Last week we explored the essential equipment needed to start a podcast. This week I want to talk about two important elements to creating a podcast, the topic and recording/editing. I have watched countless videos on YouTube and read a couple articles on each subject and I want to share what I learned with you.

Let’s begin with the topic of the podcast. The importance lies in how you choose the topic of the podcast. In order to have the best chance of gaining and retaining an audience, it needs to tell a story, be specific and unique. For example, I plan on hosting a sports podcast. As you know, there are numerous sports related podcasts available so if my topic is mundane about everyday things occurring in college sports, the NFL, MLB or NBA, it will be a challenge for me to gain an audience.

One of the best takeaways from the videos and articles I reviewed was to talk about a topic you are genuinely interested in. No matter which idea you choose, it’s the passion and enthusiasm radiating from the host that makes for a great podcast. One common theme I recognized when scanning multiple articles was the importance of discussing a favorite topic.

It’s best to choose a subject and talk about it in-depth without infusing your own opinion or analysis. Presenting the information in an unbiased way is paramount. Utilizing this tip, I was able to come up with an idea for my own podcast.  I follow many sports influencers on Twitter. Their discussions are typically opinionated since they are talking about trending athlete and coaching actions and responses. A lot of the content is controversial but that is one of the things that keeps me coming back for more. My idea is to supplement the Twitter feeds with a podcast that spotlights high profile news stories.  I haven’t seen anything specifically like this so I think it is appealing and will turn out to be an interesting podcast.

Depending on whether the podcast is presented in audio or video format, you need to use different software to record and edit. There are several products to choose from but the top three are Audacity, QuickTime, and Adobe Audition. Audacity and QuickTime are free to users. Adobe Audition is available for less than $20 per month. All of these are great choices for first-time and even experienced podcasters. Auphonic and Squadcast are some of the best software available for recording and editing video podcasts.

When you record a podcast, one of the most important rules is to make your space recording-friendly. This includes recording in the smallest and quietest room possible to reduce outside noise and echoes. You should also shut your windows and doors, turn off any machines or devices that make a constant noise, and put your pets somewhere they won’t disturb you for a couple hours. If you are unable to find a recording-friendly spot in your house, I have compiled a list of ten locations in and around my hometown in Maryland. I encourage you to check these places out if you have to record using an alternate site.

Up next, editing made easy. Editing in general is typically not that difficult, but it does require patience and precision to do it correctly. As a listener, you can quickly tell when a podcast is edited poorly because it includes breaks or silence in segments and doesn’t flow smoothly. The first tip I found is that effective editing begins with good recording. It is important to record with a device you’re familiar with. Another helpful tidbit is to include a second of silence before and after recording a sound to help with mixing. I found this to be particularly interesting and will try to incorporate it into my work.

For my podcast, I will be using Audacity to record and edit my podcast.  I have some experience using it in the past for other media projects so it is comfortable solution. One thing I really like about Audacity is you have a choice of how you want to import audio. You can either import a file from your computer or record it directly into the software. My preference is recording on my phone and importing directly but recording directly also works well. Anyone can use it. Here’s a link to download Audacity if you are interested.

Thanks for checking out this week’s post. Hopefully, I provided you with some useful tips for getting started with your podcast. Next week I will premiere my podcast and walk you through the steps of how it was created. I’m excited to show you what I’ve learned so make sure to check back in.

See you next week!