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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
- Sprache: Englisch
Step up to the mic and unleash your inner host with Podcasting For Dummies
Ever wonder what it takes to get your very own podcast up and running? How to get the gear you need, pick a great topic, secure fascinating guests, and assemble it all into a refined and irresistible product?
Well wonder no more! Because Podcasting For Dummies has the essential guidance you need to get your brand-new podcast up and running. From selecting the right recording equipment to identifying an audience and pro-level production tips, you'll find all the killer info to help you get started on your next big idea.
You'll also get:
- Software and hardware tips to create and produce a crystal-clear podcast
- Interview advice, whether you'll be seeing your guests in-person or over Zoom
- Strategies for choosing the perfect platform, finding sponsors, and advertising and marketing your new creation
- Pointers for setting up a streaming account and doing live podcasting like an expert
With everyone from A-list brands to world-famous celebrities getting in on the podcast craze, it's time you took your turn on the mic. Grab Podcasting For Dummies today and turn up the volume on the practice that's transformed countless amateurs into household names!
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Podcasting For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Podcasting For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Foreword
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Podcasting on a Worldwide Frequency
Chapter 1: Getting the Scoop on Podcasting
Deciding Whether Podcasting Is for You
Creating a Podcast
There’s an App for That
Chapter 2: Getting the Gadgets to Produce a Podcast
Finding the Right Mic
Podcasts Well with Others: The Mixing Board
Listen Up: Headphones
Accessorize! Accessorize! Accessorize!
Chapter 3: Building Your Podcast’s Digital Workstation
Budget-Friendly (aka Free) One-Size-Fits-All Software: Audacity
Commercial Audio Software
Gluing It Together with RSS
Podcast Management 101
Chapter 4: Go, Go, Power Podcasters!
Podcasting with Your Laptop
Podcasting with Your Mobile Devices
Two for the Røde: The Wireless PRO
Podcasting with Portable Recorders
From Cloud to Computer: Portable Audio Workflow
Part 2: The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Podcasting
Chapter 5: Before You Hit the Record Button
Choosing a Topic
Finding Your Voice
Finding Your Collective Voice
Deciding Whether You Need an Outline or Script
Determining a Length for Your Show
Mark Your Calendar: Posting Schedule
I Hear Music (and It Sounds Like Police Sirens!)
Chapter 6: Interview-Fu: Talk to Me, Grasshopper
I’ll Have My People Call Your People: Interview Requests
Preparing for Interviews
Recording Interviews
Prepping Your Green Room for Guests
Ensuring Trouble-Free Recordings
Chapter 7: So What Are You Waiting For? Record, Already!
Did Your Sound Check Clear the Bank?
Noises Off: Capturing Ambient Noise
Take Your Time and Hurry Up: Pacing and Clock Management
Concerning Tangents and Their Val — Oh, Look, a Butterfly!
Getting Started with Audacity
Chapter 8: Cleanup, Podcast Aisle 8!
A Few Reasons to Consider Editing
Editing with Audacity
Making Your Musical Bed and Lying in It: Background Music
Making an Entrance: Intros
Exit, Stage Left: Outros
Part 3: You’ve Recorded Your Voice: Now What?
Chapter 9: Shrink That Puppy and Slap a Label on It
A Kilobit of Me, and a Whole Lot of You: Understanding Kbps
Care for a Sample, Sir? (Audio Sample Rates)
ID3 Tags: The 411 of Podcasting
Chapter 10: Move It on Up (to Your Web Server)
Show Art: Getting Graphic with Your Podcast
Adopting an Effective File-Naming Convention
Making Your Connection with an FTP Application
Uploading to a Podcast-Specific Host
Chapter 11: Providing Show Notes
Show Note Etiquette
Planning the Post
Posting Your Show Notes
Boosting Search Engine Rankings
Part 4: Start Spreadin’ the News about Your Podcast
Chapter 12: Speaking Directly to Your Peeps
Gathering Listener Feedback
Fostering Comments on Your Blog
Focusing on Online Forums
Socializing with Social Media
Using Voicemail
Building a Community with Discord
Seeking the Comments of Others
Dealing with Negative Comments
Chapter 13: Fishing for Listeners
Getting Your Podcast Ready for Promotion
Exploring Various Advertising Options
Promoting Your Podcast
Part 5: Podcasting the World of Tomorrow … Today!
Chapter 14: Podcasting and AI
Editing Made Easy with Hindenburg PRO
Getting Descript-ive
Adding ChatGPT to Your Toolbelt
Helping AI Generate the Best Results: Prompt Engineering
The Ethics of AI
Chapter 15: Podcasting on YouTube
A Hostile Welcome: The Demands of Video
YouTube: We’re Here to Help
Adding the Video Element: Creating a Podcast for YouTube
Crossing the Finish Line: Taking Your Podcast to YouTube
Chapter 16: One Giant Leap for Podcasting: Live Streaming Content
Going Live
Setting up a Streaming Account
Setting the Stage: Working with RØDE Streamer X and Streamlabs
And You're Live! Podcasting in the Moment
It’s a Stream! No, It’s a Podcast. No, It’s a Stream and a Podcast!
Part 6: The Part of Tens
Chapter 17: Ten Things We Wish We Had Known When We Started Podcasting
Use Your Mic Effectively
Make Sure Others Can See Your Screen
Share Your Podcast the Right Way
Have a Plan
Create Five to Ten Episodes before Going Live
Don't Rubber Stamp Your Next Podcast
Control the Environment for Audio and Video
Your Guests’ Audio Should Sound as Good as Yours
Don't Wing It with Interviews
Look at the Camera, Not Your Screen
Chapter 18: Ten Types of Podcasts to Check Out
Tech Podcasts
Independent Media Podcasts
Science Podcasts
Self-Development Podcasts
Comedy Podcasts
Slice-of-Life Podcasts
Gaming Podcasts
Podcasts of the Pen
Geek Podcasts
Podcasts about … Podcasting
Chapter 19: Ten Original Podcasters
Mignon Fogarty
Adam Curry
Mur Lafferty
Steve Boyett
Adam Christianson
Dave Slusher
Scott Sigler
Michael Butler
Dr. Pamela Gay
Brian Ibbott
Index
About the Authors
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Illustrations
Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: Audacity allows you to record and edit audio and create MP3 files.
FIGURE 1-2: Your podcast can deliver content as audio (seen here), video, or in...
FIGURE 1-3: LibSyn handles many of the technical details of podcasting.
FIGURE 1-4: The Apple Podcast directory.
FIGURE 1-5: Pocket Casts features an easy-to-browse show list (left), simple na...
FIGURE 1-6: Tapping the plus sign for any podcast adds it to your Podcasts list...
FIGURE 1-7: After years of offering music from artists of all genres, Spotify n...
FIGURE 1-8: YouTube podcasts offer a new platform and new opportunities for vid...
Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: The Yeti GX comes with its own stand (left) and special options for...
FIGURE 2-2: The Shure SM7B (left), a standard in the professional audio industr...
FIGURE 2-3: The MXL 990 captures professional quality sound in home studio sett...
FIGURE 2-4: Chuck Tomasi’s TASCAM DM-4800 can work up to 48 different audio inp...
FIGURE 2-5: The RØDECaster Pro II is a workhorse for podcasting, performing the...
FIGURE 2-6: Once your PC recognizes your mixer as an input device, you can sele...
FIGURE 2-7: The Shure SRH440As (left) and the RØDE NTH-100s (right) both share ...
FIGURE 2-8: Mic stands and mic booms secure your microphone.
FIGURE 2-9: Accessories like windscreens and pop filters can take your podcast ...
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Audacity is an open-source application that allows you to edit audi...
FIGURE 3-2: Muse Hub is your single location for everything you need to create ...
FIGURE 3-3: Adobe Audition is the professional standard software for editing an...
FIGURE 3-4: WordPress is a popular, user-friendly blogging option that helps po...
Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Shure’s MVi, part of the MOTIV series of audio gear, is a preamp de...
FIGURE 4-2: The RØDE Streamer X is a compact, portable mixer that offers a prea...
FIGURE 4-3: Transform your mobile device into a handheld recording device while...
FIGURE 4-4: Tee and his paranormal partner-in-crime, Phil Rossi, used the RØDE ...
FIGURE 4-5: The RØDE Wireless PRO receiver is automatically paired with the tra...
FIGURE 4-6: The Zoom H6 is a versatile, portable recorder that raises the stand...
FIGURE 4-7: Portable recorders, when connected to your computer via USB, appear...
FIGURE 4-8: The Share option displays apps where your media can be shared.
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: Following the successful podcasting of a novel in 2005 — the first ...
FIGURE 5-2: With a stereo headphone amplifier, like the Rolls HA43PRO pictured ...
FIGURE 5-3: Phil Rossi doesn't rely on meticulous show preparation for his podc...
FIGURE 5-4: The
ADHD D&D
weekly podcast has an audio archive of adventures,...
FIGURE 5-5: The Free Music Archive is an interactive library of high-quality, l...
FIGURE 5-6: Creative Commons offers free licenses for use of original content i...
FIGURE 5-7: Musician George Hrab doesn’t need to worry about the music he featu...
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: In 2008, the
Technorama
crew got an exclusive behind-the-scenes loo...
FIGURE 6-2: While interviewing steampunks at DragonCon, Chuck never worries abo...
FIGURE 6-3: If a synergy is created between interview subject and host, you can...
FIGURE 6-4: Scheduling a Zoom meeting is a simple matter of a few details.
FIGURE 6-5: Make sure your audio and video are working in StreamYard before ent...
FIGURE 6-6: To prevent your guests from hearing an echo of their voice, you nee...
FIGURE 6-7: A mic flag is a great way to show your brand, either on camera or o...
Chapter 7
FIGURE 7-1: Audacity's input level meters (in the upper-right corner) respond t...
FIGURE 7-2: Set your microphone at a comfortable distance, close enough to over...
FIGURE 7-3: Chuck’s use of acoustic soundproofing foam tile on the ceiling help...
FIGURE 7-4: Always have your recorder ready! Video game developer and astronaut...
FIGURE 7-5: Audacity is popular among podcasters because it’s free and it makes...
Chapter 8
FIGURE 8-1: Frequently used tools at the top of the Audacity screen.
FIGURE 8-2: With the selection tool, click and drag across the unwanted content...
FIGURE 8-3: Adding multiple tracks is easy, but balancing them can be challengi...
FIGURE 8-4: Use the hand cursor to control when audio starts in your timeline.
FIGURE 8-5: Use the envelope icon to control audio levels, allowing fade ins, f...
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: Audacity offers different bit rates for compressing your podcast to...
FIGURE 9-2: ID3 tags tell listeners at a glance who you are, what your podcast ...
FIGURE 9-3: When changing audio sampling rate in Audacity, make sure you match ...
FIGURE 9-4: With the right application of ID3 tags, this is how a properly tagg...
Chapter 10
FIGURE 10-1: Show art is a podcaster’s way to brand a show and give episodes a ...
FIGURE 10-2: With the PowerPress podcast plug-in from BluBrry, you enter the UR...
FIGURE 10-3: A properly configured Cyberduck FTP connection.
FIGURE 10-4: A properly configured FileZilla connection.
FIGURE 10-5: Adding media files to a LibSyn account doesn’t require an FTP appl...
Chapter 11
FIGURE 11-1:
Technorama
show notes implement a range from simple links to embed...
FIGURE 11-2: Blubrry’s PowerPress interface.
FIGURE 11-3: Begin a new post by choosing the +New option from the top menu or ...
FIGURE 11-4: To create a link, click the link icon in the Text block’s menu and...
FIGURE 11-5: When creating show notes in WordPress, incorporating a
more
tag ca...
FIGURE 11-6: Filling out show notes on LibSyn is an easy process with an intuit...
Chapter 12
FIGURE 12-1: When a show goes live, remind your audience on social media that y...
FIGURE 12-2: Tapatalk offers free forum hosting that you can use for your podca...
FIGURE 12-3: Tee and Phil take advantage of Google algorithms by listing their ...
FIGURE 12-4: Adding links to your Instagram profile gives visitors easy access ...
FIGURE 12-5: With a simple tap, listeners of your podcast can now leave you eit...
FIGURE 12-6: Google Voice is a free, online service that enables you to downloa...
FIGURE 12-7: Discord is a versatile, reliable communications platform and is co...
Chapter 13
FIGURE 13-1: The Facebook Boost Post feature lets you target Facebook users wit...
FIGURE 13-2: Before you submit an Instagram post for promotion, you can review ...
FIGURE 13-3: Dropping the URL into your Instagram profile offers your audience ...
FIGURE 13-4: If you're looking to get the word out about an upcoming high-profi...
FIGURE 13-5: When looking to promote their paranormal podcast, Phil Rossi and T...
Chapter 14
FIGURE 14-1: Editing your podcast is easy with Hindenburg PRO.
FIGURE 14-2: Descript makes it easy to choose the features you want to use.
FIGURE 14-3: Descript uses text-to-speech to fix mistakes without re-recording.
FIGURE 14-4: Chuck and Kreg find ChatGPT helpful to create a summary of each ep...
FIGURE 14-5: Leonardo.AI is a free GenAI app that can help you create incredibl...
FIGURE 14-6: By applying prompt engineering, the AI-generated art quickly jumps...
Chapter 15
FIGURE 15-1: Video production entails working with factors such as lighting, wa...
FIGURE 15-2: YouTube’s Podcast directory launched in 2022, offering its billion...
FIGURE 15-3: Add details to your YouTube channel to make the best first impress...
FIGURE 15-4: You can lengthen the running time of a clip to a duration you need...
FIGURE 15-5: The Multi-Clip Camera Source Sequence looks at what you've selecte...
FIGURE 15-6: Your multicam sequence is a virtual control room, allowing you to ...
FIGURE 15-7: When posting on YouTube, add the details of your production, inclu...
FIGURE 15-8: The end screen in
We Were Told We Should Do a Podcast
offers viewe...
FIGURE 15-9: Setting up a premiere allows you to hype your upcoming video.
FIGURE 15-10: When putting together a thumbnail, design something eye-catching,...
Chapter 16
FIGURE 16-1: Twitch.tv offers podcasters a platform to connect with listeners a...
FIGURE 16-2: Tee takes his love of ghost hunting, cooking, and video gaming (es...
FIGURE 16-3: Setting up a Twitch channel takes only a few minutes and is free.
FIGURE 16-4: Streamer X is your all-in-one solution for streaming on a Mac or a...
FIGURE 16-5: With Streamer X, you can connect multiple audio and video sources ...
FIGURE 16-6: The Themes section offers a variety of moods, looks, and atmospher...
FIGURE 16-7: Scenes are different segments of your stream; and in Streamlabs, y...
FIGURE 16-8: Twitch offers content creators the option to download streams in t...
Chapter 17
FIGURE 17-1: Ensure that everyone can see your screen clearly.
FIGURE 17-2: Simple applications of lighting, color, and decorations, as shown ...
Chapter 18
FIGURE 18-1: The
MacWorld Podcast
is one of many podcasts offered to Mac users ...
FIGURE 18-2: On
The Brain Science Podcast
, Dr. Ginger Campbell, MD, delves into...
FIGURE 18-3:
The Creative Solutions Podcast,
hosted by Izolda Trakhtenberg, dis...
FIGURE 18-4:
The Steamrollers Adventure Podcast
features an original roleplayin...
FIGURE 18-5:
The Feed,
hosted by Rob Walch and Elsie Escobar, not only keeps yo...
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
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Copyright
Foreword
Begin Reading
Index
About the Authors
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Podcasting For Dummies®, 5th Edition
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
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Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2024939764
ISBN 978-1-394-26452-0 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-394-26454-4 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-394-26453-7 (ebk)
Foreword
It's been 20 years since podcasting became a thing, and we've come a long way, baby. For the first 10 years, “What's a podcast?” was what everyone said when you told them you were starting a podcast. For the last 10 years, the question has shifted to “How much money do you make with your podcast?” or “Do you know Joe Rogan?” Both questions make me sad, but for very different reasons that I don't have time to get into in my triumphant return to the world of Podcasting For Dummies.
So much has changed since Tee and I put pen to paper in late 2004 to help early adopters navigate the world of podcasting. I'll be honest — we made most of it up as we went along, because we and other pioneering podcasters from that time were inventing the medium as we were publishing to it. That was a lot of fun — and sometimes a lot of sheer terror. Back then, it was literally possible to break podcasting in a variety of ways.
As 2025 looms on the horizon, today's crop of budding podcasters — I'm looking at you — have it both easier and harder than we did back in the day. The technology that enables podcasters to create and distribute their shows to your ears is robust and about as bulletproof as things can get online. Over those 20 years, we've developed and adhered to standards that ensure that listeners have the best experience with our content, as well as paved the way for more ways for podcasters to express themselves and, sometimes, get paid.
When I started podcasting in 2004, there were 40 podcasts. Today, Podcast Index (https://pfdbook.link/stats) tracks well over 4 million podcasts — not counting the myriad video channels, private feeds, and other shows that people call podcasts that don't have an RSS feed. By this time next year, that number could double. Such growth is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you have more competion than ever before, and breaking away from the pack could be a challenge. On the other, there are more people listening and watching than ever before. Tee and Chuck are here to help.
I'm still bullish on podcasting. Heck, it's been my only source of income since 2016 and has been every bit of feast and famine as you might imagine. It's taken me quite literally around the globe, and I've no plans to exit the industry anytime soon. And while I can't promise you that reading this edition of Podcasting For Dummies will get you inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in 20 years, I can assure you that you'll be better equipped to navigate the ever-changing world of change in podcasting.
Enjoy your podcasting journey. You're in good hands with my two friends, Tee and Chuck. Jump in!
— Evo Terra, podcast entrepeneur
Introduction
The funny thing about podcasting — outside of comedy podcasts, of course — is that it isn’t that hard to do. You just need someone to point the way and illuminate your path.
You don’t need to be a techno-wizard or a super-geek. You can take a thought or an opinion, create original audio or video expressing that thought or opinion, and distribute your idea worldwide. You can capture the attention of a few hundred — or a few thousand — people around the world through MP3 players hiding in computers, loaded on smartphones, strapped around biceps, bouncing in pockets, or hooked up to car stereos.
You can do podcasting, from recording to online hosting, on a variety of budgets, ranging from frugal to Fortune 500. You can podcast about literally anything — including podcasting for its own sake. Blogging gave the anonymous, famous, almost-famous, and used-to-be famous a voice in politics, religion, and everyday life. Podcasting adds volume and tone to that voice.
About This Book
Podcasting For Dummies, 5th Edition provides the answer to the question, “How do I podcast?” We take you through the always-evolving technological movement encompassing the internet, digital communications, education, and entertainment. By the time you reach the end of this book, the basics will be in place to get you, your voice, and your message heard around the world — and you can even have fun along the way.
This book was written as a linear path from the conceptualization stages to the final publication of your work. However, you don't have to read the book from page one. If you’ve already gotten your feet wet with various aspects of podcasting, jump around from chapter to chapter and read the sections you need. We provide plenty of guides back to other relevant chapters when the going gets murky.
Podcasting For Dummies should be the following to all who pick up and read it:
A user-friendly guide for how to listen to, produce, and distribute podcasts
A terrific reference for choosing the right hardware and software to put together a sharp-sounding podcast
The starting point for the person who knows nothing about editing, recording, hosting blogs, or turning a computer into a recording studio
A handy go-to think tank for a beginning podcaster who’s hungry for new ideas and fresh points of view
A fun read
We don’t claim to answer all possible podcasting queries, but we do present the building blocks and first steps for beginning a podcast. As with any Dummies book, our responsibility is to give you the foundation on which to build. We did our level best to bestow upon you the enchanted stuff that makes a podcast happen.
Foolish Assumptions
We assume that you have a computer, a lot of curiosity, and a desire to podcast. We couldn’t care less about whether you’re using a Mac, a PC, Linux, Unix, or two Dixie cups connected with string. (Okay, maybe the two Dixie cups would be a challenge; a computer is essential.) We’re here to describe the tools for creating a podcast, regardless of what OS you’re running.
If you know nothing about media production, this book can also serve as a fine primer on how to record, edit, and produce audio and video on your computer, as well as accessorize your computer with mixing boards, professional-grade microphones, and media-engineering software.
With everything that goes into podcasting, there are some things this book is not about. Here’s the short list:
We don't try to make you into an übergeek in RSS or XML (but we give you all you need to make things work — and even get you Spotify-ready).
We figure that if you get hold of Audacity, you can take it from there (but we give you an overview of the program and a few basic editing examples).
We don't teach you how to get rich quick by podcasting. Although we teach you how to produce a podcast, there's no magic formula for making the next
Serial
or
Welcome to Night Vale
.
If you're looking for a terrific start to the podcasting experience, then — in the words of the last knight guarding the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade — “You have chosen wisely.”
Icons Used in This Book
So you’re trekking through the book, making some progress with developing your podcast, when suddenly little icons leap out, grab you by the throat, and wrestle you to the ground. (Who would have thought podcasting was so action-packed, like an MCU movie, huh?) What do all these little drawings mean?
Glad you asked.
When we’re in the middle of a discussion and suddenly have one of those “Say, that reminds me” moments, we give you one of these tips. They’re handy extras that are good to know and might even make your podcast sound a little tighter than average.
If the moment is more than a handy little nugget of information and closer to a “Seriously, you can’t forget this part!” factoid, we mark it with a Remember icon. You’re going to want to play close attention to these puppies.
Sometimes we interrupt our train of thought with a “Time out, Sparky” moment — and this is where we ask for your undivided attention. The warnings are exactly that: flashing lights, ah-ooga horns, dire portents, or your local DM saying “roll for initiative.” They’re reminders not to try this at home because you’ll definitely regret it.
These icons illuminate the “So how does this widget really work?” moments you may have as you read this book. The technical stuff icons give you a deeper understanding of what the wizard is doing behind the curtain. If you want to skip the nitty-gritty details, that’s perfectly fine.
Beyond the Book
In addition to what you’re reading right now, this book also comes with a free online cheat sheet offering quick reference points you’ll want to have on hand when you’re working on your first podcast or your first production on location. To get the cheat sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for Podcasting For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the Search box.
This book also comes with a companion podcast, Podcasting For Dummies: The Companion Podcast. Go to https://pfdbook.link/home and follow the instructions to get free weekly audio commentary from Tee Morris and Chuck Tomasi about concepts in this book explored in greater detail, such as the difference between good and bad edits, when to tone down the reverb, and the variety of methods you can use to record a podcast.
Where to Go from Here
At this point, many Dummies authors say something snappy, clever, or even a bit snarky. We save our best tongue-in-cheek material for the pages inside, so here’s a more serious approach.
We suggest that you head to where you’re planning to record your podcast or plant yourself in front of a computer. Then start with Chapter 1, where you're given a few links to check out and some suggestions on applications for downloading podcasts. You also find out about Tee's and Chuck’s (many) podcasts as well as other podcasts that can educate, inspire, and enlighten your ears with original content.
Where do we go from here? Up and out, friends. Up and out.
Part 1
Podcasting on a Worldwide Frequency
IN THIS PART …
Understand the fundamentals of creating, uploading, and distributing your podcast for others to enjoy.
Find the right hardware, software, and accessories to fit your budget.
Take your podcast recording on the road with mobile devices.
Chapter 1
Getting the Scoop on Podcasting
IN THIS CHAPTER
Understanding what podcasting is
Discovering the steps to creating a podcast
Finding and subscribing to podcasts
Sometimes the invention that has the biggest effect on our daily lives isn’t an invention at all but the convergence of existing technologies, processes, and ideas. Podcasting may be the perfect example of that principle — and it’s changing the relationship people have with their media player of choice, music collections, books, education, and more.
The podcasting movement is a spinoff of another communications boom: blogs, short for web logs. Blogs sprang up in the early 2000s, providing anyone with a desire to share their thoughts a clean, elegant interface that left many on the technology side wondering why they hadn’t thought of it sooner. Everyday people could chronicle their lives, hopes, dreams, and fears and show them to anyone who cared to read. And oddly enough, people did care to read — and still do.
Many blogs offered something called an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, which is basically a text file with blog articles and images along with metadata such as the author and publish date. RSS feeds liberated the reader from the mundane task of periodically checking their favorite blog sites for new content. Using an app, the reader could subscribe to a site and the app would automatically bring them the information.
Then in 2003, former MTV VJ Adam Curry started collaborating with programmer Dave Winer to improve RSS so that it allowed you to share not only text and images but also media attachments, including compressed audio and video files. Soon after, Curry released his first podcast-catching client. Thus launched the media platform of podcasting.
Podcasting combines the instant information exchange of blogging with audio and video files that you can play on a computer or portable media device. When you make your podcast publicly available on the internet, you're exposing your craft to anyone with a computer or mobile device and a connection capable of streaming data. To put that in perspective, some online sources report that the global online population is more than 5.3 billion users. In the US alone, more than 300 million people own some kind of mobile device or portable media player and every one of them is capable of playing your content!
This chapter is for the consumers of the content (the audience) and those who make the content (the podcasters) alike. We cover the basic steps to record an audio podcast and lay out the basics of what you need to do to enjoy a podcast on your media player.
If you’re starting to get the idea that podcasting is revolutionary, groundbreaking, and possibly a major component of social upheaval, great. Some podcasts have made their mark in society, or reignited the desire for listening to stories, or shone a spotlight on criminal injustices. But not all podcasts are so deep. In fact, many are passion projects inviting you to join in on the experience!
Deciding Whether Podcasting Is for You
Technically speaking, podcasting is the distribution of specially encoded multimedia content to subscribed devices via the RSS 2.0 protocol. Whew! Allow us to translate that into common-speak: Podcasting allows you to listen to and watch what you want, where you want, and when you want.
Podcasting, which is often referred to as time shifted media, turns the tables on broadcast schedules, allowing the listener to choose not only what to listen to but also when. And because podcasts are transferred via the internet, the power to create a program isn’t limited to those with access to a transmitter.
The simplest reason to podcast is that it’s just plain fun! We’ve been podcasting since the beginning, and we’re still having a blast, getting messages to our worldwide audiences and challenging ourselves with new tricks and techniques for creating captivating media. So, yeah, for the fun of it? Heck of a good reason.
WHAT’S IN A NAME, WHEN THE NAME IS PODCASTING?
As with most words that make their way into the conventional lexicon, the precise origins and meaning behind podcasting are clouded. Although the domain podcast.com was registered back in 2002, Ben Hammersley suggested podcasting and many other terms as possible names for this new technology in February 2004 (https://pfdbook.link/guardian), it’s generally accepted in the podcast community that the first person to use the term as a reference to the activity we now know as podcasting was Dannie Gregoire on September 15, 2004. Some voices in tech asserted that the term held connotations to Apple’s popular player of the time, the iPod. Regardless of the intentions, the term was backronymed (that is, treated like an acronym and applied to a variety of plausible existing meanings) even with alternative names defiantly offered … but to no avail. The term podcasting became part of everyday vocabulary.
Content creators who set up YouTube and Twitch livestreams and tell the world “Check out my podcast!” used to make us weep. We were purists, telling people “You can’t call it a podcast if you don’t have an RSS feed!” However, on finding our own place in streaming, we understood that times change, technology evolves, and even these old dogs can learn new tricks. We now realize that the term podcast no longer represents the specific technology linked to RSS; it's more about making your content available to a global audience delivered automatically or streaming on-demand. For that reason, we include Chapter 16 to help get you started streaming and seamlessly work it into your podcast’s workflow.
The following sections cover other reasons podcasting might be for you.
You want to build your brand
Whether you are someone who owns a company and are looking to promote your products or services, an author looking to get their story told, or an individual with the desire to be recognized as a subject matter expert, a podcast is a great way to get your message out there and to be seen and heard. Unintentionally, this is what happened to Chuck at his day job. He put on a bow tie and started creating content for the community related to his day job — and before long people regarded him as the face of a multibillion dollar company. It’s a great story until Chuck finds himself at a conference in a hurry to get to his next speaking session only to be stopped by one more adoring fan for a selfie.
You want to deliver media on a regular basis
Sure, you can include audio, video, and PDF content in a blog. Many bloggers create special content and insert it as links in the text of their blogposts. Readers then download the files at their leisure. However, this approach requires manual selection of the content that blog hosts want readers to download.
Podcasting automates that process. A listener who subscribes to your podcast is subscribed to all your content, whenever it’s available. No need to go back to the site to see what’s new! Once listeners subscribe to your podcast, the content is delivered to them in the same way as when they subscribe to a print magazine. This is why many apps call it subscribing to a podcast.
You want to reach beyond the boundaries of broadcast media
In all types of radio except satellite radio, the number of people who can listen to a show is limited by the power of the transmitter pumping out the signal. Broadcast television has similar limitations, depending on whether you are using an antenna, cable, or a satellite dish to receive programming. Podcasting doesn’t rely on or utilize signals, transmitters, or receivers — at least not in the classic sense. Podcasts use the internet as the delivery system, opening up a potential audience that could extend to the entire planet.
No rules exist (yet, anyway) to regulate the creation of podcast content. In fact, neither the FCC nor any other regulatory body for any other government holds jurisdiction over podcasts. If that seems astounding, remember that podcasters are not using the public airwaves to deliver their message.
Just because the FCC doesn’t have jurisdiction, you’re not exempt from the law or — perhaps more importantly — immune to lawsuits. You’re personally responsible for anything you say, do, or condone on your show. Additionally, the rules concerning airplay of licensed music, the distribution of copyrighted material, and the legalities of recording conversations all apply. Pay close attention to the relevant sections in Chapter 5 to avoid some serious consequences. When it comes to the legalities, ignorance is not bliss.
You have something to say
As a general rule, podcasters produce content that likely holds appeal for only a select audience. Podcasts start with an idea, something that the podcaster has the desire and knowledge, either real or imaginary, to talk about. Add to that a bit of drive, do-it-yourself-ishness, and an inability to take no for an answer. The point is to say what you want to say, to those who want to hear it.
Podcasts can be about anything and be enjoyed by just about anyone. The topics covered don’t have to be earth-shattering or life-changing. They can be about do-it-yourself projects, sound-seeing tours of places you visit, or even your favorite board games. A few rules and guidelines are common, but at times you may find it necessary to bend the rules. (That can be a lot of fun in itself!)
Some of the most popular podcasts are created by everyday people who sit in front of their computers or phones once a week and just speak their mind, heart, and soul. Some are focused on niche topics; others are more broad-based.
You want to hear from your listeners
A perk of podcasting is accessibility. On average, most audiences have a direct line of contact between themselves and the podcast’s host or hosts. Podcast consumers are more likely to provide feedback for what they listen to or watch, probably traceable to the personal nature of a podcast. Unlike popular talk shows that follow strict formulaic approaches, podcasts offer their audiences — and the creators behind the production — control, options, and intimacy that traditional broadcast media cannot. This appeal has attracted to podcasting major production studios such as NPR, ESPN, Disney, CBC, and HBO, who were early adopters and continue podcasting today. The connection of podcasting with audiences paved the way for streamers, and now podcasting and streaming are synonymous.
When you ask for feedback, you’re likely to get it — and from unusual places. Because geography doesn’t limit the distance your podcast can travel, you may find yourself with listeners in faraway and exotic places. And this feedback isn’t always going to be “Wow, great podcast!” Listeners will be honest with you when you invite feedback.
Creating a Podcast
The two main schools of thought when creating a podcast are the “I need the latest and greatest equipment to capture that crisp, clear sound of the broadcasting industry” school, and the “Hey, I have a phone with a microphone and I can record my voice wherever I am” school. Both are equally valid positions, and lots of secondary schools are in-between. The question is how far you’re willing to go.
But allow us to dispel a few misconceptions about podcasting right off the bat: You’re not reprogramming your operating system, you’re not hacking into the Internal Revenue Service’s database, and you’re not setting up a wireless computer network with tinfoil from a chewing gum wrapper, a shoestring, and your belt, regardless if MacGyver showed you how. Podcasting is not rocket science. In fact, here’s a quick rundown of how you podcast:
Record audio or video and convert it to a download-friendly format.
Write a description of what you just created.
Upload everything to a host server.
Yes, yes, yes, if podcasting were that simple, why is this book so thick? Well, we admit that this list does gloss over a few details, but a podcast — in its most streamlined, raw presentation — is that simple. The details of putting together a single episode start in Chapter 2 and wrap up in Chapter 8; Chapters 9 through 12 walk you through all you need to make the media you create into a podcast.
So, yeah, podcasting is easy, but there’s a lot to it.
Looking for the bare necessities
You need a few things before starting your first podcast, many of which you can probably find on your computer. For these beginning steps, we focus on audio:
A microphone: Take a look at your computer. Right now, regardless of whether you have a laptop or a desktop, Windows or Mac, your computer probably has a built-in microphone — or a USB port for plugging in a microphone. Yes, even your mobile phone has a microphone, or it wouldn’t be much of a phone, would it? Many earbuds even include a microphone.
Position the microphone in a comfortable spot on your desk or table. If you’re using a laptop, it should be somewhere on your desk that allows for best recording results without hunching over the computer like Young Frankenstein’s Igor. (That’s EYE-gor.) Check the laptop’s documentation to find out where the built-in microphone is located in the unit’s housing. For a mobile phone, hold the device as if you're making a call, the way it was intended. Holding the device any other way can degrade the audio quality. If you're using a microphone earbuds set included with the phone’s purchase, you may need to do some experimentation.
Usually the built-in microphone in a laptop is located close to the edge of the keyboard or near the laptop’s speakers.
Recording software: Check out the software that came with your computer. You know, all those extra applications that you filed away, thinking, “I’ll check those out sometime.” Well, that time has arrived. You probably have some sort of audio-recording software loaded on your computer, such as Voice Recorder (PC) or GarageBand (Mac).
If you don’t already have the appropriate software, here’s a fast way to get it: Download the version of Audacity for your operating system (at https://pfdbook.link/audacity). Audacity, which is shown in Figure 1-1, is free. Good news! We get in-depth with Audacity later in this book.
An audio interface: Make sure your computer has the hardware it needs to handle audio recording and the drivers to run the hardware — unless you have a built-in microphone.
Some desktop computers come with an elementary audio card built into the motherboard. Before you run out to your local computer vendor and spring for an audio card, check your computer to see whether it can already handle basic voice recording.
FIGURE 1-1: Audacity allows you to record and edit audio and create MP3 files.
See Chapter 2 for tips on choosing the right mic and audio accessories. Chapter 3 covers all the software you'll need.
Recording your first podcast
When you have your computer set up and your microphone working, it’s time to start recording. Take a deep breath and follow these steps:
Jot down a few notes on what you want to talk about.
Nothing too fancy — just make an outline that includes remarks about who you are and what you want to talk about. Use these bullet points to keep yourself on track.
Checking your computer, jotting down notes, and setting up your recording area is called preshow prep. This topic is discussed in depth in Chapter 5 by other podcasters who have their own set ways of getting ready to record.
Click the record button in your recording software and talk for as long as it takes for you to get through your notes.
We recommend keeping your first recording to no more than 20 minutes. That may seem like a lot of time, but it will fly by.
Give a nice little sign-off and click the stop button.
An example of a sign-off is “Take care of yourselves! See you next time.”
Choose File ⇒ Save As and give your project a name.
Now bask in the warmth of creative accomplishment.
Compressing your audio files
Portable media devices and computers can play MP3 files as a default format. While many other audio formats are available, MP3 is the preferred format for podcasting because so many digital devices and operating systems recognize it. If your recording software can output straight to MP3 format, your life is much simpler.
If your software can't export directly to MP3, it should be able to save to a WAV (Windows) or AIFF (Mac) file, which is raw, is uncompressed, and can get large. In this case, save your raw file from your first software package and then use Audacity to import the file and export it as MP3. We get into those details in Chapter 3.
Congratulations — you just recorded your first audio podcast! Easy, isn’t it? However, this is merely the first step into a larger world, as Obi-Wan once told Luke.
Uploading your audio to the web
An audio file sitting on your desktop, regardless of how earth-shattering the content may be, is not a podcast. Nope, not by a long shot. You have to get it on the internet and provide a way for listeners to grab that tasty file for later consumption.
If you already have a web server for a blog, company website, or personal website, this process can be as easy as creating a folder and transferring your newly created audio file to your server.
If that last paragraph left you puzzled and you’re wondering what kind of mess you’ve gotten yourself into, relax. We don’t leave you hanging out in the wind. Chapter 10 covers everything you need to know about choosing a web server for your podcast media files.
A podcast media file can be any type of media file you want. Three popular types are audio, video, and PDF. While our primary attention is on audio, you can use all the tips we give here to handle other types of media.
After you upload your episode, you need to have an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) file generated to deliver it. (The RSS file is generated automatically on a blog.) RSS describes where to find the media file you just uploaded. Nearly all blogging software (called blog engines) support RSS, but not all support podcasts. As you look at blogging software options, check closely for podcast support. If it’s not included natively, you may be able to add a plug-in, a downloadable extension.
With blog software and podcast support, generating the RSS file becomes a simple affair. This generated RSS file is your podcast feed. People who listen to your podcast can subscribe to your show by placing a link to the podcast feed in their podcast application, such as Apple’s Podcast, Overcast (shown in Figure 1-2), or Spotify. All these apps are looking for your podcast’s RSS, and list it in their directory, which is exactly what it sounds like — a digital catalog of podcasts available to you.
Yes, we know — this sounds complicated. But we assure you that it’s not. Some hosting companies, such as LibSyn (https://pfdbook.link/libsyn), specialize in taking the technological bite out of podcasting so that you can focus on creating your best-sounding show. With LibSyn (shown in Figure 1-3), moving your file to a web server is as simple as clicking a few buttons; the RSS 2.0 podcast feed and even the accompanying web page are created automatically.
FIGURE 1-2: Your podcast can deliver content as audio (seen here), video, or interactive PDFs.
FIGURE 1-3: LibSyn handles many of the technical details of podcasting.
Grabbing listeners
With media files in place and an RSS feed ready to be recognized by your podcast app of choice, you’re officially a podcaster. Of course, that doesn’t mean a lot if you’re the only person who knows about your podcast. You need to spread the word to let others know that you exist and that you have something pretty darned important to say.
Creating show notes
Before you pick up a bullhorn, slap a sandwich board over yourself, and start walking down the street (virtually, anyway), describe the contents of your show to casual online passersby in hopes of getting them to listen to what you have to say. The blog post is where show notes take form and give people a rundown of what you’re talking about. The blog post should be descriptive enough to captivate those who reach it.
You can glance at a blog and easily get the gist of a conversation, but an audio file requires active listening to understand and is difficult to skim. In effect, you’re asking people to invest time listening to you talk, read a story, or play music. You need some compelling text on a web page to hook them.
Show notes quickly showcase or highlight the relevant and pertinent contents of the audio file itself. A verbatim transcript of your show isn’t always necessary, but we do recommend more than simply saying “a show about my day.” Chapter 11 discusses ways to create show notes and offers tips and tricks to give them some punch.
Getting listed in directories
When you have a final media file and a solid set of show notes, you’re ready to take your podcast message to the masses. You can get listed on some directories and podcast-listing sites, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, and Blubrry. Potential listeners visit dozens of websites as they seek new content, and getting yourself listed on as many as possible can help bring in more new listeners to your program.
A huge listener base is a double-edged sword: More demand for your product means more demand on you and the resources necessary to keep your podcast up and running. We recommend working on your craft and your skills, as well as getting a good handle on the personal and technological requirements of podcasting before you embark on a huge marketing campaign. When you’re ready, turn to Part 4 for details about marketing. You discover various ways to attract more listeners to your show and to respond to the ideas and feedback that your listeners inevitably provide. Many podcasters are surprised at the sheer volume of comments they receive from their listeners — but they shouldn't be considering how personal podcasting is (compared to traditional forms of media distribution).
MAKING MONEY FROM PODCASTS
This book covers the basics to get started creating a podcast. However, a common question we get from many new podcasters is, “How can I make money from my show?” After all, who doesn’t want to get paid for their work? We don't cover monetization, but we do want to point out that many factors are involved in monetizing a show, such as the size of your audience, the topics you cover, how you market or sell your show, and how you plan to generate revenue (listener contributions, advertisers, or using the show as a lead generation for your products or services). A wealth of resources are available in print and online to help you understand and implement these concepts. Check out the Podcasting subreddit at https://pfdbook.link/reddit for a list of books, podcasts, and websites on monetization.
Revisit the reasons for creating a podcast, and ask yourself, “Why am I podcasting and do I need to make money?” If you’re doing this as a hobby, you may lose motivation if you turn it into a job. Do your research and consider your options, skills, costs, and time. Monetizing your podcast could be lucrative, but it could also give you gray hair at an early age.
There’s an App for That
You have the media file, an RSS feed, and accompanying show notes. You’re all set, but ask yourself, “How do podcasts get from the web to my device so I can watch or listen?” To access all this great new content, you need a podcatching client, or podcatcher, an application that looks at various RSS feeds, finds the new stuff, and transfers it from the internet to your computer or mobile device automatically. In this section, you look at some of the different podcatching apps available for your listening and viewing needs.
This section is just a starting point for getting access to podcasts. Podcasting continues to grow in popularity, and new podcasting apps are coming out all the time. Any attempt at a comprehensive list would be obsolete almost instantly. And remember, you can listen to podcasts on all sorts of devices besides computers — smartphones, tablets, AppleTV, Roku, and more!
The old-timer: Apple Podcasts
With iTunes launching its own podcast directory and a podcast-ready version of its player in June 2005, podcasting went from what the geeks were doing in the basement of the science building to the next wave of innovation on the internet (which was, of course, developed by the geeks in the basement of the science building). Plenty of contributing factors helped make podcasting mainstream, but iTunes introducing a push-button subscription method was a huge step forward.
As always, such a step into the mainstream market dismayed some original podcasters, who found themselves overshadowed by larger media entities. Now, recognizable giants such as NPR, The New York Times, ESPN, and BBC dominate Apple’s podcast directory (shown in Figure 1-4). What about the indie podcasts — the ones that started it all? Would they be forgotten? Go unnoticed? Languish unsubscribed? Well, at first, it seemed that many of the groundbreakers that the podcasting community knew and loved (Comedy4Cast, Evil Genius Chronicles, Coverville, GrammarGirl) might get lost in the stampede. But they haven't yet, as it turns out.
FIGURE 1-4: The Apple Podcast directory.
With the upgrade to macOS X (10.15) in 2019, the monolithic iTunes app was replaced with a separate Podcasts app (along with another for music and a third for shows and movies). As for the Windows edition, fear not — as of this writing, you can still get iTunes for Windows (at https://pfdbook.link/itunes). Whether using Apple Podcasts or iTunes on your desktop, the software lends an automatic hand to people new to podcasting, showing them where to find blogs that host podcasts and which podcast directories list the shows that fit their needs and desires.
Subscribing to podcasts using Apple Podcasts is easy. Just follow these steps:
Open the Podcasts app.
Find the podcast of your choice:
Browse a list of podcasts by clicking the Browse option on the left side of the screen.
View popular podcasts by clicking the Top Charts option (below Browse).
Search for a podcast by typing in the Search box in the upper left.
When you find a show that interests you, click the image to get to the podcast page and then click the Follow button.
After your podcast finishes downloading, you can find new episodes by going to the Listen Now section in the left column of the podcasts app, or get specific shows or episodes from the Downloaded section (also on the left).
Podcasting on the go: Pocket Casts
As smartphones and tablets became more prevalent, the demand of having “an app for that” grew. Finding and subscribing to podcasts in the early days was possible on a mobile device but a bit clunky. The stage had been set for a new kind of interface that was just as easy and elegant to use on your mobile device as it would be on a computer.
