Podcasting is hands down one of my favorite ways to connect with my audience. It’s like having a heart-to-heart chat with my community while they fold laundry, drive carpool, or take a morning walk. Unlike social media, where posts disappear, podcasts keep working for you long after you hit publish. They help build authority, nurture trust, and—bonus!—they’re so much fun to create.
If you’ve been thinking about launching your own podcast, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started. As with anything new, there will be a learning curve, but honestly, the hardest part is just choosing to start. Once you make that decision, you are on your way to making your dream come true, and that is the best feeling!
What is a Podcast?
A podcast is basically like having your own personal radio show—but better. It’s an audio experience that your audience can listen to anytime, anywhere. You record episodes (which can be anything from solo deep dives to expert interviews), upload them to a podcast hosting platform, and then they get distributed to major listening apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. The process is actually quite simple and only requires a few pieces of equipment to get started.
How to Start a Podcast
Before you buy all your equipment and hit record on your first episode, you need to get crystal clear on your podcast niche. Your niche is what makes your podcast stand out in a sea of millions of other shows. It’s the sweet spot where your expertise, passion, and audience needs intersect. Without a well-defined niche, your podcast runs the risk of feeling too broad, making it hard to attract loyal listeners and establish authority in your space. I always say–niche down and then do it again and again. Here are a few questions to think about as you niche down: What do you know really well that you could talk about for hours? What questions do people ask you all the time? What topics fire you up and make you excited to share? Who do you want to serve? What challenges, goals, or pain points do they have? What type of content would genuinely help them?
Once you have defined your niche write down the goals you want to achieve through this podcast and make a list of possible episode ideas. This brainstorming session will set you up nicely as you begin. Don’t forget to decide on the name of your podcast! This name should complement your brand and be easy for your audience to search for and remember.
Now that you have defined your niche, set some goals, and have some ideas for your first episodes it’s time to set up your studio!
Essential Podcast Equipment
If you want to start a podcast, you will need a few pieces of equipment. The main thing you want for a podcast is rich audio quality. Since people are likely only listening to it through headphones, you want your recording to be loud enough, easy to understand, and free of background noises.
To get started recording a podcast and achieve sufficient audio quality you’ll need the following:
- Microphone – A quality mic is non-negotiable.
- Headphones – Good headphones help you catch audio issues before your listeners do.
- Recording and editing software – there are several free and paid options. Here are a few examples that are commonly used.
- GarageBand (Mac) – Free and great for beginners.
- Audacity – Free, open-source, and works on both Mac & PC.
- Adobe Audition – Paid but packed with pro features.
- Descript – My favorite!
- Computer or laptop – Any reliable computer will do, but make sure it has enough storage for audio files and editing software.
- Sound-proofed room – You don’t need a fancy studio to sound good. Try these budget-friendly hacks:
- Record in a closet with hanging clothes (natural sound absorption).
- Use foam panels or moving blankets on walls to reduce echo.
- Place a thick rug under your setup to cut down on background noise.
The Best Podcast Platforms
Descript
I discovered Descript a few years ago to record my podcast episodes. It is THE best. When you record your episode on Descript it automatically creates a transcript of what you say.
Once you are done recording, you can review the transcript and edit the text to remove mistakes or items you don’t want to include. When you edit the transcript, it automatically edits the audio/video recording, too. There is even a button that allows you to take out all the “ums” and filler words all at once. This saves you so much time!
Libsyn
I use Libsyn to house my podcast. I switched over to Libsyn a couple of years ago and it has been great. It is a super reliable platform and I love the advanced analytics it gives me so I can keep track of how well my episodes are performing.
My podcast is my main piece of content to my audience, so it means a lot to me and the success of it does too. Libsyn has helped me know where I can improve and helps keep my episodes organized and easily accessible to my listeners.
Libsyn easily distributes your podcast to all of the major podcast platforms like Apple, Spotify, and Google. It even has an option for you to monetize your podcast by including ads if you’re interested in something like that.
How You Can Make Money Podcasting
Yes, your podcast can actually make you money! Here are a few examples of how people are monetizing their podcasts:
- Sponsorships – Brands pay you to mention their products. Start with smaller businesses in your niche.
- Affiliate Marketing – Promote products you love and earn commission. (Amazon Associates and other programs work great.)
- Your Own Offers – Use your podcast to market your services, courses, or memberships.
Main Takeaways
- A podcast is a series of recorded audio episodes that can be listened to on your phone through an app or on your computer through a website.
- Descript is the best platform for recording audio and video. I use it for my podcast episodes and YouTube videos.
- I recommend Libysn for housing your podcast. It has great features that you can rely on to get your podcast out there to tons of people and analytics to help you see where you can grow.
- How to Start a Podcast:
- Decide on your niche/podcast concept.
- Define your goals and brainstorm podcast episode ideas.
- Pick a name for your podcast that complements your brand and is easy for your audience to search for and remember.
- Buy and set up podcast equipment.
- Find a podcast editing software and hosting software and create an account.
Podcast Tips for Beginners
Now that you know what a podcast is and how it works, I can’t wait for you to get started on your own! Here are a few tips to consider as you start your journey!
- Define Your Niche – Be clear on who you’re speaking to and why. The more niche, the better!
- Batch Your Episodes – Record a few in advance so you’re never scrambling for content.
- Keep It Simple – You don’t need an elaborate setup. Focus on quality content first.
- Practice Before Publishing – Do a few test recordings to get comfortable behind the mic.
- Be Consistent – Pick a release schedule (weekly, biweekly) and stick to it.
I cover marketing strategy tips on my podcast if you’re interested in learning more about how to grow on Instagram and other similar platforms.
Check out my podcast, The Social Strategist. THIS episode is a great place to start. And make sure to follow me on Instagram too for pro tips on content creation and marketing strategy. Find me @iammichellegifford.
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