Thanks all who could make it last night to our monthly meetup. Here are my notes and links from the presentation.

Podcasting

Assume you have a website running WordPress. If not, that’s step one!

Preperation

Luck favors the prepared!

Script

• This can just be an outline, major beats
• Use Google Doc, share show notes with your co-hosts or guests
• Don’t forget to thank the sponsors

Questions

• Do your research
• Know what you’re taking about – Cunningham’s Law
• Build trust
• Ask your interviewee to pronounce their name, product, etc.
• Be unique! https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/bullseye-with-jesse-thorn/
• Be engaging – don’t ask questions that can be answered with a yes or no
• Keep it positive! You can frame your questions with a slightly negative spin, but don’t be downcast.
• Assume nothing – set the stage
  • Common terms like “mortgage” don’t need to be explained sure, but sub-prime mortgage?
  • Remember folks can’t see what you see! – Describe succinctly

Record

• Audio is important!
• Good quality Mic
• no background noise
• no echo (use a blanket!)
• Keep things consistent (Between folks being recorded)
• Don’t record remote audio, share the local file!
• Use a clap to sync audio
• Go slow!

Edit

• This is where you’ll spend most of your time!
• Audacity
• Garageband
• Normalize your audio
  • https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/normalize.html
• Remove unnecessary bits and filler words
  • https://umbegone.com
  • https://www.descript.com – edit audio with text
  • This is editing like editing a story. Keep focus. You might ramble, you might have interruptions (like kids!), so be ready to make the hard choice.

Publish

• Upload audio to WordPress like any other media
• Add Audio block
• RSS – This is the magic that makes podcasts happen
  • Really Simple Syndication
  • Instead of visiting every site, you go to your one location (pod catcher, RSS reader) and it pulls the feeds down to you.
• Apple – iTunes
  • https://itunesconnect.apple.com/login?module=PodcastsConnect&hostname=podcastsconnect.apple.com&cf=1&targetUrl=%2F
• Spotify
  • https://podcasters.spotify.com

Market

• Spread the word
• Invite guest speakers from the field
• Engage with audience
• Give them a way to contact you
• incorporate feedback and give shout outs
• Be genuine

Plugins

• https://wordpress.org/plugins/seriously-simple-podcasting/
• https://wordpress.org/plugins/powerpress/

Other links

• https://codex.wordpress.org/Podcasting
• https://www.audacityteam.org – open source audio editor
• https://www.descript.com – edit audio with text
• https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/step-by-step-guide-how-to-start-a-podcast-with-wordpress/ – good introduction
• https://stevestewart.me/blog/ – local podcaster and member of our community
• https://podcastingwithwp.com – a podcast on podcasting with WordPress
• https://www.godaddy.com/garage/how-to-start-a-podcast-with-wordpress/

Chris’ Favorite podcasts

• Robot or Not? – https://www.theincomparable.com/robot/
• Bullseye with Jesse Thorn – https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/bullseye-with-jesse-thorn/
• Flash Forward – https://www.flashforwardpod.com
• Serial – https://serialpodcast.org