The
Podcasting
Playbook
MODULE TWO
Getting started
Listen to module two:
Now that you've gained insights into the captivating world of podcasting and how it can benefit you, it's time to embark on a thrilling journey - deciding what kind of podcast you want to create! As discussed in the previous module, the realm of podcasting is vast and diverse. There's a podcast for almost everything under the sun, and your imagination is your only limit.
Let's kickstart your creative process by asking some questions:
1. What Ignites Your Passion?
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Think about your interests, hobbies, and areas of expertise. What are you truly passionate about?
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Reflect on your life experiences. Are there stories or lessons you've learned that could inspire others?
2. The Art of Engagement
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Consider what you can bring to the table to engage your listeners. Is it a unique perspective, a fresh take on a popular topic, or a compelling storytelling style?
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Think about the emotions you want to evoke in your audience. Laughter, curiosity, empathy, or inspiration—your podcast can be a powerful tool for connecting with people.
3. Beyond Talk: Creative Possibilities
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Your podcast doesn't have to follow the traditional talk-show format. Let your imagination run wild!
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Imagine hosting a Dungeons and Dragons adventure with sound effects and music to transport your listeners to another world.
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Explore the art of audio drama - craft stories that whisk your audience away to space, a fantastical realm, or the untamed Wild West.
4. Embrace Variety
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Don't feel confined by a single idea. Brainstorm multiple podcast concepts before settling on one.
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Experiment with different styles, formats, and genres. Your podcasting journey is a voyage of discovery.
5. Know Your Audience
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Think about who you want to connect with through your podcast. Understanding your target audience can help shape your content.
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Consider what topics or experiences might resonate most with your listeners.
Remember, podcasting is an art form where your voice, ideas, and creativity come to life through the power of sound. It's a platform for self-expression, learning, and sharing that knows no bounds. Let your curiosity guide you, and explore the endless possibilities of podcasting!
Exploring Podcast Formats: Finding Your Unique Style
Once you've settled on the exciting topic for your podcast, the next puzzle piece is deciding on the format. Let's break down some format options and what each one entails:
Solo Shows: A One-Person Performance
Imagine it: you, your microphone, and a direct connection with your audience. Solo shows are precisely what they sound like—a podcast where you take the spotlight, sharing your thoughts and insights directly with your listeners. The perk of going solo? You have complete creative control. It's your canvas to paint, your stage to shine, and your masterpiece to craft. You decide what to discuss, how to narrate it, the editing, and which sound effects will amplify your podcast's magic. But, as with any solo act, it can be a challenge to keep your audience's attention and provide consistent entertainment. After all, you're flying solo without interplay from co-hosts or guest conversations.
Tips for Solo Success:
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Be a Master Storyteller: Craft your content into captivating narratives. Share personal anecdotes, experiences, and relatable tales to keep your audience riveted.
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Embrace Variety: Spice up your content. Include diverse segments like mini-stories, or Q&A sessions to inject variety and sustain interest.
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Plan and Script: Winging it might not be your best bet. Meticulous planning, outlines, or scripts can ensure your episodes are well-structured and endlessly engaging.
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Magic in Editing: Leverage audio editing tools to your advantage. Elevate your podcast with well-placed sound effects, carefully selected music, and seamless editing that creates an enthralling auditory experience.
While solo shows offer complete creative freedom, they also call for creativity and engagement strategies to keep your audience hooked. As you venture into this format, remember that your voice is your most powerful asset - so make it resonate!
Interview-Based Shows: Exploring Diverse Perspectives
Interview-Based Podcasts offer a dynamic platform where each episode welcomes a new guest, providing fresh insights and diverse viewpoints. Whether you're delving deeper into your podcast's core topic or exploring entirely new subjects, this format keeps your content engaging and your listeners intrigued.
Why Interview-Based Shows Are Compelling:
Listeners love the back-and-forth nature of interviews. It's like eavesdropping on a captivating conversation between two personalities. This format offers a sense of connection as your audience becomes part of each discussion, making them eager to return for more.
Who Can Be Your Interviewees?
The beauty of interview-based shows is their versatility. Your guests can be anyone you can connect with. From celebrities to friends, experts in your field, or even individuals with unique experiences, the possibilities are limitless.
Tips for Interviewing Success:
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Preparation is Key: Before the interview, research your guest thoroughly. Craft a list of questions to guide the conversation, but also be ready to dive deeper based on their responses. Active listening is your secret weapon for uncovering unexpected and intriguing insights.
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Charisma Provides Comfort: Establish a positive rapport with your guest from the get-go. A friendly and respectful demeanour creates a welcoming atmosphere, encouraging your interviewee to open up. A relaxed and enjoyable conversation not only benefits you but also ensures a delightful experience for your listeners.
Interview-based shows offer a platform for exploration and connection. By mastering the art of conversation and fostering engaging discussions, you can create a podcast that resonates with a wide audience.
Comedy Shows: The Laughter Revolution
Comedy podcasts are your passport to a world filled with laughter, witty banter, and unbridled humour. Dive into this genre, and you'll discover that the possibilities for comedic podcasting are as vast and varied as the comedic spectrum itself.
Why Comedy Shows Are a Riot:
Comedy shows offer a chance to unwind with a hearty laugh. They're a blend of humour, satire, and observational comedy, often presented in a conversational format. Listeners flock to these podcasts for their dose of daily amusement and a break from the serious side of life.
Exploring Comedy Formats:
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Solo Stand-Up: Embrace your inner stand-up comedian as you deliver punchlines, anecdotes, and humorous takes on everyday situations. Solo stand-up shows are a fantastic platform to showcase your unique comedic style.
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Duo Delight: Partner up with a co-host for comical conversations and hilarious debates. The interplay of two personalities can lead to spontaneous laughter and entertaining banter.
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Sketch Comedy: Dive into the world of scripted hilarity. Create memorable characters, absurd scenarios, and side-splitting skits that keep your audience in stitches.
Tips for Comedy Gold:
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Timing is Everything: Perfect the art of comedic timing. Pauses and pacing can make or break a joke. Practice delivery to ensure your punchlines land with precision.
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Audience Engagement: Interact with your audience through humour. Invite them to share their funny stories or jokes, creating a sense of community and participation.
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Stay Current: Comedy often draws inspiration from current events and trends. Keep your material fresh by staying in the loop with what's happening in the world.
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Respect Boundaries: While humour is subjective, be mindful of sensitive topics. Comedy should be fun for all, so avoid humour that could alienate or offend.
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Stay True to Your Style: Your comedic voice is unique. Whether you're the king of puns, a master of satire, or the queen of observational comedy, embrace your style and let it shine.
Comedy shows offer a laughter-packed journey, where humour knows no bounds. So, grab that microphone, embrace your comedic genius, and let the laughter revolution begin!
Audio Drama/Fiction Podcast: Audio and Imagination
Audio drama and fiction podcasts can be classed as separate podcast formats, but they are similar and can often overlap as lines blur between the individual’s storytelling techniques. Fiction podcasts tell a story of any genre whether it be fantasy, sci-fi, crime, horror etc through sound effects to set the scene, music, and voice actors to play characters. Fiction podcasts use narrative description to aid the listener imagine the setting and the actions of the characters whereas audio dramas often rely on sound to do these things. All fiction podcasts are audio dramas but not all audio dramas are fiction podcasts. These can also focus on non-fiction things and be dramatised through storytelling.
Why Audio Storytelling Prevails:
Audio dramas and fiction podcasts have surged in popularity because they offer listeners a unique narrative experience. Unlike traditional mediums such as books, movies, or TV shows, audio storytelling invites active participation. With carefully crafted sound effects and inventive editing, it immerses the audience in a captivating story.
Imagine this: you're not just an observer but a part of the tale. Soundscapes paint vivid scenes in your mind, while expert sound panning places characters and elements around you. This multi-dimensional experience elevates audio storytelling beyond passive consumption, forging a profound connection between the narrative and the audience.
In essence, audio storytelling brings stories to life, making them resonate in the hearts and minds of listeners, all while they go about their daily activities, turning mundane moments into captivating adventures.
Tips for Storytelling Success:
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Story Structure: One of the first things you should do is decide how you will tell your story. Will it be a story that is told over a number of episodes or an anthology with a new focus each episode? Perhaps it will be an anthology in the sense that each episode will focus on a different character and their individual tale, however, this has an effect on a wider overarching story of the series as each episode is set in the same world.
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Outline Your Plot: Before writing your story, it is beneficial to write a synopsis (overview) of what will happen each episode so that you can go back to it while writing to remind yourself of your beginning, middle, and end.
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Available talent: You don’t need to enlist Hollywood’s biggest actor to voice a character in your story, make use of local drama clubs and acting students who are keen to get any and all experience.
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Narration and Sound: Listeners cannot see where the story takes place like a TV show or movie. Devote time to sourcing or creating quality sound effects to paint a picture in their mind or if you want to, accompany sound effects with a narrator to describe settings in a way that suits the story: dramatic, ominous etc.
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Music: Including music to help listeners connect emotionally to key parts of the story can greatly assist storytelling success. Royalty free music can be sourced on YouTube and other sites but ensure you attribute the creator in the credits if required.
Audio Drama and Fiction Podcasts offer the opportunity to transport the listener to a romance happening in space, to a fantastical battle in a magical castle all with the power of audio and imagination. Let your creativity and passion for storytelling flourish!
News and Commentary Shows: Unveiling the Truth
News and Commentary podcasts are your gateway to staying informed, offering insightful analysis, and exploring diverse perspectives on current events, trends, or specific subjects. This format empowers you to share your expertise, dissect news stories, or engage in thought-provoking discussions.
Why News and Commentary Shows Are Essential:
In a rapidly changing world, listeners seek reliable sources of information and in-depth commentary. News and Commentary podcasts fulfil this need by delivering content that informs, educates, and inspires critical thinking. Whether you're a seasoned journalist or a passionate enthusiast, this format provides a platform for you to contribute to meaningful conversations.
Formats to Explore:
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Solo Analysis: Take the solo route, offering in-depth analysis, insights, and commentary on current events or your chosen topic. You'll become the trusted voice guiding your audience through complex issues.
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Panel Discussions: Assemble a panel of experts or enthusiasts to engage in lively debates and discussions. Multiple perspectives enrich the content and foster dynamic conversations.
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Guest Interviews: Invite experts, scholars, or individuals with unique insights to share their knowledge and viewpoints. Interviews add depth and credibility to your commentary.
Tips for Success:
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Stay Informed
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Critical Analysis
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Engage Your Audience
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Ethical Reporting
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Consistency Matters
News and Commentary shows are a powerful medium to inform, educate, and shape public discourse. By delivering accurate information and thoughtful analysis, you play a crucial role in keeping your audience well-informed and engaged with the world around them. Dive into this format, and let your voice become a source of knowledge and insight for your listeners.