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Weekly topic generator

Generates 15 timely, culturally relevant weekly episode topics tied to the current sports/lifestyle/culture news cycle, ranked by relevance and shelf life, each with a hook angle, segment breakdown, and guest or format…

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Purpose

Turn the current news cycle into a ranked slate of 15 episode topics tailored to a specific show format and audience — each with a hook, segment structure, and guest or format suggestion — so producers stop staring at a blank calendar every Monday and can lock a week of content in one session.

When to Use

Invoke this skill when the user asks to:

  • Plan next week's podcast episode topics or fill a weekly content calendar
  • Turn current sports, lifestyle, or culture news into show-ready topics
  • Find timely angles their audience will actually care about right now
  • Brainstorm episode ideas tied to a specific news cycle or moment
  • Generate topic options ranked by relevance and how long they'll stay fresh
  • Match episode ideas to their show's format and recurring segments

Inputs Required

Before starting, collect:

  • Show format: Solo, co-host banter, interview, roundtable, hot-take, or hybrid — and typical episode length
  • Audience persona: Who listens — age range, fandom level, cultural interests, why they tune in
  • Show niche/vertical: The primary lane (e.g., NBA culture, women's fitness, streetwear, combat sports, wellness)
  • Recurring segments: Any repeating bits or blocks the show uses each week
  • Current date/news window: The week being planned for, and any specific storylines already on the producer's radar
  • Tone: Irreverent / analytical / aspirational / conversational / provocative
  • No-go topics: Anything off-limits (political landmines, past controversies, competitor-adjacent stories)

If the news window isn't specified, assume the current week. If recurring segments aren't provided, propose topics as full episodes.

Instructions

Step 1: Map the Current News Landscape

Before generating topics, identify the live storylines in the show's vertical for the target week across four buckets:

  • Breaking/Hot: Stories dominating attention right now — trades, results, scandals, viral moments (highest engagement, shortest shelf life)
  • Developing: Ongoing narratives building toward a moment — playoff races, season arcs, brand launches, trend adoption
  • Evergreen-with-a-hook: Timeless topics made timely by a current event (e.g., "athlete burnout" surfacing because of a specific withdrawal)
  • Cultural crossover: Where the vertical intersects with broader culture — music, fashion, tech, internet moments

For each storyline, note why the show's specific audience persona cares. A topic only qualifies if it connects to what makes this audience tune in.

Step 2: Generate 15 Topics Across the Four Buckets

Distribute topics to balance urgency and durability:

  • Breaking/Hot (4 topics)
  • Developing (5 topics)
  • Evergreen-with-a-hook (4 topics)
  • Cultural crossover (2 topics)

For each topic, produce:

  1. Working title: A punchy episode title in the show's voice — not a description
  2. The hook: One sentence on why this matters to this audience this week
  3. The angle: The specific take or entry point that makes it a show, not just a news recap (contrarian angle, insider POV, emotional throughline, or debate frame)
  4. Segment breakdown: 2–4 segment beats matched to the show format (e.g., cold open take → main debate → listener questions → prediction)
  5. Guest or format suggestion: A specific guest archetype, co-host dynamic, or format twist that elevates it
  6. Shelf life: Days/Weeks — how long the topic stays relevant before it's stale

Step 3: Rank the Slate

Score all 15 topics on two axes and present a ranked recommendation:

  • Relevance: How directly it hits the audience persona and the current cycle (High/Med/Low)
  • Shelf life: How much runway the topic has before it expires

Prioritize High-relevance topics with adequate shelf life. Flag any Breaking topic that must record this week or lose value.

Step 4: Name the Week's Lead Episode

Recommend one topic as the flagship for the week with a 2–3 sentence rationale — why it wins on relevance, timing, and fit for this show's format. Be decisive.

Output Format

  • Structure: Four labeled buckets with numbered topics; each topic in a consistent six-field block; ranked summary table; flagship recommendation
  • Length: 1,000–1,400 words
  • Format: Structured document — scannable topic blocks plus a ranking table
  • Sections: News landscape summary → 15 topics across 4 buckets → Ranked slate table → Lead episode recommendation
  • Tone: Sharp producer's-room energy — opinionated, in-the-know, written in the show's cultural register, not corporate

Quality Checklist

Before delivering output, verify:

  • [ ] All 15 topics are present with the correct bucket counts (4 / 5 / 4 / 2)
  • [ ] Every topic has all six fields filled — no missing hooks, segment breakdowns, or shelf-life labels
  • [ ] Topics reflect the actual current news window, not generic evergreen filler dressed as timely
  • [ ] Each angle offers a distinct take — not just "talk about [news story]"
  • [ ] Segment breakdowns match the show's stated format and length
  • [ ] The ranked table scores every topic and a single flagship is named without hedging

Notes

  • The angle field is where episodes are won or lost — a topic everyone else is covering becomes yours through a sharper entry point. Push past the obvious take.
  • Breaking topics decay fast; if a producer can only record one this week, it should be the highest-relevance Breaking or late-stage Developing story.
  • If the show has strong recurring segments, weave topics into that structure rather than treating each as a standalone — continuity is an asset for audience retention.
  • When two topics compete for the same slot, favor the one with a natural guest or debate built in — those consistently outperform monologue episodes on engagement.

How to use this skill

This file is a Claude Code skill in Anthropic's standard format — markdown with YAML frontmatter at the top.

Installing in Claude Code:

  • ~/.claude/skills/<folder-name>/SKILL.md — auto-loads in every session anywhere on your machine (recommended for skills you'll use across multiple projects)
  • <your-project>/.claude/skills/<folder-name>/SKILL.md — auto-loads only when working in that project (recommended for project-specific skills)

Restart Claude Code or open a new session to register.

Using in Claude.ai, ChatGPT, Gemini, or other AI tools:

  1. Drag this file into a new chat, or copy and paste its contents
  2. Send your task or request as your next message — the AI will apply the skill where it fits

For Claude Code skill details: https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code/skills