> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.beatsquares.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Creating Podcasts
> Turn articles into a finished podcast episode – segment by segment, with AI-generated audio, variants, and background music.
Podcasts in BeatSquares are built segment by segment. Each segment is based on one or more articles, generates its own audio, and can have its own background music and variants. You review and verify each segment independently before publishing the full episode.
Prefer a visual walkthrough? Follow the interactive guide below:
Podcasts can only be created inside a Square with the output format **Podcast**. If you don't have one yet, see [Creating Squares](/core-features/creating-squares).
## Understanding segments and templates
Your podcast follows a default **template** (also called a *blueprint*) that defines its structure – which segments appear, in what order, and how each one is filled. Your template is configured together with the BeatSquares team during onboarding.
A podcast contains different kinds of segments:
* **Content segments** – built from one or more articles. Each has its own generated audio and optional background music.
* **Overview segment** – a special intro or summary segment that uses all your other segments as input. It can only be generated once all content segments are verified.
Want to change the structure of your podcast (add segments, change the order, adjust how a segment is generated)? Reach out to the BeatSquares team.
## 1. Create the podcast
From the Dashboard, click **View square** on a Square configured for podcast output.
Start a new episode from the Square interface.
Enter a name. Podcasts cannot be saved without one.
## 2. Build each content segment
You can work on segments in any order. The flow for each segment is the same: add articles, generate, review, choose a variant, add music, and verify.
Click **Add articles** on the segment. By default, you'll see articles from the same Square. To pull in articles from elsewhere, check **Search for articles outside this square**. Select your articles and click **Add to segment**.
Click **Generate** to create the audio for this segment. You can keep working on other segments while it generates in the background.
Use the built-in player to listen. Check the content, tone, and pacing. You can also generate a preview for individual words or short phrases to test how they sound.
BeatSquares generates several variants per segment. Click **Var 2**, **Var 3**, etc. to hear different phrasings, tones, and emphases. Pick the one that fits the segment best.
Click the **music** icon to browse and pick a track. Different segments can have different music to match their tone.
Click **Edit segment** to manually adjust the script before it's converted to audio. Or click the **Edit** icon (✏️) to review and tweak the generated text.
When you're happy with the segment – content, variant, and music – click **Verify segment**. You can unverify later if you need to make changes.
Repeat for each content segment in your podcast.
## 3. Generate the overview segment
The overview is a special segment (typically intro or summary) that uses all your other segments as input. It can only be generated once everything else is verified.
Make sure every content segment shows a "Verified" status before continuing.
Click **Generate overview** to create it.
Listen, pick the best variant, and verify it just like a normal segment.
If you see an error when generating the overview, check that all content segments are verified. The overview won't generate otherwise.
## 4. Publish and share
Once all segments (including the overview) are verified, click **Publish**. This combines everything into a single, finalized podcast file.
Use the built-in player to listen to the full podcast – all segments combined.
You can now download the podcast file for distribution on external platforms, or share it directly from BeatSquares (via Podigee).
Need to change something after publishing? You can still edit individual segments – just unverify the segment, make your changes, and publish again.
## Tips
* **Work segment by segment** – focus on perfecting one before moving to the next, rather than generating everything at once.
* **Listen to all variants** – the AI often surprises you with creative angles you wouldn't have picked from the first one.
* **Vary background music** – different tracks for different segments help create rhythm and emotional contrast across the episode.
* **Generate the overview last** – it needs every other segment verified to work.
## Troubleshooting
**Can't generate the overview segment?** Make sure every content segment is verified.
**Background music not applying?** Save your music selection before regenerating the segment.
## What's next?
Embed your podcast on websites and other platforms.
Build a newsletter from articles.
Generate WhatsApp updates from a single article.
Turn articles into a LinkedIn carousel post.
Expand your content pool.