How to export lists for film podcast show notes in 2026

Turn a film research list into clear podcast show notes, with steps for checking titles, choosing an export format and preparing a readable episode list.

By VLClean · 2026-11-11

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Choose the titles discussed in the episode, put them in the order listeners will encounter them, and copy the details into a document or spreadsheet. Check each title and credit before exporting into the format your publishing tool accepts. If the research also involves Radarr or Sonarr, Watcharr turns a public IMDb list into separate movie and show links for those apps. ^[1]

Option	Working method	Output
Document workflow	Write approved titles beside timestamps and short descriptions.	Prepare text to copy into the publishing draft.
Spreadsheet workflow	Arrange titles, identifying details and descriptions in separate columns.	Choose an export format accepted by the publishing destination.
Watcharr	Paste a public IMDb list. ^[1]	One movie link for Radarr and one show link for Sonarr. ^[1]

What you need before you start

Prepare the episode outline, the research list and the draft notes before choosing an export method. Decide whether the published list should cover everything mentioned or only titles discussed at length. Keep background research separate from the titles listeners need to find after hearing the episode.

Choose the details each entry needs. A title, release year and short explanation of its relevance may be enough. Add a director, episode name or other identifying detail when similar titles could confuse the reader. Decide whether timestamps belong beside the titles or elsewhere in the notes.

Check the destination before preparing the export. Find out whether the publishing tool accepts pasted text, a table or an uploaded file. Use that requirement to choose the working format, and keep an editable copy for corrections.

Agree on who checks the final list and who publishes it. Mark uncertain titles or credits so they are resolved before export. If several researchers contribute, give them the same entry format and a clear place to leave questions. Decide how to handle spoilers before writing descriptions that reveal plot details.

Step by step

Read the episode outline and mark the titles that belong in the show notes. Separate films and shows discussed on air from titles collected only for preparation.

Use a document for a short list with written commentary, or arrange the research in spreadsheet columns when entries need separate fields. Decide where titles, years, credits, timestamps and editorial notes should go. Keep private working comments apart from text intended for publication.

Bring the chosen titles into the working copy. Preserve the original spelling until it has been checked, and flag incomplete details rather than filling gaps from memory. Where the same title appears in several research notes, decide whether it needs a single entry or separate references to different parts of the episode.

Check the title and any year, director or episode information that will appear beside it. Distinguish a film from a remake or a show from an individual episode. Confirm that each description explains the discussion accurately without adding an unsupported plot detail or credit.

Follow the episode's discussion order unless alphabetical order serves the notes better. Put timestamps beside the relevant entries if they are part of the format. Write short descriptions that explain why each title appears, and apply the same approach to spoilers throughout.

Copy the approved entries into the publishing draft or use an export format the destination accepts. Preview the result there. Check whether line breaks, punctuation, accented characters and table columns remain readable, especially on a narrow screen.

Keep the editable research file alongside the final notes. Compare the published draft with the episode outline, resolve remaining flags and remove internal comments. After any correction, check the affected entry in the publishing draft as well as the working copy.

Tools that can do it

Choose between a document, a spreadsheet and an IMDb list workflow according to the output being prepared. Before choosing a tool, check how it handles title details, ordering, updates and the format needed for publication.

A document workflow can be kept simple: place each approved title beside its timestamp and a short explanation of the discussion. Use a consistent entry pattern, then copy the finished text into the publishing draft. Keep research comments in a separate working copy so they do not enter the public notes.

For a spreadsheet workflow, give each detail its own column and keep each title on its own row. Use separate fields for the publication order, title, identifying details and final description. Before choosing a spreadsheet application, check its export formats and how the publishing destination handles the exported file.

Watcharr's hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] Consider Watcharr when the research task also involves preparing lists for Radarr or Sonarr, since it turns one public IMDb list into a movie link for Radarr and a show link for Sonarr. ^[1]

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] The page shows the list's covers in a row, each opening TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. ^[1] Its links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same pair of links. ^[1]

Match the output to the task before moving the research. For show notes, check how the final text will reach the publishing draft; for an accompanying library workflow, check which destination needs the list.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid exporting the whole research collection without deciding what listeners need. Background titles can stay in the working file. Keep the public list tied to the episode, and explain any extra recommendations so readers understand why they appear.

Avoid treating a title match as a completed editorial check. Confirm the intended film, remake, show or episode before publishing. Use a consistent style for names and years, and resolve uncertain credits instead of carrying question marks into the final notes.

Avoid assuming the working copy will look the same after export. Preview the publishing draft and check long titles, accented characters, line breaks and any tables. Review timestamps after the episode edit is final so they point to the intended discussion.

Things to check before you choose include the required export format, how to preserve editorial notes and whether the intended use meets the tool's terms. Commercial use of Watcharr is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1]

Avoid leaving corrections in only the research file. Update the publication copy too, then check the changed entry in context.

Frequently asked questions

What does Watcharr produce from an IMDb list?

You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Before choosing an export method for show notes, decide whether the next destination needs readable editorial text or a list for an accompanying library workflow.

Does Watcharr require an account?

The hosted version of Watcharr needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] If you sign in, it re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1] Decide separately how the approved research entries will be copied into the publishing draft.

Which IMDb lists can Watcharr accept?

Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] Its links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same pair of links. ^[1] Keep the editorial selection and publication order clear in the working notes.

How does Watcharr handle shows it cannot match?

Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1] Check the intended title and identifying details before publishing a show reference. Keep the show notes tied to the episode discussion, and resolve uncertain entries in the research copy.

Can Watcharr be used for commercial podcast research?

Commercial use of Watcharr is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[1] Check the intended research use against the relevant terms before choosing a tool for the podcast workflow.

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[1]

Try Watcharr

Sources

Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)