audience will use to judge any learning content including that provided in a podcast. The first is content. The second is organization. And the third is delivery.

Having an organized argument which builds from an interesting statement of the issue to a logical summation of the argument is important. Your audience expects it of you. It's one of the most important elements in their decision to believe that you know what you are talking about. After all, if you can't organize your thoughts then you obviously don't understand the material very well.

But it goes beyond that simple definition of quality. There is a definite cognitive purpose to having an introduction, body and recap. In training we describe the rule as "Tell them what you are going to tell them. Tell them. Then tell them what you have told them." In essence people need to hear the message three times before they will treat it as important. You'll see triplets and their big brother quads used throughout a professional presentation.

An introduction fills four basic needs. The first is to tell them what they are going to hear. In this way, you are filling the audiences' cognitive needs. The second is similar in that it awakens people and gives them advance notice that they are going to hear something of importance. The third is that it fulfills the requirement for a starting point or hypothesis for your argument. Finally, it is a hook. That is it must attract the audience and speak to their innate curiosity in order to create an urge to listen to the rest of the podcast.

Similarly the recap fulfills three needs. The first is to fulfill the audiences' cognitive needs by telling them what they heard. The second is that it brings closure to the argument. A final conclusion. And finally as a result it also brings fulfillment. Your audience knows that the end has been reached and they can then relax.

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