How to Record a Podcast (Ultimate Beginner Guide to The Best Way)

Podcasts are more popular than ever. In this tutorial, we'll teach you how to add your voice to the online conversation. If you want to learn the best way to record a podcast and grow it, you're in the right place.

Let's learn how to record a podcast, from idea to production. (Illustration source: Envato Elements.)

In this tutorial, we'll tackle how to record audio for podcasts. Not only that, but we'll give you tips and tricks for the best way to record a podcast. We'll cover everything you need to launch your first podcast - and grow it to success!
Why You Should Start a Podcast
If you're pondering starting a podcast, you aren't alone. According to Demandsage, there are now over 5 million podcasts globally.  While not every podcast will reach the top of its chart, it shouldn't hold you back from starting one of your own.
Despite the massive traction, there's still room to plant your podcast. More than ever, listeners seek out highly targeted content. They want shows that go deep into their interests. You can set yourself apart by giving them content that they can't find elsewhere. And there's alway room to put a fresh spin on tried-and-true topics.

Podcasts are more popular than ever, but there's still plenty of room for new voices. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

If you want to start a podcast, start with your why. The best way to record a podcast is to start with a compelling story. Think about these questions as you look for inspiration for your podcast:

What story do you need to share?
What do you want to teach someone?
What community do you want to build around an idea?

As you start your podcast, remember that being the largest or most listened-to show isn't the goal. Instead, tell stories that you feel inspired to share in a unique way. You're sure to stand out from the crowd. This gives you a chance to authentically connect and grow your following.
Before You Press Record
So, you've decided to record your own podcast. Great! Now, it's time to plan your podcast. Before you press record, it helps to think about the style and structure of your show.
As you learn how to record podcasts, think about how yours fits into one of these categories:

Narrative-driven. Think of this as a storytelling podcast. It's very common in topics like true crime and economics, for example. The host weaves together a tale with an overarching theme.

Interview-based. In an interview, the host focuses on drawing on the experience of the guest. You're drawing on their experience and expertise and sharing it with your audience. 

Panel / conversation driven. These podcasts are similar to interviews, but are more balanced. The dialogue and conversation is more equally split between the host and the participants.

If you're learning how to record podcasts, I highly recommend starting with an outline. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

When planning your podcast, it's ideal to start out with at least an outline. It guides your show and the subsequent episodes. You don't have to write a script, but an outline will keep you on track while also telling your story.
The Gear You Need (And the Gear You Don't)
You're wondering how to record podcasts. What do you need to get started?
Purchasing new gear and equipment is often the first place that beginners start. But what if I told you that you may already have everything you need?
Don't fall into the trap of believing that you need the perfect setup before you press record. A little gear goes a long way. Learning how to record audio for podcasts is about finding the sweet spot. Spend a bit to sound better, but don't break the bank.

Not all podcasting gear is necessary; a basic USB microphone can massively improve your audio quality. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

Here are the basics to consider as you learn how to record podcasts.

USB microphones - above all, don't lean on your laptop's built-in microphone. Low audio quality podcasts are a quick ticket to losing listeners. Even basic USB microphones are a major upgrade. Read on to learn apps to capture audio from your microphone.

Basic sound treatment - when you set up your equipment, think soft. That means soft surfaces that absorb reflection. Hang blankets or cover hard wood floor with softer surfaces to avoid the echo chamber effect.

A quiet room - above all, a quiet space free of background interruptions will set your podcast's quality apart.

It's okay to start small when you produce a podcast. In the beginning, your goal is to sound good enough - not perfect. That means using the basic techniques we've covered. Don't let perfection stand in the way of your podcast progress.
Production Tools For Success
Much of the magic of perfecting a podcast happens after you finish recording. The post production stage can help to unlock better sound quality. Plus, it gives you the chance to refine your story - even after the microphones are put away.
At the post-production stage, you can apply basic adjustments to help your podcast's quality. It's key to learn how to record podcasts, then adjust after. Equalization and normalization are two audio techniques that can bring out the best of your audio tracks. 
Remember: post production is a creative stage of its own. That means that if you told a story out of order, you can simply re-sequence it while you edit. There are truly no rules, and that should feel like total creative freedom.
These apps are tools I use in my own workflow for spoken word audio. They're also apps that allow you to capture audio while recording.

Descript - this tool is a Swiss Army Knife of features built specifically for podcasters. Descript also supports video editing, which means you can produce a video while you podcast.

Auphonic - I use Auphonic as a simple solution to level and normalize my audio. It's a simple website where you can upload your audio track, choose a few settings, and download a finished audio file. The tool does most of the thinking for you.

Audacity - Audacity is a longtime favorite for budget-focused audio editors. It's an open source and free tool that you can use for basic cuts, sequencing, and edits.

Make sure to check out some of our other tutorials on editing audio with Descript. This tool is built with podcasters in mind, so you'll feel at home producing your podcast while you use it.

Live Editing: How to Edit Audio While Recording in Descript

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How to Edit Podcast and Interview Videos in Descript — With Captions, Titles, and Graphics

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How to Simultaneously Auto-Transcribe and Record Zoom Calls With Descript

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05 Oct 2022

How to Share Your Podcast 
Now that your podcast masterpiece is finished, it's time to share! You may already know that listeners download and discover podcasts on a variety of platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. How do you distribute your podcast to every platform so that your future fans find you?
Many podcast player apps leverage Apple's Podcasts directory. Other tools, like Spotify and Amazon, will leverage their own directories. And while you can upload directly to these services, it's ideal to use a podcast host.

Use a podcast host to publish your episodes across platforms. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

This category of tools can help you walk through the cross-podcast platform publishing. That means that listeners will find you regardless of what app they use. Plus, they'll help you add nice touches like artwork. Here are a few popular podcast hosts:

Transistor
Libsyn
Podbean
Simplecast

Best of all, your podcast host can also help you monitor your analytics. Watching and monitoring your growth can help you tailor your content.
How to Grow Your Podcast
There are no 'one-click tricks' to boost your podcast to a massive audience. Instead, you should leverage a variety of techniques that each could pay off. Here are a few ideas for marketing your podcast:
1. Market Yourself in Every Episode
Have you ever felt like you're late to the party when you listen to a new podcast? Maybe you don't understand the inside jokes or the origin story.
Always assume that every listener is hearing you for the first time. This means that you shouldn't expect that they understand you, your show, or your content.
It helps to start off every episode with a short explainer. Give the audience a background on you, your show, and the episode ahead. You can even invite them to check out past episodes that relate to your current content.

Always take time to introduce your show and give background as part of your episode. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

Listening to your episode is just the start of connecting. The goal is to build a subscriber base that returns to the show for every episode. You should ask your listeners to subscribe to stay connected. Many podcasters report that positive reviews boost engagement, so don't forget to ask!
Remember: your favorite podcast can serve as an example. Listen to every episode intently to pickup on their marketing approach. It's okay to imitate your favorite artists when it comes to marketing.
2. Create a Podcast Trailer
Another way that you can grow your podcast is to create what I call a podcast trailer. Think of this as a short, standalone explainer that introduces your show.
Many podcasting apps, like Spotify, hold space at the top of your feed for a podcast trailer. That gives you the opportunity to help a new listener learn about the show. Think of it as an introduction to who you are and what you do. A short trailer can give additional context and help you draw more fans in.

A podcast trailer helps you introduce the audience to your show and create more context. (Stock photo: Envato Elements.)

Here's a slick idea for a podcast trailer: create an animated video with a voiceover from your podcast. Learn more and create this project with our tutorial below:

How to Make an Animated Video for Your Podcast Using an Audio React After Effects Template

Marie Gardiner
18 Sep 2022

3. Repurpose and Re-Use Content to Grow
Don't think of a podcast episode as a single piece of content. You can carve up an episode and share clips and excerpts as new insights. 
Take, for example, the TikTok and YouTube Shorts formats. They are small, bite-sized video clips. What if you took your favorite excerpts from a podcast episode and created videos?
Don't forget: you can produce video content whether or not you record live video. You could mix-and-match spoken word audio excerpts from your episode. Combine them with stock footage, graphics, and audio.
Consider how you can leverage your content on multiple platforms. Target pulling two to three favorite excerpts from each episode. Then, create video reels you share on social. Each one can serve as a teaser for an episode, and you never know how many listeners you may attract.
Check out this excellent guide to learn more about creating video for your podcast:

How to Make Videos for Podcasts

Duncan Clark
23 Aug 2022

An even simpler way to stretch your content is to create a transcript from your episode. Building a text-based version of your podcast and sharing it online can help you grow your reach. Take Tim Ferriss' archive of transcripts as an example. These become pages of their own, and re-purpose content in a new way that can even be found from a search engine!
4. Feature Guests and Collaborate
Taking stock of my favorite podcasts, I noticed a common trait: I learned of the show from other podcasts I enjoy.
Audiences are hungry for more of what they already enjoy. And many times, they enjoy hearing similar thoughts with a different angle. It just makes good sense to network with other podcasters and look for opportunities to appear on other shows.
Reach out to others at similar stages of the podcast growth journey. It gives you the opportunity to create a circle of supporters that share in your journey. 

Guest appearances on similar podcasts can grow your audience and connect you to other hosts. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

This approach - like all other marketing efforts - may take time to build. But in many cases, it can serve as the catalyst to grow your own audience. Focus on providing value when you collaborate with other podcasters. Bring a unique perspective to their audience.
Don't get discouraged if it takes time to build your audience. Many of the most popular podcasts have built their audiences over multiple years. Set a target to publish 20 to 25 episodes before you re-examine if you should continue. 
Now You Know The Best Way to Record a Podcast
You just learned how to record a podcast and share it with an audience. It's okay to start small and learn as you go while you grow your audience. And while high quality audio and sharp editing improves your output, it's not a necessity. Think of your podcast as an experiment that you can refine over time.
Now, it's your turn. You have all the skills you need for the best way to record a podcast. Make a plan, press record, and share your story with the world. You never know where it may take you!