How your teenager can start his own podcast

With online music streaming services, radio is quickly losing the relevance it used to have amongst the youth. But even if the music needs of youngsters are taken care of by streaming services, where do all the talk shows and radio jockey segments find their place in the new landscape? The answer to that is podcast. Now there are hundreds and thousands of podcasts available on a myriad of platforms where content creators have the opportunity to reach an audience that prefers audio content. Your youngster can easily become a part of this cultural movement. Help him follow these steps.  

Step 1: Planning out the content 
The first step in making a podcast is knowing what it is about, who it is for, and what sets it apart. Guide your teenager to keep in mind the following questions while trying to figure out the direction of the podcast.  

Who is the podcast for? The podcast will be aimed at a select group of people that holds interest in the content topic. Not everyone will be a listener. Figure out who your audience is. 

What is your subject or topic of discussion? Find a niche that will bring out your best. Start by looking for an over-arching theme and then work your way down to specifics. 

Why should the audience listen to you? Give the audience a reason to pick your podcast over any other. There are hundreds of podcasts covering every possible topic on the surface of the planet. Figure out what makes your content different. It’s very important to find the unique selling point or what we call USP. 

When your teenager has a clear idea of the content of his podcast, it’s time to take some crucial calls. 

• Naming the podcast: Choose something simple and concise that attracts attention but is easy for people to remember. 
• Coming up with an episode format: Is it a solo show? Do you have a co-host? Is this an interview format podcast? 
• Fixing an upload schedule (weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.) 
• Deciding the length of each episode: Give each one enough time to dig into the nuances your podcast is to cover but make sure that it isn’t so long that people lose interest halfway through or get deterred from clicking on it in the first place.

Step 2: Using appropriate equipment 
The bare minimum equipment required to record a podcast is, in all honesty, a simple smartphone. There are many apps in the play store that allow users to record a podcast simply with the in-built microphone and online connectivity to include other participants with their own devices. But this won’t be a high-quality podcast.  

The other equipment required include a computer with a USB microphone. There are many cheap yet good quality USB microphones available online. Keeping the cost of equipment at the minimum is good when you are just starting out. As the podcast gains traction, investment in equipment can be increased with a pop screen, headset earphones, better microphones and mic stands, etc. 

Step 3: Learning to use recording and editing software 
There are a few options available for software to help your youngster record and edit his podcast and easily make it available on different streaming platforms. Audacity is a free-of-charge audio editing application that caters to all the podcasting needs. At a later stage, allow your teen to go for pro-level software. Adobe Audition, among others, can be a very likely choice with a great workflow and plenty of features.  

Step 4: Creating music for the podcast 
Every podcast has an intro and outro tune that becomes its signature. While there may be an overwhelming urge to pick up a favourite song, your youngster may run into quite a few copyright issues. The type of music that can be used is referred to as royalty-free, stock, or library music. These can easily be found on a variety of sites. 

Step 5: Uploading a podcast 
Podcasts are usually uploaded through podcast hosting services like Buzzprout, Spreaker, PodBean etc. Podcast hosting websites have a range of plans from free services, to different payment plans and subscription. One has to do the research on the platform well to find an option that suits the budget.