How To Start a Podcast or Interview Series
Updated: May 30, 2020
So you found yourself having a great conversation with a friend about your favorite rappers or you feel the urge to share industry information about the makeup industry. Afterwards, you think "hey that was an entertaining and informative conversation that I think people would love to hear" or "we should definitely record this conversation". Welcome, you have found yourself in the pursuit of recording a podcast or interview series! This article will explore general and specific advice on how to start your own platform (I will definitely not be able to cover everything). Now context will always matter, so try to adjust whatever advice you hear (yes, even from me) to what your topics and format will be for your platform.
For the general advice, fancy equipment and software is not a must for the beginning stages for recording. Think of the adage: crawl before you, walk before you run, run before you drive, drive before you fly (I don't that's how it goes, but you get the idea). Getting use to the process of recording and doing the post-production work will be great practice and help you develop your workflow on how you learn to produce your content. You should use whatever technology you currently have to record and upload audio/video (i.e. your phone) so you can understand the process and learn how to troubleshoot. Look in your respective app store to find free recording or video editing software to keep your costs low or free and convenient.
Bonus tip: Another option is to go live on Instagram, TikTok (currently, you need to have at least 1,000 followers), YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook. You can record the live session and upload it as additional content.
Always do your research (aka Google) when you decide to upgrade your equipment or software when you want to increase the quality of your production.
Now for the specific advice, I will speak from personal experience about the equipment and software I used (and currently use) to produce content for my interviews and podcasts. Starting out, you can purchase a domain and use a website builder (i.e. Wordpress, Wix, Squarespace) to have an official platform to direct people to your content. If you are not ready to purchase and maintain a website, then you can use Anchor, Buzzsprout, or Soundcloud to upload your podcasts. On these websites, you will need to get the RSS Feed to upload on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play (you will need to create accounts to upload on each streaming platform). To learn more about RSS Feed's, simply Google "How to Create an RSS Feed For A Podcast". If you are filming your podcast or interview, then creating a YouTube channel will be a great option. You will need some sort of video and/or audio editing software like Audacity (free), iMovie (free) or Adobe Premiere (not free), Final Cut (not free). Not only will filming add a visual element to your podcast/interview, but it also allows you to create multiple forms of content (I highly suggest reading Gary Vee's advice on Content Strategy). Remember, when it comes to building an audience, you should develop consistency and diligence when releasing your content (this is something I still struggle with to this day).
Hopefully, you find this information about how to start your own podcast to be helpful. Remember, the internet is a useful tool for researching on how to do things or simply learn. For more research, I would suggest Googling: “How to start a podcast” and “What equipment do I need for a podcast”.
BONUS
Here is a list of equipment I use for my interviews (you could also look to buy used equipment to lower your costs):
Cameras: Nikon D800 (Full Frame) and Nikon D5300 (Cropped Sensor)
Mics: Samson Go Mic Mobile Kit
Lights: Soft Light Kit & Work Lights
Tri-pods for Cameras: 60-inch Tri-pod
Other accessories you might need to think about are batteries (AA for mics, I suggest buying rechargeable batteries), chargers (for D800 + for D5300), extension cords, and a powerstrip for your equipment.
Article and Photography by Jamal Lawson
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