Want to Shoot a Podcast? Read This Before You Waste Time Struggling Where to Start

This isn’t for the LinkedIn personal brand bros.

It’s for creators, designers, and founders who actually think in voice. Who don’t want another platform to chase, they want a medium to think in public, build authority, and attract aligned work.

Let’s get into it. No filler. Just what works.

Start Here: Who’s Listening?

Most beginner podcasts fail because the creator doesn’t know who they’re talking to.

Don’t start by buying a mic. Start with this question:

“If I recorded 5 episodes in a row, who would find it so valuable they’d binge it while commuting?”

Now work backwards.

If the answer is “freelance designers figuring out pricing,” then episode ideas should look like:

• My exact process for pricing retainers (with numbers)
• Why you keep attracting low-paying clients
• A DM I got last week from a founder, and how I replied

Not “Top 5 productivity hacks.” That’s dead.

Tactical clarity = sticky episodes.

Format Tips That Actually Help

Hook fast.First 15 seconds should feel like, “wait, what was that?”Clip a powerful quote or moment and play it before the intro.

Structure your thoughts.Use the 3 Act Rule:

• Setup (what this episode is about + why it matters)
• Depth (stories, data, breakdowns, guest convo)
• Payoff (actionable takeaways or cliffhanger for next)

Respect their time.Don’t drop 90-minute rambles unless you already have fans. Start with tight 15-30 min formats. Let people want more.

Batch record.Schedule 3-4 episodes in one sitting if possible. Burnout kills momentum. Momentum builds trust.

What Gear Do You Actually Need?

Forget all the influencer blog posts. Here’s what’s been used on real pods in India under ₹10K:

• Mic: Samson Q2U (~₹4,000). USB + XLR. Great sound. Durable.
• Headphones: Any closed-back (M20x is fine)
• Software:
  • Recording: Audacity (free)
  • Remote: Riverside or Zencastr
  • Editing: Descript if you like editing with transcripts

Biggest audio mistake newbies make: Recording in an empty, echoey room.

Put clothes on the wall. Record near a mattress. Or just rent a treated podcast studio.

A YT video guide for Essential Equipment to Start Your Podcast

Studios Worth Booking (That Don’t Sound Like Trash)

If you’re in Delhi or Mumbai, don’t waste energy setting up gear. Rent by the hour.

Delhi:

• Lake View Studio, Hauz Khas – Home-style vibe, multiple backdrops, clean sound.
• Podcast Studio , Noida – Modular, ready to roll.

Mumbai:

• Podcast Studio in Borivali West – Great for cozy creator setups.
• Living Room Studio, Goregaon West – Video and podcast hybrid.

Find more curated spaces on the BOOKD podcast studio collection.

Episode Editing: Go Light, But Smart

You don’t need to sound like NPR. But some basic polish goes a long way.

Checklist:

• Cut the “umm,” dead air, awkward pauses
• Compress the voice slightly (your software will have presets)
• Normalize audio volume to -16 LUFS for podcasts
• Add a simple intro-outro with music (buy a royalty-free track or get one from Epidemic)

Don’t use AirPods. Don’t record Zoom audio.

Do a test run and listen back before sending anything live.

How to Get Listeners (Beyond “Post on IG”)

Real talk? Discovery is hard.

But here’s what works:

Title Like a Human, Not an AI.
Bad: Ep 07 – Interview with Jane DoeGood: How Jane Made ₹5L/Month Without Posting on Social Media

Send your guest a share pack.
Include a 60-second clip + quote card + direct links. Make it easy to repost.

Cross-promote inside your own audience.
Turn podcast clips into Instagram reels. Threads. Carousels. Make the audio work in visual formats too.

Post in small Discords, WhatsApp groups, newsletters.
The smaller the circle, the deeper the trust.

Do swap episodes.
Reach out to other podcasters and do a “you on mine, me on yours” trade. It’s underrated and works.

Podcast SEO Without the BS

• Always include full episode descriptions with keywords like “podcast for designers in India” or “creative freelance podcast 2025”
• Add a transcript. Even auto-generated. Improves search.
• Add external backlinks to all your episodes

Example: “This episode was recorded at Podcast Studio in Goregaon, available on BOOKD.”

Bonus: Watch This If You’re Serious About Long-Form

If you’re still figuring out whether podcasting is worth your time, watch this breakdown by Ali Abdaal:

👉 How I Grew My Podcast (Revenue, Workflow, Real Talk)

It’s the kind of video you pause and take notes from. No hype. Just systems and what worked for him.

Starter Episode Ideas That Teach Something

You’re not just telling stories. You’re building authority. So lean into episodes like:

• My ₹0 to ₹50K/Month Freelance Journey (and What I’d Do Differently)
• How to Pitch Brands Without Feeling Cringe
• The Tech Stack I Actually Use as a Solo Creative
• My Design System for Client Workflows
• How to Stop Undercharging (with real pricing breakdowns)
  

Make the episodes useful enough that someone DMs you after.

Final Word: Podcasting Is Slow Leverage

Not everything needs to blow up.

But if someone listens to 3 episodes, chances are they trust you enough to pay you, book you, or collab with you.

So make it easy for them to hear you properly.

Book a podcast studio that doesn’t sound like a bathroom.

You’ll thank yourself later.

🎧 Explore real podcast studios on BOOKD

📦 Or list your own if you’ve got one