This section will outline materials helpful for producing an audio program like a podcast, with preparation materials, script templates, and ways to distribute and publish your podcast.
STARTING THE PROCESS
Creating a podcast is not unlike starting a video project, creating a website, or beginning a research paper. You need to first get organized with a framework, a format, a list of topics or questions, and preferably a script. The video describes some basic elements to get started, but below are some examples of how to begin.
PODCAST DISTINCTIONS
PODCAST DESIGNING
When creating recordings, consider these approaches and how they might shape the your audio quality and your recording approach.
Mood Boards / Mind Maps
Moodboards help visually conceptualize the tone and aesthetic of a project. They may be dark and mysterious for something like a true-crime investigation. They might be light and silly for a comedic approach. ultimately they represent the "poster" of your podcast.
Find a format or story model to follow
COMMON PODCAST FORMATS
COMMON PODCAST MODELS
Below are several common formats that you can approach your podcast episode, series or topic with:
One-on-One interview: Host + Guest + Conversation = Podcast
Solo Commentary: Host + Narration/ Reporting = Podcast
Panel Guests / Discussion / Chatcast: Guests + Conversation = Podcast
Non-fiction Narrative: Reporting + Storytelling = Podcast
Fictional Storytelling: - Storytelling = Podcast
Hybrid: a combination of a few aforementioned formats = Podcast
Repurposed Content: Like hybrid, but with curated conversations, recordings, stories, reports, etc. = Podcast
STRATEGIC APPROACHES
Below are ways to craft the narrative or structure of your story or episode, think of these as platforms to base your podcast story :
The Cold Open: The technique of jumping directly into a story at the beginning of a program before the opening sequence or introduction begins.
"In Media Res": Starting from the middle, and going in a non-linear fashion with references back to an origin or beginning, often through flashbacks.
3-Act Structure: A narrative with a traditional beginning, middle, and end featuring a plot with characters, actions, and a climatic “hook”.
Topics on a Theme: Shorter stories or segments that reflect a topic or theme, though stand distinct from each other as stand-alone narratives or discussions.
An Analysis: This technique reflects on an event, article, media, or opinion and is reviewed with some additional insight or explanation by a narrator or commentator.
The Invitation: An approach offering guests, experts, or others to join a discussion or topic & introduce a new voice to the production; often used to introduce a new host or contributor.
STUDENT HIGHLIGHT: The Chasm Is Not Closed
Kamilah Kashanie got her degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Sociology at Brooklyn College, where she found her passion for moving peoples' hearts through audio storytelling. Her goal is to use the power of radio to broaden the way listeners view the world and the people around them. Listen to her podcast The Chasm is Noy Closed at Transom.org
THE STUDENT'S PODCAST
The Student's Podcast is a podcast about making podcasts, and it's done by students! It's a fantastic showcase to help students learn how to produce audio stories, and full-on podcasts. Listen to the sample, and then check out the series page.
PODCAST SCRIPTS
Podcast don't have the benefit of visual to distract your audience, so your words, clarity, and delivery must be sharp. That all comes from a solid script and when making a podcast, not all parts must be scripted, for example interviews or conversations, but fundamental to a good podcast is a solid outline or structure, a good script and a good mix of delivery and editing. This section reviews good solid scripts, and provides basic templates to model starting your script project.
*** it's worth noting that scripts don't need to be used verbatim when recording, but they should be more detailed than an outline or description of content.***
You can read more about writing scripts in the Scripting section of this site.
PODCAST RECORDING
Recording audio for podcast is not unlike recording audio for video or other multimedia projects. It'll be important to include sources of good quality vocal recording with a studio-like sound, as well as field recording, and pre-recorded audio like music and sound fx. You can find more information about those options under the following categories.
PODCAST EDITING & DISTRIBUTION
Editing a Podcast
Editing a podcast is a lot like editing a video, except you don't have to worry about visuals. Instead the focus should be on how your audience hears and feels your project, and whether you are doing a narrative podcast or editing a conversation, your project's audio will be a soundscape that you design and that design should evoke emotion and express exposition.
More information on editing can be found in the Post-Production section of this site, under Audio Editing.
POPULAR AUDIO EDITING PROGRAMS (D.A.W.'s)
Cloud based application
EDU interface for creating assignments
Includes a Loops library
Allows for online collaboration
Open-Source Program
Available for almost all OS's
Numerous Free Effects & Addons
Free Downloads & Available in campus labs
Garageband
MacOS & iOS only ( No windows )
Easy to use interface,
Lots of advanced features
Includes free samples, loops, and MIDI's
Adobe Audition
Available for Windows & MacOS
Advanced Audio editing & effects
Lots of Advanced features
Available in campus labs, but premium software
