Podcasting

A podcast succeeds when one kind of listener knows exactly what they will get. Start with that promise, not with equipment.

• Write the promise in one sentence: "For [listener], this show gives [benefit] every [time] in [length]".
• Listen to five shows in your topic. Note length, format, opening, and what you would do differently.
• Choose a format that suits you: solo talk, interview, story, panel or news. Interviews need guest management; solo shows need discipline.
• Choose a schedule you can keep for 20 episodes, not 5.

Activity. Write your one-sentence promise, a 5-line show plan (format, length, schedule, first six episode ideas) and a listener profile.

Standard to meet. Name the listener, benefit, rhythm and length in the promise, and fit six episode ideas to it.

A script keeps you short and clear. It need not be word for word, but the opening and closing should be written out.

• Structure: hook (under 30 seconds), context, body in 2 or 3 points, one action, sign-off.
• Write for the ear: short sentences, everyday words, one idea per sentence.
• Use signposts such as "first", "second" and "last" so listeners can follow.
• Time yourself reading aloud; speaking runs about 140 words per minute.

Activity. Script your first episode and time it by reading aloud.

Standard to meet. Script runs within 10 per cent of the target length and has a hook and an action.

Clean sound matters more than expensive microphones.

• Record in a small room with soft surfaces: curtains, rugs, a wardrobe full of clothes or blankets.
• Keep the mic 10 to 15 cm from your mouth and speak slightly across it to reduce harsh sounds.
• Use headphones to monitor; keep peaks below the red zone and record a few seconds of room tone.
• Switch off fans, phones and fridge noise; record a backup copy.

Activity. Record a 2-minute test in two rooms and compare.

Standard to meet. Choose a recording with steady level, little noise and no clipping.

Editing is mostly deleting. Free software is enough.

• Remove long pauses, false starts, repeated words and loud breaths; keep natural rhythm.
• Apply gentle noise reduction and a limiter (which stops loud peaks); avoid heavy effects.
• Match loudness between episodes and check on phone speakers and earbuds.
• Export in a standard format and keep the project file as backup.

Activity. Edit your first episode and keep before and after files.

Standard to meet. Edit the episode to within target length and check that it sounds equal in level from start to finish.

Respecting rights keeps your show alive and your guests safe.

• Do not use popular music without a licence. Use music you made or music with a licence that allows podcast use, and credit as required.
• Short quotes may be allowed in some places; check the rule and give credit.
• Get a guest's spoken and written consent to record and publish.
• Do not publish private information, defamatory claims or misleading advice.

Activity. Complete a rights sheet for one episode: music, quotes, guest consent and images.

Standard to meet. Give every item a source or permission and a date.

Publishing is a repeatable routine.

• Write a clear title, a three-sentence description and time stamps.
• Upload audio to a podcast host and submit the feed link to listening apps once.
• Make a square cover image that is readable at small size.
• Share short clips, quotes or questions on a platform where your listeners are.

Activity. Publish a trailer or first episode and a checklist for each release.

Standard to meet. Publish the episode live in at least one app and complete the checklist.

Numbers show where listeners lose interest.

• Look at downloads, listen-through rate and drop-off points.
• Ask for feedback with one question: what would you change?
• Change one thing per episode so you can see the effect.
• Keep a simple results table.

Activity. Write three findings and one test for the next three episodes.

Standard to meet. Base findings on numbers and make the test measurable.

A podcast earns slowly and honestly.

• Income sources: sponsors, listener support, courses, services and events.
• Disclose sponsors at the start of the episode.
• Plan a calendar and batch-record to avoid burn-out.
• Review quarterly: keep, change or stop.

Activity. Write a six-month plan with release calendar, income goal and review date.

Standard to meet. Plan shows realistic numbers and a review date.

L1: learner can name formats. Focus module: Concept, audience and promise (Understand, 3 h). A podcast succeeds when one kind of listener knows exactly what they will get. Start with that promise, not with equipment. Key points: Write the promise in one sentence: "For [listener], this show gives [benefit] every [time] in [length]". Listen to five shows in your topic. Note length, format, opening, and what you would do differently. Choose a format that suits you: solo talk, interview, story, panel or news. Interviews need guest management; solo shows need discipline. Choose a schedule you can keep for 20 episodes, not 5.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. "For small farmers, this show gives one tested tip every Monday in 12 minutes." The host can now say no to topics that do not fit and a listener can decide in ten seconds. Then set the activity: Write your one-sentence promise, a 5-line show plan (format, length, schedule, first six episode ideas) and a listener profile. Mark against the standard: Name the listener, benefit, rhythm and length in the promise, and fit six episode ideas to it. Check at this level: What does the promise name? Model answer: Listener, benefit, rhythm and length.

L2: learner knows audio basics. Focus module: Scripting and structure (Create, 4 h). A script keeps you short and clear. It need not be word for word, but the opening and closing should be written out. Key points: Structure: hook (under 30 seconds), context, body in 2 or 3 points, one action, sign-off. Write for the ear: short sentences, everyday words, one idea per sentence. Use signposts such as "first", "second" and "last" so listeners can follow. Time yourself reading aloud; speaking runs about 140 words per minute.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A 12-minute episode needs about 1,700 words (12 x 140). The host writes 250 words for the opening and first point, bullet notes for the middle, and a written closing of 100 words. Then set the activity: Script your first episode and time it by reading aloud. Mark against the standard: Script runs within 10 per cent of the target length and has a hook and an action. Check at this level: Hook purpose? Model answer: Capture attention.

L3: learner can record. Focus module: Recording clean audio (Apply, 5 h). Clean sound matters more than expensive microphones. Key points: Record in a small room with soft surfaces: curtains, rugs, a wardrobe of clothes or blankets. Keep the mic 10 to 15 cm from your mouth and speak slightly across it to reduce harsh sounds. Use headphones to monitor; keep peaks below the red zone and record a few seconds of room tone. Switch off fans, phones and fridge noise; record a backup copy.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Recording moves from a bare kitchen to a bedroom with a mattress against one wall. Echo falls so much that the editor needs no special filter. Then set the activity: Record a 2-minute test in two rooms and compare. Mark against the standard: Choose a recording with steady level, little noise and no clipping. Check at this level: Mic distance? Model answer: About a hand width.

L4: learner can edit. Focus module: Editing and sound quality (Apply, 5 h). Editing is mostly deleting. Free software is enough. Key points: Remove long pauses, false starts, repeated words and loud breaths; keep natural rhythm. Apply gentle noise reduction and a limiter; avoid heavy effects. Match loudness between episodes and check on phone speakers and earbuds. Export in a standard format and keep the project file as backup.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A 20-minute raw recording becomes a 14-minute episode after cutting two tangents and four false starts. Loudness is set to the same level as the last episode. Then set the activity: Edit your first episode and keep before and after files. Mark against the standard: Edit the episode to within target length and check that it sounds equal in level from start to finish. Check at this level: What is removed when editing? Model answer: Long pauses, false starts and repeated words.

L5: learner can analyse data. Focus module: Rights, consent and ethics (Evaluate, 3 h). Respecting rights keeps your show alive and your guests safe. Key points: Do not use popular music without a licence. Use music you made or music with a licence that allows podcast use, and credit as required. Short quotes may be allowed in some places; check the rule and give credit. Get a guest's spoken and written consent to record and publish. Do not publish private information, defamatory claims or misleading advice.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A host records a one-line consent at the start ("Do you agree that this interview can be published?") and stores a signed note with the files. Then set the activity: Complete a rights sheet for one episode: music, quotes, guest consent and images. Mark against the standard: Give every item a source or permission and a date. Check at this level: Guest consent? Model answer: Required.

L6: learner can lead a team. Focus module: Listener data and improvement (Analyse, 3 h). Numbers show where listeners lose interest. Key points: Look at downloads, listen-through rate and drop-off points. Ask for feedback with one question: what would you change? Change one thing per episode so you can see the effect. Keep a simple results table.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Retention falls at minute 8 in four episodes. The host moves the long interview later and shortens the intro; retention improves by 10 per cent. Then set the activity: Write three findings and one test for the next three episodes. Mark against the standard: Base findings on numbers and make the test measurable. Check at this level: Drop-off? Model answer: Where listeners leave.

L7: learner can audit. Focus module: Earning, sustaining and growing (Evaluate, 3 h). A podcast earns slowly and honestly. Key points: Income sources: sponsors, listener support, courses, services and events. Disclose sponsors at the start of the episode. Plan a calendar and batch-record to avoid burn-out. Review quarterly: keep, change or stop.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A show with 800 listeners per episode earns from a local sponsor at a flat monthly fee and a paid mini-course. The host records four episodes in one day each month. Then set the activity: Write a six-month plan with release calendar, income goal and review date. Mark against the standard: Plan shows realistic numbers and a review date. Check at this level: Sponsor rule? Model answer: Disclose.