Creating your own podcast can be an exciting process that requires technical expertise and good communication, but it can also embark on creativity and critical thinking skills among podcast producers.
Through this blog, a full guideline on setting up a podcast project will be analysed based on my experience creating a podcast with two fellow postgraduate students in my MSc.
Defining the Concept/Content
To begin a podcast is to have a clear vision by conceptualising the idea of the topic. Things as simple as an everyday conversation with your friends can trigger an idea that can evolve into a great topic for a podcast and help define the possible content that would serve as the podcast’s backbone. It is necessary, then, to narrow down the different themes or narratives that are going to be discussed by creating a script that would bullet point them to give structure to your podcast. It is also important to consider the target audience of the podcast as it would help to set the tone of the conversation as well as the intro and outro music (remember! The conversation needs to sound organic and engaging). Also, based on the content, it is essential to identify the format of the podcast to start writing down the script.
Recording, Editing and Distribution
Of course, to achieve adequate results and receive good feedback, the podcast needs to be recorded and mixed in a professional, ambitious manner. Finding a quiet, sound-treated space to record your episodes in the best quality possible is essential. Along with using professional podcast mics (Sennheiser SM7b) and appropriate pop filtering, this approach will save you time from editing in the post-production. Also, providing headphones for all participants is crucial as it helps people be aware of talking to the mic throughout the podcast to ensure a balanced audio mix. Editing the recordings diligently by eliminating background noise, plosives, and sibilance and perfecting the transitions (in case of awkward pauses) will also show a polished product.
For distribution purposes of the final mix, choosing a reliable hosting platform for the podcast is key. While platforms like Anchor or Podbean are great for hosting and distributing services, streaming services like Spotify, Apple, or SoundCloud are great for reaching a wider audience.
To conclude, it’s important to mention that consistency is everything. To build a community and to keep the audience engaged it is necessary to maintain a constant release schedule but also respond to feedback and comments through social media and email.