Behind the Scenes

Research and Writing

The process of making a new episode begins with an idea for a topic. I have a large list of topics that I began compiling when I first started to develop the idea for a podcast, and it has only grown as episode suggestions have rolled in. Typically, I have two or three topics that are being researched at a given time, and I have some idea about what the next several episodes will be about. As I read and think about a topic, my list of sources grows. This will eventually become the show notes that are posted for the episode. An outline develops as I organize what I want to say about the topic. Depending on how much research I do, this process takes several hours over the course of a few days or weeks.

When I first started the show, I would write out a full script. I was worried that if I didn't have one, I would record an episode, think of a better way to word something, and end up doing a million takes. I decided to write scripts for the first ten episodes at least, then decide whether to continue. By episode ten ("My Experience At a Silent Retreat") I felt comfortable enough to forego the full script in favor of a simpler outline. It includes the topics I want to talk about, along with any information I might forget on the spot (especially dates and numbers).

The last step, which I usually do the day before (or the morning of) recording, is to create a new entry on the episode guide. I post this before I record so that I can minimize the amount of time between when I finish editing an episode and when I upload it. I also like to give a sneak peek to attentive website followers.

Recording

The centerpiece of my recording setup is a Blue Yeti Nano, a USB condenser mic. One thing that I like about this mic is that it has a built-in 3.5 mm headphone jack. This allows me to plug a pair of headphones directly into the mic to use as a monitor, which eliminates any delay between speaking and hearing. As much as I hate the sound of my voice, it is important to use a monitor because it allows me to hear exactly what the mic hears. This includes things that I might miss otherwise, like background noise or the sound of my chair. My mic is mounted on a boom arm, which helps reduce vibrations from the desk. A pop filter is attached in front of the mic. This helps to reduce plosions, the sound created when air hits the mic, especially with "p" and "b" sounds. For sound treatment, I use a repurposed foam mattress topper (not pictured). When suspended behind me, it absorbs sounds that are reflected by the walls of the Knowledge Commons. This helps to reduce reverb.

As much as possible, I try to record an episode in one take, though I do pause recording occasionally to catch my breath.

Editing

I don't like editing. I don't know much about it, I don't find it enjoyable, and it requires me to listen to my own voice (which, as I mentioned, I don't appreciate). But I do some basic editing using Audacity.

Specifically, this means:

  1. Use Noise Reduction to remove any background noise, like buzzing from the mic or the sound of the heater.

  2. Normalize the track and use a Compressor to reduce the difference between the quietest and loudest parts of the episode.

  3. Normalize Loudness to make sure that the volume of the track is right for my platforms.

  4. Apply a Noise Gate to remove any small sounds that were amplified by the compressor.

  5. Scroll through the episode to make sure there were no abrupt, loud noises that I missed. (For some reason, I seem to bump the mic at least once per episode without noticing it.)

  6. Insert the music at the beginning and end of the episode.

  7. Render the episode into a final audio file.

This is also the stage when I make the Youtube version. I don't record video, so the video is just the show audio with my cover art and the name of the episode. When that's done, I render the video file as well.

Posting

The last step is to get the episode on the air. I upload the audio file to Anchor, the hosting service I use. I add the episode description and other information, then repeat the process for the Youtube upload. When I hit submit on Anchor, my RSS feed gets updated. This is seen by all of the different podcast platforms, which is nice because it means that I don't have to manually upload the episode to every podcast app. Then I get to sit back and relax, because a new episode is live!