Thoughts on Podcasting

This article is an adaption of Jeffrey Lee's student-led podcast skills presentation.

Podcasting is unique. I like to think of it as a low-maintenance Youtube channel since it doesn’t require a video component; you can focus solely on getting your message out, whether it’s a specific topic or simply talking about your experiences. A podcast can be about anything that interests you. In fact, topics you may consider peculiar actually might make the best podcast episodes because they are often intriguing and thought-provoking.

Sound appealing? If you’re interested in creating your own podcast, then keep on reading.

Step One: Have Fun

The first step is to listen to some popular podcasts. Take note of what it is that podcast hosts do that make their podcast engaging, and learn how they approach topics and interview others. Afterward, plan your podcasts and set a goal (and topic) for your episode release dates.

Remember to not be repetitive with your topics. This step is probably the most difficult because it requires planning. Take some time and plan out the operations as soon as possible. You don’t have to focus on something relevant; do something that interests you but make sure you have a clear goal when making it.

Make sure you know your technology! The platform that the Arcadia Unified Student Podcast uses, Podbean, is great and allows for basic recording and uploading of podcast episodes, but its capabilities are very limited. For example, it’s impossible to add a different soundtrack in addition to the three basic ones they provide, and you cannot join different audio clips together, which is a problem if you are working in a team and need to have different segments recorded on different devices. Also, Podbean only accepts MP3 audio files, so be sure that you have that file type when uploading your episode. You can use other editing software to make the final product that you upload into the platform you'll use to store and share your podcasts.

Step 2: Pull Through!

Make sure to stick to the schedule you’ve made and to release episodes on a semi-regular basis. However, always look for ways to improve your podcast. For example, during Podcast Team’s first semester, the team commonly had to resort to sending questions to the interviewee beforehand, recording each side of the dialogue separately, and then have the podcast editor edit the clips together using Audacity, an audio editing program. This saved time during our busy school week and allowed the interviewer and the interviewee to record themselves however many times they liked, but there was no live response or interaction between the two, taking away from the podcast listener’s experience. So this year, we are committed to making all our interviews live. Also, Skype now offers audio and video recording, so even if we cannot conduct an interview in person, we can always do it live through Skype.

Step 3: The End of the Cycle, to Some Degree

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get any likes on your episodes because many people forget to click the like button on episodes. However, make sure to advertise on social media. It’s a surefire way to gain more listeners and spread the message you are trying to put out. Try to look for constructive criticism: should you talk a little faster, should you use the voice recording app on your phone, or should you find a quieter area without outside noises and some fuzzy sounds?

You don’t need a 20-minute podcast filled with different segments. It’s perfectly fine if you can get a solid 5-10 minute discussion going.

I find podcasting a very rewarding experience. You can expand your connections with the people you interview, improve your communication and teamwork skills (the latter if you have a team to help you produce podcasts), and you learn a lot overall. For your listeners, it’s convenient and easy to listen to. Now, what are you waiting for? Go podcast!