How to Start a Podcast

Press Play on sharing your passion with the world as you learn the elements of starting your own podcast. Your podcast is a unique platform to share your voice, grow your audience, and connect deeply with your listeners.

Together, we’ll dive deeply into the podcasting world, and you’ll avoid overwhelm as you lay the technical, content, and marketing groundwork for your podcast. You’ll learn how to choose the right topic and format for your interests, find the best podcast hosting platform, and plan, record, and share your first episode and beyond. 

Come prepared to explore or brainstorm a basic idea for your podcast, and bring along a list of podcasts you appreciate and enjoy.

By the end of this workshop, you will have a solid understanding of podcasting, an actionable plan to launch your podcast, a well-crafted content schedule, and the skills needed to create engaging episodes tailored to your target audience.

You will finish this course with the confidence to hit record and share your voice with the world. Join us and take the first step toward transforming your passion into a compelling experience for listeners.

Who This Course is For:

Anyone interested in launching their first podcast. Whether you are a seasoned writer looking to expand your reach or a newcomer eager to explore new mediums. 

Learning and Writing Goals

Learning Goals

In this course, you will: 

• Understand the fundamental concepts and components of podcasting.
• Learn how to choose a podcast format and style that resonates with your target audience.
• Develop strategies for creating and maintaining a content schedule that keeps your audience engaged.
• Identify your ideal target audience and tailor your podcast content to their interests.
• Discover techniques for finding the right recording voice and tone to effectively communicate your message.
• Gain insights into refining your episode structure and format to maximize listener engagement and retention.

Writing Goals

• Develop a clear and engaging introduction script for your podcast episodes.
• Craft episode outlines that align with your content schedule and target audience interests.
• Hone your ability to write for the spoken word, adapting your language and style to suit your podcast’s tone and audience.
• Generate ideas for episode content that resonate with your target audience’s preferences and interests.
• Craft a personal and authentic podcasting voice that connects with your listeners and reflects your unique personality and perspective.

Zoom Schedule

We will meet on Zoom on Thursdays, September 19th and 26th at 5 PM Eastern.

Weekly Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to Podcasting and Planning Your Podcast

Session 1 (90 minutes)

•   Introduction to podcasting: What is a podcast?
•   Overview of the podcasting landscape
•   Identifying your podcast topic and target audience
•   Choosing a podcast format and style
•   Developing a unique value proposition
•   Tips on creating a content schedule and planning episodes
•   Brainstorming session: Content schedule and initial episode ideas

Homework: Brainstorm a content schedule for your podcast and write an introduction for your first episode

Week 2: Crafting Your Podcast Content

Session 2 (90 minutes)

•   Crafting your podcast content to resonate with your target audience
•   Finding the right recording voice and tone for your podcast
•   Identifying your ideal target audience and tailoring content to their interests
•   How to market your podcast and grow your audience 
•   Developing a personal and authentic podcasting voice
•   Strategies for engaging and retaining listeners
•   Refining your episode structure and format to maximize impact

Homework: Refine your content schedule based on your target audience’s preferences and practice recording your introduction script with the appropriate tone and voice.