I'm Jessica Peresta, host of the Elementary Music Teacher Podcast, a part of the Education Podcast Network.Shows on the network are individually owned and opinions expressed may not reflect others.
Find other interesting education podcasts at edupodcastnetwork.com.
Coming up on episode 250 of the House of Ed Tech podcast, it's time to go into chapter three of my book, and we're going to talk about planning and preparing for your podcast.Strike up the band. Welcome to the House of EdTech.
The House of EdTech launched in 2014, giving me the opportunity to speak with teachers, leaders, and creators so you can more effectively integrate technology, strengthen your pedagogy, and have more confidence in your classroom and school so you can make an impact.
And get involved with the podcast by visiting my website, chrisnessy.com.Using technology isn't difficult.And this is where it begins.This is the House of EdTech.Yes, it is.Yes, it is.Welcome back.
If this is your first time listening, thank you for checking out the podcast.If you're a returning listener, welcome back.Episode 250.Wow. Wow.Wow.Wow.We are one fifth of the way to a thousand episodes of the podcast.
Uh, what a journey since we started this whole process back in January of 2014, here we are episode 250.And as I said, in the open, we are in the midst of episodes that share chapters of my book.I like to podcast and you will too.
I hope you've enjoyed chapters one and two, because today we are going to tackle chapter three, where I'll talk about planning and preparing for your podcast.
Before we get into it, I do want to let you know that in addition to going through the next chapter, I will also provide some additional commentary on the topics in the book.
And I've got some additional recommendations based on what this chapter is about. Now, if you would like to pick up a copy of the book for yourself or someone else, go to chrisnessy.com slash I like to podcast.
The book is available physically and also for Kindle.If you don't want to pick up a copy of the book, but you are getting value and you want to show your appreciation, feel free to visit chrisnessy.com slash support.
I'd also like you to join my Discord community where we can discuss the book, podcasting, technology, education.Go to chrisnessy.com slash discord and join the House of EdTech there.
And now I present to you, I like to podcast and you will too, a House of EdTech guide to podcasting, chapter three, planning and preparing for your podcast.
This chapter covers the next steps in starting a podcast, including planning and preparing for your first episodes.
The chapter discusses the importance of developing a content plan and a schedule, and offers tips for creating a consistent and engaging flow of episodes.The chapter also covers choosing a name and branding for your podcast.
and offers advice for creating a professional and memorable piece of artwork for your show.The chapter then covers setting up recording equipment and software and offers tips for choosing the right tools for your podcast.
By the end of this chapter, you will have a clear plan and all the necessary tools to start recording and editing your show.What is the importance of developing a content plan and a schedule?
Developing a content plan and a schedule is important for several reasons. First, it helps you to organize your ideas and create a structure for your podcast.
By planning out the topics and segments for each episode, you can ensure that your content is well-rounded and flows smoothly.A content plan and a schedule also help you to stay on track and avoid missing deadlines or running out of ideas.
This is especially important if you are releasing episodes on a regular schedule. as it helps you to maintain consistency and keep your audience engaged.
Additionally, a content plan and schedule can help you set goals and measure your progress so that you can see how your podcast is evolving and growing over time.
Overall, a content plan and schedule are valuable tools for planning, organizing, and improving your podcast.Some of the ways that I do that here on House of Ed Tech I have a spreadsheet that I use to track downloads for the show.
If you're not aware, I use Libsyn to host my podcast, which you can find at l-i-b-s-y-n.com.And I get download stats.
And what I track in a Google sheet are my downloads in the first seven days of release of an episode, downloads in the first 30 days of release of an episode, and also the downloads after the first 90 days.
after I've released an episode of the podcast and I've got some graphs set up so I can see how the podcast changes over time in terms of the number of downloads that it's getting which in my opinion is the true measure of is my podcast growing because if I see those averages go up that tells me that more people are listening to the podcast
And I will pull back the curtain even further and say that over the last couple of years, I have seen that level off.It's not going down, but it's also not going up.So share the show.
Um, the other thing that I'll throw in here that that's not listed in the book, and I guess, you know, I'm, I'm silly for not including it is the pod journal.
My first, well, quote-unquote book, The Pod Journal, will help you plan your first 100 episodes of your podcast.You can find it at chrisnessy.com slash thepodjournal or slash podjournal.Try them both and I'll make sure that they both work.
And there'll also be a link in the show notes for this. out at chrisnessy.com slash 250.So the pod journal will help you plan your ideas, go through your interviews.And again, it'll help you plan your first 100 episodes and it's a physical book.
I didn't make it available digitally because that doesn't make any sense, but it's available physically so you can write in it.It is a journal that will help you plan your podcast.So check out the pod journal as well.
Okay, enough straying from the pages, let's get back to the text.Here are some tips for creating a consistent and engaging flow of episodes.
Number one, start each episode with an engaging introduction or a hook that draws the listener in and sets the tone for the rest of the episode.
I think I do that in each episode, after the EPN bumper, then I say something about the episode, and then we say, strike up the band, and here we go, let's get into the episode.
Number two, use a consistent structure for each episode, such as starting with a brief overview of the topic, followed by interviews or segments, and ending with a conclusion or a call to action.
As I think about the House of Ed Tech, I've been doing the show very consistently, in terms of what episodes sound like, I can't say look like because they're not really visual, but I've had the same segments for most of the show.
I've tried some different segments here and there.You may have noticed that I don't really do the House of EdTech VIP anymore. I don't really know why.I might have explained it in a previous episode.
I really can't remember right now, but things like just give it a try.I've had some different things that we've done here on this podcast, but we've always had interviews from time to time.
And again, this podcast started out as a very interview heavy podcast, but the recommendations, the ed tech thought, those things have always been there to create consistency in order to each episode.And actually, I'll throw in here a little story.
I remember, gosh, I must have been doing the podcast a year or less than a year.And somebody reached out to me and told me that I shouldn't do segments and that you know, the music and why do I do it that way?And they didn't like it.
And I said, Thank you very much.I appreciate your feedback.But it's my podcast, and I will podcast how I want to.So I don't know if that person still listens, but maybe they got over it.Not sure. That's my thoughts on that.All right.
Number three, vary the content of each episode to keep things interesting, but maintain a consistent overall theme or focus for your podcast.I think I've done a pretty good job of that over the course of 249, now 250 episodes.
Although this little series is much different than anything I've ever done.So we'll see where it goes.I don't think I'm going to write another book, but yeah, no, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to write another book. 4.Use engaging storytelling techniques such as using sound effects, music, or personal anecdotes to enhance the listening experience.
This has been one experiment after another and I share stories all the time on this podcast.
EdTech thoughts are mainly stories and my opinions based on experiences or the experiences of others.Engage with your audience through social media, email, or other channels and incorporate their feedback and suggestions into future episodes.
Well, we know that many podcasts do that.I certainly reach out to you, the listener, and invite you, the listener, to send me your thoughts and your feedback.
But I recently got feedback on maybe I'm not being specific enough on asking for feedback and asking very pointed questions. So I've been keeping it very general.And I mean, I guess I could try to ask more specific questions.
I think I've tried to do that in the last couple of episodes based on sharing the content of this book, where trying to ask a very specific pointed question at the end to get your feedback on and, you know, still not a lot of feedback.
Other than, you know, I'm still getting people listening to episode 247, which was about doing a little bit of a podcast reset.And, you know, if you're current on this, you know, here we are.So if you're getting value out of this, let me know.
If you've got questions, let me know.I invited you at the beginning of this episode in the last two, join the discord community.If you're not using discord, give it a try. Try it out.Let's build something together.
I can't build community if there's nobody to talk to.Back to the book. 6.Regularly review and assess the quality and engagement of your episodes and make adjustments as needed to improve the flow and effectiveness of your podcast.Maybe I'm stubborn.
I don't know.We will certainly see where this goes as we continue to create content and I continue to create episodes.I'm always evolving.I'm always learning.Are you?
Overall, the key to creating a consistent and engaging flow of episodes is to plan ahead, be creative, and listen to your audience.I would love to listen to the audience.Talk to me! How do you choose a name and branding for your podcast?
Choosing a name for your podcast is an important step, as it will be the first thing that potential listeners see and hear.When selecting a name, it's important to consider your audience and the tone of your podcast.
The name should be memorable and unique, but also reflective of the content and style of your podcast.It's also a good idea to choose a name that is easy to pronounce and spell, and that will be easy to search for online.
Once you have chosen a name for your podcast, you can begin to develop your brand. And actually, let me throw in something here too.And I credit Dave Jackson for this, uh, from school of podcasting.
When you come up with a name for your podcast, you should simply tell people either close friends or potential listeners, Hey, I'm going to start a podcast or I'm thinking of starting a podcast called blank and come up with a name and then just say, what is the podcast about?
And then be quiet.And if they can tell you based on only the title you're thinking of, what the podcast is about and what they say aligns with what you plan to do, then you've got a good title.
But if you are coming up with a very cute and clever title, that might not let listeners know what the podcast is truly about.
And I see lots of podcasts in education and out of education, but especially in education, a lot of podcasts have very cutesy names and yeah, they're creative, but based on the title alone,
A lot of people don't really title their podcasts all that well.I think I did a good job.House of Ed Tech.I used the hashtag Ed Tech.I think it's pretty clear what the House of Ed Tech is about.
And I don't know if I've ever shared this, but I'll throw it in here at this moment in time.How did I come up with House of Ed Tech?
At the time, my wife and I, Caitlin, we were very into House of Cards, Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, the whole Netflix show.So House of Cards inspired me to create House of Ed Tech.
And if you go and you look up the, I guess the original cover art and artwork for House of Cards, it was House of Cards with an upside down American flag.
And I'm pretty sure that the original cover art for this podcast said House of Ed Tech, and I had a computer monitor that was like a flat screen monitor, but it was upside down.So I was very inspired by House of Cards to create the House of EdTech.
And now you know.Alright, back into where I was.Alright, so we were talking about beginning to develop your brand.So I told you a little bit about how I developed mine.
So, this involves creating a visual identity for your podcast, such as a logo or artwork, and defining the tone and style that you will use in your podcast.
Your brand should be consistent across all your podcast materials, such as your website, social media accounts, and episode artwork, and it should reflect the values and personality of your podcast.
By developing a strong and consistent brand, you can create a professional image for your podcast and make it stand out in what might be a crowded market.
And again, that depends on where you want to be podcasting in terms of your niche and your topic.When I think about the branding,
I didn't always do episode artwork, but for many years, I would just basically change the variation of the colors on the individual episodes.And only recently, with the availability of AI, does the podcast cover art for each episode.
It's something that I basically take my show notes and I use ChatGPT to generate an AI art image based on what the show is about.
So sometimes I go through multiple iterations of the AI image generators and sometimes I get lucky and the first one is good.Let me know what you think.Do you like the AI cover artwork?
Look at your screen right now and maybe take a picture if it's on your car dashboard or take a screenshot on your phone.I would love to see what you see and just tag me at Mr. Nessie on Twitter or at House of Ed Tech on Instagram.That could be fun.
Let's see what the show looks like where you listen.OK. Setting up recording equipment and software.To create a podcast, you will need some basic recording equipment and software.Here is a simple setup that you can use to get started.
Number one, a microphone.A good quality microphone is essential for starting a podcast.You can use a USB microphone, which plugs directly into your computer, or a traditional microphone that connects to your computer using an audio interface.
Let's keep it simple here.Let me recommend two USB microphones that do have XLR capabilities, but you can just plug them into your computer or your phone at this point and you can get started.Number one is the ATR2100X from Audio-Technica.
Great microphone, under $100.Sometimes you can get it for under $60.So definitely a microphone I recommend.And the ATR2100 was the first microphone that I used on this podcast.
I did use a Blue Yeti, but that didn't last too long because that's not a great podcasting microphone.Number two is the Samson Q2U. Looks very similar to the ATR2100X, but different company, but it is a USB XLR handheld microphone.
Two great microphones, budget friendly.I will have a link for those out at chrisnessy.com slash 250.Number two, you might need an audio interface.And an audio interface allows you to connect your traditional microphone to your computer.
So if you have, think of a stage microphone at your school, or if you've ever, maybe you've done karaoke and it was a wired microphone.
You can take that analog microphone, connect it to a digital interface that connects to your computer via USB or Thunderbolt.There's a lot of different options.
And you can use any XLR microphone, which will take that analog signal and convert it to digital.So that is also an option. Number three, you need recording software.
You will need recording software to capture the audio from your microphone or your digital audio interface, and you can save it as a digital file.There are many different recording software options available.I 100% recommend Audacity.It's free.
It is what I have used since day one to produce this podcast.I use it to produce all of the podcasts that I do. And if you never heard me say that, you would never know what program I was using to make podcasts.
Because do you really care what software I use?Probably not.But learn a piece of software and just stick with it.If you're familiar with Audacity, great.
If you're familiar with something like Adobe Audition or another audio editing program, go with what you know.Nobody cares what program you use.Just learn how to use the program that you're using.Number four.Headphones.
Headphones are important for monitoring the audio as you record.This will allow you to hear yourself clearly and make any necessary adjustments to your microphone settings.
That is super important and it does sound a little weird at first to wear headphones and listen to yourself as you are talking.
It was awkward for me, it's not awkward anymore, but I am wearing headphones right now and I know that when I can hear myself super clear that I'm talking into the microphone and I have good mic technique.
If I was to look away, I wouldn't hear myself in my headphones and I know, oh, I'm not talking into the microphone. I'm not gonna demonstrate that because that makes it harder to edit later.So just have good mic technique, wear headphones.
Once you have all the equipment and software you need, you can start setting up your recording space.Choose a quiet, well-lit location with minimal background noise.
Adjust the settings on your microphone and recording software to ensure that you are capturing high quality audio.Once you have everything set up, you can start recording your podcast.
Make sure to speak clearly, enunciate your words, and take breaks if necessary.When you're finished recording, you can use your recording software to edit and enhance the audio, and then save the final version as a digital file.
Typically, that's going to be an MP3 file.And that's it.With the right equipment and the right software, creating a podcast can be fun and rewarding.A couple of notes here that I didn't put in the book. you want to create an mp3 file.
When I use Audacity, because I'm going to go with what I know and most programs will allow you to tweak the output, I produce a 96 kilobit per second mono file.
I'm not producing stereo audio because this is just spoken word and I'm not trying to win a Grammy for what I record.
So a 96 kilobyte mono file keeps your file size small, which makes it better and easier to stream or download when you upload it to your media host. which is something we will get into later in the book.Let's conclude this chapter.
Planning and preparing for your podcast is an essential step in creating a successful and engaging audio experience for your audience.By developing a clear concept and format,
Identifying your target audience and setting goals for your podcast, you can ensure that your content is well suited to your audience and aligned with your objectives.
Additionally, by researching and organizing your content and considering factors such as music rights, recording equipment, you can create a solid foundation for your podcast and set yourself up for success.
By following these steps, you can create a well-structured and professional podcast that resonates with your audience and helps you to achieve your goals.So that's chapter three.Let's do our key takeaways and some action steps.
Alright, here are your key takeaways from Chapter 3.The importance of a content plan and schedule.Having a plan allows you to organize your ideas and that will keep your podcast running smoothly.A schedule, that will help you stay consistent.
Having a schedule can lead to audience engagement, and having a schedule will also help you track your progress.Be consistent.Also, set some goals.Have goals.
Because while they're easy to set, they're also easy to monitor and that will allow you to plan your episodes in advance.And I can't recommend enough The Pod Journal.
I will include a link for it in the show notes for this episode out at chrisnessy.com slash 250 or they're a swipe or a tap away where you're listening right now.Next takeaway, create a consistent and engaging flow to your podcast.
Start your episodes with a hook, a question.Capture your listener's attention.Follow a structure.Have an overview.Have some main segments.Have a closing call to action.If you don't normally listen to the end of my episodes...
Listen to the end of this one.See how I end the episodes.Next up, number three, naming and branding your podcast.Your podcast name should be memorable, unique, and reflect what it's about.
Branding includes developing a visual identity, a logo, your podcast cover artwork, and defining a consistent tone to your show.This will also help to ensure consistency.Use that logo, use that artwork across platforms.
Use it on your website, use it on social media.Use it to establish a professional image for your content.And finally, a takeaway.Make sure you set up a recording space, and you've got some equipment, and you've got some software.
You need a microphone. you might need an audio interface.You're going to need recording software.Maybe it's Audacity, maybe it's Adobe Audition, or something else.And you're going to need headphones.
And choose a quiet recording space and adjust your settings for the best sound quality.Sometimes it's easy to record in a closet.You've got lots of clothes hanging in your closet.That'll deaden the sound.You could throw a blanket over your head.
It might get a little warm in the summer if you're podcasting, but you can do that.Your car is also a great place to podcast.Just don't do it while you're driving. and our action steps for today.
If you're in the process of creating a podcast and you've already started this journey, make sure you develop a content plan.Map out the first five to 10 episodes with topic ideas, questions, and put some dates on a calendar.Make that plan.
Set a consistent schedule. Decide how frequently you'll release your episodes, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and stick to it.Now, I'll also say, that can change.Just communicate that to your audience.We did that with Podcast PD.
We used to do that every two weeks, and now AJ and I do that podcast once a month. and we let the listeners know.And by the way, if you listen to this, but you don't listen to Podcast PD, come and check out Podcast PD.
AJ and I have a ball talking about education in general.You can go to podcastpd.com.Next action step, create your brand, design that logo, select a color scheme, and define your podcast's tone.
This will ensure consistency across all the materials where you can use this artwork. You can go to Canva, right?You can use Photoshop.You can go to something, I don't know, go to somebody you know who does graphic design.You can do it.
If you need help, I can help you.But create a brand for your show.And of course, set up your equipment. Invest in a microphone.Invest in headphones.Invest in yourself.
Whether you're creating a podcast for education, or for entertainment, or if you're going to do this with students, find the money.Find the money.You do need a little bit.
Yes, you can record on your phone, and that's an easy way to start, but if this is something you want to do, think of other hobbies that you could have. you need a little, little, little money to kind of get going.
If you need more specific recommendations based on your budget, feel free to reach out.You can email me feedback at chrisnessy.com and I'm happy to help you.Now let's wrap up the episode.
I want to thank you for listening to the House of EdTech podcast.Please subscribe or follow the show wherever you're listening, and continue to make this podcast a part of your anytime, anywhere professional development.
Links and resources that I mentioned in the episode can be found on my website.Go to chrisnessy.com slash 250. I also want to hear from you, and I value your feedback and your perspective.
Don't hesitate to reach out if you have thoughts or questions about this chapter of the book, or edtech, or education in general.I'm happy to have a conversation, and maybe a conversation we have could turn into a future episode.
You can email me, feedback at chrisnessy.com, or better yet, leave a voicemail at chrisnessy.com slash voicemail.I can't wait to connect with you.I also encourage you to share this podcast with another educator who would get value.Spread the word.
Help me reach as many people as possible.Remember I talked earlier about my downloads kind of plateauing? chip in, share the show with one other person, tweet about it on Instagram, or go to the classroom down the hall.Thank you in advance.
Lastly, I invite you to become an awesome supporter if you are getting value from my content.I am incredibly grateful for the ongoing and continued support from the following people.
Leo Kalbusch, Brian Carpenter, Aaron Cummings, Jeff Herb, Peggy George, and of course, Matt Miller.
If you've gotten value from this podcast, maybe you're enjoying the audio version of the book here that I'm giving away, or you'd like to see this continue, consider becoming an awesome supporter and visit chrisnessy.com slash awesome.
The next episode of the podcast is going to be episode number 251.And that's going to be chapter four, recording and editing your podcast.And that's going to come your way on October 20th, 2024.
I really hope that you are getting value and enjoying this.And I would really like to know if you are seriously considering starting a podcast.
I've gotten to meet a lot of people over the years through this podcast who say they want to start a podcast and they just haven't done it yet.Where are you in this journey?I want to know.Let's connect.Let's chat.
Until next time, thank you for learning with me.And remember, using technology, it isn't difficult.Just give it a try.
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