How to Start a Podcast

Latasha James

How to Start a Podcast

Latasha James
4.65
1h 59m
29 modules (view curriculum)

$349
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  • Total Time:

    1h 59m

Description

So, you’re interested in starting a podcast? Start here! In this course, Latasha James shows you everything it takes to create a successful podcast, step-by-step. From planning and building a listener profile, choosing a topic and creating a show identity, mastering the tech and gear to produce pristine recordings, learning the art of the interview, all the way to editing and marketing your show, publishing to podcasting platforms, finding sponsors, and so much more – with this course, you'll be producing your own podcast in no time.

Modules

Is Podcasting Right for You?

02m

Podcasts are immensely popular. Find out why and if podcasting is the best medium for you. While the audience of podcast listeners is diverse, there are statistics to be found, such as age, type, engagement style, and much more. And apart from that, podcasts are one of the best and easiest ways to build a community!

Building a Listener Profile

03m

You have to know who your audience is. The easiest way is to build a listener profile for your podcast and find out who your most likely listener is and how you can best attract them. This lesson will help you do just that.

Choosing a Topic

05m

Without knowing what you want to talk about, you’ll lose sight of your aim fast. It’s important to pick the right topic for your podcast: Know your niche and sub-niche, and make sure you are an expert in it, and that you love talking about it - a lot. Don’t forget there has to be a demand for your topic, too. Find out what people are searching for on the web, and learn many more ways to choose the right topic for your podcast.

Creating a Show Identity

07m

Coming up with a name for your podcast can be one of the most challenging parts of creating your show. Here are some tips on what to think about when coming up with your podcast name, one of them being SEO (using Google Trends). Latasha also guides you through how to easily create a visually appealing podcast cover. This lesson also touches on bumpers and theme songs for your podcast.

Choosing a Microphone

03m

In order to create a rich, full sound for your voice recording, you have to choose the right microphone. It’s extremely important, as it’s the main thing your listeners will be exposed to when tuning in to your podcast. In this lesson, Latasha explains the difference between dynamic and condenser microphones, and wired and wireless options.

Microphone Stands

01m

At first glance, you might wonder why choosing the right microphone stand is important. But in order to achieve good sound and for you and your guests to be comfortable, the right stand can make all the difference.

Headphones

02m

In this lesson, Latasha talks about the importance of using headphones while recording, and how to choose the right ones for you. There are many different options, but some are more suitable for podcasting than others.

RØDECaster Pro II

02m

Latasha explains some specific functions of the RØDECaster Pro II and RØDECaster Duo that will make your life much easier as a podcaster. Presets for different sessions and audio processing options are just some of them.

Recording on a RØDECaster

03m

The advantages of recording audio using a RØDECaster include audio backup, audio processing, and much more. Learn about the benefits of recording in multichannel audio, and the correct settings for it, as well as recording to SSDs and microSD cards.

Recording Over USB

02m

What are some advantages of recording externally using the RØDECaster’s USB port, using a Digital Audio Workstation, a.k.a. audio software? Latasha talks about setting up multichannel recording without being overwhelmed, and the correct way to do it.

RØDE Connect

02m

The free software called RØDEConnect offers similar features to the RØDECaster for a flexible and mobile setup. Latasha explains how it works and what it’s good for – recording on the road, having a remote guest use it, and more.

Editing Software

09m

What level of editing is needed for a podcast? As so often in life, the answer varies. In this lesson, Latasha gives an overview of basic video podcast editing in Final Cut Pro, live editing with the RØDECaster, and audio-only editing with Audacity. Pro tip: for a more in-depth editing training in Final Cut Pro, check out our course “Speed Editing in Final Cut Pro with Dave Maze”.

My Marketing Tech Stack

17m

In this lesson, Latasha James takes you through the tools she recommends for promoting your podcast. In-depth looks into Canva, Descript and Metricool will help you make stunning designs and animations in no time, transcribe, edit and subtitle podcast clips for social media, and plan and schedule the entire online presence for your podcast.

Creating a Content Calendar

05m

One of the crucial elements of success for any content creation is regular uploading. Keeping a proper content calendar will help you stay on schedule with a fixed timeline of when to record, produce and publish each episode. In this lesson, Latasha uses Notion’s Content Calendar Template and Answer the Public.

Booking Guests

01m

Booking your first guests can be daunting when starting a new podcast. Let Latasha take the fear out of the process by sharing her tips and experiences on how to book interesting guests, even if your podcast is brand new.

Creating a Run of Show

01m

In this lesson, Latasha talks about the importance of creating a run of show for your podcast. Using Asana, she shows how to contain a proper plan for what you are covering, intros, outros, ads, and so on – so you stay on track and don’t get lost in endless babbling.

Setting Up In-Studio Guests

01m

This lesson deals with the consistency of audio recording when you are recording with guests. Ideally, they are using the same model, or at least the same type of microphone. Guests can easily be distracted when hearing themselves over headphones, and Latasha shares a simple yet effective trick with the RØDECaster to avoid this from happening.

Bringing in Callers

04m

It’s common to receive callers during a podcast, so it’s important to properly set up and plan in order to ensure optimal sound quality. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to do that using the RØDECaster, and further, Latasha also shows how to talk to a caller individually without the others being able to listen, and how lowering the voice of everyone else can help you talk over them in a discussion.

The Art of the Interview

05m

As Latasha dives deeper into the art of the interview, she will explain how to prepare for your guest by writing out questions and a rough guideline prior to the interview, and potentially setting up a pre-production meeting. Get tips on making your guests feel comfortable, even if they are inexperienced in being interviewed, and the right way to ask questions to get the answers you are looking for.

Recording Your Show on Video

06m

Recording your podcast as a video has many advantages, such as making the experience more personal and engaging. Latasha also goes through the basic equipment and lighting setup she recommends for shooting a video podcast.

Creating Captivating Show Notes

03m

The importance of creating compelling episode titles and show notes are the main topics of this lesson. Latasha also touches on how crucial SEO optimization is, and how helpful it can be to have a transcript for your podcast.

Uploading Your Show

09m

Podcasts should show up in as many podcast services as possible - and in order to do that, you need a podcast host. Latasha uses Spotify for Podcasters, which allows you to upload your podcast to other podcast services, not just Spotify, and she runs you through a detailed setup.

Choosing Social Channels

02m

In this lesson, Latasha dives into selecting social channels for promoting your podcast based on the target audience. She shares personal insights and tips on experimenting with different platforms to find what works best for your podcast's theme and audience.

Repurposing

01m

Latasha explains the value of repurposing long-form content by extracting short clips or transcribing audio for diverse content types like blogs, emails, or social media captions. She advises customizing clips for different platforms to maximize engagement, illustrating a scenario where a single interview can yield varied content, each tailored for a specific social channel.

Building an Email List

03m

In this lesson, Latasha emphasizes the importance of mailing lists to tie your audience to your podcast. She talks about how to get people to subscribe to your newsletter and the platform that works best for her: Flodesk.

Working With Brands

04m

How can you earn money for your podcast while working with brands? Direct sponsorships, ads and affiliate marketing are topics in this lesson. Latasha talks about having a Media Kit for your brand and how to approach businesses and brands with a proposal for a partnership.

Selling Your Services

02m

Latasha shares her process on converting your podcast listeners into customers by offering value. Show up as an expert in your area, help them learn something new, and make them trust you. Free trials work best for software, while lead magnets work best for products - these are just some tips in this lesson on how to turn your hobby into a business model.

Building Your Brand

02m

Here are some ideas on how to build your brand from the inside out. For example, for Latasha podcasting directly translates into getting booked for speaking gigs. She shares how you can facilitate that even more - teaching online and writing a book are also possible next steps for podcasters.

Outro

00m

Congratulations, you finished the course “How to Start a Podcast” with Latasha James! If you enjoyed this course, give us a star rating and let us know what kind of courses you'd like to see here at MZed!

About the Educator

Latasha James

Filmmaker, Podcaster

1 Course

Latasha James is an entrepreneur, marketing wizard, and host of the "Freelance Friday Podcast."

Reviews

5
I had a great experience with this series. The explanation and process were top-notch. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to start a podcast!
Stavros Marmaras
5
Thanks for being direct and to the point with lessons learned as well as providing references.
Murphy Cheatham
5
Great job with all the information. It will help me out a lot, thank you.
Manuel M. Zaragoza Jr.
5
Very informative & some great tools
Steve Scott
5
I learned more than I thought I would. But most importantly, I learned what I thought I knew wasn’t close to what I should've known. Thanks for preparing me.
Byron Brooks
4.5
Excellent. Very useful. thank you
RICARDO GALAN
4.5
Excellent overview of setting up a Podcast business with some short segment deep-diving into software she uses for various purposes to produce the podcast. Rodecaster Pro 2 and Duo are featured prominently as are some other Rode microphones and accessories. Workflows are outlined and some helpful metrics. The course will have to be watched several times and good notes taken to get the most out of it, and some of the software coverage may still be hard to follow without further coverage of the programs themselves.
Atwood Rice
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