In 2004, journalist Ben Hammersley of the BBC combined the words “iPod” and “broadcast” to coin the term podcast. While not an immediate success, podcasting has exploded in popularity in recent years. In 2021, more Americans listened to podcasts than watched Netflix, with 28% of the population listening weekly.
It seems like almost everyone has a podcast these days. From actors, to comedians, to former athletes and former presidents, people are sharing stories over the airwaves, and it seems like people can’t get enough! Everyone has a chance to share their story on their own terms.
And the beauty of podcasts is that anyone can make one.
Sound basics
All sounds are created by vibrations. Our voices are created by air from our lungs passing over and vibrating our vocal cords. Similarly, when these sound waves reach our ears, they bounce off our eardrums, creating vibrations that our brains convert into sound.
The quality of a sound can be described as:
Frequency: the closeness of the sound waves (measured in Hz)
Amplitude: the size of the sound waves (loudness)
Microphones
Microphones are imitations of our ears. Every microphone has an “eardrum” called a diaphragm. Just like an eardrum, when a sound wave hits the diaphragm, it vibrates. These vibrations are then converted into an electrical signal that can be recorded or broadcast.
When it comes to recording there are a few key features to consider when choosing a mic.
The two basic types of microphones are dynamic and electret condenser. Both have diaphragms and membranes; they just serve different functions. Dynamic mics have a diaphragm that moves a coil of wire inside a permanent magnet, creating an electric current. The current varies according to the strength and frequency of the sound waves. The diaphragm of electret condenser mics is actually one plate of a condenser. The plate and another plate vibrate together, creating a tiny electric charge.
Dynamic mics are very rugged and can produce excellent sound. These microphones are good in most situations, coming in handy for recording that calls for movement and sturdiness. If you need something that is simple, multi-purpose, and durable, this mic is your choice. Condenser mics can be very small and lightweight. They also require batteries, which eventually wear out and die. Condenser mics are better suited for quieter, studio situations where details and accuracy are important.
When choosing a mic, you should also consider the pickup pattern, the area in which it is most sensitive to incoming sounds. There are 3 types:
Omnidirectional: Picks up sound equally from every direction, the most common pickup pattern.
Cardioid: Heart shape that picks up greatest sensitivity at the pointed end, most common for voice recordings.
Supercardioid: Narrow area of sensitivity, must be aimed directly at the source.
Finally, there are 3 common types of microphones that fall under the categories and pickup patterns above:
Hand: most common, most versatile, omnidirectional or cardioid pickup.
Shotgun: also known as a boom mic, good for uncontrolled situations, supercardioid pickup.
Lavalier: used to record speaking, omnidirectional pickup.
Podcast Pre-Production
Once you have your equipment sorted, it’s time to start recording!
Well…not exactly.
Although many podcasts are presented as being recorded off the cuff, quite a bit of planning goes into recording even a single episode. As with any project you undertake, you can’t just jump into a project without planning what you’re going to do first. Podcasting is no different.
The first step is to create an outline for your podcast. This can be in the form of a mind map, an organized word file, or a simple sheet of paper. It’s important to work out the flow of your podcast and all the topics you want to cover. This gives you a sense of how long your podcast will be and what you’re going to cover.
After everything is outlined, it’s time to tackle and invisible script. Writing to be read and writing to be heard are different processes, so to make a podcast script read more naturally the bulk of it will be planned out in bullet points and set piece elements.
A script should have a narrative flow. The opening must capture the listener’s attention; often it’s smart to introduce the topic of the episode up front. What is the podcast about? What is this episode about? Sell the benefits: what are they going to learn? The body of the episode should then deliver what was covered in the introduction. You might have 3-5 points to guide the listener through the episode. When finished make sure your ending is short, snappy, and effective.
It’s important to make sure to write like you actually talk. The best podcasts are conversational by nature and people respond to personality and warmth. Some ways to come across more authentically are:
Using contradictions
Being casual
Cutting industry jargon, or keeping it to a minimum
Using short, concise sentences
Writing down complete thoughts and sentences
Hooks and taglines are another way to make your podcast memorable. A tagline should be short, clear, and direct. Hooks can be used to section the podcast out into a series of self-contained episodes. A hook can mark a new section, a sponsored message, or the end of the episode. Hooks help the episode transition into new topics while maintaining the narrative flow.
Once everything has been planned out and written down, it’s time to take a walk. It will be tempting to edit as you go, but that usually does more harm than good. Clear your head, take a break, and then attack your script with fresh eyes. If you’re still worried about the overall sound, use the mate test. Remember to be yourself, be authentic, and have fun.
Finding Inspiration
When planning my own podcast, I looked to shows I enjoy for inspiration. Here are three examples of podcasts that use audio effectively:
The Adventure Zone is a Dungeons & Dragons podcast played between family members, so it’s very easy for them to come off as authentic and conversational. But I also think they use music and narrative flow in their storytelling to deliver an emotional, compelling show.
The Sessions is hosted by former WWE and ESPN reporter Renee Paquette. This podcast is a good example of invisible scripts because the interviews flow like a natural conversation but it is clear that Renee has a script of questions that she follows throughout.
The Chris Rose Rotation is a good example of a host utilizing hooks to break up the podcast into a series of smaller episodes. Chris Rose has a rotating cast of active baseball player cohosts that provide insight and opinions. Different hosts appeal to different fanbases and Rose does a good job of separating segments, allowing for his network to clip the episode down to soundbites able to be shared on social media.
My Process
When planning my own podcast for this module, I wanted to find something I could talk about comfortably and use to be informative. I felt something informative would be the best way to catch a listener’s attention. My first thought was some type of pop culture review, but I felt like branching out of my comfort zone. A Twitter thread on women’s health inspired me to share information that many people may not be aware of. I felt the end of endometriosis month would be a good time for the subject of my first episode. As someone who has been diagnosed with this disease, this topic felt personal and informative and like something I could engage in with listeners.
My preproduction planning can be found here.
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