How to start a podcast for FREE! Starting a podcast 101

When starting your podcast, you’ll want to do a few things first. You’ll need to choose a name, topic, style, length, format, and launch.

Your podcast name should be unique to you and your brand, but also broad enough to grow and develop as your business does. The title of mine is The Thinking Project. It’s general enough to make you wonder but unique enough for you to find me on iTunes (go ahead and try). The title also gives me room to expand the content and purpose of the podcast as I continually develop and grow my business and brand. This brings me to our next point. The topic of your podcast.

Your topic can range from ultra-specific to a broad niche. I recommend starting broad so you have the freedom to move around and find what you like, then as you gain traction and listeners – drill down on a niche. Once you decide on a topic, deciding the style and length of your podcast is next.

There are many different options to choose from when deciding on the style and length of your podcast. The Thinking Project is an interview-style podcast and is about 45 minutes to an hour in length. I found that’s my sweet spot with my listeners and with those, I’m interviewing. Some podcasts will go longer and shorter but I try to stick with that timeframe. If you’re a solo podcast – I’ve found that 15 – 30 minutes is a sweet spot.

When you’ve got that all figured out – it’s time to record. It’s generally best to choose a cadence (once a day, week, month, twice a month, etc.) and then batch record. I recommend having 5-6 episodes in the bucket before you launch. Then, on the day of  your launch, release 2-3 episodes at once. This gives people an opportunity to get to know you, your brand and your content, and they will return for more once you start realising episodes according to your cadence. 

It takes about 1-2 weeks for your podcast to get on iTunes (and it should be on iTunes); it’s the best practice to record a short intro to publish first so that by the time you’re ready to launch, you’re on iTunes (and everywhere else). The intro also helps you to draw people in. The idea is to do a giveaway for reviews on iTunes (that adds to discoverability on iTunes and will help you get guests).

Consistency is king. Hosting a successful podcast (really anything in life) is more about consistency. As you continuously publish episodes, you’ll start to find your rhythm. You’ll receive feedback you can implement that as you go. Just remember – done is better than perfect.

If you’re interviewing guests, make sure you have a guest release form (to protect you and your show). I would also start interviewing people who’ve been on podcasts before, so you don’t have to work as hard to help people talk (that is painful).

With all that said, have fun, make memories, and get a hard drive to keep all your episodes on for life! Keep reading for equipment and production costs and recommendations.

My podcast has opened so many doors I never knew existed. I’ve received job offers, met life-long friends, and created a space to meet some incredible individuals. My podcast only gets hard when I start comparing my podcast to someone else’s. Don’t do that.

Start your podcast to have fun, meet new people, and create! If you start your podcast solely for monetary purposes (like any other adventure in life), you’ll burn out quickly, and all the effort will be a waste. Instead, use your podcast as a lead gen tool or as a way to showcase YOU! I’ve been doing this for over two years, and I continue to grow as a person.

It’s not likely your podcast will immediately start producing income. That will come as you start gaining an audience and listener base. There are many ways to monetize your podcast. Here are a few:

• Selling courses or secondary content (eBooks, photos, products, etc.)
• Sponsors (ad spaces)
• Building an email list
• Premium content
• Coaching and consulting
• Affiliate marketing
• Speaking events
• YouTube

Those are just a few to mention. However, you can get creative with how you want to leverage your podcast to generate income.

The equipment you’ll need depends on the type of podcast you’re going to do. For example, is it going to be a solo, monologue-type podcast, or will you have more than one person? Below are my podcast equipment recommendations for pretty much any podcast you want to start.

Let’s talk microphones first. Audio is the MOST IMPORTANT part of your podcast. The #1 reason people turn a podcast off is poor audio. So while you can start with just the mic you have on your computer or phone, I would suggest spending a little money to ensure quality.

The two types of mics are USB and XLR.

The essential difference between the two, USB is a “plug-and-play” type of mic. You plug it right into the computer and go. XLR mics require a mixer, and you’ll need an XLR mic if you’re hosting an in-person, multi-person podcast.

Blue Snowball  ~$50 and a great starter mic

Blue Yeti ~$100. Great sound quality, easy to use, and comes with a headphone jack to monitor audio. Great bang for your buck.

Elgato Wave 3 ~$140 perfect mid-range mix with a lot of versatility.

Shure MV7 (The USB mic I use) ~$250. This mic is both USB & XLR, which is why it’s a little more expensive, but it’s an incredible microphone—crisp audio quality whether in a mixer or not. Longevity, and you’ll never need to upgrade unless you want to.

Notable mentions: Rode-NT-USB, HyperX Quadcast X

Shure SM7B (My current XLR mic) is ~$400. Top of the line, used on significant podcasts like Joe Rogan. A staple in the industry for a reason. You’ll never need another mic. Considerable investment, though, especially if you need more than one.

Rode Podcaster  ~$225. Another fantastic option.

Rode Podmic ~$100. The baby sibling of the Podcaster is a great affordable option.

You’ll need a mixer for the XLR mics listed above, and you’ll need a mixer if you want to do in-person podcasts with more than one person. You can’t do it with USB mics.

Rodecaster Pro. This is what I use for my in-person shows. Coming in at $600 – this is the industry standard. Though it only has four XLR inputs (plenty for 99% of podcasts out there), it has many other features that will benefit. For example, it’s a soundboard and will let you take (or make) live calls and record them, among many other things.

The Behringer Xenyx lineup will take care of you from 2 people up to 8 people. The Zoom H6 is great for four people on the go.

If you want to go solo on your computer, I use the Elgato Wave XLR. It’s plug-and-play and will support almost all the XLR mics you love.

If you want to have guests on your show and host them virtually, there are a few sites I recommend (especially if you’re going to Livestream).

I use StreamYard for its ease of use and affordability, it’s also extremely customizable.  Other options include Restream, Riverside, and Zoom. All have limited free accounts and will get you started. Plus, they are all easy for your guests to use.

There are many ways to produce a podcast. A few free options are Garageband (Mac) or Audacity (Mac or PC). Both are free, with loads of YouTube videos on how to use them.

If you’re looking for a professional service, Adobe Audition (included in their Cloud package) is what I use, and it’s excellent for both PC and Mac.

Getting your podcast on all the major platforms is pretty easy once you find a host. For example, I use Anchor to host my podcast. It’s free, allows for minimal sponsorship opportunities, and it has unlimited hosting. In addition, it will automatically distribute your podcast for you.

Other’s include Buzzsprout, Spreaker, Lsbyn, PodBean, and many more!

With these tips in mind, you’re in an excellent place to get started on your own podcast. If you have any questions or advice, join my discord server and ask in the #thebar channel! Happy Podcasting!