“I want to do a podcast, but I don’t have any good ideas for episodes.“
A few years ago, when I was starting my podcast consultancy business I used to jump on a lot of calls with a lot of people who were right at the very beginning of their plans. Nowadays, my website and social media handles a lot of these basic questions, but even now, I still hear one challenge more than any other.
And it’s the line that opens this article.
There’s a popular misconception that podcasts need to be recorded in a sound-proofed studio with expensive microphones and all the technology. While it’s absolutely true that the better the recording, the more likely you are to engage your ideal listeners, there is nuance to this.
And in this article, I’m going to explore this nuance.
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Ambience-themed content
Audio is a very visual medium.
I know that seems like an absolute contradiction in terms, saying that.
But it’s true.
Think about it.
When you hear audio, your mind creates the visuals for you.
If you’re listening to the sounds of crashing waves, you can often visualise your favourite beach.
And your brain will even fill in the parts it needs to like adding rain, and making the picture greyer or brighter, depending on the weather in the audio.
That’s the power that you have at your fingertips when creating content, that your YouTube-humping, broey peers don’t have.
If you’re technology and resource limited, then you might benefit from planning some ambient audio capture, ready for some new ideas for your episodes.
To help you get the old mind cogs whirring, I’ve come up with some categories and niches off the top of my head.
I’ve even popped together some ideas for ambient audio you might want to record, in order to elevate your recordings.
By the way, you can record all of these ideas on your phone, although I’d recommend something a bit more pro-level like a handheld microphone hooked into a recording device.
Or a recording device with built in audio capture, like the Zoom recorders.
Nature, health and fitness etc
Essentially, the wellbeing-themed shows in the Health and Fitness category!
Record Your Episode While Taking a Walk
Capture the natural sounds around you as you discuss your topic while walking in a park or neighbourhood.
If you have access to a gravel-covered path that’s sprinkled with leaves, then really try to get clear audio of the crunches under your shoes.
If there’s a stream or river, even better.
This audio will all come in handy for when you’re having a conversation or you’re narrating and scene setting.
If you do regular running, record yourself during a session. Grab audio of cars, aeroplanes in the sky, birds, all the things that just happen when you’re outdoors.
Fun idea:
Engage with an old person sitting on a bench for a rest and ask them for some insight into their life experiences. They’ve been there and done it!
History, factual, true crime etc
If your show is a little more ‘librarian’, you’re definitely going to be leaning on some sound design!
Talk About Your Topic While Visiting a Historic or Haunted Site
Do some research into a local historic site and plan to record there.
If you’re doing True Crime, consider recording all your episodes in a haunted location.
There are tour companies that offer visits to houses and buildings that are said to have spirit activity.
If you record in these places, not only will you possibly capture some interesting audio, but your slightly unsettled voice will add to the character of your delivery.
If you’re doing just straight up history, go to a museum (doesn’t have to be what you’re talking about) and ask visitors questions related to your theme.
Chances are if they’re interested in the museum, they might be interested in your topic.
This is also a great way of creating some local buzz for your podcast, so remember to take business cards with your show’s details on them, as well as a QR code!
Fun idea:
Have a fellow visitor record some lines for your show.
Wellness, mental health etc
This is a huge market, and you’re already competing with apps like “Calm” and “Headspace” when it comes to production value.
Visit a Quiet Beach and Record Your Thoughts on a Topic
Share your thoughts, reflections or inspiration around your wellness topic while enjoying the serene environment of a beach. Record the scattering sound of the pebbles or the scrunch of the sand as you walk along it. This could make for a great pre-roll bed.
Have the sound of waves and seagulls as your background soundtrack. If you can go to a few beaches and at different times of the day, you can rotate them across several episodes.
Fun idea:
Have a beach-goer or crowd of ‘beach-babes and dudes’ announce your show name so you can use it for your intro.
News, current affairs, topic driven etc
Just because it’s dry doesn’t mean it has to be dull and lifeless.
Host a Conversation Over Coffee with a Friend
If you like chatting about news with your mates, and decided to turn it into a podcast, this is the perfect set up for a ‘conversations over coffee’ format.
Keep it casual and relatable by discussing your chosen topics while enjoying a coffee, just like your listeners might do with their friends and family, when they’re in a Costa or Starbucks.
But try to remember that some listeners may suffer from Misophonia. So try to keep slurps and swallow noises quite low down and further back in the mix.
Fun idea:
Record the sound of the Barista shouting out your name to collect your coffee as part of the show’s intro theme.
And finally, because I couldn’t bring myself to title this “4 Podcast Episode Ideas For 2024”, here’s a 5th one.
Comedy, satirical etc
Comedy is one of the most populated categories in Apple Podcasts, so yeah, you need to compete.
Record your episode backstage at a Comedy Club
If you’re doing a comedy themed podcast, you’re going to want to snag some of that comedic energy so you can channel it into your show. What better place to do that, than at an actual comedy venue?
If you can, try to get yourself out on to the stage for the recording when the venue is not in use. This could be a great way of getting some relevant comedic guests, too.
If nothing else, you’ll have the right room tone to set the vibe for your show’s intro, outro and any other regular dynamic repeated content like sponsor reads or call to action points.
Fun idea:
See if you can trade having the venue owner letting you hit the stage and record some jokes to cut in, in return for some sponsor mentions or plugs for specific events.
A great example of this is Stewart Lee’s “Comedy Vehicle” on the BBC.
This show features him being parody interviewed by an unseen host, and is cut in with moments of his live stage work.
So there you have it. Hopefully some ideas there that will get your brain spinning in creative flux.
Let me know if you decide to do any of these, or something similar, in the comments.
Good luck!
And if you need more help with figuring this stuff out, you can always book in a call with me so you can learn how I help podcasters develop successful podcast formats.