Podcast FAQ

how does a podcast work

by Dr. Rylan Jones MD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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If you don't use an app designed to create podcasts, here's roughly how the process works:

  • Plug a microphone into your computer.
  • Install an audio recorder for Windows, Mac or Linux ( Audacity is a free, well-known and respected option for all three).
  • Create an audio file by making a recording (you can talk, sing or record music) and save it to your computer.
  • Finally, upload the audio file to one of the podcasting sites.

A podcast is a collection or series of digital audio files that are made available for downloading or listening via the Internet. Each individual audio recording is known as a podcast episode. Podcasts are typically hosted by an individual or individuals who lead a conversation, share stories, or report the news.Nov 5, 2021

Full Answer

How much should it cost to produce a podcast?

They should be able to help with everything from concept, to branding, to production, and promotion. Expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000+ for an episode depending on the type of podcast you are producing (interview-based, narrative or story-driven, or a mixture of the two).

What is a podcast and how do they work?

  • Free
  • On-demand
  • Niche
  • Talk radio

What makes a good podcast?

  • have a genuine interest in how people are ‘going’ as a starting point in any conversation
  • talk less and ask more – be a coach!
  • look to build on individual strengths and provide encouragement as opposed to focussing on things that didn’t go well

More items...

How do you start a podcast?

Way before you ever get into the actual production and technical work, figure out what your podcast will be about. Also, choose an appropriate title, topic, and format right at the start. Each episode of your show will be a separate audio file that can be made available in various formats.

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How does a beginner start a podcast?

Table of ContentsChoose a Podcast Topic You Can Commit To.Pick Your Podcast Name.Write a Compelling Podcast Description.Decide on Your Podcast Format.Get Your Podcast Artwork and Music Created.Purchase Your Podcast Equipment and Test Your Podcasting Software.Choose Your Podcast Hosting Service.More items...

How does having a podcast work?

The term comes from a combination of the words iPod and broadcasting. Unlike internet radio, users don't have to 'tune in' to a particular broadcast. Instead, they download the podcast on demand or subscribe via an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, which automatically downloads the podcast to their computers.

Is it free to listen to a podcast?

For podcasts, newbies, it's important to know that most podcasts out there are free. There are some behind a paywall, but usually, the content is free and can be interspersed with some ad-reads. The word “subscribe” often concerns people, and they think they have to pay something.

Do podcasts cost money to listen to?

For podcast listeners, podcasts are a way to enjoy great content from around the world for free. For podcast publishers, podcasts are a great way to reach a wide audience. Apple does not directly provide podcast updates or episodes.

What are the top 5 things to know before starting a podcast?

Know the 'What' and 'Why' from the Beginning. ... Focus on the Value You Bring to Your Audience. ... You Don't Need to Spend a Fortune—But You DO Need a Quality Setup. ... Podcasting Takes a LOT of Planning and Organization. ... Plan to Manage Your Web Presence. ... You'll Get Bad Feedback. ... It's Not Easy to Make Money as a Podcaster.

Do podcasts make money?

Sponsorships are the most common way podcasters make money. This is when the podcast promotes the sponsor during the show. You probably hear your favorite shows plug their advertisers a few times in every episode. How much you earn from a sponsor depends on the number of downloads your episodes earn.

How do I join a podcast?

How To Subscribe To a Podcast From Your PhoneStep 1: Open the podcast app on your phone. ... Step 2: In the bottom right-hand corner of the app, click the search icon. ... Step 3: Once you are on the show's page, you'll see a button on the right that says "Subscribe."

How do I download a podcast?

Download PodcastsOn your Android phone or tablet, open Google Podcasts .At the bottom, tap Home .At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial. Podcast settings.Under “Downloads,” tap Auto downloading.Turn on Auto download new episodes.Under “Your subscriptions,” turn on podcasts you want to auto download.

What happens when you subscribe to a podcast?

When you subscribe to a podcast, it'll appear at the top of the Google podcasts app, and a new section in the app will let you know about new episodes from podcasts you've subscribed to. You should also be able to listen to podcasts from the Google search app, just search for the name of the podcast.

Which podcast app is best?

Here are the best podcast apps:Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts provides free access to over 30 million podcast episodes, along with the option to pay for premium shows.Google Podcasts. ... Spotify. ... Audible. ... Stitcher. ... TuneIn Radio.

What's the best way to listen to podcasts?

Here are your optionsSpotify – Android, iOS Free to download. ... Google Podcasts – Android Free to download and use.TuneIn – Android, iOS Free to download and use.Stitcher – Android, iOS Free to download. ... Overcast – iOS Free to download.More items...•

Do I have to pay for podcasts on my iPhone?

Podcast creators have the option to charge subscription fees for exclusive content, but using Apple's app is free. Apple Podcasts is free to use if you have an iPhone, Mac, or iPad.

What is a podcast?

A podcast is an episodic audio program that is generally focused on one topic, such as true crime, motherhood, startups or any other popular topic....

How do I listen to podcasts?

Listening to a podcast is easy. The most common platforms for listening include Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Stitcher. You can also...

Are podcasts free?

Podcasts are typically free to listen to on your phone, computer or tablet. All you need is an internet connection or data and a podcast app to acc...

What is the best equipment to start a podcast?

To start a podcast, you need, at minimum, a microphone, a computer, audio recording and editing software and headphones.

How much does it cost to start a podcast?

Currently, all you need to start a podcast is the cost of the equipment. If you’ve already got a computer, you can get a very basic setup for aroun...

What is a podcast?

Podcasting for Beginners. A podcast is essentially a talk radio series, but on demand. This means that listeners don't need to turn up and tune in live, but can listen any time (and pretty much anywhere) they like. Podcasts tend to be focused on a theme or topic.

What is the most important thing to know about podcasting?

One of the most important concepts when looking at podcasting for beginners is to realise that some of the most successful shows around have pretty average sized audiences. But, those audiences are hyper-engaged. They absolutely LOVE the host, and the content they create.

What is the difference between radio and podcast?

Podcast listeners are able to decide exactly what they'd like to listen to, whereas radio listeners have a lot less control as their options are broader and less targeted. Podcasts have been described as “narrowcasting”, which stands apart from the “BROAD-casting” of traditional media.

How to make podcasts efficient?

For example, if you have little time, but a bit of money to spend on your show, then you outsource the more laborious tasks, such as editing. You can also batch produce your episodes to cut down on set-up and tidy-up times.

What are the most popular podcasts?

There are a core of numerically popular podcasts that you'll always see “featured” on the front page of listening apps. Shows such as: 1 Serial 2 This American Life 3 The Joe Rogan Experience, 4 WTF with Marc Maron 5 Radiolab 6 The Daily 7 99% Invisible 8 Stuff your Should Know 9 How I Built This

Can you listen to podcasts while walking the dog?

So with podcasts, you don't have to worry about the visuals , but there's just as much variety in the types of shows you can listen to.

Is audio only a medium?

Audio-only is in no way limiting to the medium. Nowadays, the majority of podcast listening takes place via smartphones. There are a plethora of different apps you can use to listen with. These apps let you subscribe to your favourite shows too, so new episodes are delivered to your phone automatically.

What is a podcast?

A podcast is an episodic audio program that is generally focused on one topic, such as true crime, motherhood , startups or any other popular topic . The term "podcast" comes from a combination of the words iPod, the personal digital audio player made by Apple, and broadcasting.

Where does the term "podcast" come from?

The term comes from a combination of the words iPod and broadcasting. Unlike internet radio, users don't have to 'tune in' to a particular broadcast. Instead, they download the podcast on demand or subscribe via an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, which automatically downloads the podcast to their computers.

How to make an audio file?

Create an audio file by making a recording (you can talk, sing or record music) and save it to your computer. Finally, upload the audio file to one of the podcasting sites. After recording your podcast, you will want to share it.

How many people listen to podcasts?

In its 2019 State of the News Media Report the Pew Research Center found that about 50 percent of U.S. adults had listened to podcasts, half of those within a week before they were surveyed. Many podcasts are supported by advertising, or by patrons who gain access to an ad-free podcast fee in return for a donation.

When was podcasting invented?

Podcasting was developed in 2004 by former MTV video jockey Adam Curry and software developer Dave Winer. Curry wrote a program called iPodder that enabled him to automatically download internet radio broadcasts to his iPod. Several developers improved upon his idea, and podcasting was officially born.

Do podcasters rely on ratings?

Because podcasters don't rely on ratings as radio broadcasters do, the subject matter of podcasts can range from the refined to the silly to the excruciatingly mundane.

Is podcasting free?

Some say this new technology is democratizing the once corporate-run world of radio. Podcasting is a largely free service that allows internet users to pull audio files (typically MP3s) from a podcasting website to listen to on their computers, smartphones or personal digital audio players.

What Is a Podcast?

A podcast is a curated, radio-style program people listen to through their computers, tablets, or the internet. “Internet” is key here, as podcasts are distributed online.

How Podcasts Work

The world of podcasts generally works like this. First, someone records a podcast and edits it. Then, they publish it through a podcasting platform or directly onto their website using a built-in audio player. Once the podcast producer has released their podcast, consumers listen to it through their computers, tablets, or phones.

Why Podcasts Are so Popular

In the 2004 article “Audible Revolution,” Ben Hammersley describes the benefits of podcasting as “something that newspapers can only dream about,” as podcasts have the “intimacy of voice, the interactivity of a weblog, and the convenience and portability of an MP3 download.”

Podcasts Worth Checking Out

According to Listen Notes, over 2.6 million podcasts and 115 million podcast episodes are currently available online. Naturally, there’s a lot of podcasts to choose from — so where should you start?

How to Listen to Podcasts

Listening to podcasts is very similar to listening to music: you open your podcasting service, choose a podcast, and press “play.” Then you can pause your podcast, skip forward or backward, or download your podcast for later.

Summary

If you like curated radio shows, documentaries, or Youtube videos, you’ll love podcasts. Listening to podcasts is a great way to expand your mind, entertain yourself, learn about the world, and gain new skills, all while having fun.

How Podcasting Works

Let’s start with working out what a podcast actually is. A podcast is kind of like a radio show only you don’t have to tune in to a specific frequency or make sure you’re listening at a particular time of day to hear it.

How Listeners Download Your Podcast

Having trouble finding those podcasts to listen to? Well, they’re actually pretty easy to find! If you have an iPhone, these usually come with the podcasts app installed already! If you don’t have it, head to the App Store and go download it for free.

Plan Your Podcast

How podcasting works might seem confusing, but not when you take baby steps. First things first, you’ll need a good concept. You can focus your podcast on anything at all, but we recommend making sure you pick something you’re passionate about.

Get Recording

So you’ve got your concept sorted and you’ve got an episode scripted out, so the next thing is recording it all!

Edit Your Audio like a Pro

This is the bit that will probably take up a lot of your time. Editing your podcast and getting it sounding nice is a pretty big job but some people find it quite enjoyable. There are a few different software options that are beginner-friendly, or have plenty of tutorials online to get you started:

Hosting Your Podcast

So after all that editing and making your audio sound amazing, you’re probably wondering where on earth you put it now? Well, you’ll need to find a hosting site. This is a website that you upload your podcast episodes to, for storage almost, and usually, it will create an RSS Feed for you too.

Publish Your First Episode in Minutes

Podcast.co is the easiest way to create a podcast and share your stories. Import an existing show or create a new one. Click, drag, drop... and you’re done!

What is a podcast?

A good way to think of a podcast is a sort of internet radio on demand. Unlike radio, podcasts are not primarily focused on delivering music. Most podcasts are primarily spoken word. There are many diverse genres of podcasts but they all share the same goal: To speak about a particular topic.

How to play podcasts?

The third way to play a podcast is via an RSS feed reader such as “Feedly”. A feed reader subscribes to the RSS feed of podcasts you are interested in and sends you a notification whenever new content is published. You can then download or stream the podcast episode directly from the feed reader.

What are some examples of entertainment podcasts?

Though many episodes may be educational and thought provoking, subscribers of these types of podcasts tune in primarily for entertainment reasons. A well-known example of an entertainment podcast is the Joe Rogan Experience.

How many listeners does podcasting have?

Rob Pacinelli. Podcasting is growing in popularity at an astonishing rate. In fact, there are currently about 86 million active monthly podcast listeners, and that number is estimated to reach 132 million monthly listeners by 2022!

What is podcasting?

Podcasting is the preparation and distribution of audio files using RSS feeds to the computers of subscribed users. These files may then be uploaded to streaming services, which users can listen to on their smartphones or digital music and multimedia players, like an iPod. A podcast can easily be created from a digital audio file.

How does podcasting work?

Podcasts are digital audio content distributed over the internet using a podcast hosting service. These services store all podcast episodes in a central location and automate the generation of RSS feeds. These feeds list all the podcaster's episodes.

How to create a podcast

A podcast is simply an audio file. There are many ways to create one. The components needed to record an audio file are the following:

Podcast examples

There are at least a couple million podcasts on the internet today, according to Podcast Insights. Topics can range from broad subject areas, such as art, science, politics and comedy, to specific topics, like true crime.

The history of podcasting

Podcasting has existed since the 1980s. In its earliest form, it was called audio blogging. People would record their pieces and share the audio content over the internet, like auditory blog posts. In 2004, Ben Hammersly first used the term podcast to describe this content. The term was a combination of the words iPod and broadcast.

What Is a Podcast?

A podcast is the streaming age’s answer to radio. It’s a form of media content that was developed in 2004, when former MTV video jockey Adam Curry and software developer Dave Winer coded the “iPodder.” The iPodder was a program that let a user download internet radio broadcasts to their Apple iPod.

Different Types of Podcasts with Examples

Podcasts are as varied as people’s imaginations can make them, and there are about as many genres as you can think of; news and education, health and fitness, comedy, and even fiction podcasts are just a few of the most popular kinds.

How Podcasts Work and How to Listen to Podcasts

For podcasters, the process of creating and publishing a podcast is relatively easy. Once they’ve recorded and edited a few episodes, they need to upload them to their podcast host of choice.

Podcast FAQS

The word “podcast” refers to the show in its entirety, while a podcast episode is a single chapter of that show.

What is a podcast?

In a little more detail, a podcast is a series of spoken word, audio episodes, all focused on a particular topic or theme, like cycling or startups. You can subscribe to the show with an app on your phone and listen to episodes whenever you like on your headphones, in the car or through speakers. Or some shortcuts, if you know what you're looking ...

What is podcasting on a phone?

Simply put: a podcast is an audio programme, just like Talk Radio, but you subscribe to it on your smartphone and listen to it whenever you like. How do they work and how do you listen to them, though?

What is a podcast episode?

A podcast is a series of episodes, and refers to the programme as a whole. Then, a podcast episode is just one recording from that entire Podcast. It's just like TV, really. A TV show is made up of a whole series of episodes. So, think of ‘Friends’ as the series and ‘The One where they Got Married’ as the episode.

What is podcasting background content?

That means something that can entertain you, educate you or inspire you in the background of other boring or rote activities. For example, one of the most common ways people listen is in the car.

Does Spotify keep track of podcasts?

So, when you use Apple Podcasts (an app built into every iPhone), Google Podcasts (built into Android Phones), Spotify, or any other good podcast listening app, it'll keep track of all of your subscriptions via each Podcasts' RSS feed, and it'll automatically download new episodes as they're available.

Is a podcast the same as an audio file?

The most simple explanation is that an audio file and a podcast episode are technically the same . If you've downloaded a Podcast episode from a Podcast site, you've already discovered the fact that you're just downloading an audio file. The difference comes when you add the option to subscribe to that series of audio files.

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