3.11 - How To Produce a Podcast, Feat. Bri Books!
Hello there! The latest episode of Bri Books lifts back the curtain on how I produce this podcast! I outline the tools I use, how I organize my process into “batching” days, and all of my behind-the-scenes production processes.
In this episode:
- We cover the six batching processes that help me produce Bri Books
- The tools I use to produce Bri Books--from top to bottom!
This episode is dedicated to Larry Long, father of former guest Lura. Larry uses oral history, music and art to strengthen communities and foster reconciliation--and he had questions about how to start a podcast! Who am I to stand in the way of intergenerational storytelling?!
Define: “Batching” - Grouping similar tasks in order to decrease likelihood of procrastination and stress. I’ve found batching ESSENTIAL to my process. By grouping together similar tasks (editing, editorial/ writing, recording), I’m able to focus intensely on each area of production, in its own time.
Creating Bri Books requires I utilize six different batching processes. Each element must be completed and delivered in order to produce a finished product (pod). Remember, every batching process is DIFFERENT! Customize it to fit YOU!
Batching Day #1: Reading Day
Because my podcast is about books, I have to set time aside to study the content, AKA read books! No matter the subject of your podcast or project, building time into the process to do the DOING is essential. Think of your fave pop culture podcast--they know the topics to talk about because they’ve prepared and researched ahead of time. Building this process into the bedrock of Bri Books has alleviated a lot of stress I had about not making *time* to read.
Batching Day #2: Recording Day
I set aside two recording days each week--Mondays and Thursdays--and offer these dates to potential guests and collaborators. This practice helps keep recording consistent on my end, and create a consistent content calendar for the Bri Books podcast. Pro tip from the Myleik Teele Podcast (one of the first episodes), she mentioned that when you’re booking time/ asking for time on someone's calendar, instead of saying, “let's’ work around your schedule,” say are you available on these dates? The sense of urgency and solidifying plans gives you a target on the wall.
Batching Day #3: Editing Day
There’s no substitute for time when it comes to editing! I go through three rounds of edits per episode:
- Edits A: Chop and clean (remove um’s, rambling, empty noise/ silence, clips where guest and host talking over one another)
- Edits B: Deeper edit (identify transitions, log tape, put in time markers, signal where the conversation is going and write out voice overs and signposts.)
- Edits C: Listen-through (final edits for clarity, story flow, and time)
Batching Day #4: Editorial Day
This is when I write, gather all of my research and notes, and get to WORK. The editorial batch tasks vary based on where I am in the production pipeline (If I’m interested in booking a guest, the editorial day consists of doing research, compiling an ‘ask’ and a one-sheet; if I’m preparing for launch, the editorial day is all about editing the show notes, blog post and building the social assets)
Batching Day #6: Launch Day
This is the day (Tuesdays!) when everything goes live! I publish the first round of social media posts, and talk to the Bri Books audience about their first reactions to the latest episode. I take note of wha time of day people are downloading the episode (AM while getting ready? During commute?) to help inform future segments and content.
Batching Day #6: Analysis and Experimentation Day
nalysis and Experimentation. I’m excited to improve on this is 2018. I’m excited to devote time to ideation and looking at content performance and taking the temperature/ monitoring the project closely. I’m excited for that in 2018. Ideally this’ll be the time, similar to how i devote time to reading in batching, this will be when ideation and content performance and monitoring this project closely, I'm excited for that.
Bri Books Podcast Resources
Libsyn - To host my podcast. The Libsyn “The Feed” podcast helped me get this off the ground
Squarespace - To host my website.
Canva.com - To build 80% of my social media assets and graphics
WordSwag App - To build 20% of my social media assets (on-the-go content)
Facebook, Facebook Publishing Tools to schedule posts
Twitter, Tweetdeck for Twitter to schedule tweets, social listening
Instagram, Later App to schedule Instagram posts and curate page
Microphone - Yeti from Blue Microphones
Editing software - Adobe Audition (the Creative Cloud suite also includes Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere access). Garageband and Audacity are also great options.
Transom.org is a strong resource for workshops, how-to’s, and opportunities to get your hands dirty in podcasting!
A great resource to get productivity on 100% and self-judgement on 0%, check out Side Hustle Pro podcast and community (“How to start your own podcast with zero experience,” “How to push past overwhelm and get things done.”
If you’re interested in my post-college story, I want to let you know I’m sharing all of my tips on the post-college job search, nailing informational interviews, and more on the Bri Books Podcast Newsletter.
@BriBooksPod - Instagram
@BriBooksPod - Twitter
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