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Starting a podcast is easier than some may actually say it is. And today we're going to dissect these nine steps on how to start a podcast. We will dive into: define the show, get basic gear, pick recording software, record episode one, edit it, choose a host, submit to Spotify and Apple, write show notes, and launch. None of it is technically hard on its own — the process just has a lot of small decisions in it, and most guides either oversimplify it or bury you in options. Here's the version that just tells you what to actually do.

1. Define your show before you buy anything

Three questions, answered honestly, before you spend a dollar:

  • What's it about, specifically? “Business” is not a topic. “How solo consultants price their first retainer” is.
  • Who is it for? Not “everyone interested in X” — a specific person, in a specific situation.
  • What format? Solo commentary, interviews, co-hosted conversation, or narrative/scripted. This decision affects almost every choice after it, including how much editing you'll need.

Skipping this step is the single biggest reason shows stall after five episodes — not bad audio, not bad gear.

2. Get the gear you actually need (not more)

You need three things to start: a microphone, headphones, and something quiet to record in. That's it.

  • Microphone — a USB mic is fine to start; you don't need an audio interface on day one. See our best podcast microphones for 2026, including the Shure MV7, which works over USB now and over XLR later if you upgrade.
  • Headphones — closed-back monitoring headphones so you can hear your own audio while recording. Regular earbuds work in a pinch but won't reveal problems you'll hear later in editing.
  • A quiet room — a closet full of clothes will out-perform an “acoustically treated” room with hard walls and no soft surfaces. Soft absorbs echo; you don't need foam panels to start.

Full breakdown of what's worth the money at each stage: our gear and software resource list.

3. Choose how you'll record

  • Recording alone or in person with someone else: any basic recording software works — even your microphone's own recording app.
  • Recording with a remote guest: don't rely on a Zoom recording as your source audio. Use something built for it — Riverside.fm records each person's audio locally on their own device, so a bad connection doesn't wreck the whole episode.
  • Recording video alongside audio: if you're planning a video podcast, Ecamm Live (Mac) handles multi-source recording if you want more than a simple webcam feed.

4. Record your first episode

Practical setup before you hit record:

  • Mic 6–12 inches from your mouth, slightly off-axis (not pointed straight at your lips) to reduce plosives
  • Phones on silent, notifications off, close unnecessary apps
  • Do a 30-second test recording and actually listen back before recording the real thing
  • Don't aim for a perfect take — editing will fix more than you think

Your first episode will not be your best one. That's normal, not a sign you're doing it wrong.

5. Edit it

At minimum: remove dead air, cut obvious mistakes, and level the audio so it's not jarringly loud or quiet in places. We've got a full walkthrough in how to edit a podcast — including which tools to use and what a realistic time investment looks like (usually 3–5 hours for a 45–60 minute episode if you're doing it thoroughly).

Two tools worth knowing about: Auphonic for automated leveling and noise reduction as a first pass, and Descript for editing by deleting text from a transcript instead of scrubbing a timeline.

If this step is the part you're dreading, that's worth noting now — it's the most commonly outsourced part of the whole process, and for good reason (more on that below).

6. Choose a podcast host

Your podcast host stores your audio files and generates the RSS feed that Spotify, Apple, and every other platform actually reads. You cannot upload directly to Spotify or Apple — you need a host first.

Our current top picks, roughly ordered:

  1. Captivate — strong analytics and growth tools
  2. Blubrry — reliable, good if your site runs on WordPress
  3. Buzzsprout — easiest for a first-time setup

Full list with more detail: our hosting recommendations.

7. Submit to Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Once your host has your first episode live and generating an RSS feed, submit that feed to the two directories that matter most:

Both take about 15 minutes and 1–3 days for approval. Do them the same day if you can — no reason to space them out.

8. Write show notes

A short summary, a few key takeaways, and — if you want the SEO benefit — a full transcript. Show notes aren't just a courtesy for listeners; they're the only part of your episode that Google can actually read and index. Full format that works: how to write podcast show notes that actually get read.

9. Plan your launch (and what comes after)

Launching with 3 episodes live on day one — not just one — gives new listeners something to binge instead of a single episode and a wait. Beyond that: tell your existing audience directly (email, social, wherever you already have attention) rather than hoping the platforms surface you organically. Podcast discovery through search and browse is real but slow; your first fifty listeners almost always come from you personally asking people to listen.

The part nobody mentions: what happens after episode 10

The mechanics above are genuinely all you need to launch. What most new podcasters aren't ready for is what happens once the show is real: editing every week competes with actually running the business the podcast was supposed to support. That's usually the point people either quietly stop, or look for help with the parts that don't need to be theirs anymore.

If that's where you end up, that's exactly what we do — see how our process works.