How to Turn Your Interests Into a Podcast
Everyone’s interested in something. Whether it’s the paleo diets, Reddit true crime conspiracies, or medieval history, there’s something that piques your interest. Something you feel like you could talk all day about--maybe even make a podcast about it.
But the question remains: how do you turn those interests into a podcast? Well, look no further than here to answer that question. Let’s break down the things you need to consider in order to turn your interests into a fully-realized podcast idea.
✴ Are you passionate (and informed) about this subject?
You don’t have to be an expert (although it’d be nice if you knew a good deal about your topic in some shape, whether through experience or study), but you definitely have to be passionate.
Like any long-term creative project, a podcast is a commitment. You have to be ready to create tens of hours (hundreds, if you’re successful!) of content about this particular subject. Are you ready and willing to spend that much time discussing your interest? The only way you will be is if you’re truly passionate about it and want to spread and engage in that passion with other people. If you can answer that with a resounding yes, then continue on.
Related: Why Right Now is a Great Time to Make a Podcast
✴ Do your market research
Podcast ideas are like a business. You need to check out the market and do your research before fully committing to your new idea. Don’t go into this process blind. You want to have a clear idea of what’s out there, what’s not out there, and how you, specifically, are going to be able to help serve your intended audience.
To do that, research the following:
What are potential keywords associated with your idea? What current podcast results appear when you search those phrases?
Based on your analysis of any podcasts currently out there in your general topic, is there a big enough potential audience to sustain your podcast idea?
What’s a unique angle to take that differentiates your podcast idea from everyone else’s?
You’ll want to do thorough research, but that last question is, perhaps, the most important. Find a new and interesting way to approach your topic. What’s the special sauce you can bring to the table?
✴ Brainstorm 50 episode ideas
You’re passionate. You’ve done your market research. You’re pretty sure this is a good idea. But hold up for a moment. It’s time for a little brainstorm exercise.
Grab a pen and piece of paper, and write down at least 50 episode ideas. These aren’t your set-in-stone episodes, just ideas. This is simply to prove that there’s enough material here to warrant a podcast that could become long-running. You want to have so many ideas that you have the freedom to choose the best ones, rather than only having a few ideas and being forced to use them all for lack of choice.
Okay, go ahead. Write down your 50 ideas. I’ll wait.
Done? Did you make it to 50? Was it easy or did you have to stretch hard to come up with 50 unique topics? Evaluate the process you just went through. Do you feel like this is still something that warrants a podcast? Yes? Congratulations, you have an idea that just might be the next great podcast!
Stop thinking and start building your podcast! Here’s a checklist to help you launch in 30 days.
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