PODCASTING GUIDE




I DID IT, YOU CAN TOO

Why I wrote thisI host and produce the Life@Work podcast. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about how I set everything up, so I put together this short guide on getting started.

Most people already know what they want to talk about. The gap is usually how to actually produce a podcast and get it out into the world. This is a lay of the land—nothing fancy, just what’s worked for me.


HOSTING

Where do you want people to find your podcast?You can host your podcast directly on a single platform like Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is the simplest setup, but it means your show will only be available on that one service, which can limit your audience.

The other option is to use a podcast hosting service. I use Podbean. A host creates an RSS feed that you submit to Apple, Spotify, and other podcast apps so your show appears everywhere at once. If you want to go this route, here’s one month free on Podbean.

If you’re submitting your podcast to Apple or Spotify through a host, you’ll need at least one episode uploaded first. This can just be a short trailer. Approval can take a few days, so build that time into your launch plan.


THE FLOW

Now the fun beginsOnce you’re set up with a host and ready to share an episode, the basic workflow looks like this:

Record Edit Publish Promote

I’ll walk through each step and share what I do.

Production time commitmentDecide how polished you want your podcast to be and where you want to spend your time. Are you editing heavily to get everything just right, or are you comfortable publishing a first take? Those choices will shape your workflow.

I record in a single take, but I spend more time editing to get things how I like them.

RECORD

MicrophoneI keep it simple and use the Blue Yeti X. It connects via USB and sounds great. The regular Blue Yeti is a little cheaper and just as solid.

Avoid Bluetooth mics and AirPods—they sound bad. Most guests can get away with a wired headphone mic or even the built-in mic on their computer. Just no Bluetooth.

Pay attention to pickup patterns. Recording solo? Use cardioid. Two people in the same room? Use bidirectional.

Recording software Because my co-host isn’t in the same room and our guests are remote, I use Riverside.fm. It works like a video call, but each person’s audio and video are recorded locally, so quality stays high even if the call lags. Guests join with a link, which keeps things easy.

There are plenty of other options. SquadCast is another popular one, though I haven’t used it myself. Some platforms also let you play music or sounds during recording, which can save time later.


EDIT

Thoughts on editingYou can edit as much or as little as you want. For me, this is the most time-intensive part. Better recordings mean easier edits. Small things—turning off a fan, closing a window, asking a roommate to be quiet—can save a lot of time later.

You can also skip editing entirely. Think about the podcasts you enjoy and how their editing style supports their content and vibe.

Editing softwareI use Hindenburg Pro. It’s a straightforward audio editor with a bit of a learning curve, but there are plenty of tutorials. I prefer it to GarageBand, Audacity, and others because it stays out of the way.

Another option is Descript, which lets you edit audio through transcription and text.

MusicMusic helps establish your podcast’s identity, sets the tone, and works well for transitions. I bought a one-time license for music I liked on PremiumBeat, but there are lots of places to find inexpensive or free licensed music.

Podcast cover artYou’ll need cover art for your podcast. Set it up at 3000 × 3000 pixels and export as a JPG or PNG. I’m happy to help you design this.

PUBLISH

Send it out into the world Export your episode as an MP3 at 128 kbps, 48 kHz, then upload it to your host. Add an episode number, title, and description.

To give podcast apps time to update, schedule your episode to publish a few hours before you want listeners to see it.

PROMOTE

Share your links with everyone!Apple and Spotify let you link directly to either the show or a specific episode. You can also link to a website or custom domain and share episodes there.

I like Cargo for building websites (this site runs on Cargo), but there are plenty of good options. I’m happy to help with website design too.

Podbean, Apple, and Spotify all provide dashboards with listener and subscriber metrics.

QUESTIONS

Let me know what questions you have. If this was helpful, I’d love to hear that too. I’m always happy to help with your podcast—reach out on LinkedIn.


PREV