Starting a Podcast
As co-creator of But, Have You Considered Therapy?, I want to share how to start your own podcast in the midst of this surge of virtual communication.
Equipment
There are a few different routes you can go to record your podcast. It’s always an option to get one advanced microphone and have it in the room while you record into a computer. This will not result in the best sound quality but it will do the job if you cannot get the full gear. We use the Blue Yeti USB Microphone which many podcasts use.
If you’re looking to invest in gear you will need:
- Audio Interface
- Sound Board
- Two Microphones with popfilters
- Mic Stands
- Quality Headphones
Hosting
- Cost: $10/month depending on storage
- Benefits: You get an RSS feed that you can use to submit to iTunes podcasts. It is also a Spotify partner so you can request to have you podcast on Spotify although it does take a little bit of time.
- Downsides: UI isn’t that up to date and statistics aren’t that informative
- Cost: $10/month depending on storage
- Benefits: Very nice UI and there are more users on Soundcloud who are actively searching for music and podcasts. The statistics are more in depth including downloads, audience breakdown, unique views, how users got to episodes, and more.
- Downsides: I haven’t found easy ways to submit to iTunes and Spotify so that’s why I’d also suggest hosting on Podomatic.
Spotify & iTunes
- You will submit to these services using an RSS feed from one of the hosting providers above or another comparable one. iTunes processed our submission in a few days though they do warn it may take longer.
Music
Royalty free music is a great way to frame intros, outros, and transitions. If you use copyright music, it will be taken down. Fair warning, it may take a long time to search for the perfect music. Also make note if you need to credit the source in show notes.
Resources:
- https://www.bensound.com/
- https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music
- https://soundcloud.com/royalty-free-audio-loops
Guest & Show Prep
I always send my podcast guests a one-sheet to breakdown the recording experience, including:
- Location of recording site and where to park
- Contact information
- Recording time — I tell my guests how long the session and recording will be but that we will be keeping time so they do not need to worry. Make sure you have ample time for warm-up in case guest are nervous or you have to stop recording.
- Pausing during recording — this will happen whether there is an external noise or someone lost their train of thought and needs a minute. When this happens, the host should clap to spike the sound wave so you’ll know in editing where the pause happened. You should try to repeat the sentence or question before the break for a clean edit.
- Promotion — if your guest will like to promote their own business or service, make sure they send you a headshot and write a short bio for the post.
Recording
Try to record in a small room if possible. If one is not available, put up foam boards around glass areas or windows. Make sure you’re not typing and try not to move around or drink since mics will pick up anything. Warn others outside your room you are recording.
No matter the microphone setup, you will record directly into the editing software.
Keep watch of the time while recording but in a subtle way to not distract your guest. Try to wrap up a few minutes before your time so you give your guests a chance to plug themselves or give any last statements.
Editing
One of the best editing softwares out there (and FREE!) is Audacity. It’s very easy to use and has a lot of great basic effect editing needed to create a podcast. It’s available for both Windows and Mac.
You can have multiple tracks for adding underlay music or other recordings. It will export to a MP3, WAV, and a few others.
While you want the recording to feel natural, I find it’s best to omit some “ummms” and too long of pauses as you edit. Always add fade-ins and fade-outs for music intros and outros — they should never stop abruptly. I would suggest recording an intro you will reuse every time you create a new episode.
Adobe Audition is also a great option if you have creative suite. It’s a little more onboarding to use but has much more functionality.
Garageband is another good option, however like this article mentions, it was meant for music so there’s a whole lot of features you will not need and can slow down the onboarding process. The article will take you through how to utilize for podcasting.
Conlusion
While you might hear people groan “does the world need another podcast?” The answer is the world doesn’t have the one created by you with your unique worldview and perspective. It’s a great creative outlet and way to connect with people outside of normal location constraints. We’ve recorded over 50 hours with mental health professionals and those who have gone through some form of therapy. For me, it’s become my own research project and way to meet new people who’ve expanded my learning. Do you and hit record!
