How to Podcast
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Welcome to How to Podcast! (START HERE)

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WELCOME

Why should I care about having a professional setup?

In today's digital-first world, first impressions are everything. A clean video image and quality audio is the digital equivalent of a firm handshake. A professional setup isn't just about looking good—it's about building trust and credibility with your audience and clients/colleagues.

How to Podcast offers a comprehensive solution with carefully curated, reliable equipment recommendations and explainers that won't let you down. The training provides multiple setup options, from budget-friendly to advanced configurations, ensuring that everyone can elevate their virtual presence regardless of their needs or resources. This training is extremely comprehensive making it easy to get your setup up and running in 48 hours regardless of your skill level. Whether you're recording a remote interview show, doing a solo podcast or video conferencing, How to Podcast provides the blueprint for creating a professional-grade setup that helps you stand out in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

Who is this for?

This training is designed for two key audiences.

First, it's perfect for solo creators who want to hit the ground running - no more endless YouTube rabbit holes trying to figure out gear and setups. I've created a turnkey solution that will get you from zero to recording in days, not months.

Second, it's ideal for organizations & teams needing to level up their remote podcasting or Zoom game. Hand this guide to your content team and they'll be crushing it in no time - no hand-holding required!

Think of it as your one-stop shop for looking and sounding like a pro online, minus that awful, daunting part of not knowing where to start. I got you. You got this. Everything you need is right here.

💡Idea: Everything I teach here can transfer to a real life services product that you could sell to individuals/organizations for thousands of dollars. If you've purchased How to Podcast, feel free to use this knowledge to help local businesses set up their own professional podcast studios IN REAL LIFE! Everyone wants to make content, but doesn’t know where to start. How to Podcast will make YOU the expert in this niche.

How to Navigate How to Podcast

Your home base will be saradietschy.com/howtopodcast to access the course.

Table of Contents:

1. The Gear List - comprehensive guides to all the equipment and corresponding tutorials you need to launch your podcast. Each piece of gear features a video explaing “Why This?”, the “Tech Specs” and “How to Use”. Most gear pages also feature written documentation that either summarizes the video or expands beyond the video.

  • 💰Budget Setup

  • 🔥Advanced Setup

  • 🚀Overkill Setup

  • 👯‍♀️2 People/3 Cam Setup

2. How to Design the Perfect Studio Background

  • How to Design Your Studio Background

  • BTS! Building the Studio Background for the Overkill Setup

  • How to Master Camera Confidence

  • Studio Background Inspo

3. Video Editing

  • How to Edit a Remote Podcast

  • How to Multicam Edit a Podcast - Raw Editing Session

4. The Inside Baseball: How to Make Money with Your Podcast

  • The 3 Ways Podcasts Actually Make Money

  • How I Made Money on My Podcast (ft. a real pitch deck & contracts)

Flow - Video vs Written Documentation

Follow the modules from top to bottom on SaraDietschy.com/HowToPodcast. While there's a ton of content here, I've kept it focused and fluff-free. So skip what you already know and focus on what you need! You obviously won’t dive into all of the gear setups but they’re great to have as your content journey changes and grows.

Some modules have just video content or just written documentation but most have both. You can picture-in-picture the video while reading down the page if you'd like. While the training is 100% complete if you just watch the videos from start to finish, your learning style might make it easier to simply scroll down and read specific information—like exact camera settings—when you need them. I aimed to make this both comprehensive with the videos but also easy to skim with the written documentation, so you can quickly find what you need based on your expertise level.

How to Navigate

Here's the ideal way to work through How to Podcast:

  1. 👋🏻 “Start Here” Page - (omg, you're crushing it already!)

  2. 🎥 Continue to "Choose Your Setup!" below

    Pick 1: Budget, Advanced, Overkill, or 2 Person/3 cam

    While I encourage you to explore different setups as you grow, which one fits your current needs and current budget?

  3. 👨‍💻 Order the gear. Wait in excitement. Unbox said gear. It’s now go-time.

  4. ▶️ Watch The Gear List videos for detailed instructions, then use the written documentation as a reference guide while you assemble YOUR SETUP.

  5. 🎨 Watch "How to Design Your Studio Background" to create a beautiful, well-lit, properly sounding, on-brand recording space.

    It's best to complete your camera setup first so you can experiment with background arrangements.

  6. 📝 Jump into the remaining modules that matter to you.

Remember: The fastest way to learn is by doing. You should record your first test video within 48 hours of receiving your gear and starting the training! Of course you'll continue to fine tune your space and settings over time but taking that first step is what matters most. LET’S GOOOOOO.

Choose Your Setup!

This entire system is meant to be TURNKEY. That means I recommend following the gear recommendations closely. It’s fine if you might want to use a camera lens you already own or mix and match a little across setups; however, the closer you stick to one complete setup, the better you can utilize the training. I strongly recommend NOT changing major components like the camera or video switcher. These are the more complex pieces of gear, which is exactly where How to Podcast training will be the most helpful.

Solo/Remote Podcasting

  1. 💰Budget Setup

  2. 🔥Advanced Setup

  3. 🔥Advanced Setup (LITE)

  4. 🚀Overkill Setup

In Real Life, Multi-Person Podcasting

  1. 👯‍♀️2 People/3 Cam Setup

Many of the Solo/Remote podcasting setups also work well for in-studio recording with 2+ people. Just double the gear. For on-location podcasting where you need to quickly set up equipment in a rented or borrowed space, the 👯‍♀️2 People/3 Cam module is perfect. Regardless of which setup you choose, make sure to watch the remaining modules like "How to Design The Perfect Studio Background", “3 Ways Podcast Actually Make Money” and “How to Edit a Podcast”

1. 💰Budget Setup

(~$557 Estimated Gear Cost)

  • The Budget Setup is perfect for professionals who need a polished online presence without breaking the bank. Using your iPhone (or any other modern smartphone) and $500 in additional gear, you can create a professional-grade remote workspace for meetings, teaching, or podcasting.

  • This setup is ideal for organizations looking to upgrade multiple workspaces efficiently. Whether you're a university equipping professors for online teaching or a company elevating your team's virtual presence, the Budget Setup offers an accessible, portable solution.

2. 🔥Advanced Setup

(~$4,900 Estimated Gear Cost)

• The Advanced Setup is designed for content professionals who want to step up their production quality while keeping their workspace efficient and streamlined. With the Sony FX30, a small teleprompter for seamless eye contact during remote interviews, and the Shure SM7DB—the gold standard in professional podcasting mics—this setup delivers top-tier video and audio without unnecessary complexity.

• Everything is desk-mounted, ensuring a clutter-free workspace. Your camera, lighting, and microphone are all within arm’s reach, creating a professional-grade production hub without dominating an entire room with bulky gear.

• Ideal for podcasters, educators, and business professionals who want to look and sound their absolute best, this setup provides broadcast-quality video and audio without requiring a full studio build-out. If you’re serious about elevating your online presence—whether for live streams, video podcasts, or high-quality remote meetings—the Advanced Setup delivers a polished, professional look with a minimal footprint.

⚠️ I DO NOT recommend mixing and matching these setups. However, if you want to simplify and reduce the cost of the Advanced Setup, you can swap the Shure SM7DB microphone and Elgato Wave XLR Audio Interface for the RODE PodMic from the Budget setup. While creators setting up their own space will likely appreciate the extra features and quality of the full Advanced setup, the simplified version (covered in the Advanced LITE section) might be better for clients who might find the Elgato Wave XLR interface too complex.

3. 🚀Overkill Setup

(~$17,000 Estimated Gear Cost)

• The Overkill Setup is the pinnacle of solo podcasting, streaming, and YouTube production. This is the absolute best setup for professionals who want to maximize quality, control, and credibility. Featuring the iKan teleprompter with dual displays, you can maintain perfect eye contact with your guests while keeping an eye on your shot with the talent monitor below—a setup used by top-tier broadcasters.

• At the heart of this system is the Sony FX3 paired with the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens, delivering cinematic image quality with exceptional depth of field. Combined with an Aputure 3-point lighting setup, this ensures flawless lighting for any recording scenario. A dedicated video switcher and professional audio interface give you full control over your production, allowing for seamless multi-angle switching and pristine sound.

• This setup requires a dedicated space, such as a guest bedroom or a full-fledged studio. The gear is larger, more expensive, and demands a permanent installation—but the result? You will look and sound ELITE, instantly commanding credibility and authority in your field. If you want to match or surpass the quality of top creators and broadcasters, this is the setup to beat. (This is also my personal setup for my YouTube channel👋🏻)

4. 👯‍♀️2 People/3 Cam Setup

• The 2-Person / 3-Camera Setup is designed for those taking their podcast into real life, whether you’re setting up in a rented Airbnb, studio space, or on-location interview. This setup teaches you how to optimize any space—from rearranging furniture to controlling sound in an unpredictable environment.

• Capturing both wide-angle and close-up shots requires finesse. You’ll learn how to position cameras for the best framing that keeps your podcast looking polished and professional. This setup uses a lot of the same high-end gear as the Overkill Setup but simplifies things by removing the teleprompter and video switcher.

• Ideally, you’ll have at least one person behind the scenes monitoring cameras, but even if you’re running solo, you’ll gain the skills to turn any boring room into a stunning, professional set—in just a couple hours. Whether you’re recording podcast interviews, panel discussions, or on-the-go content, this setup gives you the freedom to create anywhere without sacrificing quality.