How to Create Your Own Successful Podcast

My favorite podcast, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, from National Public Radio's WHYY in Philadelphia, has featured many well-known guests, from Hillary Clinton to my favorite comedy legend, Mel Brooks. But what draws me in is Gross's warm rapport with her guests. It reminds me, as a journalist, to listen closely to those I interview and ask intelligent, relevant questions.

It's a great time to experiment with this medium, since podcasts are drawing the attention of media companies. When The Hollywood Reporter asked Jim Bankoff, Vox Media's chairman and CEO, which media sectors are experiencing growth, he answered, "Podcasting. We're having enormous success with Today Explained,which is a real hit out of the gate." Even Apple is interested in the space, Bloomberg reports.

Looking to get into this expanding and potentially lucrative medium? We've done the work to help you get started.

What Is a Podcast?

At its most basic, a podcast is a digital audio program or recording, similar to a radio or television show, that can be downloaded from the internet or made available to and accessed from various mobile devices. As with most media in the digital age, the format, structure, and content of a podcast often resemble those of an older analog medium: the broadcast-radio program. Podcasts, like radio, are often created serially and post new episodes regularly.

There are important distinctions, though. For starters, the notion of time is different for podcasts: Each listener is in control of when (and on which device) to listen to a podcast, as opposed to radio and television, which run shows at specific times. Also, you can make your podcast episode any length you want—five minutes or five hours. As a podcaster, you're in control.

Types of Podcasts

There are a number of formats you can choose for your podcast. Consider which type is best for presenting your content.

• Interview: Like the Fresh Air podcast, this is the most common format. It most often features one host who introduces and interviews guests. One example is Fast Forward with Dan Costa, which features one-on-one discussions with leaders in technology and business (hosted by PCMag's editor-in-chief). An offshoot of this type is a panel-discussion or roundtable format, with a host who leads the conversation.
• Monologue: The commentary-style podcast is built around one personality, which gives the show one voice or a single point of view. Lore, which focuses on the frightening history behind common folklore and is told in almost a campfire-like style, is a wonderful example of a solo-style podcast.
• Multiple hosts: In this format, the podcast is divided up between several different people, or two or more co-hosts share leading the show. For instance, Pardon My Take is a raucous comedic sports podcast featuring two co-hosts, Dan "Big Cat" Katz and PFT Commenter (Pro Football Talk Commenter).
• Narrative: Unlike the first three, this storytelling style of podcast focuses on how the content is presented. In many ways, this type has fueled the popularity of podcasting recently. And while some of the previously mentioned podcasts, like Lore, could fit here as well, many narrative podcasts have a decidedly linear quality and generally don't change to another topic or segment. This can be either non-fiction, such as This American Life and Serial, or fictional, such as Wolf 359 and Flash Forward.
• Mixed: This hybrid format uses various elements of the other four content types. It also may repurpose content from other mediums, such as radio or television.

How to Tell It's a Podcast

Several online media formats that feature audio resemble one another but aren't all technically podcasts.

Podcast: As defined above, a digital file that focuses on audio content and can be downloaded from a website or the cloud.

Video podcast: Sometimes called a "vidcast," it's similar to a podcast but includes a visual component, which might be a slideshow of still images or actual video.

Webcast: The distinguishing factor for webcasts is that they generally include live segments.

Vlog: A vlog, or video blog, uses a blog-style format (the most up-to-date episode is shown first) but presents the content in a video format (on a platform such as YouTube). For more, check out PCMag's roundup of the Best Vlogging Cameras and Tools.

For more on podcast types, podcast strategy, news, and more see these online resources:

• The Podcast Host
• Podcasters' Roundtable
• Podcasting Tools
• Hotpod online newsletter
• Creating a Podcast Strategy
• 10 Tips on How to Create a Remarkable Podcast

The Podcast Equipment You'll Need

Improvements in hardware and software technology have dramatically changed the way podcasts are developed, created, produced, and publicized. Additionally, laptops, desktops, tablets, phones, and other devices are equipped with more powerful processors and other features that make creating podcasts easy. There are even new, inexpensive ways to make sure your environment helps you attain the best quality audio.

Audio Hardware

Your budget will be the biggest factor in determining what equipment you buy. You'll also need to figure out how extensive your recording rig has to be: If you aren't tied to recording in a particular location, you can build a setup that lets you record and edit in one room or even part of a room. But if you need to record in the field, you'll likely need additional gear.

Determining what's essential and what's optional will be different for each podcaster. The following list gives you an idea of what you need to get started.

Microphones

The microphone is the most important piece of equipment for podcasters, since it's responsible for reproducing the voices you'll create on the show.

• Condenser vs. dynamic mic: Podcasters have a choice of two main types of microphones, dynamic or condenser. Historically, dynamic microphones were more rugged and didn't pick up as much ambient noise as condenser mics; the latter are generally more sensitive and produce a higher output. Condenser mics can be great for studios but may pick up too much ambient sound for field use. Dynamic mics may hide some pops or noise from the wind, but may not be as detailed in producing audio.
• USB vs. XLR mic: If you're looking to use only one microphone via a computer and you're on a tight budget, a USB mic is a great choice: A preamp and A/D converter are built into the mic itself. In fact, you just have to plug it into your computer and fire up your DAW (digital audio workstation). XLR mics, which carry an analog signal, offer a wider choice of models, but they need an audio interface to connect with a computer.