Podcasting Tips For Beginners
“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” - Arthur Ashe
My journey with podcasting began last year. It started with a strongly believed idea that everyone had a story worth sharing and hearing from, and I wanted to pursue this idea where I interview a wide range of people but focusing on the life experiences and lessons that have shaped their story. This had to be on a part-time basis as I have a full-time job as a Software Engineer, have my family commitments and several interests outside work.
I knew that podcasting offered an effective platform to take my passion for storytelling and knowledge-sharing to the next level, but with an endless list of equipment to choose from and infinite ideas, it felt a bit too much. I had grey areas like how do I figure out relevant topics for each episode, find my audience, and stay consistent with only a few hours a week to devote to my new hobby. Also, depending on the stats you read, there are more than 3 million podcasts in the world right now so there’s also the consideration of how I stand out in a saturated market. So, off I went - I poured several dozen hours into studying how other people started their podcasts. I took online classes on everything from content creation to lighting. I experimented with various set-ups, learned about different microphones and camera gear. I learned how to structure podcast episodes, attract listeners, edit videos, manage social media, and invite guests.
I've been running my podcast (The Stories That Shape Us Podcast) for a year now and for several episodes, I managed everything myself - sourcing and interviewing guests, editing audio and video, writing show notes, and managing social media. Our podcast has now grown into a team of three (shout-out to the incredible Blessing and Jerry!) but we still maintain the same process although with some mild modifications here and there. In this article, I'll share the tools that have made the podcasting process relatively easier, thet lessons I've learned, and resources that could help you start. I’ll include helpful YouTube videos, online courses, and tips for dealing with feeling discouraged (which I totally relate with). To be clear, I’m not an expert nor do I intend to come across as one - I’m only sharing what learnings have worked for me, with the hope that you might find some bits useful which might be transferrable to your own context.
Me, before my very first episode
I’ve structured my thoughts into 4 sections. Feel free to skip ones you’d prefer:
Conceptualisation Phase
Platform Selection & Setup
Audio/Visual Production and Gear
Useful Practices & Helpful Resources
1. Conceptualisation Phase
At the start, I had a bazillion ideas and topics that I felt could go on a podcast but I learned that putting a lot of thoughtful consideration into streamlining and clarifying your ideas is useful before you hit the record button and share your voice with the world. This helps create a solid foundation for your podcast and also keeps you focused in subsequent phases. Doing this properly can can help flesh out your podcast’s vision, brand positioning and long-term strategy before investing too much effort. Over-analysing in this phase can lead to analysis-paralysis and prevent you from starting and it’s important to note you can always pivot or rebrand as you go on. As such, I’ve come to appreciate the wisdom in launching out and iteratively improving as I went on. Here are some questions to help you get started:
What is the main topic or theme you’re looking to address and what value does your podcast provide?
What is the name of your podcast and how would you describe your podcast in a few sentences? Experiment with asking friends and family, and see if they understand the idea quickly. If they don’t, you might need to simplify or streamline.
Who is your target audience - what are their interests and needs and why should they care about you?
What format will your podcast take - interview-style, solo commentary, co-hosts, or a mixture of formats etc.?
How often do you plan to release new episodes (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)? Tip: it’s easy to be so excited at this phase that you aim for a frequency that is not sustainable in the long run so start with something that works for you.
What existing podcasts have a similar value offering to yours? How did they get started and what would stand you out?
What equipment will you need for your recording and editing? (more below)
2. Platform Selection and Setup
After brainstorming ideas with my wife and friends (see above), I knew I had to somehow distribute my episodes on platforms where listeners already were e.g Apple Podcast, Spotify etc. At first, I thought I had to upload episodes manually to each of them but then discovered that a podcast host automatically did this for me.
A podcast host allows you to create, distribute, monetise your podcast with ease and also view analytics on how your episodes are performing e.g how many people are listening and where are they listening from. With just a few clicks, you can distribute your episodes to major listening platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and others.
When it comes to choosing a podcast host, you'll find a range of options available, from free platforms to subscription-based services. One popular option is Spotify for Podcasters, formerly known as Anchor.fm. This user-friendly platform simplifies the podcasting process, from recording and editing to publishing and distributing your episodes and it is free! Setting up an account is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few minutes. You'll need to provide details (from your brainstorming phase) such as the name of your podcast, a logo, and a clear description of your show's content. Once your account is set up, you can immediately start recording and publishing your episodes. Just like that.
While platforms like Spotify for Podcasters offer a great starting point, it's important to note that as your podcast grows and your needs evolve, you may want to consider upgrading to a paid host. Paid hosts often provide advanced features, such as enhanced analytics, customisation options, and dedicated support.
3. Audio/Visual Production and Gear
It’s perhaps easy to imagine you need to spend thousands of pounds investing in gear to start, however this is not necessarily true. It is often said that the best gear is what you have (and many folks have at least a phone and computer which is enough to start). I believe that in the early phase of launching your podcast, you should avoid a high burn rate - for example do you really need those 5 monthly subscriptions to various podcasting platforms, audio editing services, etc to start? The most important aspects are consistency, understanding the various elements of podcasting, and improving your skills. For instance, learning how to get great guests (if you need any), improving your comfortability speaking in front of a camera/microphone, learning how to ask great questions or how to tell good stories, building a simple end-to-end workflow that works for you, editing and post-processing are all areas to build some knowledge around and learning these things don’t necessarily cost anything except an Internet subscription.
Once you nail the fundamentals and begin to scale/grow, your set-up can grow with you. I can’t belabour this point enough - I’ve several times been too concerned about the microphone/camera to use and I’ve been surprised over and over by how they somehow seem irrelevant to the starting process. For example, one of my best-performing episodes happened over a virtual call with the audio not being so great so I’m learning to aim to simply provide value in each episode.
Before you invest in microphones/cameras, you can explore if there are free recording studios around where you can experiment with your process without having to worry about investing in gear. The value here is that the studio would already have done the heavy-lifting of choosing the equipment, recording sets and in some instances offer post-production services. For example, In Glasgow (where I’m based), there’s a free podcast studio by Glasgow Caledonian University opened to the public. They offer audio recording gear and a space for recording. You can also explore paid alternatives e.g in my case, I at some point booked studio sessions at a recording studio named Podcast Studio Glasgow and would recommend.
Audio recording and video gear are great but they’re only a part of the process. You’d need tools for things like editing your episodes, designing banners for social media and reaching out to guests. As such, here are a few free tools which you might find useful:
Canva is useful for creating logos, graphics design, photo edits and all sort of branding. I particularly like Canva because of the thousands of templates it has across various categories. The templates provide a good starting base which you can then tweak thus saving you valuable time - everything from podcast logos/cover art to episode promotion designs for social media. Additionally, Canva allows you experiment with branding quickly. You can easily change elements such as logos, color palettes and font styles. Having a brand style guide can help establish a strong brand identity for your podcast. We used Canva for designing our logo, outro for video clips, social media banners etc. Here are some examples below:
CapCut is a powerful and versatile tool useful for editing your podcast videos. CapCut allows you do automatic transcription - if you need to add subtitles to your video, supports editing for platforms across aspect ratios e.g 16:9 (Youtube), 9:16 (Tiktok/Instagram/LinkedIn), and square videos for LinkedIn supports square videos. You can also perform basic audio editing tools that allow you to adjust volume levels, remove background noise, and apply filters to improve the overall audio quality of your podcast recordings.
Audacity is a handy and free tool for podcasters, especially those just starting out, due to its powerful audio editing capabilities and user- friendly interface. It allows you to record audio directly into the software using your computer's built-in microphone or an external microphone. It also supports Multi-track editing allowing you record separate tracks for different hosts, guests or audio elements (e.g., intro/outro music, sound effects) and easily mix them together. It also supports basic audio editting e.g trimming unwanted sections, splitting audio clips, and rearranging or deleting portions of your recordings. Audacity also allows you perform things like noise reduction and other audio enhancement techniques which can help improve the overall quality of your recordings by reducing background noise, and normalising audio levels.
Calendly offers an effective solution for podcast scheduling, addressing the common challenge of coordinating interviews with guests. This tool allows podcasters to set their availability, including specific time slots, buffer times, and time zones. By sharing a Calendly link (see an example of mine below), hosts enable guests to book interview times directly, eliminating the need for back-and-forth communication.
Once a guest selects an available slot, Calendly automatically updates both parties' calendars, preventing double bookings. The platform also facilitates easy rescheduling, with instant calendar updates for both the host and guest. Integration with popular calendar applications such as Google Calendar and Outlook ensures all appointments are centralized and easily manageable.
To enhance preparedness and reduce missed appointments, Calendly sends automatic email reminders to both the podcaster and the guest prior to the scheduled interview. This feature helps ensure that all parties are ready for the recording session.
While Calendly offers a free version with basic functionality, a subscription is required to access its full range of features. By simplifying the scheduling process, Calendly allows podcasters to focus more on content creation and less on administrative tasks, ultimately improving the efficiency of podcast production.
Notion is a valuable tool for organizing and managing various aspects of your podcast production and promotion. Notion can help with episode planning and tracking as it’s database and Kanban board (see below for an example) features allow podcasters to create a system for tracking episode ideas, planning content, and managing the production workflow. You can create a database to store episode titles, descriptions, guest information, and other relevant details, and then use Kanban boards to visualize the production stages (e.g., ideation, research, recording, editing, publishing).
With Notion, podcasters can also maintain a centralised repository of potential guests, including their contact information, bios, and relevant notes. This can streamline the process of reaching out to guests, managing communication, and keeping track of scheduling details. I am, for example using Notion right now to plan a new series which we’re launching soon.
Simple Podcasting Setups for Beginners
You’ve done your research, found an interesting guest and now want to record and publish the episode. No matter your budget, here are some simple set-ups to get you recording and publishing.
For Audio Episodes:
Record using your phone's app or free software like Audacity with some budget mics (more below)
Edit with Audacity or hire a Fiverr freelancer
Upload to a podcast hosting platform (e.g., Spotify for Podcasters)
For Virtual Video Interviews:
Conduct interviews using Zoom or Google Meet
Edit video using free tools like CapCut
Extract and post-process audio (remove filler words, gaps)
Upload to your hosting platform
For In-Person Video Interviews/Episodes:
Record video with your phone's camera
Use a second phone or budget mics for backup audio recording
Edit audio using CapCut or similar software
Upload to your hosting platform
To enhance your podcast's visual elements and branding, consider using free tools like Canva (like we mentioned above) for creating cover art, social media graphics, episode graphics, and maintaining a consistent brand identity.
When you feel like you’ve gotten a decent hang of the end-to-end process and have some extra money to spare, it’s time to upgrade. Since podcasts are primarily audio, it’s a good idea to invest in fairly decent quality microphones. You can clearly notice the difference in the sound compared to just using your phone.
Levelling Up Your Podcast Game
Microphones: consider the Samson Q2U (around £70) or Rode Podmics (about £80). These are decent-quality, budget-friendly options. I personally use two Samson Q2U mics and love them! They're versatile - you can connect them directly to your computer or use an audio interface or mixer.
Audio interfaces: you might want one to 'mix' the various sounds from your mics. I use the Focusrite Vocaster Two Recording Interface (at the time of this writing, it’s on sale for about £100 but it normally goes for about £250. If you’d prefer you could get the kit which includes a quality set of headphones and a microphone - on sale now for around £113). The recording interface lets me plug in my two Q2U microphones, connect my phone via Bluetooth for music and effects, and even connect my audio output directly to a camera. It also supports headphones for both me and my guest.
Cameras: I started with my wife Blessing's iPhone 13 Pro Max and eventually upgraded to a Sony ZV E10 camera (thanks to a friend who gifted me). The iPhone doubles as a great audio source and is decent for shooting videos. The dedicated camera is nice because I don't have to worry about storage.
Virtual calls: when it comes to virtual calls, platforms like Squadcast.fm and Riverside.fm offer a clever approach. Instead of streaming live video, they record each participant's video locally in high quality. After the call, each person's high-quality video file is uploaded to the platform. This ensures the final recording isn't impacted by temporary internet issues during the live call. I’ve used both in the past and highly prefer them to using Zoom/Google Meet.
One-stop-shop for podcasting production: I use an app called Descript for managing my edits majorly now. Descript allows me record in their app, perform text-based edits - i.e it transcribes my audio/video to text and allows me remove parts of my video from text, it allows me use AI to automatically find parts of my video that could be useful for social media promotions and guess what? It automatically creates those videos for me, saving me valuable hours. There are a ton of other features like studio voice enhancement and the support for music, sound-effects, gifs, short videos/photos all from the application
Lastly, don't forget about lighting. It's crucial for high-quality video recordings. To start with, you can get budget light boxes or use controlled room lighting. You'd be surprised how much difference good lighting can make!
Remember, you don't need to upgrade everything at once. Start simple and gradually improve your setup as your podcast grows. The most important thing is to focus on creating great content - the tech will come with time!
4. Useful Practices & Helpful Resources
Starting Your Podcast Journey: when you're just beginning, don't get too hung up on having the perfect tools. Start with what you have - your enthusiasm, ideas and your ability to create value are more important than fancy equipment.
Focus on Value: always ask yourself: "Why would anyone want to listen to this?" Put yourself in your listeners' shoes. What's in it for them? This mindset will help you create content that people actually want to hear.
Embrace Feedback: don't be shy about asking for opinions. Reach out to your listeners and ask what they think about your episodes. You can even share your podcast on platforms like Reddit to get feedback from other podcasters. Remember, constructive criticism is gold for improvement.
The Power of Consistency: There's an interesting concept called 'The Startup Curve' by Paul Graham. While it's meant for startups, I believe it applies perfectly to podcasting too. Here's how it typically goes:
Initial Excitement: At first, you're bursting with ideas. Friends and family eagerly tune in, leaving comments and sharing your podcast. You might even see a ripple effect as new listeners discover your show. Motivation is sky-high at this stage.
Reality Sets In: As time passes, you realize that preparing episodes takes longer than expected. Editing becomes more time-consuming. The flood of listeners you anticipated turns into a trickle. This is normal - you're entering the phase where the novelty wears off, and it can feel a bit disheartening.
The Growth Phase: Here's the secret - if you push through this tough period, keep improving your content, and maintain consistency, you'll likely see growth. It might be slow at first, but persistent quality and regularity can lead to a loyal audience and steady growth.
Remember, every successful podcaster has been through these stages. The key is to keep going, keep learning, and keep creating value for your audience.
As you embark on your podcasting journey, remember that it's a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient with yourself, celebrate small victories, and always strive to improve. Your unique voice and perspective are valuable - share them with the world!
All the best with your podcasting adventure. You've got this!
Special thanks to Grace from African Women’s Art Podcast for reading through this podcast and providing a critique and the intro quote!
