Want to start a podcast? Stop thinking about the tech.

The number of people saying they want to start a podcast is growing by the minute.

Once they have decided what their podcast is about, the typical budding podcaster thinks about their format for 2 seconds, then looks for a microphone, asks for recommendations on recording and editing software, and compares the pricing options of hosting platforms.

Then, crickets.

Thinking about the tech in too much detail when getting ready to start a podcast is a procrastination tactic. There is so much information out there that you become overwhelmed, even before recording your first episode.

Even when you’ve made your choice of what microphone to use (get a Blue Yeti), recorded your first audio and signed up for the free trial of a hosting platform, the steep learning curve in putting your first episode together dampens your enthusiasm and brings your project to a halt.

The result: you publish 3 episodes and stop.

This is why you should forget about the tech at the beginning of your process. It will overwhelm you, or pull your focus away from the most important part of your show: your content.

As a podcaster, you will constantly be shifting between 2 roles: podcast host and podcast editor. The podcast host looks after the content. You design the schedule, the format, plan the episodes and record them.

Podcast Host vs Podcast Editor

When you take on the role of podcast editor, you turn the recorded audio into an episode that is pleasant to the ear and that can be distributed through all the podcast apps and platforms available.

(There is a third role, the marketeer role, whose job it is to build an audience. But focusing too much on this at this stage is also a welcome procrastination tactic, so we’ll leave it for another day.)

If you haven’t started your podcast yet, there is only one task for you to do in your editor role: to have an overview of the production process.

Understanding the different steps involved in podcasting will help you assess the time it will take you to put your episodes together. This in turn will inform:

Your release schedule
Your format
Length of episodes
Your budget
Whether you want to outsource the editing to someone else

Beyond that, you must not let your inner editor dominate your brain space at this stage. Your podcast host role needs to lead the process.

Content before Tech

This might not take long, but before you start looking at microphones, mixing desks (you don’t really need one!) and how to make an audiogram, there are some other things you should be getting on with.

Be clear on what you want to get from your podcast (i.e. “your why” for all you Sinek’s fans.)
Decide on your format, your schedule, write your Intro and Outro (if you decide to have them).
Plan your first 10 episodes.
Planning your first episodes will not only help you schedule your production process over the next few months, but will also help you evaluate whether you really want to start a podcast, as opposed to releasing some audio on your blog every now and then.

Have a detailed plan of your first four episodes and schedule those recordings now. (More on this in a future blog post.)

Above all, start simple.

If this is your first show, keep it simple.

If this is the first time you’re creating content, or the first time you create audio, don’t start with a multi guest, heavily edited episode.

Start with a talking head, or one-on-one guest interviews, or a conversation with a co-host. Get acquainted with the process first. Then you can evolve your show into a more sophisticated format.

Once you’re all set to start working on your episodes, then you can start looking at the tech.

To Spend or Not to Spend a Penny

The podcasting world has grown so much that now you can pretty much go through every stage of the podcast production process (recording, editing, publishing) without spending a penny. But if you choose to go with “free”, bear in mind that “free” often comes with limitations. So make sure you know what these are, and whether they will serve you in the long term.

These are my recommendations for your first batch of episodes.
Once you hit 20 or 30 episodes (or once you’re totally sure that you’re in this for the long-term), it will be time to invest in purchasing and learning how to use sophisticated tech.
Begin with a Yeti microphone. You can plug it straight into your computer. It’s simple.
Add a pop filter, and if you have the space, get an arm with it
Download Audacity (for editing)
You can use this programme to record your voice, and to edit all audio files. (By “edit” here I mean chop and move the voice around, and add music.) I’m building a playlist of useful videos on using Audacity here.

If you’re recording with a co-host or guests, you can look at subscribing to Zencastr, or other similar platforms; or if you already use Zoom, you can use that too.
[If you do use Zoom for podcasting set your recording settings to “split tracks”. Also record your own track locally with Audacity at the same time, for better audio. (Zoom is not a recording platform, it’s a meeting platform so the audio is not great for podcasts.)

Once you have all your audio laid out, you need to get it broadcast ready. The good news: Auphonic can do this for you really easily.
Finally, you will need to upload your episode to a media host, which will create the links and embed code you can use on your sites, and push it out to all podcast apps. I recommend BuzzSprout to start with, as it has a range of price options to choose from, depending on how you’re getting on.

Be in it for the Joy of Podcasting (not for the money…)

Whatever your reasons for podcasting, you should enjoy the process.

Why?

Episodes take quite some time to produce – unless you get outside help, there’s no way around that. But it gets easier (and faster!) with time, so if it’s something you’re fired up to do, go for it!

Start with planning, and then get yourself set up with the minimum amount of tech around you.

If you need help with planning your content, take a look at my book Plan Your Podcast.

Finally, if you need someone to help you clarify your ideas (honestly, you probably know what you need to do next but could do with some clarity), get in touch!

And now, start planning!

(Please note that links to Yeti and BuzzSprout are affiliate links.)

If you find the blog useful, and are looking for media hosting and web hosting, consider using my affiliate links to Buzzsprout and Bluehost.