Podcasting used to require special mics, a DAC interface, multi-track editing and an understanding of RSS. Now you can do it all on your phone for free with almost no extra time.
Let us take you step by step through making a podcast for your church without breaking the bank on a new microphone.
A do-it-yourself recording studio
Microphones on cell phones used to sound like you were talking into a tin can. Thanks to machine-learning algorithms, their quality has increased exponentially. Because of significant improvements, you no longer need access to a sound booth for general podcast recording.
To make the most of this inexpensive solution, do at least make sure you are in a quiet room with a lot of soft, sound-absorbing textures. Think of a living room with cushy furniture, carpet and, of course, the TV off. All of the soft surfaces will limit the echoing sound you typically hear when you are in a bathroom or even in some kitchens. A quiet environment will allow the mic to do its best job at making you stand out.
Smartphones come with a basic voice-recording app that will allow you to take voice notes using the phone’s microphone. All you have to do is open it and start recording.
For best results, position your phone within 6 inches of your mouth when you are speaking so that it is able to best capture the range of tones in your voice. The farther it is from your mouth, the less warmth and character your voice will have.
If more than one person will be talking, do a couple of tests. Either move the phone from person to person as you talk or find a central location where you can sit equally close to the phone.
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A podcast name and logo
This may not surprise you, but not having a podcast name and logo can be a stumbling block to getting your podcast off the ground. Before you start looking for a hosting service, make sure you come up with a name and consider using a product such as Canva to create a logo.
You will need several shapes and sizes of this logo depending on your hosting platform. Using a tool such as Canva will help you to easily change the size and shape as you create the actual podcast on your chosen platform.
A way to turn audio file into a podcast
One of the most dramatic changes to podcasting has come in the distribution. In the early days, you needed to have a storage host, such as a website provider, and also learn how to write an RSS feed file and manually update it with each episode link. Once you did all of that, you had to go from place to place trying to get it listed.
That entire process has now been automated.
Before you go into a podcast-specific platform, look into your current web provider. If you are using a service such as Squarespace or Wix, they often have podcasting solutions already built in, so you won’t have to worry about learning a new platform. Just follow their tutorials on set-up and get it going.
Of course, there are many platforms that are completely focused on podcasting. These often come with a cost, but Spreaker, one of the best on the market, has a free tier that is perfect for churches.
Spreaker will allow you to host unlimited audio episodes of one podcast for free. Its interface is incredibly intuitive and will guide you through the process of submitting your podcast to all the different platforms (such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify), often with a single click.
Once you have it set up and listed, it’s time to promote your podcast just as you would any event or program. Newsletter articles, social media posts and, of course, in-person announcements on Sunday morning will take your podcast from listed to listened to!
Jeremy Steele is a writer, conspirator and spiritual entrepreneur who refuses to give up on Christianity. He spends his time resourcing the dreams of the next generation and helping it discover paths to spiritual enlightenment and connection with God. He lives in Arlington, Virginia, and is associate pastor at Chesterbrook UMC. Find more about him and his work at Jeremy-Steele.com.