PhD Podcast Learning Module 1: Introduction to Podcasting

Objective:

Understand the medium of podcasting, team roles and get ready to start creating your own podcast episodes.

Individual Activities:

Getting Started – Introduction to Creating a Podcast:

  1. Listen to “The Benefits of Podcasting”, Linkedin Learning (3:27 min).
  2. Read “Want to Start a Podcast? Read This First”, NPR Training.
  3. Read “How to Start a Podcast, According to the Pros at NPR”, NPR Training.
  4. Read about some thoughts on how podcasts are a great fit for academic communication here and how they can help create more engaged academics here.

Understanding Your Team:

A podcast involves different sets of skills coming together to create a cohesive and a compelling narrative. Creating a team with members that have well defined roles with clear expectations is vital for content creation. Learn about important skills needed to develop a podcast here , and about the roles that a well-balanced podcast team should have here.  Roles to consider include:

  • Content producers and hosts 
  • Audio engineers 
  • Graphic designers 
  • Marketing and outreach team 

Don’t forget that your team will also need a project manager – someone who will organize team meetings and send out group communications as needed. 

Based on the skills and the team roles discussed, write down how you feel you would be able to contribute the best towards your team. Specifically, make a note of which skills are your strongest and weakest, and based on this rating, decide what roles you might be the best suited for. 

Additional Resources:

  1. Learn more about story telling here.
  2. Abel, Jessica. Out on the Wire: The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio.
  3. Biewen, John. Reality Radio: Telling True Stories in Sound.

Group Activities:

Your Podcast Topic and Audience:

Discuss some of the questions raised in “Want to Start a Podcast? Read This First”:

  1. What is this idea? No, really. What is it?
  2. Is a podcast the best format for this? Why?
  3. What do we want to accomplish?
  4. What makes this distinctive from other similar podcasts?
  5. Who would want or need this podcast? 
  6. What unique value or perspective can we add to listeners’ lives?
  7. Are we trying to reach an existing audience or a new one?
  8. What kind of experience do we want our audience to have?
  9. After listening, what will they talk about? Who will they share the episode with? Why?

Team Responsibilities and Structure:

Discuss the interests and skills of the team members in the various roles that need to be filled.

  1. Which roles will be assigned to a team member, and which will be shared responsibilities?
  2. Will roles be fixed, rotating or a mix?
  3. Assign a team project manager to oversee meeting times and reminders, and set a fixed meeting schedule.  This can be a rotating responsibility across the year.  Remember that the success of any team relies on the commitment of all team members.