From Idea to Launch: Create and Produce Your Own Podcast

Ever since Sarah Koenig’s breakout investigative podcast Serial demonstrated the power and reach of the medium, everyone from Rachel Maddow and Michelle Obama to Rich Roll and DJ Akademiks has joined the podcast bandwagon.

Podcasting is a democratic art form—open to anyone with a compelling point of view, engaging style, or unique expertise.

But how easy is it to create a successful podcast of your own? In this course, we’ll listen to a range of examples—from Criminal to Radiolab —to study story structure, content formats, and production styles.

We’ll review affordable equipment, hosting and publishing options, and current trends in distribution and monetization.

Students will practice the latest recording and editing techniques to develop podcasts from scratch or adapt existing content.

Each student will leave the course with a trailer, a five-minute pilot episode, and an outline for a podcast series.

Students will need a Mac, PC, or Linux computer for editing; a flash drive or external hard drive to store, back up, and manage media; editing software such as Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, Audacity, or GarageBand; and recording equipment such as a smartphone.

Students must purchase their own supplies for this course, the cost of which will depend on students’ individual needs.