# Podcast Episode Title & Description

**PODCAST:**
The Startup Playbook

**EPISODE TOPIC:**
Interview with Maria Santos, founder of CloudKitchen (raised $47M, grew to 200 employees in 3 years, recently acquired)

**KEY TOPICS COVERED:**
- How she validated the idea while working full-time
- Raising her seed round after 42 rejections
- The hiring mistake that almost killed the company
- Why she sold for less than she could have
- Advice for first-time founders

**EPISODE TYPE:**
Interview

**EPISODE LENGTH:**
58 minutes

---

## THE CORE PROBLEM WITH PODCAST TITLES

Most podcasters title episodes like this:
```
❌ "Episode 47: Interview with Maria Santos"
❌ "Maria Santos - CloudKitchen Founder"
❌ "Startup Founder Interview"
```

**Why these fail:**
- No reason to click (what will I learn?)
- No emotional hook (why should I care?)
- No specificity (what makes this different?)
- Wastes valuable character space
- Does not help with search/SEO

---

## EPISODE TITLE OPTIONS

### Title Set 1: Achievement + Curiosity

**Primary Title:**
```
She Raised $47M After 42 Investor Rejections — Here's What Changed
```
**Characters:** 67

**With Guest Name:**
```
She Raised $47M After 42 Investor Rejections — Maria Santos (CloudKitchen)
```
**Characters:** 75

**Why This Works:**
- **Specific numbers** ($47M, 42 rejections) create credibility
- **Contrast** (rejections → success) creates curiosity
- **"Here's What Changed"** promises actionable insight
- **Guest name at end** for those who search for her

---

### Title Set 2: Mistake/Lesson Hook

**Primary Title:**
```
The Hiring Mistake That Almost Killed a $47M Startup
```
**Characters:** 53

**With Guest Name:**
```
The Hiring Mistake That Almost Killed Her $47M Startup | Maria Santos
```
**Characters:** 71

**Why This Works:**
- **"Mistake"** = people want to avoid mistakes
- **"Almost killed"** = high stakes, drama
- **Specific number** ($47M) = credibility
- **Universal relevance** (everyone hires)

---

### Title Set 3: Counterintuitive/Surprising

**Primary Title:**
```
Why She Sold Her Startup for Less Than She Could Have (And Has No Regrets)
```
**Characters:** 76

**With Guest Name:**
```
Why Maria Santos Sold CloudKitchen for Less Than She Could Have
```
**Characters:** 61

**Why This Works:**
- **Counterintuitive** (sold for less? why?)
- **"No regrets"** adds intrigue
- **Different angle** from typical success stories
- **Makes listener think** (would I do that?)

---

### Title Set 4: How-To/Tactical

**Primary Title:**
```
How to Validate a Startup Idea While Working Full-Time (Real Example)
```
**Characters:** 70

**With Guest Name:**
```
How Maria Santos Validated CloudKitchen While Working Full-Time
```
**Characters:** 63

**Why This Works:**
- **"How to"** = clear value proposition
- **Specific constraint** (while working full-time) = relatable
- **"Real Example"** = not theory
- **Actionable** promise

---

### Title Set 5: Numbers-Led

**Primary Title:**
```
From 0 to 200 Employees in 3 Years: The CloudKitchen Playbook
```
**Characters:** 62

**Alternative:**
```
$0 to $47M Raised: Inside CloudKitchen's Fundraising Strategy
```
**Characters:** 59

**Why This Works:**
- **Specific numbers** grab attention
- **Timeframe** (3 years) makes it tangible
- **"Playbook/Strategy"** promises actionable content
- **Journey structure** (from X to Y)

---

### Title Set 6: Question Format

**Primary Title:**
```
What Do You Do After 42 Investors Say No? (Maria Santos' Answer)
```
**Characters:** 65

**Alternative:**
```
Would You Sell Your Startup for Less Than It's Worth? She Did.
```
**Characters:** 61

**Why This Works:**
- **Question engages** reader directly
- **Specific scenario** (42 rejections)
- **Promises an answer**
- **Relatable dilemma**

---

## EPISODE DESCRIPTION

### Full Description (Apple Podcasts)

```
Maria Santos raised $47 million for CloudKitchen after 42 investors told her no. Three years later, she sold the company—but for less than she could have gotten. In this episode, she shares the real story.

We cover:

→ How she validated the idea nights and weekends while working full-time at Google
→ What changed between rejection #42 and her first yes
→ The hiring decision she calls her "biggest mistake" and how it almost destroyed everything
→ Why she walked away from a higher offer (and why she would do it again)
→ Her honest advice for first-time founders who feel like giving up

This is one of the most honest conversations we have had on the show. Maria does not hold back—she shares the failures, the doubts, and the moments she almost quit.

Whether you are raising your first round or thinking about starting a company, this episode is a masterclass in persistence, decision-making, and knowing what actually matters.

—

📧 Get show notes and resources: startupplaybook.com/47
🐦 Follow Maria: @mariasantos
📱 Follow us: @startupplaybook

Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[03:15] Maria's background and the CloudKitchen origin story
[12:40] Validating the idea while working at Google
[24:30] The fundraising journey: 42 rejections
[38:15] The hiring mistake that almost killed the company
[47:20] The acquisition: why she took less money
[54:00] Advice for first-time founders
```

**Character Count:** 1,487
**Word Count:** 253

**Why This Description Works:**
- **Hook in first paragraph** (specific story, intrigue)
- **Bullet points scannable** (what will I learn)
- **Emotional language** (honest, failures, almost quit)
- **Clear value statement** (masterclass in...)
- **Links and social** included
- **Timestamps** for navigation

---

### Short Description (Spotify/Preview)

```
Maria Santos raised $47M after 42 investor rejections—then sold CloudKitchen for less than she could have. She shares the real story: the validation process, the fundraising grind, the hiring mistake that almost killed everything, and why she has no regrets about walking away from more money.
```

**Character Count:** 296

**Why This Works:**
- **Complete story** in short format
- **Key hooks** preserved (42 rejections, sold for less)
- **Specific topics** mentioned
- **Intrigue maintained**

---

### One-Line Description

```
Maria Santos on raising $47M after 42 rejections, the hiring mistake that almost killed CloudKitchen, and why she sold for less than she could have.
```

**Characters:** 149

---

## TITLE FORMULAS BY EPISODE TYPE

### Interview Episodes

**Formula 1: Achievement + How**
```
How [Guest] [Achieved Impressive Thing] — [Specific Detail]
```
*Example: How Maria Santos Built a 200-Person Company in 3 Years — Starting From Zero*

**Formula 2: Failure/Lesson + Recovery**
```
The [Mistake/Failure] That Almost [Consequence] — [Guest Name]
```
*Example: The Hiring Mistake That Almost Killed Her Startup — Maria Santos*

**Formula 3: Counterintuitive Action**
```
Why [Guest] [Did Unexpected Thing] (And [Outcome])
```
*Example: Why Maria Santos Sold Her Startup for Less Than Market Value (And Has No Regrets)*

**Formula 4: Specific Number + Outcome**
```
[Number] [Things/Rejections/Attempts] Later: How [Guest] [Succeeded]
```
*Example: 42 Rejections Later: How Maria Santos Raised $47M for CloudKitchen*

---

### Solo/Educational Episodes

**Formula 1: How-To + Constraint**
```
How to [Achieve Goal] [With Constraint/Limitation]
```
*Example: How to Raise a Seed Round With No Warm Intros*

**Formula 2: Number + Topic**
```
[Number] [Things] That [Outcome] (And [Number] That [Opposite])
```
*Example: 5 Pitch Deck Mistakes That Kill Deals (And 3 That Close Them)*

**Formula 3: The Truth About**
```
The Truth About [Topic Everyone Gets Wrong]
```
*Example: The Truth About Product-Market Fit (It is Not What You Think)*

**Formula 4: Why + Consequence**
```
Why [Common Practice] Is [Negative Outcome] — And What to Do Instead
```
*Example: Why Most Startup Advice Is Backwards — And What Actually Works*

---

### News/Commentary Episodes

**Formula 1: Event + Take**
```
[Company/Event]: [Your Take or Question]
```
*Example: Stripe's New Pricing: Genius Move or Desperate Cash Grab?*

**Formula 2: What X Means For Y**
```
What [News/Event] Means for [Your Audience]
```
*Example: What the SVB Collapse Means for Startup Fundraising*

---

### Q&A/Mailbag Episodes

**Formula 1: Best Question as Title**
```
"[Compelling Question From Listener]" — Listener Q&A
```
*Example: "Should I Quit My Job Before I Have Funding?" — Listener Q&A*

**Formula 2: Topic Cluster**
```
[Topic 1], [Topic 2], and [Topic 3] — Your Questions Answered
```
*Example: Equity Splits, First Hires, and Founder Breakups — Your Questions Answered*

---

## PLATFORM CHARACTER LIMITS

| Platform | Title Limit | Visible in Browse | Description Preview |
|----------|-------------|-------------------|--------------------|
| Apple Podcasts | 255 chars | ~50-60 chars | ~100 chars |
| Spotify | 200 chars | ~40-50 chars | ~150 chars |
| Google Podcasts | 100 chars | ~50 chars | ~150 chars |
| YouTube | 100 chars | ~60 chars | ~120 chars |
| Overcast | 255 chars | ~60 chars | ~100 chars |

**Recommendation:** Keep titles under 70 characters for full visibility across platforms.

---

## TITLE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

### What Drives Clicks:

| Element | Impact | Example |
|---------|--------|---------|
| Specific numbers | High | "$47M" not "millions" |
| Timeframes | High | "in 3 years" not "quickly" |
| Failure/mistakes | Very High | "almost killed" "biggest mistake" |
| Counterintuitive | Very High | "sold for less" "turned down" |
| How-to promise | High | "How to validate" |
| Celebrity/notable guest | Medium | Only if widely known |
| Questions | Medium | Engages directly |
| Controversy | Medium-High | Use carefully |

### What Hurts Clicks:

| Element | Why It Fails |
|---------|-------------|
| Episode numbers first | "Ep 47:" wastes prime space |
| Guest name only | Who is that? Why care? |
| Vague topics | "Business stuff" = scroll past |
| Inside jokes | New listeners do not get it |
| All caps | Looks spammy |
| Clickbait without delivery | Destroys trust |

---

## TITLE OPTIMIZATION PROCESS

### Step 1: Identify the Hook
```
Ask yourself:
- What is the most surprising thing from this episode?
- What mistake or failure was discussed?
- What specific result or number stands out?
- What would make ME click if I saw it?
```

### Step 2: Write 10 Variations
```
Force yourself to write 10 different titles.
Usually titles 6-10 are better than 1-5.
Do not settle for your first idea.
```

### Step 3: Apply the Scroll Test
```
Imagine you are scrolling through 20 podcast episodes.
Would you stop for this title?
Be honest.
```

### Step 4: Check Character Count
```
Under 70 characters = full visibility everywhere
70-100 characters = works on most platforms
Over 100 characters = will get cut off somewhere
```

### Step 5: Add Guest Name Strategically
```
If guest is well-known: Include name prominently
If guest is less known: Lead with hook, name at end
Always: Make title work without the name too
```

---

## DESCRIPTION STRUCTURE

### First Line (Critical)
```
[Hook that creates curiosity — this is what appears in preview]
```

### Paragraph 2: What You Will Learn
```
We cover:
→ [Key topic 1 with specific detail]
→ [Key topic 2 with specific detail]
→ [Key topic 3 with specific detail]
→ [Key topic 4 with specific detail]
```

### Paragraph 3: Why This Episode Matters
```
[Emotional or practical reason to listen]
[Who this is especially valuable for]
```

### Footer: Resources
```
[Links, social handles, timestamps]
```

---

## COMMON TITLE MISTAKES

| Mistake | Example | Fix |
|---------|---------|-----|
| Episode number first | "Ep 47: Interview with..." | Move to end or remove |
| No hook | "Maria Santos Interview" | Add what makes it interesting |
| Too long | 150+ characters | Cut to under 70 |
| Too vague | "Startup Advice" | Add specific angle |
| Guest name only | "With Maria Santos" | Lead with value |
| Clickbait | "You Won't BELIEVE This" | Accurate but compelling |
| All episodes same format | "Interview with X" for all | Vary your formats |
| No numbers | "She raised money" | "$47M after 42 rejections" |

---

## A/B TESTING YOUR TITLES

### Method 1: Social Testing
```
1. Post 2-3 title options on Twitter/social
2. Ask followers which they would click
3. Use the winner
```

### Method 2: Time-Based Testing
```
1. Publish with Title A for 48 hours
2. Track downloads
3. Switch to Title B for 48 hours
4. Compare performance
5. Keep winner
```

### Method 3: Episode Comparison
```
1. Track downloads per episode over time
2. Note which title formats perform best
3. Double down on winning formats
```

---

## SEO FOR EPISODE TITLES

### Keywords to Include:
```
- Topic keywords (fundraising, hiring, etc.)
- Guest name (people search for guests)
- Company name (if notable)
- Role keywords (founder, CEO, investor)
```

### Example SEO Title:
```
Startup Fundraising: How Maria Santos (CloudKitchen CEO) Raised $47M After 42 Rejections
```
- "Startup Fundraising" = topic keyword
- "Maria Santos" = guest name
- "CloudKitchen CEO" = company + role
- Rest = compelling hook

---

## EPISODE CHECKLIST

### Before Publishing:

- [ ] Title under 70 characters?
- [ ] Hook in first 5 words?
- [ ] Specific numbers included?
- [ ] Would I click this title?
- [ ] Guest name included (appropriately)?
- [ ] Description first line hooks?
- [ ] Key topics bulleted in description?
- [ ] Timestamps included?
- [ ] Links and social handles added?
- [ ] SEO keywords present naturally?
- [ ] Title works without knowing the show?
- [ ] Not clickbait (delivers on promise)?