Can I start a podcast on my own?

Yes. With a microphone, a computer and a hosting service, you can handle everything from planning to distribution yourself. Starting with a solo format at a manageable length is a good approach.

Can I record with just a smartphone?

Yes. In a quiet room, keeping a steady distance from your mouth, you can get listenable audio. If you want better sound later, add an external microphone.

Do I need to be on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify?

Listeners use a variety of apps, so being on both is the norm. You simply submit the same RSS feed, so it adds almost no extra work.

How often should I release episodes?

In this site's analysis, most top shows release weekly or more often, but what matters most is keeping the rhythm you set. Choose a frequency you can sustain and release on the same day and time.

How to Start a Podcast: 8 Steps from Plan to Launch

Get the big picture first

The process of starting a podcast is broadly the same for individuals and companies.

Decide your purpose and your listener
Decide your concept and show name
Decide format, length and release frequency
Set up your recording space and record
Edit and export
Upload to a hosting service and create an RSS feed
Submit to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others
Get through your first 10 episodes

Let's go through them in order.

Step 1: Decide your purpose and your listener

First, decide who you want to reach, what you want to give them and what you hope will happen. For an individual, that might be "talk about what I love and find like-minded people" or "build trust through my expertise." For a company, it might be "raise awareness of our brand" or "show job candidates what it's like to work here."

Go beyond demographics like "office workers in their 20s" and picture the listening moment, such as "people who want a quick update on their industry during their commute." That keeps your planning focused.

Step 2: Decide your concept and show name

Make sure you can state in one sentence what a listener gets from your show. For the name, aim for something that hints at the content, is easy to search for and easy to say out loud. We go into planning in detail in our podcast planning guide.

Step 3: Decide format, length and frequency

The main formats are:

Solo: easy to prepare, and the host's personality comes through
Co-hosted: the back-and-forth is easy to listen to and conversations open up naturally
Guest interview: a different voice every time, at the cost of scheduling guests
Drama or readings: scripts and sound design take time, but the result feels like a finished work

As a reference point, this site's own analysis (top 100 shows on the Apple Podcasts Japan chart) found a median episode length of 30 minutes, and 92 of 94 shows releasing roughly weekly or more often. You don't need to go long from the start. What matters is choosing a length and frequency you can sustain.

Step 4: Set up your space and record

What shapes your sound most is not the gear itself but the room's acoustics and your distance from the microphone. Recording in a room with curtains and soft furnishings, avoiding noise from air conditioners or refrigerators, and keeping a steady distance between mouth and mic all make a big difference.

A common path is to start with a USB microphone plugged into your computer, then move to an audio interface and multiple mics as you add people. Our equipment guide covers how to choose. For remote conversations, have each speaker record locally so the audio survives even if the connection drops.

Before recording, jot down the order of topics and a rough time plan. It makes it easier to get back on track when the conversation wanders.

Step 5: Edit and export

Editing means trimming long silences and slips, leveling the volume, and adding an intro and outro. Overproducing early on makes it hard to keep going, so start with a simple rule: fix only what is hard to listen to.

Once exported, prepare the file name, the episode title and the show notes. Writing what the episode covers, guest names and related links in the notes also helps people find you through search.

Step 6: Hosting and RSS

A podcast works by placing audio files on a hosting service, which automatically generates an RSS feed that the listening apps read. When choosing a host, compare:

Whether you can see statistics such as plays and regions
Whether you can carry over your RSS feed if you move to another service
Whether it supports scheduled publishing and managing multiple shows
Storage and feature limits on each pricing plan

Also set up your cover art (square), show description, category and language. Design the cover so the show name is still readable when shown small on a phone.

Step 7: Submit to the apps

Once you have an RSS feed, submit your show to Apple Podcasts through Apple Podcasts Connect, and to Spotify through its creator dashboard. Amazon Music and YouTube also have ways to submit. Reviews and listings can take time, so apply well before your planned launch date. Our distribution guide explains the process.

Step 8: Get through your first 10 episodes

For a new show, the key is to get through the first 10 episodes.

Record three episodes before launch and release them together on day one, so first-time visitors can keep listening
Pick a day and time and stick to the same rhythm
Note the reactions to each episode and apply them to the next
After 10 episodes, review the length, format and themes

Your delivery and pacing will improve with every episode. Rather than aiming for perfection in the first few, prioritize keeping to the rhythm you set.

How individuals and companies differ

For an individual show, the host's personality is the main draw. With fewer decisions to make, you can get started quickly.

For a company show, internal reviews and coordination with other departments increase. Decide upfront who speaks, how much they can say and who checks each episode before release, and production won't stall each week. It is also worth planning early how the show will continue, for example if the person in charge moves to another role.

If you'd rather hand off production

Handling planning, recording, editing and distribution all by yourselves takes more effort than most people expect. For companies especially, keeping up a weekly release alongside the day job is often the biggest hurdle. If you want to outsource even part of the work, or simply talk through a plan, reach out through podcast production inquiries.