How To Start A Podcast (The Quick & Affordable Way)

Contrary to popular belief, starting a podcast does not have to be difficult nor expensive. You don’t need fancy equipment, a podcasting studio, or a producer.

You can start a podcast TODAY in your bedroom, with an iPhone and inexpensive editing tools. You will have to pay for hosting…but even that is cheap!

When I first started podcasting with the Femme Cyclist Podcast, I actually did think that I needed all the STUFF and spent a fair deal on tools and software. Fast forward to today, and I often record episodes on my phone, in my car, and using simple recording and editing tools. It’s just easier–and still sounds good!

Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Figure Out What Your Niche Is

Before you hit record, take a minute to get clear on what your podcast is actually about and who it’s for. I know this sounds obvious, but trust me, having a focused topic and audience you’re helping is the key to growth (and future monetization).

Ask yourself: what do I LOVE?! What’s the one thing I want to talk about, that lights me up?

Also: Who am I talking to? What problem am I solving or what value am I providing to them?

The combination of your topic (or sub-topic) and your specific audience is your niche.

For the Femme Cyclist Podcast, my answer was simple: I wanted to talk about cycling (because I LOVE bicycling). My audience? Women who either bike or want to start biking. Done.

You don’t need to overthink this, but you do need clarity. It’ll guide your episode topics, your messaging, and even your podcast name.

Step 2: Choose Your Format

There are a few basic podcast formats (solo, interview, or co-host), and you can pick whichever feels most natural to you.

Solo episodes are just you talking to your audience. This is what I did most often when I first started out because it’s quick, easy, and you don’t have to do much planning.

Interview format is where you bring on guests and have conversations, which is great for networking and teaching your audience something (or inspiring them)! Although interview shows take more planning (you have to coordinate a time), they can actually take some of the pressure off of you because your guest is doing most of the talking. This is also a good choice if you don’t feel like an expert–you can let your guest be the expert!

You could also do a co-hosted show where you and someone else chat about topics together, though that requires you to start the podcast with a buddy.

I mix solo episodes with interviews on the Femme Cyclist Podcast. Solo episodes are my fillers because I can record them anytime, anywhere. Interviews require more scheduling but bring fresh voices and expertise. Pick what excites you most. You can always experiment and adjust as you go.

If you’re on a budget, your smartphone is enough to start. Really. I’ve recorded plenty of episodes on my iPhone, and they sound perfectly fine.

But if you want slightly better audio quality, I recommend the Blue Yeti microphone. It’s what I use and love and it provides great voice quality at a not too-expensive price point.

If you’re doing an interview podcast, you’ll also need headphones, and any earbuds or headphones you already own will work fine. These help cut down on any weird feedback when you’re recording. Ask your guest to use a pair also.

As far as a recording space goes, don’t be fooled into thinking you need to go to a fancy recording studio. All you need is a quiet space–your bedroom, your car, a closet–anywhere with minimal background noise.

Smaller spaces work better than larger spaces because they have less echo. I’ve literally recorded episodes in my parked car because it’s small and quiet!

If you want to get fancy later, you can add things like a pop filter to reduce harsh “p” sounds, a boom arm or mic stand to position your mic better, or acoustic foam or blankets to dampen echo. But don’t let equipment perfectionism stop you.

Start with what you have, and upgrade only if you find yourself consistently wanting better quality.

Step 4: Choose Your Recording and Editing Software

You need two things: something to record with and something to edit with. Both can be free or very inexpensive.

Obviously, you’re recording audio but I also recommend recording the video (even if it’s not amazing quality). Uploading your podcast to YouTube is an amazing way to get additional listens/views and it’s search functionality makes it easier for you to get discovered than with an audio-only podcast.

For recording solo episodes, the Voice Memos app or camera on your iPhone is free, simple, and already on your phone. For remote interviews, Zoom is free for under 30 minutes (or cheap for a basic subscription if you want longer. It allows you to record both audio and video.,

You can use the webcam on your PC, or when you’re ready to upgrade, I use and recommend theSony ZV-1. You can plug it into your computer and use it like a webcam but the video quality is much better.

For editing audio, GarageBand is free on Mac and iOS and surprisingly powerful. Audacity works for both Mac and PC and is completely free, though it has a bit of a learning curve.

My current favorite tool for podcast editing is Descript because it’s so easy to use. It transcribes your audio so you can edit by cutting text instead of trying to figure out waveforms. started with Audacity (free but time consuming), then moved to Descript because editing by text is SO much faster.

If using video, you can either upload it to YouTube uncut and use the internal YouTube editing tool to trim the start/end OR use Descript to edit the video as well.

Step 5: Invite Your Guest (If Your Doing An Interview Style Podcast)

If you’re planning an interview-style podcast, you’ll need to line up some guests. Don’t be intimidated by this! Most people are flattered to be asked and excited to share their expertise or story.

Start by making a list of people you’d love to have on your show. Think about who your audience would want to hear from.

Then craft a simple, friendly email explaining who you are, what your podcast is about, why you’d love to have them on, and what value it would bring to your listeners (and to them). This last point is important. Make sure to offer to include links to their website/social media accounts/products, etc in the episode description.

Keep it short and genuine. People are busy, so make it easy for them to say yes. Send them a link to a Calendly calendar so they can pick a time that works best for them, let them know how long the interview will be, and give them a general idea of what you’ll talk about.

I’ve found that most people respond positively when you make the process feel easy and low-pressure. I find that about 50% of people you ask will respond. Don’t worry about the ones that don’t. The more times you send these emails the less the rejection will sting.

If you want an email template to invite guests, you can download the one I use here.

Step 6: Outline Your Episode

Whether you’re doing a solo episode or an interview, you need an outline. Notice I said outline, not script. You don’t want to read verbatim from a script because you’ll sound stiff and robotic. Instead, jot down your main talking points or questions you want to cover.

For solo episodes, I’ll write down the three to five main points I want to make, along with any stories or examples I want to include. That’s it. Then I just talk through them naturally, like I’m chatting with a friend.

For interviews, I prepare my questions in advance but stay flexible. The best conversations happen when you actually listen to what your guest is saying and ask follow-up questions, rather than robotically moving through your list.

Your outline is there to keep you on track, not to box you in.

Step 7: It’s Time To Record

Alright, it’s time. Find your quiet space and close windows, turn off fans, and silence your phone notifications. Do a sound check by recording 30 seconds of yourself talking and playing it back. Adjust your distance from the mic and your volume until it sounds good. Have your notes ready.

Then hit record and just talk. Seriously, just start.

You’ll stumble, you’ll say “um” a lot, you’ll lose your train of thought. That’s totally normal and you can fix it in editing.

Don’t aim for perfection. Your first episode won’t be your best, and that’s okay. You’ll improve with every single one you make.

Step 8: Edit Your Episode

Editing can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be fancy. I start by removing long pauses and cutting out the awkward silences or spots where I lost my train of thought.

Then I cut mistakes. If I said something wrong or stumbled badly, I just pause during recording, re-say it, and then cut out the mistake in editing. I also remove excessive filler words. You don’t have to eliminate every “um” and “like,” but getting rid of the really noticeable ones makes you sound more polished.

If you want to add intro or outro music, you can find royalty-free music on sites like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, or even free options like YouTube Audio Library.

Finally, I level the audio to make sure the volume is consistent throughout. Most editing software has a “normalize” or “leveling” feature that does this automatically.

Step 9: Choose a Podcast Hosting Platform

Your podcast host is where your audio files live. It’s NOT the same as Apple Podcasts or Spotify and you have to one.

Your host stores your episodes, and then services like Apple Podcasts and Spotify pull your episodes from your host to display in their apps.

There are several popular hosting options out there. Buzzsprout is what I use. (Get a $20 credit when you use my link)!

It’s beginner-friendly and super affordable.

Step 10: Create Your Podcast Artwork and Write Your Description

Your podcast artwork is the first thing potential listeners see, so make it count. You don’t need to hire a designer. You can make something simple and professional yourself.

Your artwork needs to be 3000 x 3000 pixels in a square format, saved as either a JPG or PNG. Keep text minimal and readable because it’ll display tiny on phones, and use bold colors and clear fonts so it stands out.

I use Canva (which is free) to design my podcast artwork. I’ve made all my own podcast covers there, and it’s incredibly easy even if you’re not a designer.

Your podcast description should be clear and concise, telling people what your podcast is about and who it’s for. Include relevant keywords so people can find you when searching.

For example, my description is: “A podcast about cycling, mountain biking, and all things bikes for WOMEN.  Each week we’ll week bring you interviews from inspiring women, and offer tips and tricks to help you thrive on the bike.” Short, sweet, and searchable.

Step 11: Your Podcast Goes Live!

Once your episode is edited and ready to go, it’s time to upload it to your hosting service (remember, that’s Buzzsprout or whichever platform you chose).

I recommend batching and uploading three episodes to start.

Why three? Because when someone discovers your podcast, they’re more likely to subscribe if there’s already some content available. It shows you’re serious and gives them a little binge-worthy content to sink their teeth into.

You don’t want someone to find you, love your first episode, and then have nothing else to listen to.

Your hosting service will walk you through the upload process. You’ll add your episode title, write a description, and they’ll handle distributing it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and all the other platforms.

Apple Podcasts approval can take a few days, but once you’re in, you’re golden. Spotify is usually instant. After that initial setup, every new episode you upload to your host will automatically appear on all these platforms.

If you have video of the episode, make sure to create a YouTube podcast channel and upload there as well!

Step 12: Promote Your Podcast and Stay Consistent

Unfortunately, just launching a podcast isn’t enough. You have to tell people about it.

Share it on your social media–Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn–wherever your audience hangs out. Ask friends, family, and podcast guests to share your episodes. Join podcast communities and engage authentically, not just to promote yourself but to genuinely connect with other podcasters.

The biggest issue with audio podcasts is that they are not super discoverable. If you upload to YouTube as well as to your audio podcast host, you have the opportunity there to get found in search results. This is a great way to grow your audience.

Even if the early days feel like crickets: be consistent. Pick a schedule–weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, whatever you can actually stick to–and show up. Consistency builds trust and keeps your audience coming back.

I’ve seen too many podcasters launch with a bang and then disappear after three episodes. Don’t be that person. The only way to succeed online is to stick with it for the long haul.

Final Thoughts: Just Start

I know it’s tempting to wait until you have the perfect setup, the perfect name, the perfect first episode. But, the perfect time is now.

Your first episode will be imperfect. Your tenth episode will still have room for improvement. But every single one will teach you something new and make you a better podcaster.

So grab your phone, find a quiet corner, and hit record. Your voice matters, your story matters, and someone out there needs to hear what you have to say.

Now go start that podcast!

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