I am sometimes asked about how to start an independent podcast. I guess inevitably, as it is all new, people tend to be fixated on the technical aspects of making a podcast happen.
Of course, the quality of sound is important – nobody wants to hear mouth noises or tinny audio – but this is secondary to the content. Always.
You are never going to get it right immediately: I certainly haven’t after 359 episodes of trying. And look around you at musicians, architects, artists and other creatives. Their work is an evolution, not instant perfection.
Once you have come to terms with the reality that episode one won’t be your best, this allows you to just work hard to allow the podcast to naturally improve. As well as making the journey more fun, it also makes it so much easier to smile at the inevitable criticism that will come your way.
Along with taxes and facial hair on the streets of Shoreditch, criticism is inevitable and should always be embraced – please don’t post it on your social channels saying how stupid the person is, this defensive approach is never the answer. After all, your intended market isn’t everyone, so your podcast won’t be enjoyed by everyone – which is just fine.