What It’s Really Like to Start a Podcast
Are you a big fan of podcasts? There’s a special day just for you. September 30th is International Podcast Day and as a podcast creator myself, I’m totally celebrating!
I took some time to reflect on what it was like to start the Stress Free SOULutions podcast and what I’ve learned from it. Plus I’m giving some tips below if you’re thinking of starting your own podcast. So whether you’re a podcast creator or just love to listen, read on to find out my honest thoughts.
The reason I started my podcast
You may be wondering, why did I decide to start a podcast in the first place?
During the peak of COVID in 2020, I felt like I was in search of a greater purpose due to the craziness going on in our world. There was a lot of uncertainty, anxiety, and for me hopelessness because I wasn't able to help the first responders. I'm so grateful to all of them, from doctors and nurses to grocery store workers to delivery drivers.
There are so many people who stepped up to the plate to support and take care of everyone… and I decided that someone needed to take care of them.
In November 2020, I started interviewing people about their relationship to stress and how to reduce their stress. The more I interviewed people, the more I realized how much I could relate to them because I was dealing with stress too – from balancing my career, passion, and personal life. And I knew that there are lots of other people who are weighed down by stress. I wanted to spread the message: You're not alone.
And with that, Stress Free SOULutions was born.
What it’s like to host Stress Free SOULutions
I’m so glad I started this podcast because it’s been such an amazing journey. After doing two seasons of the show, I’ve found a bigger responsibility to share a variety of people's stories. It's important to me that I approach each subject matter with humility and honesty.
The most challenging part of interviewing is that my guests and I don't always see eye to eye. It's vital to listen first so I can understand their point of view. Usually by the end of the episode, I’ve gained a new perspective. One specific interview that completely changed my perspective was the topic of hypnosis. I thought it was extremely woo woo but when my two guests shared the impact it has had on their own lives, I let my bias go. (You can listen to these episodes here and here)
The fact that my guests feel comfortable enough to explore different facets of personal development is inspiring to me and leaves me more open-minded. I hope by having a variety of topics and guests, my listeners will be able to expand their ideas of what life can be. This experience has been extremely rewarding and I look forward to making more episodes in the future!
Tips for starting a podcast
If you’re feeling inspired right now to start your own podcast, I want to give you some tips. Yes it can be intimidating if you’re just starting out, but I encourage you to go for it.
Choose your niche - What’s the overall topic of your podcast? It should be something you’re passionate about and could talk about all day! Think about the purpose behind your podcast and the main message you want to send to your audience. What kinds of people would be interested in listening, and how would your podcast benefit them? Once you’ve figured this out, you can start brainstorming episode ideas.
Get equipment - If you’re on a low budget, don’t worry. You don’t need to immediately buy the priciest, fanciest equipment. It’s okay to start simple with just a mic, your computer, and the free Audacity audio editing software. Over time you can upgrade to more premium equipment. Personally I use the Blue Yeti Microphone.
Find guests - Solo episodes are awesome, but having guests is also good because your audience will hear from different perspectives. (And maybe your guests will change your perspective like what happened with me!) Ask your friends and others in your network if they want to be on your show. You can even announce on social media that you’re accepting guest applications. The key is to find people who have a connection to the overall topic of your podcast.
Create the show - Planning, project management, guest scheduling, recording, editing, writing show notes, publishing… there are many elements to creating a podcast. It can be a lot to do on your own. You have options: Do you want to work with a podcast management agency? Save money and completely DIY? Hire one or two freelancers to handle specific tasks while you do the rest? There’s no right or wrong way, so do what’s best for you and your budget.
Ways to grow your podcast audience
Use social media - Don’t be shy about posting about your show on social media. You can create graphics with quotes from the show or post short audio clips. Remember to use hashtags that would be searched for by the kinds of people who would be interested in your show.
Grow your email list – Give people a freebie, such as a helpful free PDF guide, when they subscribe to your email list. Then you can email your subscribers to tell them about new episodes whenever they’re released.
Network – Use Facebook groups or other online forums to talk with people who are the ideal audience for your podcast. Let them know you have a podcast you think they’ll love! You can also go to in-person events with people who are your ideal audience. Meet new people and tell them about your show.
Appear on other podcasts - Networking can help you find opportunities to be a guest on other people’s podcasts. This is a huge way to grow your podcast audience because you’ll be heard by people who already like listening to podcasts. They’re likely to check out your show after hearing you on a show they like.
Ask listeners to share - Encourage listeners to share your podcast with their friends. People tend to trust recommendations that their friends make to them, which is why word of mouth is so powerful.
Show it off on your website - Make sure a link to your podcast is clearly visible near the top of your website. It should be easy for people coming to your site to see that you have a podcast. Sounds like a simple tip but some people forget this.
The most important tip for starting a podcast
The most important tip is to just start. And once you start, consistently put in effort to make new episodes and grow your audience. Being a podcast creator isn’t easy. It takes a lot of hard work. But trust me, it’s a lot of fun too!
Don’t be intimidated by all the other podcasts out there. With so many others creating podcasts, you may feel like no one will notice yours. But you are unique and no one else can make a podcast like you can. Lean into your own uniqueness and you’ll find an audience that loves you for who you are.
Happy International Podcast Day and thank you to all of you who have listened to Stress Free SOULutions! I enjoy making the show for you and I’m so grateful for your support. I'm especially thankful to all of you who have reached out to share how these episodes have helped you in times of struggle or that you feel seen. This is why I continue to create and build each season. I hope my podcast has helped you stress less and live a life that’s happy and meaningful.
