05/01/2025
By Michelle Southern
You’re reading this because you want to start a podcast? Good for you! Everyone should have a podcast! We all have a story to tell, and best of all, people want to hear your story. Even better, it’s easier now than ever to make it happen. If you’re a business owner, influencer or politician, your podcast is a no brainer. If you’re in news or sports, you’ve got this. But hold up, if you just said to yourself, “Nobody wants to hear my story.” Think again. We’ll get to that point later.
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Over the past several years, I’ve had countless people approach me about their desire to start a podcast. And then the next question, “But where do I begin? Can you help me?”
This conversation usually starts in a building on Government Street in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where we not only house 4 very active radio stations across multiple FM and HD dials, but we have a space filled with studios, microphones and video cameras. How could I ever in good conscience say to someone asking me for help, that I have no answers – as I sit there with headphones on, one microphone in front of my face and two under my office studio desk I keep for “emergencies.”
So, let’s talk about it right here just us. Where do you begin? Yes, our building is open to you for every sort of microphone and video space we can make available. And a ready team of extremely talented producers who do this every day for high maintenance radio hosts.
But before you even consider that option, you need a plan. And it does not have to be overly complicated. Over my tenure in broadcasting, I’ve found that I’ve had the most success in things I didn’t complicate and overthink. But I always have a plan. And when it comes to coming up with the ever-popular phrase of “creating interesting content,” there really is only one thing you need to launch from: Who are you talking to? That’s it. I promise you it’s only one person. Even though you want to see your download numbers skyrocket, when you broadcast or podcast, you’re only talking to one person.
Got that person? Great!
Keep thinking about them while you go through the next steps.
Episodes! You already know podcasts are broken down by episodes, right? Each episode should have one thought, one story, one topic, one interview. This will leave your audience wanting more! What is going to happen in the *next* episode? (TV has perfected this concept, haven’t they?)
So, here’s what I would do if I were you. Get that person you’re talking to in your mind. Frame out some episodes with your individual topics, then come talk to me about renting our studios.
If you’re reading this and you’re all about news, sports or pop culture trending topics, you’ve still got that one person you’re talking to, right? So even if your episodes aren’t planned out in advance by topic, what you need to do is come up with a set podcast launch schedule. In radio we call this, “setting appointments with your listeners.”
How long should your episodes be? Across the board I would say no less than 15 minutes, no more than 45 minutes.
Now, here we are back to whether people want to hear your story. I leave it to you, what’s your story? It’s not who you are, what you are, what you sell – it’s your story. I don’t even know you and I already want to download every episode once I know your story.
It’s as simple as that.
Your assignment is coming up with that one person you’re talking to, your episode plan and the frequency with which you plan to tell your story.
Once you come back to us with that, we will shower you with options of logos and custom intros, postproduction, video options, hosting and all the things!
I can’t wait to hear your story.
~Michelle
Our studio rental options can be viewed here.
