This is the article for you if you’ve ever entertained the idea of beginning your own podcast but have been dissuaded from doing so by feelings of uncertainty.

You’ve probably had to (or will have to) dance with your old friend, self-doubt, if you’re a podcaster at any point in your career, whether you’re an experienced podcaster or getting ready to make your first episode. It may prevent you from progressing in your podcasting endeavors and make the experience less enjoyable overall. Fear can be beneficial at times because it encourages people to perform quality assurance checks on their work. It has the potential to paralyze you and make you question every decision you make. How can we get past our fear so that it doesn’t interfere with our podcasting efforts? Let’s take a look at a few different strategies.

What is the scope of the project?

If the idea of beginning your own podcast seems too daunting to tackle, try breaking it up into smaller steps. Make a list, in chronological order, of the things that need to be done. After that, proceed with each one in turn. Even if the tasks are as straightforward as “plug in the microphone,” this can give you the impression that producing a podcast is nothing more than completing a series of manageable steps. Dreaming big is great. It comes highly recommended by me. Just remember to dream big and detail your dreams so that you can achieve each goal.

Many times, a lack of knowledge is to blame for feelings of fear.

Check to see if you have a complete understanding of the subject of your episode. Have you gathered sufficient information? There are times when fear is caused by a lack of adequate knowledge regarding the content that is being communicated. Let’s say the topic of your podcast is fruit pie recipes, and you’re not sure how to prevent berry pies from becoming too runny. It’s possible that you’ll experience fear if you move forward with the recording. The obvious solution to this problem is to conduct some additional studies and look for reliable information regarding fruit pectin. After pressing the record button, you will have a strong foundation to rely on if you have followed sound scripting practices and have done your research. 

Do you feel that you are ready?

Checking and rechecking your preparations can be useful, but it also has the potential to be a double-edged sword. When this happens, you run the risk of overthinking the preparation, which will prevent you from moving forward. Utilize a checklist or a resource such as The Podcast Host Planner Journal, both of which are available in The Podcast Host Academy. Let the resource or the checklist tell you when you’re ready to move on, even if you don’t feel prepared to do so. After everything has been double checked, it’s time to get started. 

Do you have a working knowledge of the hardware and software you’re using? Making an Episode Zero or trailer can be helpful in this situation. Create one episode to become acquainted with the entire procedure. That wasn’t so bad, you can then tell yourself. 

Your podcast: Will there be repercussions?

What could possibly go wrong if you record, edit, and release an episode? Be truthful. In actuality, if the producer has ten friends who enjoy podcasts, a new episode may be downloaded ten times in the first week. Make a decision regarding the worst-case scenario (Will your dog-walker quit if they learn of your opinions?). After that, get ready for it by starting to gather dog walkers’ resumes. 

You should consider your actions and motivations if your podcast’s content actually has unfavorable effects. Is my mic plugged in? is not as serious of a problem as disclosing information or giving it out without authorization. With true crime podcasts, this is especially important. For instance, the podcast S-Town was very popular, but the creators did not obtain the subject’s consent before disclosing information about his personal life. His family took the producers to court. This is by no means the only instance of a true crime podcast that was produced without taking morality or repercussions into account. Ensure that your interview subjects have given you permission to record them, publish the recordings, and use them. Again, you may want to reconsider your motivation if someone would be harmed by the podcast you are producing. It’s not worth it to gain a little bit of fame or ad revenue. 

How are you physically feeling?

Does your heart rate accelerate whenever you sit down to record or whenever you move your cursor over the “publish” button on your computer? Do you ever feel like you can’t get the words out or that there are butterflies in your stomach before an interview? Arousal is the root cause of the similar physical symptoms that accompany both anxiety and excitement. Arousal improves our ability to concentrate and gives us more energy to get up and go. Are you able to say, “I’m excited,” despite the fact that you may or may not be experiencing these physical symptoms? Seeing anxiety as an opportunity for excitement can help us achieve our goals. In addition, practicing mindfulness, which involves taking three long, slow breaths and paying attention to what your senses are telling you, can assist you in concentrating better. Let the process of creating a podcast be fun!

Still scared? Feel the fear, but push through it and get the job done.

Because what we are creating has never been done before, every time we make something new, we are going to experience a feeling of unease. It would be wonderful if every podcaster could have a cheerleading squad waiting for them at all times, yelling things like “Your ideas are fantastic!” and “Sounds great!”. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. Besides, cheerleaders can throw off your concentration. 

When I was younger, I wrote a play that was eventually produced in front of a real-life audience. It consisted of a lengthy monologue that was delivered by a young actress who was intent on delivering a flawless performance. When it came time for her performance, she completely blanked on all of her lines in the middle of the important speech. She was so disoriented that the physical manifestations of her anxiety took over, and she was unable to get herself back on track. She was able to mumble something that was vaguely familiar to the audience as the final line of the monologue, and then she slunk offstage. I ran backstage and found her sobbing and trying to make amends with me for botching the performance. I felt sorry for her, but I reassured her that nobody had been hurt and that nobody had died. I also told her that I had learned not to write monologues that were so lengthy. 

Sometimes you have to experience a significant setback, take what you’ve learned from it, and try again in a different way.