Podcasting Made Easy

You might think getting guests to sign a personal release to take part in your podcast provides you some protection. But it can blow up in your face for various reasons...

Jim! This one's for you.

We all do it. We can talk all day to friends, colleagues and family without uttering a singled 'um' or 'erm'. But sit in front of a microphone to record a podcast and they pour out between every sentence.

So how do professional broadcasters and newsreaders speak without making these unwanted noises? Practice, practice, practice - a heavy dollop of self discipline.

Sure, we can edit our podcasts to remove these noises; but it can get boring after a while and it is time consuming - so far as I know - there is not an app for that (yet).

The best way to solve this is to train yourself not to make those noises at all.

It's too easy to knock out a podcast episode, post it up and then sit back rubbing your hands - job done.

But oh no, there is more to it than that.

You need to promote each podcast to reach new listeners and increase your audience. To make an impact. So make sure to write an engaging promo about each episode, create a compelling graphic to post across social media, and ask your guest to share it too.

Find out more in this episode of Podcasting Made easy.

Most of us are governed by the clock. We get up by the clock, get to

work by the clock, and leave for home by the clock. We eat by the clock,

watch the clock, and when we retire we might be given a clock. (Have

you read Harlan Ellison’s Repent Harlequin, said the Ticktockman?)

So governed are we by the clock that it is no surprise that someone

writes to ask what time of day they should release their podcast to a

waiting world. Thankfully, there’s an easy answer. Publish it when it’s

ready – you have a global audience living in their own time zone.

The days of ‘appointment viewing’ (and listening) are long gone. On one side the family doesn’t have to gather at a certain time to watch a TV show (which some argue has upset traditional family time). On the other; play on demand means we can all consume what we want when we want.

Podcasts are the audio-world’s Netflix. You can stream or download them whenever you want.

So what’s the best time to release a podcast? There is no ideal time. Although there is. Friends in email marketing tell me they send out emails to members of their databases on either a Thursday or Friday at between 1 and 3pm. It’s the end of the week; people are starting to wind down and are looking for things to do at the weekend.

What are we to take from this? You can release your podcast when you like; but if the vast majority of your listeners live in your time zone then there is no harm in publishing on a Thursday or Friday afternoon.

In other news

I was among those who was surprised to read in The Guardian the words “Regulation” and “Podcasts” in the same sentence.

The introduction to Jack Seale’s feature on 27 November 2019 referred

to ‘Bedroom broadcasters’ as if recording in one’s bedroom made it a

lesser product than one recorded in an expensive studio owned by a

corporation. I really thought those days were behind us.

But in the penultimate paragraph of the feature he talked of regulation. This has to be called out quickly and firmly.

We need to be cautious and suspicious of such language. We need to

kick back on this at every turn. More regulation is not required. There

are more than enough laws already to covering libel, defamation,

contempt of court and copyright etc. More regulation is the last thing

that’s needed.

Do not take comments such as these lying down. Be like Harlan Ellison's Harlequin.

Most of us are governed by the clock. We get up by the clock, get to work by the clock, and leave for home by the clock. We eat by the clock, watch the clock, and when we retire we might be given a clock. (Have you read Harlan Ellison's Repent Harlequin, said the Ticktockman?)

So governed are we by the clock that it is no surprise that someone writes to ask what time of day they should release their podcast to a waiting world. Thankfully, there's an easy answer. Publish it when it's ready – you have a global audience living in their own time zone.

The days of 'appointment viewing' (and listening) are long gone. On one side the family doesn't have to gather at a certain time to watch a TV show (which some argue has upset traditional family time). On the other; play on demand means we can all consume what we want when we want.

Podcasts are the audio-world's Netflix. You can stream or download them whenever you want.

So what's the best time to release a podcast? There is no ideal time. Although there is. Friends in email marketing tell me they send out emails to members of their databases on either a Thursday or Friday at between 1 and 3pm. It's the end of the week; people are starting to wind down and are looking for things to do at the weekend.

What are we to take from this? You can release your podcast when you like; but if the vast majority of your listeners live in your time zone then there is no harm in publishing on a Thursday or Friday afternoon.

In other news

I was among those who was surprised to read in The Guardian the words "Regulation" and "Podcasts" in the same sentence.

The introduction to Jack Seale's feature on 27 November 2019 referred to 'Bedroom broadcasters' as if recording in one's bedroom made it a lesser product than one recorded in an expensive studio owned by a corporation. I really thought those days were behind us.

But in the penultimate paragraph of the feature he talked of regulation. This has to be called out quickly and firmly.

We need to be cautious and suspicious of such language. We need to kick back on this at every turn. More regulation is not required. There are more than enough laws already to covering libel, defamation, contempt of court and copyright etc. More regulation is the last thing that's needed.

Do not take comments such as these lying down. By like Harlequin.

If you want to start podcasting, but don't know what to podcast about - how about reporting on the stories from around your neighbourhood?

Hyperlocal media is growing to fill the gaps left by local newspapers that have either stopped publishing or cut staff to the point whereby local issues and interesting stories are no longer covered.

Now, you don't need to get stuck in on the big stories that can bring some legal risks. But you can start interviewing local people about their jobs and hobbies etc. Your neighbourhood will be full of people doing interesting things. Tell their stories.

So if you are keen...start a website and feature interesting stuff from your neighbourhood. Who knows where it will lead.

Of course, do not publish anything that may cause you any legal issues. Just keep it fun and light, featuring ordinary people doing interesting things. Don't criticize anyone.

A source of great information is www.FSRN.org and its how-to guides for reporters.

So you want to start a podcast but there’s something stopping you.

First it was the gear, then it was the space for a ‘studio’, and then

having the time to prepare and record it.

Okay, the time for procrastination is over. It’s time to start podcasting and you can only do that by actually recording one.

The great news is that you can do as many practice podcasts as you like and only start releasing them when you are ready.

When I started my career in radio I spent a year hanging around my local station, stealing time in the studio when I could, picking up tricks and tips from seasoned broadcasters until one night someone didn’t arrive for their show and I was ‘Johnny on the spot’.

But there is no way I would have been asked to do a show on my first

night at the station as a novice wannabe DJ. And the same might apply to

you.

So unless someone is knocking on your door asking you to do a podcast

then pace yourself, allow your confidence to grow, your on-air delivery

to mature, and start by starting. You’ll do fine and the rest will fall

into place as you develop your podcast rhythm, your style, your voice,

your podcast.

On your marks, get set, go!

Make enough podcasts and sooner or later someone you interview will insist you remove the podcast they feature in.

But how to react to this request after all the work you have put in? After all, they took part in the show, they knew they were being interviewed for your podcast. There should be no surprises for them when it appears online.

Well, life isn't that simple. Perhaps their employer is angry with them. Maybe they gave out incorrect factual information, or maybe they don't like the sound of their own voice... Perhaps someone made a sarcastic comment about the way they speak...

In this episode of Podcasting Made Easy I look at the scenarios and your options when the 'take down' email arrives. Take a breath and dive in.

We've all done it. Recorded a podcast interview only to discover the audio is really bad for one reason or another.

So, what to do? Yep, apps such as Pro Tools, Garage Band and Audition provide lots of tools, filters and options to help improve sound and remove unwanted noises.

But to use them you have to be careful; and even after hours / days of fiddling you might remove or reduce some of the unwanted noise, but at what cost? There is always a trade off...

Perhaps it is best to bite the bullet and just do the interview over. Start again and get it in the can.

The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting – let’s record a podcast in the garden. Just because we can.

The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting – let’s record a podcast in the garden. Just because we can.

No mixer, no expensive microphone, no room acoustics worries, no

fixing up afterwards. Just raw and real – a Tascam DR-40, a foam pop

filter and a passion to podcast.

The Tascam DR-40 digital recorder.

I recorded this using minimal gear, and in the back garden, to

illustrate that you do not need tons of gear to record a podcast; nor a

dedicated space. KISS – Keep It Super Simple.

The Tascam, or any similar digital recorder (and a pop filter), will do you just fine.

Got some background noise? No worries; include it in your podcast – give listeners an experience. Keep it natural and engaging.

Years ago, when working in professional radio I used to carry around a

reel-to-reel tape recorder! Just like the one pictured below.

The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting – let’s record a podcast in the garden. Just because we can.

No mixer, no expensive microphone, no software enhancement. Just me, a Tascam DR-40 and a foam pop filter.

I just wanted to illustrate that you do not need tons of gear to record your thoughts on an MP3.

For more free info about podcasting see Podcasting Made Easy