Cool Podcast Ideas & Hands-On Tips: How to Generate Content for Your Podcast

Have you ever thought about starting a podcast? Well, you are definitely not alone - as a coworking space provider we know that for sure. The rise of podcasting coincides with the increase in accessibility to music, and digital media. Platforms like Apple Music and Spotify are full of so many different genres. From true crime to sports, podcasters have so much to talk about and knowledge to share! 

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t know where to start with finding cool topics for a podcast. There are so many possibilities and avenues to take when deciding what subject to choose. You want to find something that people would be interested in, but choosing a topic because of its popularity isn’t always a good idea. 

How do you find creative podcast ideas that would draw an audience and something that you’re interested in as a podcast host? Have no fear, we’ve done some digging and we think these ideas will point you in the right direction when starting your podcasting career!

Interests Matter

This one may sound like “duh, why would I talk about something that I WASN’T interested in” but keeping interest in mind when choosing your subject is so important. Podcast topic idea inspiration can come from many different places. Choosing to make your topic something you’re already familiar with and interested in is the best way to make content that you enjoy and in turn your audience will enjoy. 

Creating a podcast starts with good podcast topics that align with your passions and interests; it also helps you as the host to be creative and continue to make engaging content for your audience. Once you finalize your subject matter, that’s when the real work begins! Make sure you become an expert on your chosen subject (if you aren’t already). You want your audience to know you as a trusted source of information for that topic. 

Find your Audience

After nailing down your topic, you have to determine the audience that your new podcast speaks to! A great place to start would be to check out the analytics of your businesses existing social media, where people talk about their ideas. If you don’t know where to start with analytics, check out our blog post on How to Be Strategic on Social Media to find some great tips on where to start. 

If you already have an existing fan base or audience, here is what you can try:

1. Send out a poll or find another way to ask for feedback to see if your new podcast content ideas would be something that interests them. 
2. If they don’t, ask your audience what they want to see from you! 

People are drawn toward ideas and stories that add to their lives, so when in doubt look to your following for podcast theme ideas. Whether it be educational, or entertainment, you want to find something your listeners can’t get enough of.

Develop your Style

Now that you’ve found your audience and awesome topics for the podcast, let's figure out its structure. One of the best ways to structure your podcast is by telling stories! People are attracted to stories; they want something that makes them feel engaged. Whether you’re talking about someone’s life or even the progression of an idea or movement, using a story as the vehicle for that information is guaranteed to draw in your audience. 

Depending on your topic, structuring your podcast around interviewing professionals and other guests is another engaging format. One podcast that does this really well is The Arm Chair Expert with Dax Shepard. Dax started by having his wife (Kristen Bell) and his celebrity friends on his podcast. They would discuss everything about their lives, projects and upcoming events. Creating an interesting show that portrays mainstream celebrities in a more personable light is one of the winning podcast topic ideas. 

Dax also started a section of his podcast called Experts on Expert where he talks to experts in their fields about their careers. Q&A Style podcasts are interesting to those wanting to know more about a certain field, or person and fit well into most genres of podcasts. Even if you start with one style of podcasting, don’t be afraid to shake it up. Variety is a good thing!

Quality Matters

It’s time to talk logistics. When it comes to recording, equipment is important. Poor sound quality and background noise can be podcast killers. Investing in good recording gear is a great way to elevate the quality of your product. 

After you find the right equipment, you need to learn (or hire someone who knows) editing. Even the best podcast topics wouldn’t ensure your success without proper quality. Many things can really impact the message you’re trying to get across, such as how you edit your podcast together and what you add to it, for example:

• Sound effects
• Music
• Voice acting, etc. 

Look to YouTube or find classes online to get some audio editing tips and tricks.

A few final points…

Finally, here are a few tips for good podcast etiquette! 

1. Be yourself! This may seem like another “duh” item, but you may be tempted to put on a persona or play up a certain part of yourself for your show. Stick to being your authentic self and your audience will relate to you better. 
2. Utilize the platform that is podcasting to promote your other forms of social media, projects, or resources. Podcasts offer a reach far beyond traditional forms of media, so use that to promote yourself and your business. 
3. When you have guests, do your research! Learn as much about them as possible before the actual recording day. When it comes to doing the actual interview, listen to your guest intently. In an interview setting, it's extremely important for you to listen to obtain knowledge rather than to just respond to your guest. With this mindset, you’ll have a more genuine conversation with your guest. 
4. Lastly but not less important: ask your listeners questions and report the responses, make your audience feel engaged and valued!

With podcasting all the rage these days, it’s no surprise that there are more and more popping up on the web every day. You can start with some funny podcast topics or jump in with a serious conversation with a top-rated expert - and in both cases capture your audience. Hopefully, you’ve found these tips helpful and inspiring when looking to break into the podcasting scene.