I podcast, you can too!
I host and produce the Life@Work podcast. You can listen and subscribe on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | lifeatworkpodcast.com
I’ve gotten a few questions on how I set everything up, so I wrote a quick guide about how to get started.
I find that people generally have a good idea of the content they want to share on their podcast, but no idea of how to actually go about producing it. Read on for a lay of the land.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | lifeatworkpodcast.com
I’ve gotten a few questions on how I set everything up, so I wrote a quick guide about how to get started.
I find that people generally have a good idea of the content they want to share on their podcast, but no idea of how to actually go about producing it. Read on for a lay of the land.
Hosting
Where do you want people to find your podcast?
You can host with just one service like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Apple for podcasters | Spotify for podcasters
Picking one of these as your host means that your podcast will only be available on that service. This is the simpler choice but potentially limits your audience.
Alternatively, you can use a podcast host like Podbean like I do. The host creates an RSS feed that you submit to Apple and Spotify (and other podcast aggregators) so that your podcast is available on those platforms as well.
You can use this link to get your first month free on Podbean.
If you’re using a hosting service and want to submit your podcast to Apple and Spotify, you’ll need at least one episode uploaded to the host. This can be a short trailer. It can take a few days to get approved once you’ve submitted your RSS feed, so give yourself time for this before launch.
You can host with just one service like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Apple for podcasters | Spotify for podcasters
Picking one of these as your host means that your podcast will only be available on that service. This is the simpler choice but potentially limits your audience.
Alternatively, you can use a podcast host like Podbean like I do. The host creates an RSS feed that you submit to Apple and Spotify (and other podcast aggregators) so that your podcast is available on those platforms as well.
You can use this link to get your first month free on Podbean.
If you’re using a hosting service and want to submit your podcast to Apple and Spotify, you’ll need at least one episode uploaded to the host. This can be a short trailer. It can take a few days to get approved once you’ve submitted your RSS feed, so give yourself time for this before launch.
The Flow
Once you’re all setup with a host, and ready to share an episode, the workflow is generally looks like...
Record ︎︎︎ Edit ︎︎︎ Publish ︎︎︎ Promote
I’ll go through each step below and share my experience and recommedations.
Production time commitment
Think about how polished you want your podcast to be and where do you want to spend your time. Are you doing hours of editing to get things just right, or are you happy to publish the first take? These decisions will impact workflow and time invested. I only record one take, but spend more time editing to get things just how I like them.
Record ︎︎︎ Edit ︎︎︎ Publish ︎︎︎ Promote
I’ll go through each step below and share my experience and recommedations.
Production time commitment
Think about how polished you want your podcast to be and where do you want to spend your time. Are you doing hours of editing to get things just right, or are you happy to publish the first take? These decisions will impact workflow and time invested. I only record one take, but spend more time editing to get things just how I like them.
Record
Mic
I keep it simple and use the Blue Yeti X mic. It connects via USB to my computer and sounds good. The Blue Yeti is a bit cheaper and just as good. Don’t use bluetooth mics or AirPods, it will sound bad. Most of the time, guests can get away with wired headphone mics or the mic in their computer. No bluetooth!
Look at the pickup patterns on the mic and pick the best one for your situation. One person alone? Use cardioid. Two people in the same room? Use bidirectional.
Recording software
Because my co-host is not in the same room and our guests are all remote, I use Riverside.fm. This is like a video call with your co-host and guests, except that their video and audio are recorded locally, so they are the best quality. And a laggy call doesn’t mean a bad recording. You can invite guests to join via a link.
There many options availble. You could also use something like squadcast.fm, but I’ve never tried it. Some also allow for playing sounds and music during the recording so that you don’t have to do that in editing.
Headphones
Use headphones while you’re recording so that your mic doesn’t pic up other people talking in your recording.
I keep it simple and use the Blue Yeti X mic. It connects via USB to my computer and sounds good. The Blue Yeti is a bit cheaper and just as good. Don’t use bluetooth mics or AirPods, it will sound bad. Most of the time, guests can get away with wired headphone mics or the mic in their computer. No bluetooth!
Look at the pickup patterns on the mic and pick the best one for your situation. One person alone? Use cardioid. Two people in the same room? Use bidirectional.
Recording software
Because my co-host is not in the same room and our guests are all remote, I use Riverside.fm. This is like a video call with your co-host and guests, except that their video and audio are recorded locally, so they are the best quality. And a laggy call doesn’t mean a bad recording. You can invite guests to join via a link.
There many options availble. You could also use something like squadcast.fm, but I’ve never tried it. Some also allow for playing sounds and music during the recording so that you don’t have to do that in editing.
Headphones
Use headphones while you’re recording so that your mic doesn’t pic up other people talking in your recording.
Edit
Editing
Once you’ve recorded, you can edit as much or as little as you like. This for me is the most time intensive part.
Thoughts on editing
Just like producing anything, better quality input usually means better quality output, and less time spent fixing things. And small changes before recording, like turing off the fan or asking your roommate to be quiet, can save a lot of time in the edit.
And you don’t have to edit at all. It really depends on what you want the vibe to be. Just think about what you’d want to listen to.
Editing software
I use Hindenburg Pro a simple audio editor. There’s a leaning curve for sure, but tons of tutorials online. I like it more than garageband, audacity, or any other editor because it is so straightforward.
Alternatively, you could use something like Descript, a transcription and text based editor.
Music
Music is fun and helps build a brand for your podcast, sets the mood, and is nice for transitions between segments. I bought a one time license for music I liked on Premium Beat but there are tons of places to find inexpensive and/or free music online.
Podcast cover art
You need an image to use as the cover of your podcast. Set your file up as 3000x3000 pixels, and export as either JPEG or PNG. I’d love to help you design your cover art.
Once you’ve recorded, you can edit as much or as little as you like. This for me is the most time intensive part.
Thoughts on editing
Just like producing anything, better quality input usually means better quality output, and less time spent fixing things. And small changes before recording, like turing off the fan or asking your roommate to be quiet, can save a lot of time in the edit.
And you don’t have to edit at all. It really depends on what you want the vibe to be. Just think about what you’d want to listen to.
Editing software
I use Hindenburg Pro a simple audio editor. There’s a leaning curve for sure, but tons of tutorials online. I like it more than garageband, audacity, or any other editor because it is so straightforward.
Alternatively, you could use something like Descript, a transcription and text based editor.
Music
Music is fun and helps build a brand for your podcast, sets the mood, and is nice for transitions between segments. I bought a one time license for music I liked on Premium Beat but there are tons of places to find inexpensive and/or free music online.
Podcast cover art
You need an image to use as the cover of your podcast. Set your file up as 3000x3000 pixels, and export as either JPEG or PNG. I’d love to help you design your cover art.
Publish
Publish
Export your audio file as an MP3, 128kbps, 48kHz and upload to your hosting service.
Don’t forget to include an episode number, title, and description.
Publish a few hours before you want the podcast public so that the feed has time to update.
Export your audio file as an MP3, 128kbps, 48kHz and upload to your hosting service.
Don’t forget to include an episode number, title, and description.
Publish a few hours before you want the podcast public so that the feed has time to update.
Promote
Share your links with everyone!
With apple and Spotify, you can link directly to the episode or the show. You can also link about a website / custom domain, and share your episodes there.
I used wix.com for the simplicity and the podcast plugin that lists episodes on the site. The homepage player is an embedded Spotify player.
Podbean, Apple, and Spotify all have dashboards where you can see metrics on listeners etc.
With apple and Spotify, you can link directly to the episode or the show. You can also link about a website / custom domain, and share your episodes there.
I used wix.com for the simplicity and the podcast plugin that lists episodes on the site. The homepage player is an embedded Spotify player.
Podbean, Apple, and Spotify all have dashboards where you can see metrics on listeners etc.
Questions?
Let me know what questions you have
If this was helpful, I’d love to hear! And I’d love to help your with you podcast.
Please reach out on LinkedIn.
If this was helpful, I’d love to hear! And I’d love to help your with you podcast.
Please reach out on LinkedIn.