12 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Podcast

In this episode, I circle back to a classic question: What do you wish you’d known when you started your podcast that you know now? This is a question I’ve asked in the past (shout-out to episode 768 back in 2021!), and while I received close to 20 answers then, participation was a bit lighter this time around. But don’t worry—the quality makes up for the quantity! Featured Guests & Their Insights I’m joined by two long-time contributors—Kim Newlove and Steve Stewart—who share powerfully honest responses about their podcasting journeys. Kim Newlove: Kim shares 12 things she wishes she’d known when starting her podcasts, The Pharmacist’s Voice and the Perrysburg Podcast. She talks about everything from being able to change your podcast’s “why” as its mission evolves, to discovering the right gear (hello, Shure SM7B!), figuring out realistic production schedules, mastering research and writing demands, making effective use of Canva for episode artwork, choosing media hosts wisely, the importance of newsletters, the value of trailers, and more. She emphasizes learning as you go and assures new podcasters that it’s totally okay to fill in gaps as you build your parachute on the way down! Steve Stewart: Steve reflects on how much he wishes he’d known how to edit for content when he first began his show in 2010. His early episodes would benefit from a bit more polish, and he shares how improving his editing skills made a huge difference not just for his own podcast, but eventually for others through his work at the Podcast Editors Academy. Steve also offers an excellent resource for anyone looking for a podcast editor. My Takeaways & Thoughts: I share my own lessons learned—including the importance of setting aside regular time for learning new skills, asking for direct feedback from listeners, and being willing to adapt and evolve your show as needed. I also discuss the value of constructive criticism and how it helps me grow as a podcaster. Resources & Mentions: Kim’s Podcasts: The Pharmacist’s Voice and Perrysburg Podcast Steve’s Podcast Editing Resource: Find an Editor School of Podcasting: schoolofpodcasting.com (use coupon code “listenr” for a discount!) Media Host Recommendations: Captivate, Buzzsprout, Libsyn (coupon sopfree), Transistor, Blubrry, and now RSS.com Podcast Editors Academy: Steve Stewart and Mark Deal’s community for podcast editors. Newsletter Tools: ConvertKit (for marketing now Kit) and Substack (for sharing thoughts/content) As always, I encourage you to ask your audience for feedback, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to tweak your show or try something new. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been podcasting for years, there’s always something to learn. If you want more podcasting content, check out my other shows at powerofpodcasting.com. Thanks so much for listening! If you enjoyed the episode, I’d truly appreciate it if you shared it with a friend Mentioned in this episode: Question of the Month: The Smallest Amount of Downloads We all want a bigger audience. We all put a lot of work into our shows. With this in mind, what is the smallest amount of downloads you would do the show for? If it drops below a number would you stop, or put effort into finding out why? Does the size of your audience matter? Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/question by August 28th (and don't forget to say a little bit about your show and your website address so I can link to it in the notes) School of Podcasting Ready to Get Your Podcast Moving? Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey all had coaches. We can help you avoid mistakes, give you constructive feedback and ensure you sound professional and make content that resonates with your audience. Join the School of Podcasting and in addition to the tutorials and community you get five hours of one-on-one coaching with me each month. School of Podcasting Check Out Dave's Newsletter With Behind the Scenes Content In each issue of Podcasting Observations, I share my thoughts on what is happening in the podcasting space, my latest content, and things that have caught my eye. I also may ask for your opinion. Join the free community Podcasting Observations Live Appearances I loved connecting with my audience. Here are the next events I will be at: November 11: Podindy.com (use the coupon code SOP) February 23-26, 2027: National Religious Broadcasters nrb.org I'd love to speak at your event. Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/contact Where Will I Be?