How do you make a gardening podcast?

Why do you want to make a gardening podcast?

This is a great starting point, here are some ideas:

• Have fun
• Share your hobby or pastime
• Share your unique area of expertise in gardening
• Raise awareness of a gardening issue or ecological movement e.g. pesticide-free gardening
• Sell something or suggest your gardening service

I've listened to lots of gardening podcasts and almost all of them are recorded indoors. This is why I choose to record mine outside, on the job so to speak.

Who do you want to make a gardening podcast for?

Another great question to ask before you start is to ask yourself, who is this for? I'm not an expert gardener by any stretch of the imagination and I don't want to be one. I decided my show would be deliberately light on traditional tips and advice, there's already plenty of shows like that out there. 

I don't have most of the answers when it comes to gardening, that's half the fun. So, I decided to make a show that is for people like me. People who feel compelled to spend time outdoors and enjoy their garden but don't want to be taught a lesson. That includes making mistakes and finding out that some plants just won't grow!

How long should my gardening podcast be?

The great thing about podcasting is it allows you complete creative freedom. You aren't making a radio show there's no set time you need to fill, there's no schedule. You can make your podcast as long or short as you like. My shows are between six and fifteen minutes long because generally, that's how long it takes me to do a little job in the garden, talk about it and then move on. 

What technical gear do I need to make a gardening podcast?

The producer, Steve Blears and I both have a background in broadcasting, so we're at an advantage but don't let technical worries hold you back.

You'll need something to record on and a computer to edit on. There's already lots of help online with Facebook groups and YouTube tutorials on how to start, so I won't repeat it here. You may have to learn some new skills and software, but it's great to learn new skills.

Some good advice if you are a total newbie, have a go using the voice memo function on your smartphone. Most new devices have excellent microphones, so do a few trial-runs, listen back and see what it sounds like before investing in equipment.

We use a professional Zoom audio recorder, microphones and edit on Adobe Audition software. This gear isn't cheap, but there is plenty of budget-friendly equipment and free software around to get you started. Do your research first.

What should I say in my gardening podcast?

The biggest question from people thinking about making a gardening podcast is "what do I say?" For starters, I would suggest that you don't script it. Why? Because you don't want to sound like you are reading from a piece of paper!

A great approach is to think of a theme for each episode, jot down a few bullet points, subjects you would like to cover. Remember, f you can hold a conversation with a friend for 20 minutes, you can speak into a microphone. 

Don't overthink it and don't be overcritical. Just practice talking! If you need to pause and think that's fine. You're not presenting the nightly news you can always trim any gaps out later.

How do I publish a new gardening podcast?

You'll need a podcast host where you upload the episodes. The host will generate something called an RSS feed. This is a data feed with links to the audio file, show notes and artwork. All of this will be uploaded to the host from your computer. 

I pay around £15 a month for Simplecast.com to host my show. There are lots of hosts available so shop around for one that suits you. Find one that has a blog with lots of tips, tutorials and advice. Once you have got a host, you then share the RSS feed with podcast players like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The host should give you instructions on how to do this.

What about artwork if I'm making a gardening podcast?

Don't overthink it. It's totally up to you. Take a look at other shows and see what works. It's a good idea not to follow the trend and try to stand out. So if most of the artwork for gardening podcasts is green, make yours a different colour. Your host will give you technical details on image size and uploading.

Appear on somebody else's gardening podcast

Can't be bothered with all the faff or want to have a go first? Why not get in touch with another gardening podcast and suggest you appear to offer your tips, advice or gardening story. Make sure you listen to the show first, it's polite and not everyone features guests. 

They'll usually share their social media details or email address during the show so drop them a quick message with a note saying how you can help.

Some more advice on how to make a podcast from lifehacker.