How to Start a Podcast – No Matter Your Budget

When people learn I produce and host podcasts — like the lovely Parks n Wrecked— that discovery is almost always followed up with a question: how can I start a podcast of my own?

After I ask if they’re actually committed to starting and maintaining a podcast (because that’s the number one thing), the next question is budget . How much money do you have to work with?

While you CAN start a podcast for free, that doesn’t mean you should.

There are a LOT of podcasts out there. Hundreds of new ones are getting started every day. Listeners will tune out if yours doesn’t at least have serviceable audio quality. Luckily, you don’t have to break the bank—here’s all you need to start a podcast.

Note: Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. It doesn’t cost you anything additional and I’m only making recommendations on products I’ve used and believed in. Trust me — I’ve wasted PLENTY of money on stuff that ended up being…well, a waste of money. If I can save at least one person from that, then I can channel my inner Ice Cube and say today was a good day.

 

Before You Get Started

I highly suggest hosting your podcast on its own website or microsite. If you already have a blog and want to include the podcast as a complementary piece? Totally cool. But if you’re just getting started (or maybe you want to start a blog to go alongside your episodes), your own site is the way to go.

For that, you can’t do any better than Bluehost. It’s shockingly easy to get started with them, and the monthly cost is less than a latte at ANY coffee shop.

Less than four bucks a month for your own website (including a domain name and added security)? You really can’t do better than that. Use my link and you’ll score all these features.

Not only is Bluehost incredibly affordable , but their support is also amazing. I once tried to fiddle with some source code for one of my websites. This was perhaps the worst idea, as my web developer knowledge can best be described as “putrid.”

Long story short, I ended up deleting my entire website so that everything outside of the homepage gave a broken 404 response. COOL.

 

Bluehost had me back up and running within minutes, despite my panicked yelling at them. Super helpful, super easy to work with. And the one-click setup with WordPress is incredibly useful since so many sites use WordPress and nearly EVERY website enhancement works with WordPress. It’s an all-in-one package that works really well, whether you’re an accomplished website user or can’t even tell the difference between website cookies and chocolate chip cookies. Dang, now I want some chocolate chip cookies…

Podcast Hosts

To start a podcast, you’ll need a podcast host, which is where you upload your episodes. This is different from a podcast directory, like iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Stitcher. A podcast directory is where people can find your episodes; the host is where those episodes technically live. You simply upload your RSS feed (which your podcast host will give you) and the directory will update every time you launch a new episode.

They all have perks . Blubrry integrates easily with WordPress, Podbean has a cool community network, Simplecast is sleek and has cool analytics, BuzzSprout is probably the simplest to set up, Libsyn has an extensive ad roll for you to add into your episodes . Feel free to check ’em out and see what works best for you. I’ve enjoyed Simplecast the most, personally, as you can upload as many files as you want at $15/month, with no file size restrictions. That’s super helpful if you start a podcast that posts more frequently than twice a month. And of course, you can always start small and build up over time.

One other thing (then I promise, onto the equipment!): for the longest time, I always wondered what I’d do when interviewing guests remotely. It’s not like I could trust them to have the same quality equipment I do, right? And it’s not feasible to send even a cheap USB microphone to every guest.

So what to do?

Simple: Squadcast. This is a new platform that makes it incredibly easy to chat with remote guests, no matter where they are in the world. You just send them a link, they click it, and boom — you have a video chat that saves as you’re recording, so even if something goes wrong, you won’t lose your whole episode.

And if you record enough episodes, something WILL go wrong, so it’s nice to know that your guest will have a smooth experience.

Now (finally), onto the equipment! I’ll start with our highest budget first — feel free to scroll down to find the budget that works best for you. Let’s start a podcast!

 

Podcast Equipment for Under $250

When you have a bit of a larger budget, you can invest in a mixer when you start a podcast. This is particularly useful if you have multiple hosts — you can control each person’s volume individually, and everyone’s sound will be a lot clearer.

I’m a big fan of UPHORIA’s line of mixers, most of which typically go for either two or four microphone inputs. I like UPHORIA’s mixers because they’re not super pricey and they plug into your computer via USB — super easy to integrate with GarageBand, Audacity, or another digital audio workstation (DAWs).

GarageBand, Audacity, and DAWs like that are where you’ll edit your podcast. You’ll also need XLR cables to plug those microphones into your mixer — a simple male-to-female cable does the trick.

For the mics themselves, there are a few different XLR options that work well.

Shure SM58S

 

The SM58S features its own built-in, spherical filter, which helps reduce pops and hisses, all while unleashing a beautifully engaging sound. Shure has been in the business for a long time, and they know their stuff when it comes to mics.

If you do insist on holding your mics (highly discouraged), these are among the most comfortable ones to carry for an extended period of time. Note that this mic by itself is more than $100, so they’re more recommended for folks that already have mixers, or have budgets above $250.

Audio-Technica AT2020

 

Know what’s cool about this pack? You get headphones in addition to the mic. And these are REALLY good headphones. I know folks will drop five times this amount just on Beats by Dre because LeBron James kind of wears them on his head while walking to the locker room. Well, guess what? LeBron isn’t in the playoffs, and he’s probably lamenting over that lost couple of hundred dollars.

Just kidding, he’s probably working on his next business venture. Either way, he’ll be jealous of your setup here, as the mic is very good, too. It’s got low self-noise and a wide dynamic range. Whether you sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks or James Earl Jones, you’ll come out sounding even better on your recorded file.

Marantz MPM-1000

 

This is a nice little bundle that comes with a stand, so you don’t have to hold it. It’s also got a shock mount to limit unwanted vibrations on the mic. And a pop filter, which reduces those loud bursts of sound when you say “b,” “f,” and “p” words. Oh, and it comes with an XLR cable. That’s a pretty nifty package for $50.

Behringer Ultravoice XM1800S

You could also give these mics a whirl. A three-pack goes for $40 and you get a stylish carrying case to boot. As I’ve alluded to above, I’d still recommend picking up some basic mic stands because it’s asking a lot of you and your fellow hosts to hold a mic for the entire episode. We’re not hosting an episode of TLR, just a podcast.

 

Rode PodMic Dynamic Broadcast Microphone

Finally, this one isn’t yet out on the market, but I’m quite intrigued by it. Rode makes some fantastic products, though their top-end mics start to become pretty pricey, particularly if you’re just starting out. Even the more mid-level options give you such a warm, full feel, and to snag one for under $100 is a pretty good deal.

Podcast Equipment for Under $100

If your entire podcasting budget is $100 or less, you’re probably looking at USB mics only. That’s not to say you can’t get some great sound, though. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Samson Meteor Mic

 

If you like your mics to show a little leg, then the Samson Meteor is for you. I love how compact Samsons are, so you can easily take them with you on the go if need be.

This one also comes with a headphone jack so you can keep track of your volume levels AND you can mute the mic. Why would that come in handy? In case you use this on any conference calls and don’t want people to hear you while you’re washing dishes or using the bathroom. It’s an excellent feature.

Audio-Technica ATR-2100 USB

 

Not sure if you want to go USB or XLR? How about BOTH?! Did I just blow your mind? I sure hope not — otherwise, it’ll be hard to read the rest of these recommendations.

As I mentioned earlier, Audio-Technica makes fantastic headphones, which is how I first discovered them, but their microphones are really solid, too. I just picked up a few of these on a suuuuper cheap deal, and they’ve treated me very well.

The ATR-2100 has a dual XLR/USB feature. That means you can either use it with a mixer or plug it right into your computer. And as a dynamic mic, it’ll sound okay in a louder environment. I’m not saying to take it with you on a crowded subway, but you could pull it off and it would still sound alright.

Note: Please don’t take your microphone on a crowded subway and try to record unless you’re doing a podcast on subway travel.

Podcast Equipment for Under $50

At this point, your mics won’t have all the fun features as some of the other ones. But they’ll still be a LOT better than simply relying on your computer laptop. Plus they’re kinda cute, and that’s always fun, right?

Blue Snowball iCE Condensor Microphone

 

This was the very first USB microphone I ever purchased, and I still use it to this day. It’s not my main mic — I use it for voiceover work sometimes — but it’s great for a beginner podcaster. It’s also a little fun to speak into a snowball in the middle of summer. How meta!

For a little bit less money, Blue also offers a Snowflake USB microphone that is even more compact (like, SUPER compact). I prefer the Snowball because I think the sound quality is better. However, the Snowflake has a nice swivel and is easier to take with you for an “in the field” recording.

Samson Go Portable Mic USB Condenser Microphone

 

Speaking of taking microphones with you, the Samson Go Mic, as its name suggests, is maybe the most portable mic on this entire list. It folds and comes with this little handy case. Additionally, it’s USB-friendly and has a headphone jack so you can keep track of how loud (or soft) you’re being. And with an omnidirectional pickup, you can use it with multiple hosts in a pinch.

Once you’ve got your equipment, you’re ready to conquer the world! Or at least a bunch of people’s eardrums. And that’s pretty much the same thing. Now get out there and start a podcast! And then share it with me because I love finding new shows.

Did I miss your favorite mic? Do you swear by another piece of equipment? I wanna hear about it — hit me in the comments.

Note: This is a modified version of a post I wrote on Medium.