The idea is forming, the topic is taking shape — even if the tech feels unclear right now, don’t worry.
The main thing is: start.

What is a podcast, really?
It’s an audio format — for sharing your thoughts, stories, conversations.
People listen while commuting, walking, cooking, resting.
It could be an interview, a monologue, a comedy show, or something uniquely yours.
Podcasts are like cozy kitchens — except there can be thousands, and someone’s listening to you in each one.
According to Mediascope, over 20 million people listen to podcasts monthly in Russia (2024).
Worldwide, those numbers keep growing — fast.

So why do it?

• Brands share expertise
• Experts grow their reach
• Friends and enthusiasts say what matters — out loud
• You — can simply begin

We started “on the floor,” quite literally: lav mics, evening recordings, barely any editing.
Then came better sound, more structure, and practice. What really mattered — we kept going.

🔎 What’s in this route?
7 practical steps — from idea to publication.
No fluff. Just personal experience, structure, and small wins.
You can read it in order — or skip to what matters now.

Ready to give it a try?
Let’s go.

Before you hit “record,” take a step back:
What are you really trying to say — and how do you want to say it?
A clear idea and format will help you get past episode three without burning out.

1. Topic: make it personal and honest
Talk about something you truly care about.
Podcasting is a marathon — not a one-time rant.
If the topic doesn’t excite you, your motivation will fade quickly.
Check what’s already out there:
Listen to similar shows — what works? What’s missing? This can help you find your angle.

2. Choose your format — what fits you best?

• Monologue: Great if you have a strong story or opinion to share solo
• Dialogue: Best for co-hosting or guest interviews — natural and dynamic
• Storytelling: Ideal for sharing narrative journeys, real or fictional
• Educational: Perfect for tips, interviews, breakdowns, and expert content

3. Narrow the genre — and find your people
True crime, self-growth, culture, history, humor, hobbies — the more specific your niche, the faster your audience will find you.

4. Work with facts — responsibly
If you quote numbers or others’ ideas — double-check the sources.
When in doubt, it’s better to say “this needs verifying” than to spread uncertainty.

5. Let your format evolve
Podcasts are a living medium.
You might start one way and discover a better structure by episode five.
Your listeners will notice that growth — and they’ll stay with you.

✅ Pre-recording checklist:

•  Clear topic and episode goal
•  Chosen format that suits you
•  Bullet points or guiding questions ready
•  Facts checked (if needed)
•  All gear works: mic, headphones, recording app

The more clearly you shape the idea — the stronger your foundation.
Ready to move on?

Recording isn’t scary. Technically, it’s simple. Emotionally? A little more intense.
But this is where your podcast truly comes to life.

Our setup — then and now
We started with in-person recordings on a balcony:
cheap lavalier mics, wooden walls, shelves full of books, curtains, and flower pots.
Surprisingly, our little “home studio” had great natural soundproofing.
Then came the upgrades: audio interface, mixer, wired + wireless headsets, thick curtains, and even stuffed animals in the corners for better acoustics.
And yes — sometimes our dog is still in the room. He’s a good boy, and he knows when to stay quiet.
We also record remote guests via Zoom. The one rule: silence.
No TV, no whistling kettles, no humming fridges, no barking — well, almost none.

Starter kit — bare minimum:

• Microphone: Lavalier, USB, or even a good phone mic to begin with
• Interface/mixer: Optional — you can record straight to your laptop
• Headphones: Closed-back, to hear yourself and avoid echo
• Pop filter / windscreen: Helps reduce harsh “P” and “S” sounds
• Recording software: Audacity, GarageBand — anything that works
• Acoustic treatment: Curtains, pillows, books — anything to kill the reverb

💡 Tips before you hit record:

• Check your audio levels. Too high = clipping. Too low = background noise
• Record a short test clip — and yes, get used to your own voice
• Smile (seriously) — it changes your tone
• Sit comfortably. Straight back = stronger voice
• Double-check your input source (Once, we accidentally recorded a whole episode using a MacBook's built-in mic. It hurt. We recovered.)

Recording is simple. Mistakes will happen — and that’s normal.
The most important thing? Keep going. Always.

Editing is a bit like deep cleaning. You might not feel like it, but once it’s done — everyone breathes easier.
And no, you don’t have to be an audio engineer to make a solid episode.

How it was for us
At first, we trimmed every “uhh” and “umm” — our structure was shaky, and the conversation would wander off into the woods.
Now we edit less: the scripts are tighter, we speak more clearly, and post-production takes less time.

📌 Quick tip worth repeating:
Always test your setup before recording.
Once, we forgot to check the gain — and ended up removing background noise for two days straight.

What’s definitely worth doing:

• Cut out background noise, long pauses, and speech glitches
• Remove filler sounds and repeated phrases
• Balance volume levels between speakers
• (Tanya’s always louder than Katya — but not more important 😉)
• Smooth transitions and eliminate jarring cuts

Add a bit of flavor if it fits:

• Subtle sound effects — claps, transitions, little stingers
• Intro and outro music — just double-check licensing
• Glass clinks, laughter, or a bleep for swearing — if it suits your tone

🎵 Our jingle was a happy accident: I picked a melody, and it happened to include clinking glasses and Tanya’s laugh. It stuck — and it’s still with us.

Useful tools:

• Audacity — free, simple (once you learn the basics)
• GarageBand — great for Mac users, especially at the beginning
• Reaper or Adobe Audition — for more advanced editing (if you’ve got the time and budget)

Most important:
Don’t chase perfection.
A real, honest episode will always be better than a polished draft that never gets released.

After recording and editing comes a crucial step: making your episode available to listeners.
Podcasts run on RSS — simply uploading a file to your website won’t be enough.

How it works:

• You choose a hosting platform — like Mave, Zvuk, or Spotify for Podcasters
• The host stores your audio and creates a special link — an RSS feed
• The RSS feed is like a “map” of your podcast
• You submit that link to podcast directories (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Yandex Music, etc.) — updates happen automatically
• You register your feed only once — usually with an email, cover art, show title, and short description

Our experience
We started with Anchor — easy to use, but tied to foreign infrastructure.
Then tried Mave — feature-rich, with built-in monetization.
Now we’re on Zvuk — simple, stable, no extras or subscriptions needed.

• 💡 Bonus: we built a website and Telegram bot that pull new episodes directly from our RSS feed and notify subscribers automatically.

What to prepare before publishing:

• Cover art: square format (1400×1400 or 3000×3000 px), minimal text
• Title: short, catchy, clear
• Description: 2–3 sentences — what your show is about, format, release schedule
• Metadata: language, category, tags, explicit content flag (if applicable)

💡 Tips from us:

• Use an RSS validator — it’ll flag issues before they reach platforms
• Choose accurate categories — this helps new listeners discover your show
• Explore chapter markers — especially helpful in longer episodes
• Test monetization options — built-in ads or external partners

📌 One last thing:
You set up RSS once — and from then on, it works for you.
Your new episodes will appear everywhere automatically.

In the audio world, your cover is the visual anchor.
It’s the first thing a listener sees — and it quietly says, “This might be for you.”
It’s not just about making something pretty. It’s about getting the tone, the topic, and the vibe exactly right.

Essentials

• Size: Square — minimum 1400×1400 px, ideally 3000×3000 px
• Text: Keep it minimal — one title, maybe a small logo
• Font: Readable, clean, no serif overload
• Design: Clear and focused — image + atmosphere, not visual clutter

💡 Pro tips

• Color palette: Stick to 2–3 core colors that harmonize with your theme
• Shapes: Circles feel friendly, geometry feels bold and professional
• Preview: Check your design at 160×160 px — can you still read it?
• A/B test: Share two versions in your community — let your audience choose

From our experience
Our first cover was a gift from a guest — a pattern artist.
It captured the vibe and our core topics. Later, we refined it with AI tools: improved details, adjusted colors, kept the warmth.

Naming and description

• Name: Keep it short, emotional, and memorable.
• Not “A Podcast About Everything.” Think: “What’s the Mood?”
• (Ours: “Che Tam Novosty” — light and instantly clear.)
• Description: 2–3 sentences: who you are, what it’s about, why to listen.
• Include: format + topic + release frequency

Extras to elevate your identity

• Audio signature: Intro, outro, custom jingle or transition sounds
• Visual consistency: Use cover style (colors, fonts) across your social posts, website, and slides

The heart of it
Your cover isn’t just an image. It’s a visual handshake with your listener.
Let it be recognizable, warm, and honest — just like your podcast.

You've recorded, edited, and published — amazing!
Now it’s time for your podcast to meet its people. And yes, you can make it feel alive and even fun.

1. Consistency is your superpower
Most podcasts disappear after the third episode.
We’ve made it past 100.
And honestly, it started working when we found our rhythm: same time, same day, every week.
That’s when listeners began waiting for us — like a new episode of their favorite series.

2. Where to talk about your podcast

• Telegram channel, VK group, Instagram posts & stories
• Short texts, quotes, memes, 15–30 second audio previews
• Cross-promotion: invite guests, collaborate with other podcasts in adjacent niches

3. What to automate

• RSS parser — updates your site automatically
• Telegram bot — sends episode alerts and collects feedback
• GPT — generates episode descriptions and announcements
• Scheduling tools — try built-in planners in social platforms

4. Look at what’s working

• Track stats: listens, retention, spikes
• A/B test episode titles and descriptions
• Use UTM tags to track campaign performance

5. Engage your audience

• Ask for ratings, reviews, and shares
• Add a “Leave Feedback” button or Google Form on your site
• Run polls, ask questions — let listeners co-create the vibe

💡 Pro tip
Submit your podcast for editorial features — Apple Podcasts, Yandex Music, VK, Soundstream.
It’s free — and yes, it works.

And remember: promotion isn’t about “selling.”
It’s about tone, presence, and the courage to be real.
If you’re honest — your listeners will feel it.

If you've made it this far — congratulations! You've already walked a path many don't even begin: you found your idea, built a format, recorded, edited, designed, and published your podcast.

It's not as scary as it seems. Sometimes it's even... fun.

Our journey wasn't perfect — but it was real
We started on a balcony in the evenings, with cheap mics and a spontaneous jingle. Now we have 100+ episodes, a website, a Telegram bot, and loyal listeners who return every week.

💛 A podcast isn’t about perfection — it’s about voice
Your voice. Honest, raw, imperfect. If it’s real — it will reach the right people.

🟡 Try this right now:
Record a mini-episode (1–2 minutes) about a topic that matters to you.
Share it privately — with friends or in a small group. Listen to feedback:

• What felt alive?
• What could be improved?
• What surprised you?

Want to check what you've learned?
Head to our Telegram bot and take the Final Test.
It's not about passing — it's about reflecting.
And yes, you’ll get a fun PDF certificate at the end.

Bonus
After the test, you’ll get a bonus kit: extra links, tools, templates — for when you’re ready to dive deeper.

Your podcast doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours.