The Internet has made it possible for us to express and communicate with each other in exciting new ways. And one of the most popular avenues is the podcast. It’s like a talk show, a conversation, and a night of storytelling all blended into one, like sitting by the campfire and chatting with your best friends.
In November 2019, we launched the LowcoSports Lowdown, an exploration into the biggest local sports news of the week and an opportunity to catch up with the latest stellar student-athletes, coaches, and former local stars now in the college and professional ranks. It’s a fantastic complement to our written content on our website and has allowed us unique opportunities for extended interviews and quality discussion that are not possible with words on a page.
The world of podcasts has taken off in the last few years, and we’ve seen many others join the family. Have you recently found the itch of wanting to put your podcast dreams into action? Here are some pointers to guide you as you embark on your journey.
The first step, of course, is to choose your topic. Whether it’s sports, entertainment, business, politics, technology, or another discipline, it’s important to have a topic to center your discussions and content on. Naming your show can be difficult since most pod owners like to incorporate puns or alliteration when deciding on the title. But don’t use a particularly long one. Instead, come up with a short, creative, and unique name. It is important since it’s the first thing that someone will associate with the show.
Then you’ll need to decide how you’d like to format the episodes. Ideally, you’ll have anywhere from two to four people discussing topics in a fun, conversational manner, but you’ll also want to bring on a guest or two each episode to find new stories and unique perspectives on your topic. Most shows will have recurring segments (like our “Sitdown” excerpts and our Team/Player of the Week) that will shine a light on the biggest news/most important topics of the week. But it’s also fun to switch up ideas and create new ways to share and discuss information. Some shows will be entirely discussion-based, while others will focus on an interview of a key figure in the industry. The content and the structure of each podcast can vary and is entirely up to the way you see fit.
You’ll certainly need some tools along the way to effectively produce your podcast. If you want to take the quality of your recordings to the next level, a stand to keep your microphone stationary is a must. If you want to reduce unwanted noise in the recording, a shock mount can help limit any unnecessary sound that is picked up. There is a variety of software around to help record podcasts these days, but there’s nothing wrong with using Zoom to tape your shows. Almost everyone already has an account these days, and a premium subscription to create cloud recordings is relatively inexpensive compared to other options.
When you’re ready to edit your audio files, Audacity is an excellent go-to program that will get the job done. It’s extremely easy to pick up and use, and the software is free to download on both Windows PCs and Macs. If you’re looking to take your editing to the next level, Adobe Audition and PreSonus Studio One, among others, provide advanced tools and quality sound for a paid subscription.
Then, you’re ready to share your podcast with your friends, colleagues, and the world! Apple Podcasts and Spotify may be the most popular places to listen, but other hosting sites like PodBean and Buzzsprout are great homes to publish and promote your work. When you’re ready to drop your first episode, tease it with your friends on social media and get the excitement building. When the big day comes, people will already be pumped and lined up to press play.
The biggest lesson to learn about being a podcast host and creator? Don’t expect your popularity to take off on the first show. Or Episode 10. Or Episode 50. Even the greatest and most well-known shows didn’t reach their sky-high listener levels until well down the road. Keep grinding away and promoting your show, and if you’re producing insightful, exciting, funny, and original content, you’ll have your listening numbers on the rise in no time.
Another important lesson from my days so far as a podcast host and producer? Don’t be afraid to experiment! After COVID-19 brought a pause to the sports world, I rethought how we really should focus our podcast. Instead of re-telling what we already told in our recaps on the site, I realized instead that our show should be one that complements the articles, providing additional information and analysis on top of what has already been written combined with in-depth and extended interviews. I wanted conversation that goes beyond the box scores in our daily recaps, and I think the show has evolved into a celebration of our wonderful student-athletes, coaches, and schools here in the Lowcountry — which matches our mission statement.
A generation ago, you had to be in the highest circles in order to present and conduct your own audio show. But now, all you need is a laptop, a few pieces of equipment, and a determined mindset. It may be daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll have a blast. We wish you the best of luck if you decide to make the exciting venture into the world of podcasts, and if you prefer listening, we’ll keep the episodes coming.
By Wes Kerr
