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The Podcast Masterclass: The Complete Guide to Podcasting

How to start a podcast: plan, record, edit and launch an audio + video podcast, grow your audience and earn from it.

Created byPhil Ebiner, Video School

Last updated 11/2026

English

English [Auto],Polish [Auto],

What you'll learn

Start a podcast from scratch: plan your niche, format, show name and episode ideas (with help from ChatGPT)
Design podcast cover art that stands out, and create intros, outros and a show trailer
Choose the right podcast equipment for any budget: USB or XLR microphones, headphones and audio interfaces
Make any room sound better and record clean, professional-sounding audio
Record solo in Audacity, GarageBand or on your phone, and record remote interviews with Riverside, Zencastr and Zoom
Edit your podcast in Audacity, Descript or Adobe Audition, and fix bad audio with AI tools like Adobe Podcast Enhance
Understand podcast hosting and RSS feeds, and publish your show to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Music
Start a video podcast with the right camera, lighting and background, even on a small budget
Publish your podcast on YouTube and turn every episode into clips and Shorts
Launch your podcast with a plan and use analytics to see what's working
Grow your podcast audience with guests, an email list, community and smart promotion
Make money podcasting with sponsorships, platform revenue, affiliate marketing, your own products and memberships

Course content

12 sections • 63 lectures • 2h 50m total length

Welcome to the Podcast Masterclass1:55
Start here: how this podcasting course for beginners takes you from podcast idea to published show, step by step, plus the biggest mistake new podcasters make.
The Podcast Opportunity: Audio, Video & Where Listeners Are1:49
Why start a podcast now: how many people listen to podcasts worldwide, why video podcasts on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts matter, and why people press play.
Your Launch Plan + Podcast Launch Workbook1:10
A simple 4-week plan to launch your podcast, plus the free Podcast Launch Workbook (PDF) to plan your show, episodes and launch day as you go.

Define Your Audience, Problem & Goal1:32
Find your podcast niche: define your ideal listener, the problem your show solves and your goal, so every episode idea has a clear direction.
Choose Your Format: Solo, Co-host, Interview, Narrative, and Audio vs. Video1:30
Compare podcast formats (solo, co-hosted, interview and narrative) and decide between an audio podcast and a video podcast for your show.
Research Your Idea & Name Your Show with AI1:39
Use ChatGPT and AI tools to research your podcast idea, check the competition and brainstorm a memorable podcast name.
Write a Show Title & Description That Gets Found1:35
Podcast SEO basics: write a podcast title and show description with the keywords listeners search for in Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Episode Length & Release Schedule1:25
How long should a podcast episode be, and how often should you publish? Pick an episode length and release schedule you can keep.
Plan Episodes: Ideas, Outlines & a Hook in the First 30 Seconds1:24
Build a bank of podcast episode ideas, outline each episode, and write a hook that keeps listeners past the first 30 seconds.
Outline & Script Episodes with AI1:15
Use ChatGPT to outline and script podcast episodes faster, while keeping your own voice and stories in every episode.
Pitch Your Podcast to a Potential Listener

Cover Art That Stands Out3:59
Podcast cover art design tips: size, fonts, colors and contrast that make your podcast artwork readable and clickable on any phone.
Case Study: Cover Art in Today's Charts1:46
A podcast artwork case study: what top-chart podcast covers on Apple Podcasts and Spotify do well, and what to copy for your own show.
Intros, Outros, Mid-rolls & a Show Trailer4:34
Create a podcast intro and outro, plan mid-roll breaks, and record a short podcast trailer that convinces new listeners to subscribe.
Music, Copyright & Guest Releases1:33
Podcast music licensing explained: royalty-free music, the fair-use myth, and getting a guest release form signed before you publish.

The Gear You Actually Need (3 Budgets)4:58
Best podcast equipment for beginners at three budgets: USB microphones, XLR microphones, audio interfaces and headphones for a professional sound.
Recommended Gear List1:32
A reference list of recommended podcast microphones, headphones, stands and audio interfaces for every budget.
Make Any Room Sound Better2:41
Podcast room acoustics on a budget: reduce echo and background noise so your podcast recording sounds clean in any room.
Set Up Your Mic, Levels & Headphones3:29
Podcast microphone setup: mic placement, input levels, gain and headphone monitoring for clear audio recording.
Optional: XLR Mic + Audio Interface1:27
How to set up an XLR podcast microphone with an audio interface: gain staging, phantom power and inline boosters.
Knowledge Check: Plan, Brand & Gear

Record Solo: Audacity, GarageBand, or Your Phone1:54
How to record a podcast for free in Audacity, GarageBand or on your phone, with the right audio settings and levels.
Record Remote Interviews: Riverside, Zoom & Zencastr1:41
Record remote podcast interviews in high quality with Riverside, Zencastr or Zoom, with separate tracks and a backup recording.
Find & Book Great Guests4:58
How to find podcast guests, pitch them by email or social media, and book interviews with a simple scheduling link.
Write Guest Questions & Find Guests with AI1:25
Use ChatGPT and AI to research podcast guests and write better interview questions that get great answers.
Book a Busy Expert as Your Guest
Interview Tips That Make Guests Shine4:41
Podcast interview tips: prepare questions, listen, ask follow-ups and make every guest sound great on your show.
Interview a Guest Who Gives Short Answers
Stay Organized: Folders, Naming & Backups2:25
A simple podcast workflow for folders, file naming and backups, so you never lose a podcast episode or recording.
Turn Content You Already Have into Episodes1:25
Repurpose existing content (YouTube videos, webinars, blog posts and talks) into podcast episodes, including AI voice tips.

Editing Basics: What to Cut, Fix & Add4:23
Podcast editing basics for beginners: what to cut, how to fix mistakes, and the loudness and MP3 export settings podcast apps expect.
Edit in Audacity (Free), Including Intro & Outro2:18
Edit a podcast in Audacity for free: cut mistakes, noise reduction, intro and outro music with fades, loudness normalization and MP3 export.
Edit by Text with Descript1:33
Edit your podcast like a document in Descript: transcription, removing filler words, Studio Sound and exporting audio and video.
One-Click AI Cleanup: Adobe Podcast Enhance & Auphonic1:13
Fix bad podcast audio with AI: Adobe Podcast Enhance Speech and Auphonic for noise removal, leveling and loudness.
Audition: Set Up & Basic Edits12:03
Adobe Audition podcast tutorial (bonus): set up a multitrack session and make basic edits to your podcast recording.
Audition: Make Your Voice Sound Better8:35
Adobe Audition voice editing: EQ, compression, noise reduction and the Essential Sound podcast voice preset.
Audition: Loudness & MP3 Export6:11
Match podcast loudness to -16 LUFS in Adobe Audition and export a podcast-ready MP3 at the right settings.
Audition: Building a Reusable Template4:08
Build a reusable Adobe Audition podcast template with your intro, outro and effects, so every new episode is drag, drop and export.
Knowledge Check: Record & Edit

How Podcasting Works: Hosts, RSS & Metadata1:52
How podcast hosting, RSS feeds and metadata work, so your podcast appears automatically in Apple Podcasts, Spotify and every podcast app.
Choose a Podcast Host1:24
Compare the best podcast hosting platforms (Buzzsprout, Spotify for Creators, Captivate, Transistor and Libsyn), free and paid.
Upload & Schedule Your First Episode1:37
Upload your first podcast episode to Buzzsprout, add show notes, season and episode numbers, and schedule it for launch day.
Free Hosting with Spotify for Creators1:38
Start a podcast for free with Spotify for Creators (formerly Anchor): set up your show and upload audio or video episodes.
Submit to Apple Podcasts1:14
How to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts with Apple Podcasts Connect and your RSS feed, step by step.
Get on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon & Everywhere Else1:27
Submit your podcast to Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio and Podcast Index to reach listeners everywhere.
Where to Submit Your Podcast1:14
A checklist of every podcast directory to submit your RSS feed to, with links and tips for each one.
Show Notes, Chapters & Transcripts (with AI)4:16
Write podcast show notes, chapters and transcripts with AI, to help listeners and boost your podcast SEO.

Why Your Podcast Needs a Video Version3:19
Why a video podcast on YouTube helps you get discovered, with a real example of a podcast interview ranking on YouTube for years.
Camera, Lighting & Background on Any Budget6:11
Video podcast setup on any budget: webcam vs. phone vs. mirrorless camera, affordable LED lighting and a background that looks professional.
Record Multicam & Remote Video1:47
Record a video podcast with multiple cameras or remote guests using Descript, Riverside, Zoom or Ecamm Live.
Publish Your Podcast on YouTube1:32
Publish your podcast on YouTube with YouTube Studio: create a podcast playlist, and add titles, thumbnails and chapters.
Clips & Shorts: Turn Every Episode into 10 Posts3:15
Turn podcast episodes into YouTube Shorts, Reels, TikToks and social posts with AI clip tools, to grow your audience.

How Charts & Discovery Work Now3:18
How Apple Podcasts and Spotify charts and podcast discovery work, and what actually helps new podcasts get found.
Launch Day Plan6:37
A step-by-step podcast launch plan: prepare your audience, schedule episodes ahead, announce everywhere and rally your inner circle.
Measure What Matters: Analytics1:24
Read podcast analytics in your host, Apple Podcasts and Spotify: downloads, listener retention and which numbers to act on.

Let Your Guests Promote You2:36
Grow your podcast with guest promotion: share kits, guest appearances on other shows and promo swaps.
Set Up a Promo Swap with Another Podcaster
Your Website & Email List1:01
Build a podcast website and email list to turn casual listeners into loyal fans you can reach any time.
Build a Community1:01
Build a podcast community with comments, polls, Discord and live events, so listeners keep coming back.
Answer Questions Where Your Listeners Are0:55
Market your podcast by answering questions on Reddit, YouTube, LinkedIn and Quora, the value-first way.
Brand Your Show Everywhere (and Merch)2:18
Podcast branding: keep your cover art, colors and name consistent everywhere, and sell podcast merch with print-on-demand.

Requirements

No experience needed. You'll learn everything step by step, from planning your show to publishing it.
A computer or smartphone. You can start with free tools and the mic you already have, then upgrade when you're ready.

Description

Learn how to start a podcast from scratch, and launch a show people actually listen to.

The Podcast Masterclass is a complete, step-by-step podcasting course for beginners. You'll plan your show, set up affordable podcast equipment, record and edit your episodes, publish your podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, then grow your audience and make money from it. Both audio and video podcasting are covered.

Over 100,000 students have taken this course, and it has now been completely rebuilt for how podcasting works today: video podcasts on YouTube, AI editing tools, remote interviews and new ways to earn.

By the end of this course, you'll have:

A clear podcast idea, a show name, cover art and a trailer
A recording setup that sounds professional on any budget
Your first episodes recorded, edited and published everywhere
A video version of your podcast on YouTube, plus clips and Shorts
A launch plan, a growth plan and real ways to earn from your show

The course, step by step

Welcome & the Podcast Opportunity: why podcasting works and your launch plan
Plan a Show People Want: your niche, format, name and episode ideas (with ChatGPT)
Brand Your Show: cover art, intros, outros, a trailer and music licensing
Gear & Your Recording Space: USB and XLR microphones at three budgets, room sound and mic setup
Record: solo in Audacity, GarageBand or on your phone; remote interviews with Riverside, Zencastr and Zoom; booking guests and hosting tips
Edit Your Podcast: Audacity, Descript and Adobe Audition, plus AI cleanup with Adobe Podcast Enhance and Auphonic
Host, Publish & Distribute: RSS feeds explained, Buzzsprout, Spotify for Creators, Apple Podcasts Connect and every other directory
Video Podcasting & YouTube: camera, lighting, multicam and remote video, publishing on YouTube, clips and Shorts
Launch Your Podcast: how charts and discovery work, a launch day plan and podcast analytics
Grow Your Audience: guest promotion, your website and email list, community and branding
Make Money from Your Podcast: sponsorship rates and pitching, platform revenue, affiliate marketing, your own products and memberships
Wrap-Up: your next 30 days as a podcaster

What's included

The Podcast Launch Workbook: a downloadable PDF with checklists, templates and a launch countdown
A recommended gear list, a podcast directory checklist and a sponsor pitch email + media kit template
A hands-on assignment to launch and share your podcast with your classmates
Answers to your questions in the Q&A

Who this course is for

Beginners who want to start their first podcast, with no experience or expensive gear
Business owners, coaches and creators who want a podcast to grow their brand
YouTubers who want to turn their videos into a podcast, and podcasters who want to add video
Current podcasters who want to save time with AI, grow their audience and start earning

Why learn from me?

I'm Phil Ebiner. I've taught millions of students here on Udemy, and I've been creating podcasts, videos and online courses for years. I'll show you what works and what doesn't, so you can skip the guesswork and launch a podcast you're proud of.

Start with the first lesson, and let's get your podcast out into the world.

Phil

Who this course is for:

Beginners who want to learn how to start a podcast from scratch
Business owners, coaches and creators who want to grow their brand with a podcast
YouTubers and video creators who want to turn their content into a video podcast
Current podcasters who want to add video, save time with AI, grow their audience and make money

The Podcast Masterclass: The Complete Guide to Podcasting

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Welcome & the Podcast Opportunity3 lectures • 5min

Plan a Show People Want8 lectures • 10min

Brand Your Show4 lectures • 12min

Gear & Your Recording Space5 lectures • 14min

Record: Solo, Remote & Being a Great Host9 lectures • 18min

Edit Your Podcast8 lectures • 40min

Host, Publish & Distribute8 lectures • 15min

Video Podcasting & YouTube5 lectures • 16min

Launch Your Podcast3 lectures • 11min

Grow Your Audience6 lectures • 8min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: