How to Start a Podcast From Your Home Office or Coworking Space

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You can start a podcast from a home office or a coworking space with a USB microphone, headphones, free editing software and a hosting service. The harder parts are choosing a clear topic, finding a quiet place to record and publishing on a steady schedule.

What should a work-focused podcast be about?

A narrow topic gets you a clearer audience than a general one. Pick something you know from daily work: running a small team across time zones, freelancing from a shared desk, or setting up a home office. Then write one sentence that says who the show is for and what they get from each episode.

Choose a format you can keep up with:

• Solo episodes: the easiest to schedule, since you need nobody else.
• Interviews: good for meeting people in your field, but they take more planning.
• Mixed: interviews now and then, with solo episodes in between.

Decide the length and frequency before you record, and pick one you can sustain. A show that publishes every two weeks for a year beats one that publishes daily for a month.

What equipment do you really need?

Less than most guides suggest.

• A USB microphone. Clear speech matters more than price. Keep it close to your mouth and a little off to the side to soften breath sounds.
• Closed headphones. They let you hear what the recording captures and stop sound leaking back into the microphone.
• Editing software. Audacity is free, and Mac users can use GarageBand, which comes with the computer.
• A stable internet connection if you record remote guests. See our guide to reliable internet for remote workers.

If you want a few small accessories for a mobile or compact setup, the MaviGadget digital nomad essentials collection is one place to look.

Where should you record?

Room sound is the biggest quality factor after the microphone. Hard, empty rooms echo. Soft furnishings absorb sound, so a small room with a rug, curtains and a bookshelf usually sounds better than a bare office.

At home, switch off fans and notifications and tell people you share the space with when you will be recording. In a coworking space, ask the operator whether there is a phone booth, a meeting room or a podcast room you can book. Our post on using a coworking space as a studio alternative shows how other creators use bookable rooms, and it applies to audio too.

How do you record and edit an episode?

1. Outline, do not script. Bullet points keep you natural. Write the opening and closing lines out in full.
2. Record a short test. Play it back through your headphones to check levels and background noise.
3. Record in one take where you can. If you stumble, pause, then repeat the sentence; you can cut it later.
4. Edit lightly. Remove long pauses and mistakes, even out the volume, and add a short intro and outro.
5. Listen on more than one device before you publish, such as earbuds and a laptop speaker.

How do you publish a podcast?

A podcast host stores your audio files and creates an RSS feed. You submit that feed once to each directory, and new episodes then appear automatically. Hosts include Libsyn, Buzzsprout and Podbean, and Spotify offers its own tools at Spotify for Creators. Apple has a separate submission route through Apple Podcasts for Creators.

Prepare these before you submit:

• A show name that is short and easy to spell and search.
• Square cover art with large, readable text.
• A description that says who the show is for and what an episode covers.
• Two or three episodes ready, so new listeners can binge a little.

Check each directory's current requirements when you submit, since they change over time. Google Podcasts has been shut down, so do not plan around it.

How do you find listeners?

Start with people who already share your interests.

• Share each episode where your peers are, such as professional groups and your coworking community.
• Appear as a guest on shows in the same area and invite guests who will share the episode with their own audience.
• Write a short post for each episode with the main points. It helps search engines and readers who prefer text.
• Meet people in person. Our post on finding community through meetups has ideas for building a local network.

Can a podcast earn money?

It can, but treat income as a possible later benefit, not a plan. Common routes are sponsorships, affiliate links, paid services you offer, and merchandise. Sponsors usually want to see a steady audience first. If you use affiliate links or sponsors, tell listeners clearly, and check the disclosure rules in your country. For tax treatment of the income, ask an accountant.

How do you keep going?

Batch your work. Record two or three episodes in one session, edit them on another day, and keep a short list of topics and guests. Ask listeners for feedback now and then and adjust. If you have remote teammates, consider a shared folder and a simple checklist so editing and publishing steps do not depend on one person.