Wondering what you need to start a podcast? The short answer is less than you think, and the most important thing is your story and getting started.
Start With What You Have
Some podcasts are filmed in studios with professional lighting and a team. Others are one person recording in a bedroom. Both get shared with the world.
What you need depends on:
Your budget
Your aims and goals
The quality of the show you want to produce and publish
Make a list of gaps as you notice them and upgrade later. Before any extras, focus on these:
A computer: it stores your recorded audio and runs the software you'll use to edit and publish.
A place to record, ideally quiet.
A microphone.
Pick One Recording Spot and Stick to It
Recording in the same place each time has real benefits:
You get used to the space and the sounds it makes.
You get to know what sounds best when you edit.
Your equipment stays in the same spots, ready to go.
Fix the Room Before You Buy the Mic
A fancy microphone won't help in a boxy, echoey space. Look at where you plan to record first. Glass windows, bare walls, and wooden, concrete or tiled floors all create echo.
Cheap fixes:
Record in a closet. It's already full of clothes, shoes and suitcases.
Throw a blanket over the door.
Put a small rug on the floor.
Tell the people in your home you'll be recording for half an hour and ask for quiet.
Choose a Microphone That Fits Where You Are
Microphones can feel overwhelming, so keep it simple:
Your mobile phone: not ideal, but fine if it's what you have.
A small clip-on microphone and camera: slightly better than a laptop's built-in microphone.
A USB podcast microphone, such as the Blue Yeti: made for podcasters. Plug it into your computer and press record.
If you co-host, consider buying the same model so your recordings sound consistent.
Add Optional Upgrades When You're Ready
Pop filter: smooths out loud, animated moments and tames strong "plosive" sounds like P, B, CH and T. It's a fine line, though, because those sounds also help your words be heard clearly.
Headphones: help you hear your own voice, your guest's volume, and room noise or feedback before you hit record.
Tripod or boom arm: keeps your desk less cluttered. Push the microphone out of the way when you're done.
Keep It Simple
Use what you have right now. You can always upgrade, but don't let that stop you from getting started.
Put It Into Practice
Look around your home and pick the room you think will be best for recording.
Note anything that causes echo, such as bare walls, windows or hard floors.
Add a blanket over the door and a rug on the floor, or try a closet.
Tell the people in your home when you'll be recording and ask for quiet.
Record a short test with the microphone you already have.
Listen back and note what you'd like to fix.
Add one optional upgrade to a wish list for later.