Everything I learned about starting a podcast (before releasing my first episode)

Me

QA, Testing, Girl Geek

some experience with a podcast in a previous job

@gem_hill

What is a podcast?

•  A digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player, typically available as a series, new instalments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.

My Podcast!

http://letstalkabouttests.xyz

A fortnightly podcast on QA, Testing, Agile, Scrum and other general geekery.

My Podcast!

Available on all good podcast apps, iTunes, and soundcloud

Started on 14/5/2015

Content

• Theme or structure (or both!)
  • ​Co-hosts?
  • Guests?
  • Q&A?
  • Segments?
  • Audience?

Content

• Episode content - plan a few out
• Name/Domain
  • ​Logo/colours/look and feel
• See what else is out there (maybe? I didn't really)

Content

• Format can be changed as needed - don't feel you have to finalise everything right now
• Mistakes are forgivable!

Content

• Schedule - when each part (recording, editing, posting) will be done - especially if podcast is long
• Episodes recorded/written up in advance
• Show notes
• Organisation

Other considerations

• Logo
  • iTunes requires artwork and most podcast apps use logos
• Website
  • Design, name, etc
  • Free - wordpress.com etc
  • Hosting and domains

Other considerations

• Intros/Outros
  • ​Creative commons music
  • Plenty of options:
    • http://incompetech.com/
    • https://soundcloud.com/ramesesb/sets/no-copyright-free-to-use

Podcast Hosting

The biggie!

• Space for episodes
• Download bandwidth
• RSS feeds for podcast apps and iTunes

Podcast specific sites

• Libsyn
• Acast
• Stitcher
• Almost definitely others

• Soundcloud
• Youtube

These platforms have existing audience - less barrier to listen

Not specific but still nice/useful

Acast and Stitcher

• These are curated - you have to apply to be included
• Something to consider once got some episodes under your belt

Libsyn

• What I chose
• No charge for downloads, only for storage
• Creates RSS feeds for iTunes and other podcast apps
• Option to schedule posts

Twitter/Social Media

• I live my entire life on twitter anyway
• Twitter apps that can schedule tweets are a godsend
• Buffer can queue posts - free for one of each type of account
• Easy to contribute - retweeting, retweeting with comment, etc

Twitter/Social Media

• Facebook has scheduling software
• Can link Twitter and Facebook so things posted to Twitter are posted to Facebook
• Consider Tumblr/Pinterest if it fits your theme/audience

Hardware and Software

I used the microphone on my Mac

Now use a Snowball are a good brand and look funky

Software

• Adobe Audition
  • I've used this in work
  • My favourite but so expensive
  • Probably not worth the cash

• Audacity
  • Free
  • Basics are easy
  • Open Source and on all OS
  • Not changed much

Software

• Garageband
  • Free
  • Basics are easy
  • Mac only
  • What I use

Questions?

@gem_hill

@LetsTalkTests

letstalkabouttests.xyz