How to Make a Podcast
So you’ve been talking about starting a podcast forever, but there are a couple of fears and questions you might be having:
What should it be about?
I don’t have the equipment.
What’s an RSS feed and how do I get one?
What platform do I use and is it free?
What if people don’t find what I have to say interesting enough?
I don’t like my voice.
How do I get listeners?
Fear not! Let’s clear up some things, and fizzle away those irksome fears of failure.
FINDING YOUR INSPIRATION:
There is an abundance of podcasts out there, but don’t let your fear of not being original hinder this brainstorming process. You can and will come up with something spectacular if you just take these crucial steps.
Educate yourself. Listen to what’s out there and note what you like and what bumps you as a listener. Learn what to do and what not to do, whether that’s in relation to the topic, speaker, or technical production issues.
Differentiate yourself. For example, there are 100000000000000001 true crime podcasts. But if you simply must talk about another murderer, diversify and be specific.
GET WRITING:
Whether it’s narrative or non-fiction, you’ll need to write! This can be bullets if you want to riff and add your own conversational spin on things, or a flat-out, word-for-word script. Once you’ve written, read aloud at least three times and practice. How does it sound? You don’t want to be too wordy or rambly so make sure it sounds natural and easy to listen to.
RECORD:
For the love of god do not drink a milkshake before recording. You should have water on hand, maybe even a hot tea because your voice will be tired. If you have talent/guests, you especially need to make sure you have liquids for them. Be patient with yourself and whoever you’re recording with and take deep breaths (before, not during!).
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EQUIPMENT:
Audio Technica Microphone ATR2100x USB:
There isn’t a pop filter (a filter keeping your T’s and P’s from making that dreaded noise!) So I recommend either jerry-rigging or holding up a cloth (cheesecloth, thin tee-shirt, dish towel, etc) to the mic, OR investing in a filter. Trust me, it will save you a lot of time/ frustration in editing, and be of better quality! You can get external mics for your phone or if you have access to a computer, that will be preferable.
SOFTWARE
I love Adobe Audition and Garageband because it’s great to edit in as well as record. There is a myriad amount of audio recording software out there but here are my top 3!
Adobe Audition: Free trial available.
Garageband: Free and comes with every Apple device.
Audacity: Free! But sometimes a little wonky.
Check out Stream Semester’s review of other Free Browser-Based Digital Audio Workstations.
DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM:
I recommend Anchor! They create your RSS feed, it’s free, you can track your stats and listeners, and they distribute your site onto up to eight streaming platforms. It’s an intuitive site that even helps you edit your podcast. Anchor even matches you with sponsors so you can earn money if money is your thing.
PROMOTION:
Now it’s time to share your hard work and make your mom proud. Create a unique hashtag that goes with your podcast theme. Make a website or an Instagram! The platform options to self-promote are absolutely limitless these days.
Happy podcasting!
Jillian is a writer based in the cozy suburbs of highland park, Los Angeles. She spent her time during the Covid-19 pandemic writing the fantastical fairy tale narrative Carried Away Podcast. It can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. She graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts in 2017 where she studied film + television production and screenwriting. she is currently writing for an interactive mobile series and comic book series in addition to her fairy tale podcast "carried away." She hopes to finish her first novel soon. To learn more, please visit her site: https://www.jilliandudley.com/
About the Author, Jillian Dudley
Jillian Dudley is a writer and producer living in Los Angeles, CA. As a graduate of USC School of Cinematic Arts, she has created thought provoking, intricate, and dynamic films. She has written, self-produced, and self-recorded Carried Away Podcast: A Narrative Fairytale Podcast.