Ahh… the day has finally come where Levelator is no longer compatible with Mac OS (starting with Catalina).

This trusty application served me as a quick and dirty way to adjust the audio levels for a podcast when my guest’s voice was louder or more quiet than mind.

What are ya gonna do now? What are some Levelator alternatives out there?

I’m just as frustrated as you, so I’ve put together a few options that you can explore, as well as how I’ve been getting around this nifty application.

I hope you find this list helpful, and if you’d also like to look into improving your voice on a podcast, I have some great vocal exercises that you can look into.

1. Auphonic

When it comes to substitutes to Levelator, Auphonic is a great option! You can easily process an audio file by uploading it to the online interface.

You can run it through a few different types of algorithms to normalize the audio, level it, or use noise reduction. The Intelligent Leveler will balance any differences between speakers, music, and speech. You don’t need to know anything about audio compression.

The only downside is that after the 2 hour upload limit, this is a paid service. Then it is $11 per month for 9 hours of audio processing per month.

2. VMWare Fusion

Technically, you could use VMWare to simulate a Windows environment so that you can run Levelator. This powerful software allows you to run any operating system on a Mac. You don’t even need to restart your computer.

It comes in at the hefty price of $79, so it might work best if you also have some other Windows application that you wanted to run on a Mac. For example, if you wanted to continue to use apps like Audacity (which still isn’t good for Catalina).

Personally, I don’t think that this is the best way to solve this problem, but I wanted to include it in the list.

3. Amadeus Pro

You can use this software to simulate what Levelator did for your podcast file. You would do the “AUDynamicsProcessor” under the Effects menu in the program. You can also make use of multi-band graphic equalizers, volume normalization, pitch changes, and more.

It’s gotten some mixed reviews, but is something that you could look into as an alternative to Garageband.

This program comes in at $59 on the Mac App store.

4. Multi-track Zencaster (or Ecamm) + Garageband

For this solution, as a workaround for Levelator, you could consider using an online recording app like Zencaster in order to have audio independently recorded for two guests. Then, you could export that audio into Garageband, level the audio volumes yourself so they are even, then export that track. Lastly, you could import that edited track and work with the raw podcast file that way.

As another solution, you could use Ecamm recorder for Skype to create two split tracks of audio. Then, you’d import them into Garageband, level the audios separately so that they are around the same volume, and export that file. Then, you’d import it back in and work with the raw podcast recording that way.

This would likely be the least costly option, but would require some additional audio-editing steps unfortunately.

5. Convert Audio

As a duck tape solution, you could consider using this service and checking “normalize audio” when you output. Granted, this would only work for voice-only tracks and not be as good if you had music in the show. It’s a quick and dirty solution if you didn’t want to try something more sophisticated.

There are some also functions that you can change when you export this audio, like the bit rate, sampling rate, and trimming the audio. This is some basic audio editing functionality you can use for your track.

Do you want to start a podcast in 2019?

I’ll share how to start a podcast in 5 EASY steps!

This is a complete guide to get started podcasting quickly and publishing it into a major marketplace like iTunes or Spotify.

From that point, you can go on to attract fans, listeners, and customers. I hope that you find the video I put together to be helpful. You can watch it below.

Afterwards, I’ll do a breakdown of the entire video so that it will be easy to access all of the notes and links.

Starting a podcast doesn’t have to be confusing, difficult, or downright frustrating.

In fact, if you follow the steps that I’m outlined, you can get set up pretty quickly.

The first and most important part is coming up with a KILLER SHOW IDEA. One that listeners are gonna want to tune into.

This is part art and part science. No one could have predicted the success of some of the podcasts out there. However, there are some tried and true tips that I’d like to share with you down below.

1. Pick a KILLER Show Idea

The style of your show is going to dictate the individual format of your podcast episodes, along with the ways you can actually monetize the thing.

I’ve made plenty of marketing mistakes along the way and I can tell you that the style of show will also affect the marketing of your podcast.

So what do I mean by the “style” of your show?

Well… put simply, there are two types of show ideas. There are educational shows and entertaining shows.

Educational shows are meant to teach something to the listener. They should be bite-sized lectures, informative interviews with experts, or even group conversations on a particular topic. Educational shows have the aim of helping someone accomplish a task, whether that’s building a business or starting a blog.

When coming up with an idea for an educational show, you need to do some competitive research to see who the other teachers are out there in the industry. How can you stand apart? Why aren’t they teaching effectively?

My show on iTunes is an example of an educational show. I am teaching people how to raise money with a crowdfunding campaign. I’ve been teaching students about this since 2012.

Putting out content over the years has allowed me to build up a following of loyal listeners who regularly tune in to my episodes. They also “binge listen” to my show.

I have also leveraged my show into other areas, like speaking in public, giving workshops, and being a moderator at industry events.

Educational podcasts are a great way to become an authority in your industry. They can help you network with big-name influencers in your industry. They will also open up the doors to monetizing with digital courses, books, and other forms of teaching.

On the flip side, entertaining podcasts have a different aim, focus, and approach. An entertaining show like Serial, has the goal of producing an emotional reaction in the listeners and fans. Typically, this is done through storytelling, however it can also be as simple as back and forth banter.

Your success as a podcast host will depend on your ability to get your listeners to FEEL something after listening to your show, and thus, want to listen to more episodes.

Take a second to think about which box your show fits in. Maybe it even does a little bit of both, but typically, it will focus on one or the other.

2. Determine Show Logistics

Will you be interviewing guests in person or on Skype?

Will you build a studio or record episodes from your home?

Is there going to be a video component?

It’s important to take some time to think about the logistics for your show, because that will determine your equipment needs.

For example, if you want to record a podcast in person at an office and also produce a video recording of you talking with your guest, then you’ll need a completely different setup than someone who’s just doing online interviews on Skype or Zencastr.

Often times, recording with Skype is an easy way to get started with video. You don’t even need a fancy microphone. However, as you progress, you’ll have to start learning a bit more about microphones and gear.

Eventually, if you want to capture quality video, you’ll also need to learn a bit about video production. As you can see, the logistics of your show will dictate the equipment that you need to start the podcast.

To make this easier, I put together a simple podcasting setup that you can access here.

But, if you don’t want to check out those resources quite yet, I’ll cover some of the tools, equipment, and resources that you’re going to need down below.

Almost every podcast has this gear in common, no matter what the show is about.

3. Podcasting Gear and Equipment

This is probably the first thing on everyone’s mind. To share your voice with the world, you need the right equipment.

Only, gear can be expensive. Great microphones can cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars. If you’re doing a video podcast, that number can get into the thousands.

So… what is the best possible equipment and gear for your show? Also, what are some quality low-budget options?

I shared exactly what I recommend for beginning podcasters in this comprehensive podcasting tutorial.

However, I also have some general equipment advice in the video that I’ll link you to down below.

In the video above, I share some advice on the topic of microphones, audio editing, online file hosting, and more. I think you’ll like the video a lot.

When it comes to this gear, I have a few decision points that I want to walk you through below.

Again, the amount of gear that you need depends on your show logistics and style. Also, just because you have all of the perfect equipment doesn’t guarantee that your podcast will be successful.

Ultimately, it’s the launch and marketing strategy behind your podcast that will determine its success. This is what I focus on in my free course and one of the reasons behind the success of my own show.

Let’s talk a bit about what you gotta do to get the word out, attract listeners, and build a loyal following of fans.

4. Launch and Market

Make no mistake, the marketing strategy will literally determine the success of your show. If you do it right, you can make a splash onto the scene and start building momentum.

Personally, I’ve documented how I’ve gotten to key milestones with my own show, like my first 1,000 downloads, my first 7,500 downloads, and also what I learned after my first 20 shows.

One of my biggest lessons learned is that there is a huge difference between creating a great-sounding show and getting the word out about it. You can have a fancy microphone, killer podcasting studio, and even a great quality voice, but if you can’t market the show, no one’s gonna listen.

A powerful podcast launch goes beyond just simply ranking in the iTunes New and Noteworthy section. If this was all you had to do, then a bunch of shows would go on to be hits.

While ranking well in the beginning can help to gather a small listener base and build up a bit of momentum, it’s not a sustainable way to grow a show over time. To do that, you have to begin to build out your distribution channels.

Of course, every great marketing strategy is going to contain social media outreach. I’m talking about building up a Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, and even YouTube channel to share your podcast episodes with interested fans.

These social media channels are your core distribution mechanisms. I re-purpose my content for each of them and also share my episodes on YouTube to broaden my fan base.

Social media promotion will comprise a percentage of your downloads, but it won’t be a silver bullet. You also have to get out there and toot your own horn. I’m talking about PR and being a guest on other shows.

Public relations outreach is a killer way to get on other podcasts that might have a similar listenership to yours. You can gain access to new audiences, and also associate your podcast in iTunes with those shows. You’ll rank for more keywords in the marketplace.

By doing influencer outreach, you can also get great guests to come onto your show, which improves the quality of your podcast episodes and widens your audience.

Along with doing social media and PR outreach, I also believe that “interlinking your episodes” is a killer way to grow downloads and effectively promote your show. By this, I mean referencing podcasts that are in your archives and sending new listeners there.

You want your listeners to “binge listen” to your podcast, meaning that they go into your archive and start listening to all the podcast episodes you’ve put out thus far. By creating a mini series or simply referencing old shows, you can promote your podcast effectively.

Lastly, the big mega-return that you’ll get for all of your promotional efforts will be your email list. This is what contributes to a spike in downloads for my individual episodes. It’s a powerful way to get the word out all at once to your tribe.

If you don’t know how to build an email list, I would definitely hop onto my free podcasting course and learn a bit about how this whole promotion thing works.

5. Monetize

A solid business strategy is at the heart of every show. Why?

Because without money coming in the door, you won’t have the resources to grow, expand, and improve your work.

Money is the lifeblood of every business and it will ultimately determine how many people that you can reach around the world.

Personally, I’ve found monetization to be a bit of a sticky subject. Lots of beginning podcasters don’t believe that they can actually earn money from their show.

Also – many podcasters think that if they just focus on making good episodes, the money will eventually follow. WRONG!

I’ve found that the key lies in identifying the right monetization strategy for your particular niche. Every industry, category, and niche is different. Some shows monetize well with sponsorships. Others are better monetized with merchandise, and some with books and online courses.

Right off the bat, there a few ways you can make money from your podcast:

• Crowdfunding (think Patreon)
• Merchandise
• Sponsorships and advertisements
• Digital products, like courses
• Books
• Speaking gigs
• In-person events
• Livestreams
• Physical products, and more.

While you can do each of these, the real question is thinking about what your audience wants.

Maybe you don’t have the resources to create a physical product, but people who have physical products are desperately wanting access to your audience. In that case, sponsorships would be a great fit. Take a look below at some of the recent podcasting statistics.

Infographic by: MusicOomph.com

When brainstorm monetization strategies, I first like to think about the value I’m already providing with my show. Am I teaching something? Am I making people laugh? Am I making them feel like part of a community?

I then take that experience and brainstorm ways I can extend it. In the case of my show, I sought to give further in-depth educational information in the form of books and courses. I also connect people with resources through the sponsors.

All monetization works off the basic value that you’ve already created with your show. You’re just simply asking yourself how you can create another layer or rung in the ladder of value that you’re providing.

How can you give your core fans an even more extensive experience?

Do you want to start a podcast?

Wondering how to get it to show up for FREE on iTunes?

Look no further, because in this comprehensive article, I’m going to share with you exactly how to do that in a few simple steps.

If you follow these steps, you’ll be able to get your show listed in the iTunes marketplace easily and without any headaches.

I’ll also give you a glimpse of how podcasting can open up a world of possibilities. You can go from being a nobody to having fans around the world, a growing source of passive income, and even secure lucrative speaking gigs!

The video above walks you through each of these steps. You can easily follow along (and leave comments if you have any questions).

For a more comprehensive tutorial, I recommend joining my FREE podcasting course which shows you how to start, grow, and monetize a show.

I’m going to go through each of these steps in this article as to how to set up a show, submit your podcast to iTunes, and start sharing your voice with the world.

Step 1: Get Podcast Hosting

You need a 3rd party website or “host” to house all of the mp3 files that will make up your show. These are the literal individual shows that listeners will tune into.

In my other article, I covered some of the website hosts that are out there in the podcasting industry. Some of these are better than others for beginners.

If you don’t have a podcast hosting provider, then you’d need to house all of the individual mp3 files on your OWN website and also create an RSS feed for the show that iTunes can access.

Simply put, you need a podcast host because:

The podcast host will generate an RSS feed that iTunes needs to publish your show

Personally, I use Libsyn to host my podcast, and I also used it to start a new show. I’ve found Lisbyn to be reliable and easy to use.

The great thing about Libsyn and other podcast hosts is that they will automatically generate an RSS feed for your show that you’ll need to submit the podcast to iTunes.

You can also syndicate your show to many other locations like Spotify, Stitcher, and other podcast-listening apps out there.

You’ll be using this RSS feed link in the next step when you want to put the show on iTunes. I should also explain that the RSS feed is simply a bunch of code that a marketplace like iTunes can use to access your show.

It’s a bunch of gobbledygook that only computers will understand.

Basically, iTunes doesn’t want to host the podcast itself. They aren’t in the business of podcast storage. They just want to provide shows to their listeners on the podcast app.

Now that you have signed up for podcast hosting, you’ll want to next submit the podcast to iTunes. I’ll cover this step below.

Step 2: Submit Podcast RSS to iTunes

Before you submit your podcast RSS to iTunes, you’re going to need a thumbnail (or artwork) that is 1600 x 1600 and stands out to your listeners.

I’d recommend putting in the keywords that you want to rank for in iTunes (or check out some similar shows) and get a feel for what their headline looks. Then, try to improve upon that design. Try to make yours stand out amid the competition.

I used Fiverr to get my latest show artwork made. It cost me $7 and came out great. This is very inexpensive solution for getting your artwork made.

You can also create artwork yourself using a tool like Canva or photoshop.

I had an idea in mind when I looked into Fiverr, so I knew what I wanted.

Fiverr is also a great source for getting other elements of your podcast, like your show intro, music, or other assets.

One of the cool things going on right now is that Fiverr will give you 20% off your first purchase.

I don’t know how long that new promotion will last, but it’s a killer bargain on an already affordable option.

As a reminder, you will have to add your artwork to your show in whatever podcast host you chose to go with. If you’re using Libsyn, you’d have to edit the podcast settings and add the show thumbnail.

Once you have the 1600 x 1600 artwork for your show, you can then add the podcast to iTunes!

You have to start your show by going to Podcasts Connect.

Once you’re there, you can then see your existing shows or add a new one. When you add a new one, the first thing that Podcasts Connect will ask you to do is to provide the RSS feed.

When you punch that in, you’ll then be able to enter all of the relevant information for that podcast, and submit it! It may take a few days for the team to verify it, but you’ll eventually get an email notification when it goes live.

After it goes live, you should see all of the information that you’ve specified with your podcast host show up on iTunes, including the show episodes, thumbnail, description, and title.

It’s really that easy!

So… what’s the hard part?

Haha… well… getting listeners, sounding good, and makin’ money from the show.

But, don’t worry. I’ll show ya how to do that in future content. Or, you can speed up the process by grabbing a copy of my book OR joining my free course on podcasting.

Step 3: Launch a Website for Your Show

It’s not enough that you only have a podcast host and a show that pops up in iTunes. You also need a website for the show.

Simply put… if you wanna make money, you are gonna need a website for the show.

Thankfully, your podcast host makes it pretty easy to embed episodes on your website. They will likely give you a simple embed code that you can use to embed an episode on a blog post.

I think that your best bet is to start a blog that goes hand-in-hand with your podcast. I know that might seem like a lot, but you can just use this blog to share episodes. It will serve as a home base for you content.

I have a great step-by-step guide showing you how to start a blog/website here. You can get it up and running in a few simple steps.

If you don’t want to follow that guide, then basically, you’re going to need a hosting provider that will allow you to host a WordPress website.

The best website hosting provider that I know out there is Bluehost due to its affordable options.

When you got the hosting, the artwork, and the website, your show should be up and running!

The next step is to promote it, monetize it, and start to build a following.

There are incredibly effective ways to improve your voice, sound more confident, and come off as a real podcast host.

I put together a free course that goes through all of this (and much more).

I hope you enjoyed this article!

Looking for the right podcasting equipment that doesn’t break the bank?

I’ll share with you a super easy set up for beginners that are on a budget.

Your podcasting equipment can make or break your show. No one wants to listen to bad quality audio. No one will take you seriously if your mic sounds tinny.

Investing in the right equipment will not only bring you more listeners, but it will also take sponsors take you more seriously.

You want quality equipment, but you also don’t have a huge budget, right? I’mma help you out with this video…

What did you think?

By the way, there are tons of ways to record audio, particularly if your guests are remote.

This just a simple and affordable quality equipment package that I put together for you.

Now that you know, go out there and take action!

You have no excuse to not launch your podcast.

If you’re still feeling a bit hesitant, never fret. I have a great free course which walks you through how to set up a show, sound good, and some marketing tricks I’ve learned along the way.

All you gotta do is join it down below, and I’ll get you up to speed ASAP.

Do you want to record a podcast?

Whether it’s on your Mac, Skype, or simply remotely, I’m going to share a few easy ways to record a podcast.

These software tools will help to record podcast guests without any hassles. Most of them are free or very low cost.

I also wrestled with this problem when I was starting MY podcast. I had this problem back in 2015. I record guests remotely for my show.

With this article, I want to share some of the tools that I’ve discovered.

Also, I have a great free podcasting course that walks you through how to start, grow, and monetize a podcast for beginners.

Let’s get right into it!

1. Skype and Ecamm Call Recorder

If you’re planning on interviewing guests through Skype, then Ecamm Call Recorder is the best application that you can use to record audio or video.

The software will also split the audio tracks, so that you can do editing on each individually (if you’d like). You can export the audio as almost any major file.

I like this application because of it’s reliability and ease of use. On the down side, Skype doesn’t always work so well. Sometimes there are connectivity issues.

Pricing: $39.95

2. Zencastr

Zencastr is the second most popular way that I’ve seen to record guest remotely for a podcast. It’s very easy to get started and you don’t need to install anything.

Instead, Zencastr will use your browser storage and online functionality to synch up your audio with a guest. After the interview, your guest will need to keep their browser window open while their audio is uploaded.

Zencastr has higher quality audio than Skype. I tried it out and reviewed it here. Personally, I didn’t like the lag time that I experienced between myself and the guest. It threw off the rapport with the guest. I’d try it out though, as software constantly changes.

Pricing: Free – $250/month

3. Zoom.us

Zoom.us is another tool that you can use to record your podcast with guests from around the world.

The software has built in recording and can split the audio and video from the file that’s created. It makes for easy editing.

You can learn a bit about how some podcasters use Zoom here. The only downside I see is that at the time of writing, you can only record in MP4 or M4A, so you’ll have to convert that to MP3.

Pricing: Free – $20/month

4. Cast

Cast is another option that you can use to record a podcast remotely. It’s a good alternative to Zencastr if you’d like to try something different.

You can use this software to not only record a show with a guest, but to also edit and publish that show. This is great functionality if you don’t want to find different software to do these other components.

This means that you don’t have to get a host and don’t have to figure out RSS syndication. The tool will do it for you.

Pricing: Free – $30/month

Which is Best?

It comes down to your needs, what you’re looking for and what you’re comfortable with.

They are all pretty good software tools to accomplish the job in different ways.

After trying out a few ways, I settled on Skype because of it’s familiarity with guests and I liked the connection more. In the future, I might look into other options, but for now I’m happy.

I have guests that are also very busy and it’s easier that sometimes they can just call in from their phone using the Skype app.

If you’d like to gain access to some of my best tips on podcasting, make sure to join my free course that shows you how to launch, grow, and monetize your podcast.

If you want a rich full-bodied sounding podcast without breaking the bank, listen up!

I’m going to share with all of the non-technical types out there what a low-cost podcasting setup looks like.

This podcasting equipment is perfect if you’re on a tight budget (or if you wanna try out hosting a show and see if you like it).

I’m a believer in investing in quality and dependable equipment. Not only will you discover some of the microphones and tools that you can grab today, but also I’ll be linking you to equipment that stand the test of time.

After all, there’s no point in buying a microphone if it’s gonna fall apart of stop working after the first few months. Right?

Let’s get into an equipment package that’s gonna be a good fit for your needs and your budget!

1. The Blue Yeti USB Microphone

This is the go-to microphone for beginning podcasters and YouTubers that wanna add voice overs to their channel.

The reason that SO MANY people love this microphone is that it delivers a lot of the features that beginners want, like:

• USB compatibility (Mac and PC compatible)
• Gain control knob, mute button, and zero-latency headphone output.
• Multiple pattern selection – cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional & stereo
• Robust, firm, but sleek design

If you want to conduct your podcast episodes via Skype or do any kind of work with audio editing tools like Garageband, then the USB compatibility is a no brainer.

In addition, it can be really annoying to hunt down the control on your computer for things like the gain or volume of the microphone. You can quickly and easily configure all of that on the Blue Yeti itself.

If you’re in the middle of an interview and you want to increase the output volume, it’s very easy to do. The same goes for muting your sound. No more hunting around on Skype or other apps for the mute button.

You have all of the controls that you need right in front of you. They are clearly labeled, making it easy for anyone to use them (even if you don’t have much audio experience).

Lastly, unlike other microphones, the Blue Yeti comes with multiple pattern selections. This means that you can basically control from which direction the sound enters the microphone.

There are a few different modes you can choose from including:

Cardioid Mode: Good for podcasts, streaming, vocals, voice overs, etc. The mic will record the sound directly in front of it.

Stereo Mode: Good for acoustic guitar and choir. The mic captures a wide sound.

Omnidirectional Mode: Capture sound from all angles. Great for multi-person podcasts, live performances, and conferences.

Bidirectional Mode: Records sound only coming form the front and rear of the mic, meaning it’s the ideal choice for two-person interviews.

One of my favorite parts about the Blue Yeti is how it has a simple headphone jack so you can hear your own voice when you’re speaking. This gives me some sense of how I’ll sound on the podcast.

This way, you won’t end up recording yourself for 30 minutes or an hour and find out that something was wrong with the gain, or that you should have spoken closer to the microphone.

You’ll be able to fix any recording mishaps quickly and get back to conducting the show. If you’re lazy, like me, then I’m sure you’ll like that (haha).

While you don’t need it, I would also recommend picking up an effective pop filter and some comfortable headphones that work better than your traditional ear buds.

There is a great package on Amazon (which I’ll share below) that includes the mic and these other accessories.

Haha – and before you ask, YES the pop filter does make a noticeable difference in the quality of your sound. I have a tendency to push air out of my lips too much, which comes across as a “blowing” sound on the mic. The same goes for when my lips touch together for sounds like “B” and “P.”

The pop filter eliminates all of that, giving you crystal clear audio. Can’t recommend it enough. It’s a pretty cheap investment anyways. If you’d like to check out other mics, I have a list here.

2. Adjustable Boom Microphone Clip

The Bluet Yeti comes with a pretty sturdy stand. If your table is too short and you need to lean down to talk into the microphone, you can always prop it up with some books.

However, I know that some of you aren’t about that life. That’s why I wanna hook you up with an affordable adjustable boom microphone clip that works well with this mic. It’s a nice compliment and makes your setup a heck of a lot more professional.

Do you feel me? This InnoGear Suspension Clip is gonna transform your hosting experience because it gets the mic out of the way while you’re doing a podcast. You can talk hands-free.

The foldable arm lets you position the microphone wherever you want for the best sound. Whether you’re broadcasting from a home office, bedroom, or even a designated studio, you’ll have more control over the audio experience.

Rest assured, this is made out of some heavy-duty material. It’s not gonna dip or sink like some of the other arms out there.

You’re getting a professional setup for a fraction of the cost!

3. Garageband (or Audacity)

The next thing that you need is a way to edit your rich-sounding audio files. The editing process is where you take the raw materials and polish it into a finished diamond.

With all of the programs out there, it’s easy to get confused… especially if it’s your first time editing an audio file. That’s why I’m going to recommend Garageband for anyone who’s a beginner to podcasting.

I absolutely love Garageband because it has an intuitive user interface. It’s easy to drag and drop clips, split up audio tracks, or re-arrange your podcast’s core elements. There are also lots of free helpful tutorials on YouTube if you get stuck at any point in time. This software is also free.

Unfortunately, Garageband will only work if you have a Mac computer. If you have a PC, you’re going to need a different application to edit your audio tracks. Therefore, as an alternative to Garageband, I recommend looking into Audacity.

As you can see, the user interface isn’t as pretty, but from a technical standpoint, it’s a very robust application. Audacity is a free, open source, cross-platform audio software for multi-track recording and editing on both Mac and Windows.

Sometimes, I will use Audacity to do more technically-inclined things, like noise removal. I’ve also used it in the past to get the audio right for my various audio books. Now, I just outsource that type of work.

Either of these applications are a good place to get started with audio editing for your podcast. They are both free, so you won’t be cutting into your budget.

4. Skype and Ecamm Call Recorder

From all of the methods that I’ve tried, this is the easiest way to record show conversations with guests around the world. You simply combine Skype with the ecamm call recorder application and BOOM! You got yourself the perfect setup.

With the Call Recorder for Skype, you can record either audio or video calls with the click of a button. If you want to, you can even split the track after the call into two separate audio files.

After you record the show, you can then convert the conversation into an MP3 or other file type so that you can upload it to your preferred podcast hosting company or to YouTube.

Unfortunately, the Call Recorder is only available for Mac computer. Whomp whomp. Instead, you have to use one of these other applications to record your audio from Skype. Easy breezy.

Some of us have had really bad experiences with Skype’s connectivity. If that’s you and you’re wary of using Skype for your podcast interviews, you could instead look into:

• Zencastr (see my review here)
• Cast
• Zoom

Personally, I use Skype to record my interviews and I’ve done over 200 on my show.

5. Fiverr

It might sound silly, but yes, I am recommending Fiverr as a super low cost way to get a show logo or introduction for your podcast. I still use the intro that I bought on Fiverr and I’m very happy with it.

Inaction is what keeps us from achieving our dreams. If you’ve been putting off launching your podcast because you don’t have the right show thumbnail or introduction, then stop deliberating and act!

For $5 – $25 you can get everything that you need. You can also approve the quality of the audio or the look of the visuals. This is a super easy way to get started.

6. Libsyn Podcast Hosting

There are tons of podcast hosting websites that you can choose from. Libsyn has been a dependable and reliable host for my show. I’ve found their various features and analytics to be helpful.

This hosting won’t break the bank. You can literally get started for $5 per month if you’d like. As your show grows, you can expand to the $15 or $20 per month tiers. These also offer more functionality, like enhanced analytics.

You need a host for your podcast. You don’t want to host these media files on your own website and figure out all of that technical jargon. With a hosting provider, you’ll get an RSS feed to submit to iTunes and a database of all of your episodes.

7. Start a Blog for Your Podcast

This is the smartest decision that you can make in the early days of your show. With a blog, you’ll attract free traffic from social media posts and search engines, leading to more show listeners.

Along with increasing your show’s listenership, a blog will also serve as a home base where your listeners can go to get show notes, check out your products, and get in contact with you, the host.

Having a blog or website dramatically increases the professional quality of your podcast, making advertisers and sponsors more likely to work with you. If you want to make money from the podcast, then you’re gonna need this.

I have a step-by-step article that will walk you through how to start a blog easily and cheaply. In no time, you’ll have your site up and running. For less than $2.95 per month, you’ll make it so that anyone online can discover you, your work, and what you have to offer.

What Else Do You Need?

That’s it when it comes to the equipment for your podcast! Go and grab all of those and you’ll be ready to hit the ground running.

A lot of these things are pretty low cost when you compare them to other gear in the industry. You could easily waste thousands and thousands on podcasting equipment if you wanted to. I want to spare you from that.

The funny thing is… most podcasters have this equipment.

At some point, everyone is gonna have a good microphone. We’re all gonna have good sounding audio. Am I right?

If you could just “buy success,” then the rich dudes would be the one who have the top podcasts.  But, it’s not the case.

What matters far more than the type of microphone you use is the MARKETING STRATEGY behind getting listeners and show downloads.

This is what will make the difference between obscurity and popularity. Between being a nobody and being a somebody. I don’t want to be the person to tell you that, but sometimes we all need a bit of tough love.

To address this problem, I’ve put together a comprehensive book that will walk you through how to market, grow, and monetize your podcast. It’s called Podcasting for Beginners and it’s available on Amazon. I put it together with your show in mind.

I want to help you, and this is the best way that I’ve come up with as to how to do that. I’m giving you the same strategy that I used to grow a show from 0 to more than 150,000 listeners. Hope it helps!