Episode 212: How To Start A Podcast

How To Start A Podcast If you have ever wanted to know how to start a podcast, today is your lucky day. Chris Laning is a Voice Over Artist, Podcast and Dailicast Producer and Host, Audio Editor, Audiobook Narrator, and a Creative Writer. He is a former Web Developer (primarily ColdFusion, Javascript, MSSQL) who is as comfortable behind a mic as a voice-over artist (everything from commercials to character voices and explainer videos) and as a podcast host. He has also been editing spoken word audio for over 20 years and has helped several professionals launch their podcasts. In fact, he's editing and producing several podcasts on a daily basis. Biggest Takeaway You Don't Want To Miss: Keep the episodes short, effective, and memorable. You can batch your interviews or solo episodes and be ready for the next 4 months or so. Who should do the podcast - you or add some people within your particular organization and find out what you’re interested in. Then, figure out what your audience is going to want. Sound quality is very important to get your target audience engaged so hiring a producer and editor really helps. And because of this,  your podcast will be more professional. How to Start A Podcast Show Highlights: Who is Chris Laning? 0.17 What does Chris Laning do? 1.54 How to have a series of podcasts? 3.56 Bella's secret about her Solo episodes 6.20 Key points people should keep in mind when having a podcast 7.40 Does everybody need a podcast producer? 10.10 Ripping audio from Facebook live 14.36 Links: http://neighborhoodstage.com/ Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review! Click this link –Bella In Your Business Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section Click on ‘Write a Review’ Are You New Here? Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below. Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here. Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here. Transcript: This is episode 212 of Bella in Your Business. Hi there, I'm Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you've seen me speak on stage or read my book, The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you're about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin' in this next episode of Bella in Your Business. So what do you say? Let's get ready and jump. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today I've got a very special guest. This is someone who helps make sure this entire podcast actually happens on time, sounds amazing, and that I don't sound silly. I want you guys to welcome Chris Lanning. Chris Lanning’s been producing podcasts since he first fell in love with the medium on Christmas Day, 2005. He's produced his own since 2006 and for clients since 2012. His company, Neighborhood Stage Productions, produces podcasts and other audio projects for clients. They always strive to make their clients' productions sound as professional as they know that we are, right? Chris also does voiceovers too. He has his own podcast, which I'm sure we'll talk about. I really wanted to have him come on because I know that some of you have been tinkering around with this idea. I want to break it down for you because the barrier to entry is not as complicated as you might think, and we just kind of want to blow the lid off that for you today. Chris thanks Bella for having him on and says he likes being out from behind the curtain. He congratulates Bella again on reaching 200 episodes, calling it a huge achievement for a weekly podcast. Bella thanks him and says it’s thanks to him too since he’s one of the longest contractors she’s ever worked with. She appreciates how easy and seamless it’s been knowing she can send him the files and trust he’ll handle it—even when life was crazy, and she got the files to him only 48 hours in advance. She asks him to tell her more about what he does and the clients he works with. Chris explains that most of his clients are professionals—coaches, financial advisors, or trainers—who typically host interview podcasts similar to hers. Some mix in solo episodes, which he recommends doing at least once every ten episodes, if not more often. Some clients alternate between solo and interview formats. He helps clients find their sound, get the right tech and microphones, and set up their Zoom calls properly for quality audio. Clients then record their interviews, send him the files, and he cleans them up—removing “ums,” “ahs,” stutters, and background noises—so they sound as professional as they really are. Bella then speaks directly to pet sitters and dog walkers who might be looking for a creative way to market their businesses. She asks how they could create short bursts or series instead of committing to a long-term podcast. Chris says there are a couple of ways to approach it. You could do a weekly podcast, but that doesn’t mean you need to record weekly. You could batch-record interviews and solo episodes in one day and schedule them out over several weeks. In one productive day, you could create nearly two months’ worth of content. He emphasizes keeping episodes short—ideally under 20 minutes, which used to align with average commute times. Even though fewer people commute now, 20 minutes still fits perfectly for walks or workouts. He even suggests going shorter—around 10 minutes—but publishing more often. For example, the Alexa flash briefing format is just two to three minutes a day, which can be recorded in an hour for two weeks’ worth of content. The key is consistency and becoming part of your listeners’ daily lives. Bella agrees, noting that podcast consumption continues to increase and rarely drops. She compares podcasts to binge-worthy series—listeners love catching up on back episodes. She also mentions that having guests helps take pressure off the host since they drive much of the conversation. For her solo episodes, she shares a secret: she rarely speaks completely off the cuff. Instead, she repurposes existing content like blogs or Facebook Lives. Chris agrees but warns against simply reading a blog word-for-word. He explains that listeners can tell when someone’s reading. He used to script his episodes like voiceovers but found that speaking naturally flows much better. Bella agrees, saying you can outline key points or bullets to guide your delivery instead. Chris outlines the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of podcasting. The “who” can be you or people in your company—maybe co-hosting with team members so your audience gets to know them too. You could even collaborate with another business owner in your field. The “what” should be a topic your audience finds valuable but also one that you are passionate about. If you’re not genuinely interested, it will show. Bella agrees, saying that her own curiosity and desire to learn about social media helped drive her interviews and connect her with big-name guests like Mari Smith. She points out that having a podcast can be a great networking tool—it gives you a reason to connect with industry leaders. She encourages listeners to think about inviting people like Victoria Stilwell or Cesar Millan to share their expertise. Next, Bella asks about the role of a podcast producer. Chris explains that he strongly recommends hiring an editor—even if it’s not him—because polished sound quality matters. While some people say they want to keep things “raw and authentic,” he compares that to showing up at work without brushing your teeth or changing clothes. You don’t need to sound robotic, but you should still sound clean and professional. Editors remove background noise, balance volume levels, and make sure you sound your best. Bella laughs and says having a producer takes the pressure off. Mistakes happen—even for seasoned hosts—and it’s reassuring to know someone can fix them. Chris agrees, saying that audio quality is more important than visuals for emotional connection. Bella admits she rarely listens back to her own podcasts because most people don’t like the sound of their voice. Chris jokes that he doesn’t mind since he’s a voiceover artist. Bella then asks Chris to share about his own podcasts and projects. He says he’s done a few over the years, including a Disney-themed one, but lately he’s been helping a “client” who lives at the North Pole—producing daily updates around Christmas. Bella laughs, asking if he can bring that guest on the show, but Chris jokes that he’s too busy celebrating Christmas in July. Bella asks about repurposing Facebook Live videos into podcasts. Chris says it’s definitely doable but needs editing. During lives, hosts often talk to the chat or reference visuals, which don’t translate well in audio. An editor trims those parts while keeping essential context. He says the main rule is to respect your listeners’ time—deliver value efficiently. Bella agrees and says that when she knows she’ll repurpose a Live for audio, she consciously avoids interacting too much with comments. Finally, Chris teases an upcoming project he’s developing with a friend and business coach: a tool for creating short, effective marketing videos using structured outlines. He says early tests look great and he’ll share more once it’s released. Bella says she’ll include the details in the show notes when it’s ready.