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podcast

Kickstart your podcast

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Words: Chhavi Sachdev

Back when I started podcasting in 2008, smart phones didn’t even exist. There was no way to record your voice, edit it, and then upload it all from a single device. Today that technology fits into the palm of your hand. But, while it’s easy to say something and put it out there, that’s not necessarily the smartest way to proceed. In over 15 years of working behind the scenes as well as in front of the mic, I’ve learned a few things (and I teach them too). 

Here’s a quick roadmap to kickstart your podcast

Identify your niche: Before you begin, figure out what you’ll be doing on your podcast – and why people would listen. Take the time to think about what’s out there already and why and how you could be different. What is your podcast’s value proposition? 

Build a brand: Once you know what your podcast is about, you can choose your podcast name, tone and theme. Your podcast will need cover art. The logo’s colour, fonts, design flow from this identity. This will not only help people find you, it will also signal what you’re about before they even click Play! 

Plan and schedule: Once you know your broad topic, narrow down that special something you bring to the mix and then build on that to figure our podcast episode themes. Will you have guests? This is a good time to reach out and tap them. Make a schedule while you’re at it. How often are you going to release the episodes? How many episodes will there be? 

Podcast Equipment: Essential podcasting equipment includes a microphone, headphones, and recording software. Optional kit can include a pop filter, soundproofing foam shields, and an audio interface or mixer. We’ll get into this some more in the next column. 

Create and record: To create high-quality recordings, it’s essential to find a suitable recording space! Not only will you sound good, your audience can then focus on your words without actively having to filter out distractions. If you can’t afford a recording studio, you can set up a space without noise, interference, and echo. We will get into this in part 3 of this 5 part column. 


Edit and polish: As I always say in my workshops: nobody is as eloquent as they think they are. For best results and good content, I advise all my clients and students to listen back to what they’ve created after a small break and then judiciously take out the flubs, the detours, and the irrelevant bits. 

Broadcast and publish: For people to find your podcast, you have to upload the audio to the cloud and I would recommend using a dedicated hosting platform (paid). This way, anyone who subscribes gets a fresh episode every time you push one live. Good platforms also distribute to all the big podcast listening apps (which might take a one-time set up) to help discoverability.

Market and engage: Finally, your podcast is out! The final step is finding the people you want as your audience – on social media, at parties, at conferences! Tell them about your podcast, get your guests to tell their network too. Cross promote and don’t be shy. 

Author podcasts @Sonologue – Podcasting production, consultation and training workshops. Reach her on twitter @chhavi

 Luminary launches in India with two shows

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Luminary has announced its official launch in India today. Today, the network debuts two new shows: Konkona Sen Sharma’s Barefoot Boys and Masaba Gupta’s How I Met Masaba.

Konkona Sen Sharma

First on luminary is Barefoot Boys. The podcast will recreate the untold story of 11 barefooted Indian football players who defeated a British team during a 1911 match.

Masaba Gupta

In, How I Masaba, Masaba Gupta takes a seat opposite remarkable women in their respective fields.

Commenting on the concept of Barefoot Boys, Konkona Sen Sharma said, “The tale of Barefoot Boys is timeless. It will stand the test of time even 100 years from now. This is the power and guts of the story. I am honored to tell this story, as a Bengali and more so as an Indian. Luminary has done a great job bringing this concept to fruition, which I am sure will be well-appreciated by audiences.”

Talking about her upcoming podcast, Masaba Gupta shares, “I was always interested in back stories of badass women who have conquered so much. This is going to be really special since I get to talk to women I am inspired by every day! Expect a non-preachy, honest and crazy exchange of ideas, stories, and even mishaps.”

Commenting on the market entry, Rishi Malhotra, Luminary CEO said, “India is an important growth market for podcasting, storytelling, and Luminary.  Our shows truly blur the lines between podcast and art, and we’re excited to bring this unique approach into one of the world’s most rich and dynamic cultures.  There are endless stories to uncover in India, and we look forward to telling them through a premium, subscription-based model that entertains and elevates.”

Bengaluru-based Raegr launches Vocalz 250 – a condenser microphone kit

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Raegr, a Bengaluru-based lifestyle consumer technology brand has launched Vocalz 250 which is an entire microphone kit for podcasters, musicians, YouTubers, and other audio professionals, at a very appealing price. The entre kit consists of a high-fidelity condenser microphone which comes with an adjustable suspension scissor arm, a metal shock mount, and a double-layer pop filter which aids in studio recordings.

The Vocalz 250 strives to deliver studio-quality audio recordings and is compatible to work with laptops, tablets, and smartphones as well. To eliminate background noise, the Vocalz 250 employs its cardioid pickup pattern, which enables it to capture sound sources directly in front of the microphone only. It is also fitted with a pop filter with double mesh layering, and a foam mic windscreen. This helps in reducing wind and other sounds in order to reproduce top-quality sound. The metal shock mount also helps in eliminating ‘those unwanted vibrations and accidental table disturbances’ which could interfere in one’s recordings.

The Vocals 250 is also simple to install and begin using. After unfolding the tripod, the user needs to just secure the bottom knob to a table and attach the microphone to it, which is also adjustable through a 180-fegree flexible design. The scissor arm is crafted from steel, and thus ensures stability when it comes to holding the entire setup.

“The pandemic has forced many audio professionals to work from home, but most of them lack the required audio gear and environment that the studio provides. The RAEGR Vocalz 250 Mic Kit helps bring the studio home, almost. It comes in handy with studio-class audio processing performance with a condenser microphone, and is best suited for professionals who need a high-fidelity mic for talking, singing, podcasting , vlogging, YouTube reviews, or broadcasting”, said Ajesh George, MD for Raegr.  

The Raegr Vocalz 250 Condenser Microphone Kit is available on Amazon and Flipkart for Rs. 3,499. It also comes with a 1-year standard industrial warranty and an additional 6-month extended warranty upon registration.

For more information, please visit this page.