Podcasts are undoubtedly one of the most effective mediums of sharing knowledge, connecting with peers, and amplifying your voice for young people. If you are excited and want to take action, then creating a knowledge-sharing podcast is a great way to do so! This is a simple, practical action plan to inspire you to start a new teen podcast from scratch.
1. Identify your niche and purpose
Before you hit a record, you need to know why you are podcasting. What knowledge do you want to share? Are you broadcasting study tips, science facts, mental health resources, pop culture, or teen entrepreneurship? Your niche should be something that you are passionate about, and knowledgeable. When you focus on the right niche, you are holding yourself accountable to stay motivated, and draw in and engage other teens that are really interested in your niche.
You should ask yourself:
What unique perspective can I put on this?
Who is my target audience?
What will a listener get out of listening to my episodes?
2. Decide on the Format of your Podcast
The format of your podcast can define the tone of your show and how you want things to go and be structured. You will want to consider these common approaches:
Interview Style: Having conversational discussions with guests who are inspiring.
Solo: Sharing stories, tips and insights on your own.
Co-hosted: Bringing friends along the way, which keeps your discussions dynamic.
Panel or Roundtable: Having multiple voices involved leads to lively debate.
You will also need to decide on the length of the episodes (20-40 mins is common), and how often to plan them (weekly/bi weekly is a good interval if you are a teenager with school and other commitments)
3. Plan your Content
Outline your first 5-10 episodes. For each, include:
Main topic or question
Main points that you want to hit
Any guests or co-hosts that will help
Any fun segments, games, or Q&A
Having a simple script or outline with some bullets shown in advance will help you stay on track.
4. Gather your Equipment
You don't need a fancy studio to start making your podcast.The first thing you will want to think about is equipment:
Microphone: USB microphones such as the Blue Yeti or Samson Q2U are relatively inexpensive, and they sound very good.
Headphones: Any comfortable headphones will help monitor audio.
Laptop or Smartphone: For recording, and editing.
Recording Software: There are simple and inexpensive options such as Audacity (Windows) or GarageBand (Mac) that are extremely easy to navigate.
There are optional items, that if you want to take a step up in quality of sound...look into pop filters, boom arms, or audio interfaces.
5. Record Like a Pro
Choose a low-echo room, ideally carpeted
Be 2-4 inches from the mic, but just a little off to the side so you don't pop hard "p" & "s" sounds.
Make a quick test recording for levels and background noise.
Don't worry about mistakes; you hopefully can overcome them with editing!
6. Edit and Polish Your Episodes
This is where your podcast comes together. You want to take out big long pauses, any mistakes, and any background noise you don't want to keep in there. You can also add your intro/outro music for a refreshingly professional sound (just please use royalty-free music). Even free software like Audacity or GarageBand makes it easy for anyone to get started with the editing process.
7. Build Eye Catching Branding
Podcast Name: should be catchy, relevant to your podcast and easy to remember
Cover Art: keep it a simple, bold image (Canva is great for this).
Show Description: write a short, compelling description to outline what you will be discussing in your podcast, who the audience will be and what they will take away from it.
8. Publish & Distribute
Choose a hosting site (e.g. Buzzsprout, Anchor or Podbean are all beginner friendly). Hosting sites will publish and distribute your show to Spotify, Apple Podcasts etc. You simply need to upload the new episode and fill in the title, description and tags so listeners can find you.
You might want to consider posting video snippets or even the full episode on YouTube or TikTok as a way to build your audience.
9.Promoting Your Podcast
Use social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok to promote.
Establish partnerships with other teen podcasters, and/or do episodes with guests that have a following of their own.
Also, even just the people around you (friends, family, teachers) are likely to 'spread the word'.
Engage with your listeners when they reach out to you via comments, emails, or on their own through a Discord/WhatsApp group for your podcast community.
10. Stay Consistent, Keep Learning
Podcasting is a journey. You are learning all the parts of being a podcaster at the same time, so do your best to stick to your publishing schedule. Use breaks of school or weekends to batch record and batch edit your episodes. Ask for feedback when you can; play around with new segments, or new ideas, and don’t be afraid to change or adjust your (and your guests) format as you evolve.
Pro Tips for Teen Podcasters
Balance: Use your time wisely, and make sure you are squeezing in time podcasting, while making sure you manage your schoolwork and meeting your own self care.
Use your school: If your school has a media lab or recording studio, ask if you can use it for your show.
Collaborate: Get a few friends/classmates involved, share the work, share new ideas.
Link Up with School Learning: Where possible, if there are ways to turn a podcast episode into an assignment in class, do it.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE Research helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
Read More
