Educator Tal Lazar is a cinematographer and educator whose courses are taught at leading film schools such as Columbia University, the American Film Institute and Sundance Institute.

According to statistics, 32% of Americans listen to podcasts at least once a month, 74% of them do so to learn something new, and 52% of podcast subscribers listen to entire episodes. Starting with this data, Latasha James takes us on a journey into an amazing world of long conversations and controversial topics. Aren’t those numbers enough to convince you that podcasts are a huge trend nowadays and have their own special spot in an audience’s heart?

Go to MZed to start watching “How to Start a Podcast” now.

Meet your podcasting course instructor

Latasha James is a successful marketing strategist, an online educator, and also the host of “The Freelance Friday Podcast”. Over the course of the last five years, she has published around 250 episodes with tips empowering freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Coming out weekly on different podcast platforms (including a video version for YouTube), Latasha’s show has gathered around a huge community, gained hundreds of 5-star reviews, and received a few awards. So, yes, she definitely knows a thing or two about podcasting.

What you will also notice right away is that podcasting is Latasha’s big passion. If you share that passion and have already thought about launching your own show, then this course is definitely for you. The detailed lessons will take you from deciding on a specific topic, through all the important gear decisions, to how to conduct interviews and create your own brand.

To give you an idea of what you can learn in our podcasting course on MZed.com, below is a sneak peek at the first modules.

How to create a listener profile?

Okay, let’s imagine you already have a vague idea for your own podcast. The first thing you need to do now (even before picking an appealing name) is to establish your audience. Who are you actually going to talk to?

Latasha James calls this process “creating a listener profile”, and doing so directly at the beginning will help you plan and shape your show (from the messaging in the title to the choice of guests you are going to invite, or even the tone of your voice). Here are a few ways to define your ideal listener:

• Think about the ultimate goal of your podcast. For whom and how can it be especially valuable? Who will most likely want to listen to your topics? Imagine these people, and write down a few biographic details about them: age, gender, social status, job, and geo-location.
• If you are already a content creator or an influencer with a bigger audience, take a look at your social media stats. They will reveal the basic facts about your followers. Use them to create your ideal listener’s profile. That way, you can attract your existing community to the new product.
• If you are starting from scratch and have the data, study your competitors and peers instead. Find a couple of shows or creators who might have podcasts ranking alongside yours, and take a look at who their followers are. Of course, you don’t have to target the same listeners as they do, but to begin with, this will give you some information about a possible audience.

Tips on finding the perfect topic for your podcast

Now that you know who you are going to talk to, let’s think about what you want to talk about. The most important advice from Latasha James here: pick a topic that you can go on about all day long. As mentioned above, podcasts are a longer form than an Instagram story, so you want to have enough material to share with your audience.

Let’s say your biggest passion is filmmaking (that’s why you’re reading CineD, right?). Sounds a bit too broad though, doesn’t it? The goal is to take this general keyword, go deeper, and put your unique spin on it. Maybe it’s cinematic lighting you’re most interested in? Or stunt work? Or inviting successful industry experts to talk about their experience, like Team Deakins Podcast?

In any case, the chosen topic should reflect what you and your potential audience find exciting. Check? Check. Alright, then try to draft a couple of episodes and what they might be about. Latasha offers the following list of questions to help you get your inspiration ignited:

• What motivates your ideal listener? And how to form podcast episodes to keep them inspired?
• Who influences your ideal listener? Can you invite those people to your show?
• What are your ideal listener’s goals? How can your podcast episodes help your audience achieve their goals?

Reality check with Google Trends

When something fascinates you and is fun to talk about, you can always run a podcast about it. However, if you’re also looking forward to building a business out of your show, your topic has to be in demand. That means: people should be actually searching for it, finding your podcast, and joining its audience.

In her podcasting course, Latasha James offers a few different tools for performing a reality check and finding out whether your keyword is relevant. One of her favorite methods to do this is through Google Trends. You can head over to the platform, insert your podcast topic into the search field, and find out how it’s trending in specific countries right now.

As you see in the screenshots above, Google Trends will deliver some analytical data over a period of time. Also, it will provide you with a list of related queries or questions that people are asking about your chosen topic. Additionally, you can use the “compare” tool, which is super helpful for deciding between two topics, or even on the podcast name.

When no results show for your input keyword, there might be several reasons. It may signal an opportunity, for example, when you’re foreseeing a trend, which is going to explode soon. (Like reacting to a brand-new TV show, in case it turns out to be a success). That can definitely gain you a good place in the podcast ranking. On the other hand, if people don’t constantly search for your topic, your show most likely won’t be doing too well.

Other things you will learn in our podcasting course

Of course, all the tips described above are only how the journey begins. In the following modules of her podcasting course on MZed.com, Latasha James dives into a wide variety of topics, which will give you all the knowledge you need to start your own show. In her lessons, she explains how to:

• Create a show identity: from an SEO-optimized name to a memorable style for the podcast cover, consistent bumpers (transition elements), and theme songs.
• Choose all the required gear. In this module, you will learn the difference between dynamic and condenser mics (with wire and wireless options), and how to decide which one you need.
• Make all supporting gear choices like microphone stands, headphones, and mixers (including an in-depth look at the all-in-one solution RØDECaster Pro II).
• Use editing software like Audacity and Final Cut Pro (in case you want a video version of your podcast) for quick editing, color grading, graphics, and transitions.
• Create a detailed content calendar with Latasha’s workflow showcase in Notion.
• Work with guests: from setting up in-studio guest recording to conducting interviews and even bringing in callers.
• Recording your podcast on video.
• Create captivating show notes.
• Successfully launch your show. This lesson will give you insights into uploading an episode, choosing social media channels to attract new listeners, and promoting your show.
• Define your future journey. In the final modules, Latasha also gives some tips on where to go next. Those include working with brands, sending newsletters, selling your services, and building your own brand.

Pricing

How to Start a Podcast with Latasha James is available to purchase for $79. Or you can subscribe to MZed Pro and watch this course, along with over 50 other courses for only $349 for the first year, and $199 for every year after that.

What else do you get with MZed Pro?

As an MZed Pro member, you also get access to over 465 hours of filmmaking education, plus we’re constantly adding more courses (several in production right now).

For just $30/month (billed annually at $349), here’s a breakdown of everything you’ll receive:

• 50+ courses, over 800+ high-quality lessons spanning over 465 hours of learning.
• Highly produced courses from educators who have decades of experience and awards, including a Pulitzer Prize and an Academy Award.
• Exclusive access to ARRI Academy online courses.
• Unlimited access to stream all the content during the 12 months.
• Offline download and viewing with the MZed iOS app.
• The majority of our courses provide an industry-recognized certificate upon completion.
• Purchasing the courses outright would cost over $9,000.
• Course topics include cinematography, directing, lighting, cameras, and lenses, producing, indie filmmaking, writing, editing, color grading, audio, stunt cinematography, wildlife filmmaking, and more.
• 7-day money-back guarantee if you decide it’s not for you.
• After the first year, the annual renewal price goes down to $199 per year.

Join MZed Pro now and start watching today!

Full disclosure: MZed is owned by CineD

Have you ever thought of running your own podcast? What would it be about? What stops you from starting right now? Please, tell us in the comment section below!

Feature image source: MZed.

This official step-by-step training guide covers the basics of editing, visual effects, motion graphics, color correction, and audio so you can quickly get to grips with this ubiquitous software. You will learn all you need to take the optional Blackmagic Certified Professional exam, plus Ollie has added in additional content that shines a light on the most exciting new additions in 18.5.