Creating a podcast is a bit like having a baby. You hear everyone saying how amazing it is, how life-changing, and then you dive in only to realize – wow, this is a lot of work. And why didn’t anyone warn you? Then, of course, you talk to people, and they say, “Oh, I did say it’s hard, didn’t I? Yeah, super hard!” It feels like a 90s infomercial oversell.
I wrote this post for anyone thinking about creating a podcast. The irony is, I don’t have a podcast myself. So how can I give advice? If you keep reading and find that it’s not helpful and doesn’t resonate, no hard feelings at all. I actually wrote this myself with my human hands and brain though, so give me a chance.
Let’s talk about what it actually takes to start a podcast. You don’t need to have it all figured out, but there are a few non-negotiables and I will list 4 of them, being the 4th the most important if you want to skip to the end:
1. Great Sound (Duh)
Bad audio can ruin even the best podcast. No one wants to hear distracting background noises like cars honking, people chatting, or even an echo that makes it hard to focus on the speaker. Poor-quality sound is exhausting for listeners, and they’ll likely tune out before you’ve had the chance to connect with them.
Good sound doesn’t mean you need a professional studio, but you should invest in a quality microphone that suits your budget. There are excellent affordable options out there. Pair that with a quiet, controlled environment – ideally a space without hard surfaces that reflect sound, like tiled floors or large, empty rooms. Blankets, rugs, or even a closet filled with clothes can help dampen sound and give you better acoustics.
And don’t forget to test your setup before recording a full episode. Record a short clip and listen to it on headphones and/or speakers. If something sounds off – static, echo, or uneven volume – adjust your setup until the audio is clean. Your future listeners will thank you.
2. Strategy and Positioning
What keeps you listening to a podcast, even when the audio isn’t perfect? The content. And that’s what we’ll cover in item 3. But before you can create compelling content, you need positioning, and that’s what item 2 is all about. Because great content comes from a strategy that comes from positioning.Let me explain what I mean about that.
You’ve probably heard the term “persona” in marketing, which refers to a fictional representation of your ideal listener – what they care about, their challenges, and how they engage with your content.
While personas help you understand who you’re speaking to, positioning goes deeper. Positioning is about the entire personality and value your podcast represents in the market.
I talk a lot about positioning here but basically when you position yourself you are deciding what kind of experience your client/customer is going to have when they interact with your brand, and/or podcast.
What would bring your target audience to your podcast? And once they’re there, how do you want them to feel after they listen to your podcast? Educated? Inspired? Happy? Relaxed?
Positioning is so important. It’s what sets you apart and keeps you consistent, even as you grow and experiment. Without clear positioning, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of other projects out there. More about positioning here, if you’re interested.
3. Compelling Content
Ok, so you’ve got the strategy based on your positioning. Now, let’s use that to map out your content in a way that feels achievable and exciting.
Before you think about launching, create a backlog of episode ideas. Why? Because starting strong is one thing, but staying consistent is what builds an audience. Also, you don’t want to run out of things to talk about after a few episodes.
Start by brainstorming topics that excite you and resonate with your audience. Write down at least 10-15 solid ideas. These don’t have to be full episodes yet, just a few bullet points for each idea to get started.
4. Do the PEP.
You can go all out with a polished, high-budget production, or you can start with something simpler and more cost-effective. Whatever the case, you need a really cool acronym I just came up with called PEP: Plan, Execute, and Promote.
Plan
Take a moment to write out a 5W2H exercise:
- What will your podcast be about?
- Why are you creating it? Why should people listen?
- Who is your audience?
- When will episodes be aired? How often will new episodes be released, and is there a particular time frame or seasonality you want to follow?
- Where will you record?
- How does the whole process work? What are the steps, activities and key factors that could impact how your podcast gets made and aired? A flowchart can be super helpful to map it all out and keep things clear.
- How Much time and money will it take?
Execute
At a minimum, you’ll need:
- A good microphone. Focus on the basics and upgrade as you go.
- A space with proper acoustics (not a Starbucks or a house full of kids yelling).
- Basic lighting and a decent backdrop if you’re doing video.
- Fair editing—not necessarily super professional, but with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Conclusion: Just do it, it’s super easy.
If you’ve made it this far, it’s because you’re serious about making your podcast happen. Your first episodes might not be perfect, but they’ll be yours, and they’ll be the foundation for something amazing.
So, take the leap, hit record, and start your podcast journey. Your voice deserves to be heard. Don’t keep it to yourself!
