Guide

How to start a podcast

Launching a podcast is simpler than it looks — but the planning is what makes or breaks the first ten episodes. This guide walks through the gear, software, and the planning workflow we use at PodSpark to ship a show without burning out.

1. Pick a topic you can sustain

The best podcast topic is the intersection of what you'd talk about for free, what an audience is actively searching for, and what you can produce 50 episodes about without repeating yourself. Niche down: "marketing" is crowded; "B2B SaaS pricing experiments" is a show.

2. Equipment that actually matters

• Microphone: a Shure MV7 or Samson Q2U covers solo and remote setups for under $300.
• Headphones: any closed-back pair so the mic doesn't pick up playback.
• Quiet room: soft furnishings beat a $500 mic in a tiled kitchen. Record in a closet if you have to.
• Pop filter: $10. Skip it and every "p" sounds like a gunshot.

3. Software stack

• Remote recording: Riverside or SquadCast capture lossless local tracks per guest.
• Editing: Descript edits audio like a Google Doc; Audacity is free.
• Hosting: Transistor, Buzzsprout, or Spotify for Podcasters all distribute to Apple/Spotify/Google in one click.
• Planning: a system to generate outlines, research notes, and questions for every episode (this is where PodSpark fits in).

4. Plan the episode before you hit record

The biggest difference between podcasts that last and podcasts that quit at episode 7 is how much prep happens up front. Every episode needs a topic, an outline with 4–6 sections, a short research brief with real sources, and a list of questions you can fall back on when the conversation stalls.

PodSpark generates that whole brief for you in under a minute. Drop in the title and a topic, and the AI returns an outline, research summary, discussion questions, SEO title alternatives, and social post drafts — with cited sources from a live web search so you can verify the facts before recording.

Try the AI episode planner →

5. Record, edit, ship

Record local tracks for every speaker, edit out the long pauses and worst stumbles, add a short intro and outro, and export at 128 kbps mono for spoken word. Don't over-produce the first ten episodes — shipping consistently matters more than polish.

6. Launch with three episodes, not one

A new listener wants to binge. Drop three episodes on day one so people who like the first can keep going, then settle into a weekly cadence. Submit your RSS feed to Apple Podcasts and Spotify the day before launch — approval can take 24 hours.

7. Grow with SEO and clips

Each episode is a chance to rank for a specific question your audience searches for. Write the episode title like a search query, publish a show-notes page with the outline and key quotes, and cut a 30–60 second vertical clip for social. PodSpark drafts both the SEO titles and the social posts as part of every episode brief.