NPR's Podcast Start Up Guide

Create, Launch, and Grow a Podcast on Any Budget

By: Glen Weldon

Narrated by: Glen Weldon, full cast

Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

From NPR comes the definitive guide to podcasting - featuring step-by-step advice on how to find a unique topic, tell the best stories, and engage the most listeners, as well as the secrets that will take your pod to the next level.

Whoever you are, whatever you love, there’s a podcast audience waiting for you, and in today’s booming audio storytelling landscape, it’s never been easier to share your voice with the world. But while the barrier to entry for podcast production is relatively low (just the cost of a mic and a laptop), the learning curve is steep - and quality matters. That’s where NPR comes in. 

In NPR’s Podcast Start Up Guide, Glen Weldon draws on NPR’s extensive educational materials and army of talent - from recognizable hosts, such as Guy Raz (How I Built This), Gene Demby (Code Switch), Linda Holmes (Pop Culture Happy Hour), and Yowei Shaw (Invisibilia), to indispensable behind-the-scenes players, such as producers, engineers, and editors - to guide aspiring podcasters through the conception, creation, and launch of a podcast.

Part master class, part candid informational interview with the best in the business, this book is a must-have for anyone who wants to make their dream of starting a podcast a reality.

©2021 Glen Weldon (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This guide answers the questions of any would-be podcaster while keeping the tone fresh, funny, and accessible. Weldon also supplies interactive exercises to give every new show the best chance of success, including marketing, distribution and metadata suggestions. Each beloved podcast starts somewhere, and this book is ideal for those looking to be the next big hit.” (Shelf Awareness)

“Written in a friendly tone full of jokey sidenotes, this book guides the nascent podcaster through...everything from concept to the right type of microphone to whether or not to monetize. [T]his user-friendly, comprehensive guide is a must for potential podcasters.” (Booklist) 

The best podcast training experience

My daughter and I could not have picked a better book to start our podcast. We learned a great deal. I would buy the book it’s hard to write notes while listening. We bought the book and it’s a beautiful well thought out book.
Wish us luck!

Very well done

Great writing and performance from the author/narrator. I especially love that many other professionals from NPR also performed various quotes and tips etc.

Comprehensive

Covered so much, it simultaneously made me feel overwhelmed and well-informed. Will serve as a good reference book while I'm making my podcast.

Every bit as good as you'd expect, and a bit more

A confession - I had only a peripheral interest in creating a podcast when I got this book. But, I figured it would have some good general VO and narration info in it (it does) and I figured the narration would be full-on flat-out amazing (it is, of course.)

There's a huge amount of information, it's well organized, and it's expertly presented. Again, not to belabor a point, but... No surprises there.

By the time it was over, I'd decided that I can probably make a good secondary stream of an informational YouTube channel by supplementing it with podcast content, though I'm not yet use if that will really produce a podcast with a justifiable, valuable-to-it's-listeners levels of content, but it's worth exploring - especially for stories that I can "illustrate" as well with sound as I do with images and sound in the video versions. Maybe just as a bonus for patreon supporters - I don't know. But the point is, it's worth exploring, and this book was great for showing me that and getting me thinking about it, and, should it come to pass, I'll absolutely refer back t this book again and again when making it.

On the other hand, if you're actually actively interested or involved in podcasting... What are you waiting for? These are NPR folks, for Pete's sake! You think you're going to find more seasoned professionals with a more genuine interest in just helping people learn and Do The Thing? Get it!

(H)

Informative, funny and not too much jargon

I have listened to 10 how to start a podcast books and this book was by far one of the best listens! The book provides details, examples from people who have or had a podcast on things they’ve done what worked and what didn’t. The book also dives into the technical side of podcasting but doesn’t inundate you with podcast jargon as well as how to speak (yep speak) into the microphone, what types of software to use for editing and the actual truth about making money as a podcaster and so much more! If you are interested in starting a podcast and don’t know where to start this book is an ABSOLUTE MUST READ! There is a lot of information packed into the book so you may find yourself clipping information or RE-listening to find specific tips, but it’s all there and even things you may not have even thought about. Add this book to your library today future podcaster! Happy podcasting!

Comprehensive and clear

With the brevity and organization of what makes a great podcast, this book fulfills its promise. I listened with complete focus all the way through. Though I’m helped by years as a freelance Op-Ed contributor and video maker, and even more years as a professional artist, the process is daunting. This helps.

This is the podcast book I need

This is the book to help me brainstorm with new ideas about starting a maintaining a podcast. It’s full of insightful tips on how to engage my audience. My wheels are turning. Thank you Glen Weldon and the team at NPR!