Just Start with Podcasting
Everyone has something worth saying out loud. Podcasting turns a conversation, an obsession, or a story only you can tell into something thousands of people can hear on their morning commute. The barrier to entry is laughably low, but the difference between a podcast that finds listeners and one that fades after three episodes comes down to a few key decisions you make before you ever hit record.
Start here
So You Want to Start a Podcast
Kristen Meinzer · 224 pages · 2019 · Easy
Themes: finding your voice, storytelling, audience building, production basics, community
The single best introduction to podcasting for someone who has never made a show before. Kristen Meinzer draws on years of professional experience as a podcast producer, director, and host to walk you through every step of the process, from the initial spark of an idea to a published episode with real listeners.
Why Start Here
Meinzer spent years as director of nonfiction programming at Panoply (Slate’s podcast network) and has hosted multiple successful shows reaching over ten million listeners. She knows the craft from every angle, and it shows. The book is structured around the questions beginners actually ask: How do I pick a topic? What equipment do I need? How do I find guests? How do I edit? How do I get people to listen?
What sets this book apart from drier how-to guides is Meinzer’s emphasis on voice and story. She does not just teach you how to use a microphone. She helps you figure out what you have to say and why anyone should care. The chapters on finding your unique perspective and building genuine connection with listeners are worth the price of admission alone.
The tone is encouraging without being patronizing. Meinzer is honest about the work involved but never makes it feel impossible. She includes insider stories from her career that illustrate key points and keep the reading engaging.
What to Expect
A warm, comprehensive guide organized in logical order from conception to launch and beyond. At 224 pages, it is a quick read that covers a lot of ground without padding. Each chapter builds on the last, so reading straight through makes sense, but you can also jump to specific sections if you need help with a particular aspect of production. The writing is conversational and accessible, never technical for its own sake.
Alternatives
Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, Griffin McElroy · 272 pages · 2021 · Easy
If you learn better when you are laughing, this is your entry point. The McElroy brothers built one of the most beloved podcast families in the medium with shows like My Brother, My Brother and Me and The Adventure Zone, and their guide brings the same humor and warmth to the how-to format.
Why Start Here
Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy have been podcasting since 2010 and have turned it into a career that spans multiple hit shows, live tours, and a TV adaptation. They know what works and what does not, and they are refreshingly honest about both.
The book covers the practical side of podcasting, choosing a format, setting up equipment, recording and editing, publishing and promoting, but wraps it all in the brothers’ signature comedic style. This matters more than it sounds. Many podcasting guides are competent but boring, and a boring guide about a creative pursuit can actually kill your motivation. The McElroys keep you energized and excited about the process.
They are also genuinely good at breaking down decisions that paralyze beginners. Their advice on choosing a format, finding your co-host dynamic, and developing a show’s identity is practical and specific rather than vague.
What to Expect
An entertaining read that manages to be both funny and genuinely useful. At 272 pages, it is slightly longer than most podcasting guides, but the humor keeps things moving quickly. The tone is casual and conversational, like getting advice from friends who happen to be very good at what they do. Best suited for people who want to start a conversational or comedy podcast, though much of the advice applies to any format.
Jessica Abel · 240 pages · 2015 · Easy
A different kind of podcasting book. Instead of a step-by-step technical guide, Jessica Abel takes you behind the scenes of the most acclaimed narrative audio shows in the world and reveals how they build stories that grip listeners from start to finish.
Why Start Here
Abel is a cartoonist and author who spent years embedded with the teams behind This American Life, Radiolab, Snap Judgment, Planet Money, and other landmark shows. She watched their editorial meetings, sat in on story sessions, and documented the creative process that turns raw material into compelling audio. Then she turned it all into a graphic narrative that is as engaging to read as the shows are to hear.
This is the book for anyone who senses that great podcasting is about more than just clear audio and a consistent upload schedule. Abel breaks down the storytelling frameworks that professional producers use: how to find a story, how to structure it, how to build tension and surprise, and how to know when something is not working. These are skills that most podcasting guides skip entirely, but they are what separate forgettable shows from ones people recommend to their friends.
The graphic format is a genuine advantage, not a gimmick. Seeing the editorial process drawn out as scenes, with dialogue and visual pacing, makes abstract concepts concrete in ways that prose alone cannot.
What to Expect
A visually rich book that reads more like a documentary than a manual. At 240 pages of illustrated content, you can finish it in one or two sittings. The focus is on storytelling craft rather than technical setup, so this pairs well with a more practical guide like Meinzer’s for the nuts-and-bolts side. Best suited for anyone interested in narrative, interview, or documentary-style podcasts.