How to start podcasting

Whether you're looking to start a career in the media or are just passionate about a particular subject, follow these eight steps to get your podcast off the ground

1. Choose your podcast topic

Think of podcast ideas

You need to consider the following questions:

• What's your main goal for podcasting?
• Who is your target audience?
• How will the podcast satisfy the needs of your listeners?
• What subjects are you most passionate about? What makes it interesting?
• What areas would make for great discussions?
• Does the podcast concept have the potential to run for multiple episodes?
• If it's delivered in an interview format, who will be your guests, and how will you source them?

If you're wondering whether a particular theme has legs, you could try noting as many episode ideas as possible.

The top ten podcast genres

The ten most popular podcast genres highlighted by Ofcom's 2024 figures include:

• entertainment
• news and current affairs
• comedy
• discussion and talk shows
• politics
• society and culture
• health and wellbeing
• true crime
• hobbies
• football.

Even if your preferred topic isn't on the list, that's fine, as niche topics cater to those listeners looking for something specific.

It's harder to stand out in a highly competitive area, so your style, personality, and unique perspective will help you attract listeners and encourage them to tune in to you over the other podcasts in this space.

2. Decide on the format

Some of the most common types of podcasts include:

• Interview - typically a single host (but can be two) speaks to individuals about a topic. The guest provides their expert opinion, usually through a question-and-answer format. It's the host's job to steer the conversation towards what's most interesting and summarise the key points.
• Solo - if you're an expert on your chosen subject this is as simple as it gets. It's just you speaking into your microphone.
• Co-hosted - a popular format where two people host the show together, each playing a particular role and bringing something different to the conversation.
• Panel - similar to the interview, this format features more than one person, giving it a more conversational feel. The typical setup involves a host and a group of guests.
• Scripted non-fiction - these episodes are about real-life events, often focusing on a single theme for each series. This method is also used to present the news.
• Repurposed - taking existing content and transforming it to maximise value, such as taking a written article and presenting it in an audio format.

Weigh up the pros and cons of each podcast format at Castos - 8 podcast formats to consider for your show.

Another thing to consider is the length of your podcast - how long does it need to be to get your messages across while ensuring your audience sticks around for most, if not all, of the episode?

More importantly, you'll need to ensure that your output remains consistent. Listeners want to subscribe to predictable podcasts. Be easy on yourself initially and maintain a schedule you can handle.

3. Shape your podcast brand

Podcast name

This may sound easier said than done, but you must choose something that resonates with you and your audience. The name needs to showcase exactly what the podcast is about.

Try to develop a short name (ideally four words or less) that's memorable, meaningful, and fairly represents your podcast content and what listeners can expect by tuning in.

It needs to be clear, concise and straightforward to spell and pronounce. If it's too ambiguous, people may be confused about what you'll speak about. Ensure the name is unique and nobody has used that name before. If in doubt, you can always run it through Namecheckr.

If you're having trouble settling on a suitable name, see website builder Wix's A guide to podcast names.

Description

You'll also need to create a short description or synopsis of your podcast. In addition to telling new listeners who you are, include a few keywords that people are searching for to make it easier for them to find you.

There's a 4,000-character limit on most directories, but you won't usually need that much detail for your description - around 600 to 900 characters should be enough.

Cover art

You can use a free platform like Canva to create your cover art. Templates are available for those lacking design skills. Ensure that the images are high resolution and optimised for mobile browsing.

In its complete guide to The dos and don'ts of podcast cover art, Spotify suggests that for the best visual quality, you should go for dimensions of 1400x1400 to 3000x3000 pixels, sticking to a ratio of 1:1 so that it looks good across all podcast platforms.

Apple Podcasts also have their own cover art requirements:

• square images
• JPEG or PNG files
• a minimum 72 dpi resolution.

4. Consider your budget and the costs involved

No matter how good the content of your podcast is, if the recording doesn't sound great, you're unlikely to keep listeners hanging around for long.

This doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune on the latest technology; it's all about focusing your budget on the right areas.

In its podcasting costs guide, Podcastle states that the amount you'll need to spend can vary depending on key factors such as production quality and volume.

To start a podcast as a hobby, they estimate that you'll need to spend about £80 to £280, but if you're looking to turn it into a business, this can cost £400 to £4,000.

Equipment to start a podcast

Here's what we recommend to get you started at the lower level:

• Laptop - you need to get a laptop that can perform multiple tasks at a high speed. See Riverside.fm's An overview of the 10 best laptops for podcasting.
• USB microphone - widely considered the cheapest and most cost-effective option, it's easy to plug them in and go. While some models have been derided for their poor sound quality, respected brands such as RØDE offer professional studio-quality USB condenser models for around £100 that come with their own tripod.
• Headphones - a decent pair of headphones is important if you plan to interview guests, as they can improve the audio quality and help you focus on the task at hand without distractions. To get started, you can buy a pair of all-round, on-ear Sony or gear4music stereo headphones for £10-£20.
• Recording and editing software - you'll require specialist software to record and edit your podcast. Using a dedicated podcasting app will give you a clean recording of your audio, as it is saved locally and then uploaded. The subscription price varies, ranging from free to £30 per month. At Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ, we use Cleanfeed Pro to record our podcasts (subscription) and Audacity to edit them (free).

Explore the full range of options by reading Spotify's Podcast equipment guide for creators.

5. Plan your episodes

If your podcast isn't scripted, you need to create an outline based on the episode's purpose. This can later be used for the episode description or show notes, as they're often referred to.

If you're interviewing someone, try to develop a list of questions that will keep the interview on track while considering your overall aim.

As the host, you'll need to guide the discussion and ensure that it fits your podcast structure and what your listeners expect from your show. There should still be space to explore different tangents from this central idea.

Episode must-haves

Your episode may contain some or all of the following aspects:

• a teaser or hook
• introduction
• welcome and overview
• advert spot/trailer swap
• interview questions/answers
• call to action (CTA) and conclusion
• outro.

When looking at the overall picture, you could choose podcast topics based on similar themes that can easily be split into a series. This is great for giving listeners an idea of what's to come and to keep them engaged for the long term.

6. Source your guests

The sourcing of guests can take a bit of effort, so you first need to consider who these people will be and devise a plan for contacting them. Will you contact experts, or will you keep it simple and interview those you know?

You'll need to take into account:

• Time - this will be crucial, so aim to book interviewees as far in advance as possible, maintaining regular contact so they know what's expected on the day.
• Their setup - if the recording is done remotely, they'll need the right equipment.
• Practicalities - they need to be made aware of the date and times involved and receive the questions in advance to prepare their answers.
• A pre-interview - you may wish to build rapport with the guest before the recording session, giving them an opportunity to ask questions. Allow at least 30 to 45 minutes longer if you plan to do this on the same day as the recording.
• All eventualities - be aware that guests can drop out, so factor this into the process and the deadline you've set for releasing your episodes.

7. Record and edit your podcast

Recording factors

To ensure the recording goes smoothly, you'll need to consider the following:

• Location - choose a room with minimal noise and plenty of furniture, such as carpet, rugs and curtains. Soft objects reduce echoes in the room and help to create a cleaner recording.
• Settings and recording levels - ensure the microphone sound is connected to the computer's USB port. Aim for a reasonable audio level that's not too loud to reduce distortion, as you can always increase the volume when editing.
• Audio file quality - ensure your initial recording is saved in a high-resolution WAV or AIFF file format. Later, it can be converted to a recommended upload format (such as an MP3 or M4A file).
• Position of your microphone - for a natural sound, position the mic just to the side of your face and angle it slightly towards your mouth, about two to four inches away.
• Test recording - compare the quality of your recording to other podcasts you listen to. Also, aim to listen to it through various mediums, e.g., a laptop speaker, mobile phone speaker, headphones, etc.
• Intro/outro - for the former, be sure to include who you are, the theme of your podcast, and why listeners should tune in. The latter should thank listeners for their time and include your tagline/CTA. You could ask them to leave a podcast review, sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to your website or follow your social media channels.

The editing stage

• adding your intro/outro
• stabilising the volume levels and using noise reduction tools
• correcting any mistakes
• cutting it down to just the best bits
• choosing royalty-free music to include (ensure you have permission if using copyrighted music)
• adding in music at the right sound level
• first focusing on editing the content, then cleaning up the audio
• removing any noticeable gaps
• crossfading between any music tracks.

Read about editing in more detail at The Podcast Host - Podcast editing: How & where to edit your podcast in 2025.

Select a hosting platform

Once your recording is ready, choose a podcast hosting platform for your audio files.

To compare options, see The Podcast Host - Best podcast hosting sites in 2025 (with 4 free options).

From there, you can submit an RSS feed to podcast directories such as:

• Amazon Music
• Apple Podcasts
• Player FM
• Podchaser
• Spotify
• TuneIn - Alexa
• YouTube

8. Get your podcast out there

When launching your podcast, you need to maximise exposure and gain listeners, subscribers, and reviews as quickly as possible.

Emily Slade, podcast producer and host of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ Future You podcast, says her best piece of advice is to record ten episodes and schedule them for release before doing anything else.

'If you can prove that you've got ten in the bag, that instantly puts you in the top % of podcasts,' she explains. For more trends, see Podcastpage - Podcast statistics & trends 2025.

Emily adds, 'If you can be disciplined and focused enough to get ten episodes out, you're already winning. It immediately builds up traction and gives you time to continue recording and releasing more episodes.'

Tips to grow your podcast audience

Other things you can do to increase the reach of your podcast include:

• creating visual soundbites/snippets of the episode and posting them through social channels, such as Instagram and TikTok
• using SEO techniques to optimise podcast titles and descriptions
• ensuring the podcast is listed in the most popular directories mentioned above
• publishing transcripts of your episodes for accessibility reasons and to improve your chances of being found via Google - visit the Future You podcast transcripts page
• encouraging your guests to share the podcast with their own audience
• asking your listeners to review your podcast
• running giveaways and other competitions
• appearing as a guest on other people's related podcasts.

If you begin to feel anxious about putting your new podcast out there, remember that even the most confident people suffer from imposter syndrome at the beginning.

Try signing up for popular podcasters' blogs and engaging with the community via social channels. You'll find that most people are only too happy to help those starting out on their podcasting journey.

Monetising your podcast

If you're looking to make money from your podcast, Riverside.fm has highlighted the following considerations:

• Sponsorships - explore partnerships with brands relevant to your podcast area.
• Affiliate marketing - promote products and get commission from any referrals.
• Paid membership - use a subscription model to earn money. You'll need to offer incentives such as exclusive content and other rewards like free merchandise.
• Crowdfunding and listener donations - your audience can help to support the running of your podcast by donating money through sites such as Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee.

Listen to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ Future You podcast

Whatever stage of your career journey, from full-time study to landing your first graduate job or looking to change careers, this podcast series is for you.

Presented by our host, Emily Slade, each episode features discussions with industry professionals, course leaders and career advisers.

Listen and subscribe to our Future You podcast.

Find out more

• Discover our 5 tips for getting media work experience.
• Learn more about side hustles for students.
• Get some ideas for student jobs at university.