How to Start YOUR Own Podcast
A quick, stress-free (ish) guide to creating a podcast on your own.
I never really planned to start a podcast.
As always, a million ideas were bumping around in my brain, tap dancing for attention (time to do a doco? Source some more tribal rugs? Write a kid’s book…) and then one morning at 2am, I just woke up with a clear outline of what I wanted to do. This was in the deep, dark depths of covid lockdowns (remember those!), working from home, covering important, yet non-stop, and often confronting, global breaking news… and I just found myself feeling a mix of anger, despondency and isolation.
THE IDEA… AND WE’RE ROLLING
I craved connection with the incredible women I'd worked with around the world in the media game over the years. I missed their guidance and wisdom and, importantly at this point in time, their tough-as-nails grit and illuminating spark. It seemed a lot of my friends felt the same - especially when it came to juggling work and loved ones, and the strange, increasing feelings of self doubt about re-finding our voice and speaking up - whether it be at work, at a party, on camera… anywhere, really.
And I knew the women who could help.
I also craved creativity. I wanted to produce and create. Actually, I NEEDED to produce and create - or I feared I might just lose my mind.
I’ve been a journalist for more than 20 years - most of it in TV news and production, around the world. Storytelling and connecting with the audience through captivating images and first-hand interviews is what I know and love. I hadn’t done podcasting before, but I was inhaling poddies around the clock and knew what I liked and what I didn’t. And as a flat-out mum of two young girls, the ability to listen hands-free, whether in the car, on a walk or vacuuming glitter and crumbs in my pjs - the podcast medium just fit nicely into my daily life.
I initially wanted to create a podcast that also included video (I still do, in some form, at some stage), however I quickly realised with little budget or spare time it was better for me to keep it simple and do the important things really well. That is, create and produce a warm, engaging podcast, with fabulous women, from around the world, which was both entertaining and enriching for my dearest audience.
CREATE YOUR STUDIO
The ladies in my podcast studio… aka my wardrobe.
THE SETUP
AUDIO
My husband and I have a lot of talented mates in our industry - doco makers, film editors, foreign correspondents, and some of my happiest times in my career have been working with them. What an honour.
One talented camera operator made me promise that before I pressed publish on my podcast, I would take the time to have good sound. “Please Steph, just make sure the audio is good enough to listen to!” A very valid point. Listening to a podcast with bad audio is a grinding experience - there are no breathtaking images to make up for it. The interview better be pretty bloody amazing if you want your audience to stick with you if they’re only catching every second word, or it sounds like you're underwater/in a wind tunnel. But that said, of course, your poddy does not need to be perfect.
Now, there are so many different ways to record a podcast. You can pay to record it in a professional studio with your guest; from home remotely - in different locations - using your own setup and a computer; or face-to-face in real life, in your own makeshift studio. Everyone has their own personal preference, and budgets vary, but this is how I do it:
THE EQUIPMENT LIST
Microphone
RØDE Podcaster USB microphone which plugs into my laptop. AUD $250
Microphone stand
RØDE PSA1 Professional Studio Arm $125
Pop filter (to help with the popping sound when recording your voice)
Foam Windscreen Pop Filter $10
Smaller microphone (portable) which plugs into my laptop (If I’m recording on the road)
Audio Technica ATR2100X-USB $130
Audio recorder (If I’m recording on the road)
Zoom H6 All Black Handy Recorder $529
Headphones
Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone $150 (but cheaper headphones also do the trick)
THE SETUP
Recording from home: I love Riverside.fm. It is similar to Zoom but is designed for broadcast recording. You can also use it to livestream and create a studio audience. (Kerry Washington recorded her chat with Michelle Obama using Riverside.fm, plus Tim Ferriss is also a fan… so that’s good enough for me.) I pay AUD$15 a month. You can also use Audacity, which is free to use.
I record in my wardrobe/closet. It’s a small space with soft padding created by my jackets, clothes and my husband’s wedding suit! I bring in big pillows and doonas if it’s a bit loud outside. I make sure the air con is turned off, along with any music/TV etc and close windows and doors around the house to create a beautiful little recording nook.
In-person recording: You can book a local studio, or as we’ve discussed, record it
yourself face-to-face using your laptop or an audio recorder like the Zoom H6. You’ll need a mic for each person speaking. Again, you want to avoid loud open spaces for echoes, or a room near a busy road or construction.
Editing: This is the bit that can take a lot of time and provoke late night tears and meltdowns (been there!!). I edit using Adobe Premiere Pro simply because I already knew how to use the software and had it on my computer for video editing. Other podcasters use Audacity, which is free, iMovie, or Adobe Audition etc. You can also now record and then edit in Riverside.fm too.
Personally, I love the editing phase because this is where you are crafting/producing your masterpiece. However, you may want to take the stress out of it all and find someone to help edit your episodes - but again, this comes down to budget, time and preference.
Podcast host site: Once you’ve recorded and edited your podcast episode, this is where you upload it. The host site then pumps it out to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio etc and also tells you how many downloads you have received, plus a breakdown of how and where the episode has been listened to. I use Buzzsprout, and pay AUD$17.50 a month. A great step-by-step guide is here. Acast is also a good host site option.
Submit your show to Apple Podcasts: This is a very important process - and not one to undertake if you’re short on time, or hungry. (Again, I know! More tears!) Basically, Apple can approve or reject your podcast. Think of this like trying to get past a bouncer at the pub. Follow the steps correctly, and keep your cool, and you’ll be fine.
You can see the full Apple Podcasts steps here. (There’s also a simplified version for Buzzsprout users here).
You'll need an Apple ID to submit your show to Apple Podcasts Connect. You can
create a new Apple ID or use one you already have. You'll use this Apple ID to log in to Apple Podcasts Connect to check your podcast analytics.
Apple normally takes about 72 hours to approve a new podcast. If your podcast hasn't been approved or rejected in ten days, contact Apple Support.
Once approved, you will be in the Podcasts app and the Apple Podcasts website. Make yourself a margarita. Happy days!
Podcast cover art: This is the first thing potential listeners will see. I discovered the fabulous and talented designer Emma Turney at our local cafe. Emma had just graduated from the University of Technology Sydney, and it was a collaboration made in heaven. Canva is also fab if you want to design something yourself, or check out fiverr. Importantly, your podcast artwork should meet these technical specifications based on Apple’s Podcast Artwork Requirements. Again, stick to these rules - Apple is not flexible when it comes to guidelines.
square Image (3000 x 3000 pixels)
resolution of 72 dpi
PNG or JPEG file types
colorspace RGB
Ok, well I think this a good base for anyone wanting to start a podcast. And we can build from here. I’m also going to run through tips for a killer interview, including booking your dream guests, plus looking at advertising v sponsorships and collaborations, and how to get in Apple’s New and Noteworthy section.
I’ve been very lucky with brilliant friends passing on their podcast knowledge - Matt Tinney and Hannah Bowman especially - so I’m very happy to continue the tradition of sharing what I’ve learnt.
I really hope this helps give you some clarity and confidence around starting your own podcast, and I can’t wait to hear what you are all creating and sharing with the world.
Go for it!
Best,
Steph. xx
LISTEN TO: And We’re Rolling with Stephanie Hunt