Note: This blog post contains affiliate links, however, I only recommend brands that I use and love.
Since 2020, I’ve been hosting The Bicultural Podcast, following a fantastic workshop by Serena Gay at The Growth Hub. Podcasting has allowed me to meet amazing people, has given me a platform to communicate, and also has created the habit of creating thought-leadership content on a regular basis.
Over the years, I’ve been asked by various people to share how to get started with podcasting. So here it is :).
Here are some tips and tools to get started with podcasting:
- Monologue or interview: Decide whether you would like to generate monologue episodes or interview people on your podcast. I started with just interviews, but now do a mix of both, as it allows me to share thought-leadership content, as well as learn from other people.
- Length of the episodes: 20-30 mins is a common length for a podcast episode. My monologue episodes are usually 10-15 mins, whereas an episode with a guest is around 30 mins long.
- Regularity of the episodes: Decide how often you would like to publish your episodes and keep this consistent. You don’t want to disappoint your audience! If you need a break from podcasting, you can end the ‘season’ and start a new season when you’re ready.
- Recording the episode: I use Zencastr to record my episodes because you can easily record an episode by yourself or with a guest. You can record with or without video, and the recording generates two separate tracks (when you have a guest), which makes the editing of the podcast a lot easier. I have found the free version sufficient enough for my needs.
- Editing the episode: I use Podcastle to edit my epsiodes, as the editing process is very visual and easy to use, and you don’t need to download a software to use it. I have found the free version sufficient enough for my needs.
- Transcribing the episode: I use Rev to transcribe my episodes. The advantage of transcribing episodes is that it improves the SEO of the episode, so people can find your episode more easily. You could also consider adding the transcript to your blog, which also helps with the SEO of your website and keeps your blog up-to-date.
- Hosting the podcast: I use Buzzsprout to host my podcast because I think it is easy to use and gives me a good insight into my analytics. I use the paid version because I would like my episodes to be hosted indefinitely and there are no ads added to my podcast website (the free version only hosts your episodes for 90 days and ads will be added to your podcast website).