How to podcast: the four Ps

Every podcast, from a bedroom hobby show to a network series, goes through the same four stages. We call them the four Ps: plan, produce, publish and promote. Get the order right and each stage is easy; skip one and the next gets harder.

1. Plan

Decide what the show is before you buy anything. Write down:

• Who it’s for, in one sentence. “Parents of new runners” is better than “anyone who likes fitness”.
• The format: solo, co-hosted, interview or narrative. See common formats.
• Length and schedule you can sustain for six months. Most new shows do well at 20–40 minutes, weekly or every two weeks.
• A name that says what the show is about. Search podcast apps to check it isn’t taken.
• Ten episode ideas. If you can’t list ten, narrow or widen the topic.

Then plan each episode with a simple outline: an opening line, three to five points or questions, and a closing call to action.

2. Produce

Production is recording and editing. It has three parts, each with its own step in this tutorial:

1. Choose a recording location: a quiet room matters more than an expensive microphone.
2. Get the basic gear: a microphone, headphones and something to hold the mic.
3. Pick your software, then follow the Audacity tutorial to record, edit and export an episode.

3. Publish

Publishing turns an MP3 into a podcast that people can subscribe to:

1. Choose a podcast host, which stores your files and creates the RSS feed.
2. Upload the episode and submit your feed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other apps.
3. Write show notes so listeners and search engines know what each episode covers.

4. Promote

A feed nobody knows about has no listeners. Tell people in the places they already are, ask for reviews and shares, appear on other shows, and publish consistently. Our guide to growing and monetizing a podcast covers what works.