Episode 36: How to Start A Podcast 101

 Listen to this episode and all episodes at www.ArtistAcademyPodcast.com!

I’ve recently been asked several times how to go about starting a podcast so today I want to talk about how to do just that. I also want to give you a little insight into why I thought I would NEVER start a podcast due to a slight stutter. I’ll discuss my reservations about it, what I’ve learned from podcasting and also the how-to steps any future podcaster should take. It’s a really good way to connect with your future customers and get a lot of information easily out to the masses. I’ll also go through the editing process, so let’s get started.

How Do I Make A Podcast?

I’m sitting here in my painting studio using a mic, however, most of the interviews are done with the built in iPhone mic over Facebook Live. I was a little hesitant to record this way because the quality isn’t what you’d get when listening to those other really high-quality podcasts. I thought, “Well I’ve got to start somewhere.” so I just went with it. I like to do the Facebook Live because video is EVERYTHING and I can repurpose that video for YouTube and people can interact with it in the Facebook group. Artist Academy members get to ask questions which is not a thing that typically happens with podcasts. Very little gets edited out in an attempt to keep the experience as real as possible.

The Editing Process

First, I download the Facebook Live video. Second, I upload it into iMovie to add the pre-recorded intro, ad, and outro. Then I save it as an audio-only mp4 file and upload it to Spreaker.com.

TIP: If you go to soundstripe.com you can download royalty-free music at a great rate to use for your intros and outros. 

At first, I only did interviews but once I got those down I started adding solo shows into the mix. When I go solo, I use a mic that plugs straight into my Mac and QuickTime Player to record the audio (super easy!). It’s then edited to include the intro and outro and uploaded to Spreaker. I did this process at first but now my virtual assistant, Adriana, does the editing and uploading tasks. Hey, Adriana!

In Spreaker, you must connect the .rss file to iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and any other platform in order to broadcast to those channels when episodes air.   

TIP: Be sure to give it a short, catchy title that makes people want to listen.

One last thing: You must know your target podcast audience! My primary audience consists of aspiring artists or artists who have just started their art careers. Yours may vary but it’s so important to know who it is you’re talking to in order to effectively communicate and plan each episode.  

Why I said, “I’d NEVER start a podcast!”

Anybody who knows me knows that I’ll be social with my girlfriends but overall, I’m NOT a big talker. For instance, have you ever been at a family event and a family member jokingly says something like “Quit being so loud”? Yea, I get that a lot. Also, I have a little stutter and sometimes it’s hard to get things out. When I first started, I thought there was no way I would be able to carry on a long conversation but, SURPRISE, here I am talking to a mic for 30 minutes straight!

My point is, if starting a podcast is something you’re passionate about, you can do it. I started by writing everything out beforehand and now I’m able to carry on solo conversations and interview guests with ease. Just remember that when you’re interviewing, let your guest talk and don’t cut them off. I’ve listened back to early episodes and cringe at listening to myself talking over them. Let your guests be the star!

In true podcast form I can’t end this without trying to entice you to leave a review! If you found this helpful or if you have any additional questions, just send me a DM on Instagram.