Podcasts are an increasingly prominent source of entertainment and interest. Every industry and niche has its own, thousands of hours of content waiting to be consumed. Some of these have become runaway successes, others remain small, but they have created a field of new stars, and present a new opportunity for high school students interested in showcasing their talents and passions.
In this article, we’re going to run through the mechanics of podcasts, and how they relate to high school students. We’ll begin by looking at what potential benefits may come from starting a podcast, and whether or not doing so is a good idea for you. Then we’ll look at the mechanics of actually doing so. There are many possible ways you can impress a college; let’s see if this is one which speaks to you!
Starting a Podcast for College Admissions
All activities in high school serve a dual purpose. They should be things you actually enjoy, passions you like exploring and enjoyable ways to spend your time, but they should also serve to impress colleges. Colleges don’t like this sort of cynical approach, but they themselves are the cause of it. The ideal activity is one which does both, letting you explore your interests while also letting you show off your talents and abilities to admissions officers.
A podcast can theoretically do both, though this is not guaranteed. Podcasts are very flexible things; they can be on almost any subject, and allow you to dive deep into any one of your passions. That said, they require a very specific kind of personality and set of interests to pull off well.
Podcasts are a performance, one where you are either alone and narrating to a microphone without an audience, or playing off of a guest. This sounds easier than it is, and isn’t something everyone is suited for, nor interested in. There is no shame in not having these talents, and there are plenty of other ways to explore and share your interests if you so desire.
Podcasts are also a heavily saturated field. Here was a time when you could make one and expect to gain listeners through novelty, but that has passed. Now, you must have a plan, a niche, and something interesting to say. We will cover how to make all of these in later sections, but if this isn’t something you are truly interested in or passionate about, there are better ways to spend your time.
The Logistics of Starting a Podcast as a High School Student
There are many component steps to starting and running a successful podcast. We’re going to run through the ones relevant to high school students in the order you should complete them, and give advice as to how best to approach each step in the sequence.
Choosing a Topic and Format
Your podcast has to be about something. This will shape all other decisions, from who your listeners are to how you prepare for each episode. The ideal subject is something that you both know a lot about, and are eager to explore in even greater depth. It should also be something that you are passionate about sharing with others.
You then need to choose the goal of the podcast in relation to the topic. Is it meant to be merely educational, introducing audiences who may have an interest in a thing to the deeper nuances of it? Are you looking to be primarily entertaining? Is there a call to action, trying to get listeners more engaged with their mental health approach or to take action regarding the environment?
Finally, you need to choose the format for your podcast. What is each episode going to look like; will it just be you speaking into a microphone? Will you have a cohost or a rotating panel? Will you be inviting in guests, experts who can share their expertise?
There is no single right format for a podcast, and no single correct topic for it to focus on, but you do need to have a clear understanding of both. This will help you plan out and organize your production, and help audiences identify what you are offering, and if it’s something they would be interested in.
Choosing an Audience
Who you are aiming your podcast at will change how you create and present it. Material for high school students is very different from material for adults, and different once again from material for middle schoolers. You can make podcasts with broad or narrow appeal, but you need to decide this ahead of time, to determine how to shape the tone and tempo of each episode.
Technical Requirements
You will need certain pieces of equipment and software in order to actually create a podcast. These do not need to be extremely fancy or high-end, but they do need to be functional. Here are the basic components you will need:
- A computer, where you can edit the various recordings you make.
- Microphones. Generally the ones you have in your computer will suffice.
- Editing software. This doesn’t need to be high end or professional, but you will need to stitch composite clips together, Programs like Audacity are free, and used by many amateurs.
- Interview Software. If you are interviewing guests remotely, you will need some way to record the conversation, either through Zoom or other video conferencing tools, or through dedicated software like Squadcast.
You will need a stable internet connection, both to interview people remotely and to upload your podcast episodes. You will not need to invest a lot of money into starting a podcast, there are many free pieces of open-source software out there to use, but you will need to invest the time needed to learn how to use it. Make sure you understand your interview software fully before you begin interviewing guests for your show.
Hosting a Podcast
Podcasts need to be stored somewhere so that people can see them. A dedicated hosting service is preferred, even if you plan on linking them on a personal webpage. Even if you plan on making a video version of your podcast and uploading it to Youtube, we recommend having an audio-only version on a dedicated podcast platform. That’s how most listeners engage with the media, and how you’re most likely to draw in new audiences.
Some hosting services are free for students, notably Spotify, which is also one of the most popular platforms. A paid service may be preferable if you’re looking for something more professional, but many of the services they offer are less relevant to students just getting started podcasting.
You will need the following in order to upload podcasts to a hosting site:
- A logo. This doesn’t need to be professionally designed or overly flashy, but should be distinctive enough to help distinguish your show.
- A name for your podcast.
- Titles and descriptions for each individual episode.
- A tagline for the podcast itself.
- Season numbers.
Once your podcast is hosted, you can connect it to directories. Apple Podcasts is the most important, and most smaller directories automatically clone every show that is uploaded to Apple Podcasts. Still, for completeness, you should also connect your RSS feed to Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music (the hosting service will include instructions on how to do this).
Running a Podcast
Now that we’ve gone through the technical side, we’ll give you a bit more advice on the process of creating and running a podcast. First, you’re going to need to decide what episodes of your podcast are going to look like, and how the show as a whole will run. Consider the following questions:
- How long will each episode be? Generally, you should aim for them being similar lengths. Both long and short podcasts have their niche, but appeal to different audiences.
- How frequently will you upload episodes? It is best to keep a consistent schedule, but you should figure out how much time and effort goes into creating an episode before setting one.
We recommend planning out, scripting, and creating the first three episodes of your podcast before you upload anything. This will give you a sense of how much effort it takes to create an episode, and what a reasonable production schedule looks like for you.
Finding Content
One thing you need to plan out well ahead of time is the content for each episode. You must source guests if you are doing interviews, or prepare notes or things to discuss if you are presenting on various subjects. You should try and create a broad plan for a whole season before you begin creating and uploading interviews.
When finding guests, you should begin with your personal network. People you or your friends know, or people who your parents can put you in contact with. This may be more feasible for some subjects than others; if your well of potential guests runs dry, then you will need to start doing outreach.
You should always research any potential guests carefully before reaching out, then establish contact individually. This should be done with personalized emails; introduce yourself, what you are doing, and politely request to interview them. You will experience some rejection while doing this, but many experts are happy to speak with respectful and enthusiastic students about their areas of expertise.
If you have already begun publishing episodes, you should include a link back to your podcast when reaching out. This will let potential guests take stock of what you’re asking, and what they can expect. When preparing to interview a guest, always do your background reading on their area of expertise, and have a list of questions worked out ahead of time. Your job as host is to facilitate an interesting discussion.
Final Thoughts
There are many possible ways to explore and share your interests as a high school student. Creating a podcast may not be the right one for you, but if you have the gift of gab and a flair for the theatrical, it could be worth investigating. We hope that this article has given you insight into what this process may entail, and whether or not it’s something for you to invest your time in.
It can be hard to explore your passions as a high school student, and to do so in a way that will impress the most competitive colleges. That’s where Ivy Scholars can help. Our mentors have a long experience guiding students to explore their passions, and connecting them with opportunities that let them take those passions to new heights. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.
