How to Make a Podcast That Resonates
If you're a Christian in the Northwest, or really a Christian anywhere, or really a person that's alive in the world, this one's for you. Introducing Ebenezer, a podcast about how faith impacts the realities of life in the Pacific Northwest.
Co-host Foxy Davison and I recorded episodes in a North Seattle studio over two Saturdays last summer — three guests per day — and learned some things that might be helpful if you’re considering podcasting.
What was helpful:
Sometimes I’ll stream a new-to-me podcast but won’t listen for long because of audio quality. We wanted the listener to center on each guest’s story, not be distracted by feedback or background noise. We were lucky to work with Seattle-based producer with a backyard studio for recording, mixing, and editing.
If your podcast features guests, take the time to find fresh stories and voices of people with experiences that are different from our own. Foxy and I helped each other here, brining in some mutual acquaintances and other guests we wouldn’t have been connected to otherwise.
Write a schedule, then expect it to take twice as long. Editing episodes, building the website, and waiting for iTunes approval can take longer than you’d like.
Take good photos. Our friend Jenny photographed guests and the studio space. She brought a grounded, cohesive aesthetic that easily carried over into the website.
What we did the “wrong” way:
It makes sense to choose guests for a new podcast that have their own reach. An influencer that shares your podcast will obviously give it a boost. When you make a podcast, the point is for people to listen in and subscribe so more folks can find it. We didn’t do that.
It may be a “bad” move for analytics and downloads, but we felt strongly that for this podcast to resonate, we wanted to find ordinary Christians living through trials that have met God in profound ways. If these folks happen to be on social media or have a big following that’s a gift, but the most important thing for us was to lift up voices that might not otherwise be heard.
I'm hard-pressed to think of another project I've worked harder on or am more proud of than the Ebenezer Podcast. It’s an honor that people trusted Foxy and me with these true stories of how God met them in the midst of trials and suffering. We're praying these stories will meet listeners where they are.
These episodes are bittersweet, will stick with you, uplift you. Please listen in (and subscribe!) follow along on Instagram and read more about the project and our guests on our website.