Podcasting

Why podcasting is wonderful after 50

Podcasting is a wonderful pursuit after 50 because it turns a lifetime of stories, opinions, and hard-won expertise into something you can share with the whole world. You have decades of experience worth hearing, and podcasting gives it a stage. It is deeply social, whether you interview old friends, chat with your grandchildren, or build a community of listeners who look forward to your voice. It is endlessly creative, on any subject you love. Best of all, it costs very little to start, it is done sitting comfortably at home, and there is no deadline but your own.

Your first month, week by week

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying too much expensive gear before you have recorded a single episode. A simple USB microphone is all you need to start.
• Recording in a room with hard, bare walls, which makes your voice echo. Add a rug, curtains, and soft furnishings to soften the sound.
• Starting without a plan, so episodes wander with no clear point. Jot down a few talking points or questions before you hit record.
• Publishing on no fixed schedule, so listeners forget about you. Pick a realistic rhythm, weekly or every two weeks, and stick to it.
• Rambling on for too long. Keep early episodes short and focused, and edit out the long pauses and tangents.
• Waiting for everything to be perfect before you launch. Done and published always beats perfect and never finished.

Words you'll hear

Episode

A single instalment of your podcast, one recorded show that listeners can play on its own.

RSS feed

A special web address that automatically delivers your new episodes to apps like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hosting

An online service that stores your audio files and sends them out to podcast apps whenever you publish.

Editing

Cleaning up your recording afterwards, trimming mistakes, removing long pauses, and evening out the volume.

Intro and outro

The short, often music-backed opening and closing that top and tail every episode with a familiar sound.

Show notes

A short written summary of the episode, with links and key points, that appears beneath it in podcast apps.

Where to find your people

• Podcasting groups on Facebook and subreddits like r/podcasting are full of friendly people answering beginner questions every day.
• Local podcast meetups and recording clubs, often listed on Meetup, are great places to learn in person and make recording friends.
• Online courses on sites like Udemy, YouTube, and Skillshare walk you through every step at your own pace.
• Podcast host communities, such as the forums and groups run by Buzzsprout and other hosting services, offer support built right in.
• YouTube tutorials from channels like Buzzsprout, Riverside, and Think Media are a free, endless source of how-to help.