This is a post about how to start a podcast for beginners.
I know, everyone and their mother either has a podcast or is thinking of starting one. And there’s good reason for that! Whether you want to promote your business, service, product or simply build a community, there’s pretty much no downside to starting a podcast. In fact, starting one is an excellent idea if you want to build your brand, establish authority and reach new people. Better yet, it can be FREE. Yep, a free marketing tool where you get to tell people what an expert you are in a particular topic and build trust.
Now, how much work is it to start a podcast? It depends! It can be super easy, literally recording on your phone with your headphone mic; it’ll depend on the format you go for, your goals, whether you’ll have guests, etc. Starting a podcast doesn’t have to feel like a second full-time job. Whether you’re looking to build authority, reach a new audience or just have a bit of fun, the “Good Season” approach is all about building a sustainable workflow.
If you’ve been wondering how to start a podcast but felt paralysed by the tech and skills you think you need, this guide is for you. We’re stripping away the gatekeeping and focusing on what actually works in 2026. From zero-budget smartphone setups to professional home studios, this is our guide to how to start a podcast for beginners.
Why Start a Podcast Now?
There are a million reasons to hit record and “promoting a business” is only one of them. Depending on your goals, a podcast can serve several different purposes:
- Establishing Authority: If you are a coach, consultant, creative… a podcast acts as a living portfolio. It proves you know your stuff and allows potential clients to “vet” you before they ever book a call.
- Building a Personal Brand: In a world of AI-generated text, your voice is your most unique asset (at least for now! 😅). A podcast humanises you and creates a deep, parasocial connection with your audience.
- Promoting a Product or Service: You can use your episodes to solve small problems for your listeners, naturally leading them toward your paid offerings as the “ultimate” solution.
- Pure Entertainment & Connection: Not everything has to be about ROI. Many of the most successful pods started simply because two friends wanted to explore a hobby or share stories.
- Networking: A podcast is the ultimate “golden ticket.” It gives you a valid reason to reach out to experts in your industry and ask for 30 minutes of their time.
Finding Your Podcast Idea and Format
Your format should match your personality and your capacity. Don’t choose a format that feels like a chore or you won’t stick with it. Here are the most common styles:
- The Solo Show (The Teacher): Best for building authority. You talk directly to the camera/mic about a specific topic. It’s easy to schedule but requires more “scripting” to keep it engaging.
- The Interview (The Journalist): You bring on guests to share their expertise. This is great for “borrowing” other people’s audiences, but it requires quite a bit of admin and coordination.
- The Co-Hosted Show (The Conversation): You and a partner riff on topics. These are often the most “fun” to listen to because of the chemistry, but you have to ensure the audio quality is consistent for both people.
- The Documentary/Storytelling: Highly produced, scripted and edited. These are incredibly engaging but require the most work in pre and post-production.
One of the best pieces of advice for new podcasters is to stop thinking about all year round recording. The “always-on” model is a fast track to burnout…10 high-value episodes beat 52 “filler” ones.
HOW TO START A PODCAST FOR BEGINNERS
The “Good Season” Strategy: Why You Should Record in Seasons
About 10 years ago I got one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever heard from very successful podcasters and I feel it’s my duty to pass it on: do your podcast in SEASONS. You don’t need to think about “all year round” recording. The “always-on” model is a fast track to burnout and “filler” episodes that potentially put people off returning to your next ones. Instead, I highly recommend a seasonal approach:
- Quality Over Quantity: When you commit to a 9-month “season” (or any length!), you ensure every single episode is high-value. No more “boring fillers” just because it’s Tuesday and you have a slot to fill.
- Burnout Prevention: Working in seasons allows you to record, publish and then rest. Use the “off-season” to plan your next theme, gather feedback and live your life.
- Thematic Focus: You can dedicate Season 1 to “Starting Out” and Season 2 to “Advanced Growth.” This makes your podcast much easier for new listeners to binge-watch/listen to.
A year has 52 seasons – can you realistic record 52 high quality episodes? Most importantly, do you need to? Don’t be afraid of the break. Your listeners will be there when you’re back for the next season! (and I’m speaking not just from personal experience but from following other seasonal shows too)
READ MORE: Essential Podcast Schedule Guide: How Often Should You Release Podcast Episodes?
Choose Your Level: Podcast Equipment for Every Budget
I’m a firm believer that you don’t need to spend a fortune to sound professional. Here is how to start a podcast using accessible tools:
| Level | Hardware | Software | Estimated Cost |
| Zero Budget | iPhone / Smartphone | Audacity / iMovie / Zoom | £0 |
| Starter Kit | Tonor / Sony MDR | Audacity / Adobe Audition / Zoom | ~£65 |
| Pro Studio | Rode PodMic USB | Riverside.fm / Adobe Audition | £200+ |
The “Zero Budget” Setup (£0)
- Hardware: Use your iPhone or Android phone. The internal mics on modern smartphones are surprisingly high-quality.
- Software: Record using a free app like Spotify for Creators or Voice Memos.
- Editing: Use Audacity (Free for PC/Mac) for audio or iMovie (Free on Apple devices) for video pods.
- The “Studio”: Record in a walk-in wardrobe or under a duvet. It sounds silly, but it kills the echo instantly.
The “Starter Kit” Setup (~£65 – £120)
- Microphone: For a long time I used this simple TONOR (£30) just connected to my computer via USB and always got very clear, clean sound.
- Headphones: Any wired “closed-back” headphones (like this Sony MDR-ZX110NC for ~£37) to prevent audio from leaking into your mic.
- Lighting: If you’re doing video, there are lots of ring lights or similar like this one (£36) that are very affordable and make a world of difference.
The “Pro Home Studio” Setup (£200+)
- Microphone: The Rode PodMic USB (~£180). It’s built specifically for speech and has a very professional, “broadcast” sound.
- Editing: Adobe Audition is an excellent audio editor + Premier Pro for video editing.
Alternatively, if you want to record a video podcast in the studio where they already have all the gear, prices range from £80-£150 per hour (at least here in London!).
I’ve actually got a whole episode here about podcast equipment for beginners if you want more details.
Remote Recording: How to Interview Guests Online
If you aren’t in the same room as your guest, you’ll need a way to record them. In 2026, you have two main paths:
- Zoom (The Familiar Path): Almost everyone knows how to use it, which makes it great for “tech-shy” guests. However, Zoom compresses your audio and video over the internet, meaning if your Wi-Fi glitches, your recording glitches too.
I’ve used this many times for my own audio-only podcast and never had any issues! Make sure to select the option where each participant is recorded separately.* - Riverside.fm (The Studio Quality Path): This is the industry standard for a reason. It records each person “locally” on their own computer and then uploads the high-quality files to the cloud. You get 4K video and crystal-clear audio, regardless of your internet connection.
- The “Zero Budget” Remote Way: If you’re just starting, you can actually use WhatsApp or FaceTime video calls and have both parties record their own voice on their phones’ “Voice Memo” app. You then sync them up in editing later!
*Pro tip: use Adobe Enhance to really elevate the quality, especially when your guests on the other side of the screen don’t have their own mic. I repeat: make sure you’re recording everyone with separate audio files. You can set that up in the Zoom preferences. The different files will need different levels of enhancement (or none at all!).
HOW TO START A PODCAST FOR BEGINNERS
How to Set Up a Podcast and Get Discovered
Once you have your audio (or video) ready, you need a “Host” to distribute it. Here are the main players:
- Spotify for Creators (Formerly Anchor):
- The Vibe: Completely free and owned by Spotify.
- Pros: Easiest way to get onto Spotify; supports Video Podcasting natively.
- Eligibility: Open to everyone.
- Acast (The UK Powerhouse)
- The Vibe: The global authority on podcasting, especially strong in the UK and Europe.
- Pros: Offers a “Free Starter” plan with unlimited hosting and downloads. They have a brand-new Spotify Distribution API that lets you publish video podcasts directly to Spotify from their dashboard.
- Monetisation: Excellent ad-marketplace and “Supporters” features to earn money from listeners.
- Buzzsprout:
- The Vibe: Extremely beginner-friendly with great “how-to” guides.
- Pros: Great stats and a “magic audio enhancer” tool.
- Cons: The free tier deletes your episodes after 90 days, so you’ll eventually want the paid version (~£10/mo).
- Podbean:
- The Vibe: A reliable industry veteran.
- Pros: Supports both audio and video pods; offers great monetization tools early on.
- RSS.com:
- The Vibe: Simple, clean, and very affordable. I set that up through Anchor (now Spotify for Creators).
Where does your podcast actually go?
You only have to submit your RSS Feed once to these major directories. After that, it’s automatic:
- Apple Podcasts: the gold standard for audio
- Spotify: one of the largest podcast platforms
- YouTube / YouTube Music: the world’s second-largest search engine and current top podcast platform
- Amazon Music: great for business-focused shows
Your host will give you an RSS Feed. You submit this link once to the big “Directories”: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Music. After that, every time you upload an episode to your host, it automatically appears on those apps.
Launching Your Podcast Without the Stress
The secret to a successful launch isn’t a massive ad budget; it’s a simple podcast schedule. I recommend having at least 3 to 5 episodes recorded and edited before you ever hit “publish” on the first one. This gives you a buffer so you never feel the frantic scramble of a weekly deadline.
Remember, your first episode doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be you. Show up as your true self, have fun with the process and let your brand grow in its own natural season.
I hope this guide to how to start a podcast for beginners gave you the information you needed to start yours.
Now, if you want to start a podcast but with a partner to take on some (or all!) of the work, get in touch to see if we’re the right match!
This was a post about how to start a podcast for beginners.
