Podcasters create and host podcasts — digital audio broadcasts that can be streamed online or downloaded. Podcasts come in all shapes and sizes and, since they became widely distributed in the mid-2000s, cover all sorts of subjects. Since then, podcasting has become a popular and viable form of media, and some podcasters have millions of subscribers.

(Source: Wavve)

Types of Podcast Hosts or Podcaster

The term "podcast host" can refer to various roles within the podcasting industry, each with its own set of responsibilities and functions. Here are some types of podcast hosts or related careers:

• Independent Podcast Host: manage, produce, and host their own podcasts. They often handle all aspects of podcasting, from content creation and recording to editing and promotion. Independent hosts may cover a wide range of topics and have full creative control over their shows.

• Professional Podcast Host: Some individuals work as professional podcast hosts, either as freelancers or employees of podcast networks, media organizations, or production companies. They may host podcasts on behalf of a brand, organization, or network, contributing their expertise to create high-quality content.

• Podcast Co-hosts: Podcasts often feature co-hosts who share hosting responsibilities, engaging in conversations, conducting interviews, and collaborating on the overall direction of the show. Co-hosts bring diversity of perspectives and contribute to the dynamic nature of the podcast.

• Celebrity Podcast Hosts: Some podcasts are hosted by celebrities or well-known personalities. Celebrity hosts leverage their existing fame or expertise to attract audiences and bring attention to their shows. These hosts often have a built-in fan base, contributing to the podcast's popularity.

• Podcast Interviewers: Podcast hosts who specialize in conducting interviews are known as interviewers. They invite guests onto their shows, asking questions and facilitating discussions. Interviewers need strong communication skills to draw out interesting and insightful responses from their guests.

• Narrative Podcast Hosts: Podcasts that follow a narrative or storytelling format often have hosts who guide listeners through a scripted storyline. Narrative hosts may provide background information, set the tone, and offer commentary to enhance the storytelling experience.

• News Podcast Hosts: Podcasts focused on news and current events may have hosts who deliver news updates, provide analysis, and discuss relevant topics. News hosts require a deep understanding of the subject matter and the ability to present information in a clear and engaging manner.

• Political Podcast Hosts: Political podcast hosts lead discussions and provide commentary on political issues, policies, and current events within the podcasting medium. These hosts analyse political developments, conduct interviews with experts and policymakers, and offer their perspectives to inform and engage listeners in the realm of politics.

• Educational Podcast Hosts: Educational podcast hosts create content designed to inform and teach their audience about specific subjects. These hosts may break down complex topics, present research, or provide tutorials to enhance the listener's knowledge.
  Comedy Podcast Hosts: Hosts of comedy podcasts aim to entertain their audience through humour, satire, and comedic discussions. Comedy hosts often have a background in stand-up comedy or improv and create content that appeals to a broad audience.

• Sports Podcast Hosts: Sports podcast hosts focus on topics related to sports, providing analysis, commentary, and discussions on games, players, and relevant news. They may also interview athletes, coaches, and experts in the sports industry.
  

What Podcast category (from above) would "What the Duck?!" be in???

Go and investigate

 

ANZSCO ID: N/A
   
Alternative names: Podcast Host, Show Host, On-air Personality, Host, Podcast Presenter,
  
Specialisations: Teenage Podcaster, Political Podcaster, True Crime Podcaster,

Knowledge, skills and attributes
   
Podcasters need to draw upon a wide array of skills to maximize their chances of success. These include presentation skills, resilience, production and editing ability, networking, and people skills. Podcasters must also have natural charisma and a way to convey information to an audience in an engaging way.

Podcasting is a creative and rewarding job that enables you to put your passion to work. You must, therefore, have a lot of knowledge and drive to provide ongoing information on your subject to your audience. Success or money isn’t guaranteed, and you will need to work hard on building listeners, a reputation, content, and a brand to even become moderately well-known in this competitive space. Therefore, you need to be resilient and determined.

(Source: Wavve)

Duties and Tasks

Podcasters are responsible for the end-to-end process of making their podcast happen. An on-air personality, or host, is responsible for narrating podcasts. Hosts typically focus on engaging audiences by presenting relevant stories and interviewing guests. While they may collaborate with writers and editors to develop scripts, hosts often add unique wording to create a recognizable voice and point of view to the show. This can involve improvising stories, ideas or jokes that weren't originally included in the script. If the podcast has more than one host, then this role also requires creative collaboration and the development of rapport.

Here are the main duties podcasters have to fulfill:

• Planning and creating content, ensuring they have engaging material to share
• Handling technical production, including recording and editing the finished podcast
• Engaging with their audience by responding to questions and comments
• Uploading podcasts to hosting platforms and ensuring episodes are available to download
• Promoting their work, such as via social media, and collaborating with other podcasters
• Driving earnings through strategies like sponsorships or advertising

 

Working conditions

Podcasters have to spend a large amount of their time in a recording studio, producing their work. This might be a home office, where they might plan and script their podcasts as well, or a professional recording studio.

Podcasters can largely pick and choose their own hours to work. They might need to undertake field work to get reports or information for their podcasts. In this respect, their role might be similar to journalists, with travel time and unsocial hours gathering information or collating interviews being a large part of the job. In general, the role offers a varied and creative working environment, and can be done as a side hustle too.

Podcasters don’t earn money from their programming per se but will instead make their income through affiliate marketing (clicking links you have posted on your marketing channels), sponsorships or product placements, membership contributions, donations, merchandising, or selling services such as coaching, consulting, mentoring, and public appearances.

Tools and technologies

Podcasters need to have access to a private space to record their podcast, a computer, recording and podcast editing software, and a microphone. These needn’t cost the earth, but professional or higher-end equipment will help give your podcast a more polished or refined edge to it.

Education and training/entrance requirements
  
Podcasting is a fairly straightforward career to get into; if you have an engaging and marketable idea, the world’s your oyster!

Podcasters don’t need to have higher education or formal qualifications, though proficiency in languages and technology-related subjects can be useful. If your podcast is on a more academic subject, you might need formal qualifications to add credibility to your discussions.

Did You Know? (Source: Freelancer FAQs) How to become a podcaster If, after reading about podcasting and what the role entails, you are still interested in this career, then read on for 11 critical steps to stepping into the podcasting industry. Step 1: Identify a podcast theme The first step to kick-starting your podcasting career is to decide on a theme for your podcast. This is an essential step to get right as the success of everything else you do hinges on settling on a theme that you’re interested in, has an original slant, and is something your potential audience will find engaging. When deciding on a theme, consider the above points and also whether the theme will be able to provide ongoing, regular material. You might also wish to consider taking a broader theme and narrowing it down into something more niche that has a unique selling point. Step 2: Decide on a format Podcasts come in all shapes and sizes. When thinking about your podcast format, you will want to consider the episode length, ranging from short-form podcasts of a few minutes each to longer episodes (the average length of a podcast is between 20 to 40 minutes). You also want to consider episode frequency, which times and days of the week you will publish the podcast, its style and tone, and whether you go it alone or have co-hosts. Also, think about if you will be interviewing guest stars, or interspersing your show with music. Whatever format you choose, sticking to it helps to build trust and cadence with your audience. Step 3: Create your podcast brand Spending some time to decide on your brand early on in your podcasting journey is very important. Having a brand nailed down from the outset enables you to market your podcast and design advertising or graphics in a set format before the first episode has even aired. This means that the audience knows your brand from the beginning and helps you gain traction and a credible reputation when marketing your podcast. Consider investing decent time and maybe a professional designer or PR consultant to help craft your brand and podcast artwork in order to get it right the first time and to maximize its impact. Step 4: Choose your podcasting equipment The main pieces of equipment you will need to have to set up a podcast are a laptop or computer and a microphone. You could get away with using the in-built microphone in your computer, but most podcasters would recommend investing in a specialist podcast microphone for better audio quality. The prices of these can vary, from as little as $30 to thousands of dollars. Similarly, a run-of-the-mill laptop will be good enough to set up podcasts, but advanced equipment might make the job easier or allow for faster and more advanced editing. Step 5: Get recording software Depending on your computer, you might have access to free and perfectly effective recording software pre-installed or available to download (Garageband on Apple devices is one such example). Audacity is another good option, as this is open-source recording software and available across most operating systems and platforms. You also have the option to invest in premium recording software options such as Ableton, Adobe Audition, Hindenburg Journalist, or Logic Pro X. These programs might be costly but will allow you to play with advanced editing such as multi-overlays, multiple voices, and so on. Step 6: Outline your first episode Getting your first podcast episode right is important, as this sets the first impression and the initial perception of your podcast offering. Here, you have the chance to introduce to your listeners what you will be covering and the tone, style, and language of your podcast. Plan your podcast carefully in terms of its structure, content, and episode descriptions, and rehearse this comprehensively in order for the first episode to land successfully. Consider some test recordings with friends and family, and collect feedback. Don’t be afraid to go back to the drawing board if you aren’t happy with it. Step 7: Record your podcast By now, you’ll be ready to start recording your podcast episodes! Consider writing yourself a script or having prompts to keep yourself on track. You can also rehearse the podcast for sense-checking and timing before you hit the “record” button. Because podcasts are rarely live, you don’t have to accept the first attempt as final. Feel free to re-record, cut, edit and splice to get a final audio file you are happy with. You can also record segments at different times to break up the work and give yourself a break. Remember: recording a podcast is a skill in itself, and the more practice you undertake, the better at it you’ll get. Step 8: Record an intro and outro Intros and outros can help define your podcast brand and give it an air of polished professionalism. Intros typically share with the audience what they will be listening to, who they’ll be listening to, and serve as a “contents” to the podcast. Be sure to keep it short and catchy to spice things up before the podcast body. Outros thank the listeners, summarize the episode, tease the next episode, feature calls to action for the listener, and credit contributors. Use the same format for your intros and outros in each episode to build consistency, trust, and of course, your brand. Step 9: Edit your podcast As discussed above, the editing process is essential to end up with a polished and popular podcast that will delight listeners. After you have recorded your podcast, you will want to edit out background noise, dead air such as long pauses, and splice together separately recorded segments into one flowing and coherent file. You might also wish to edit out content that you feel is less relevant in order to meet your preferred episode length. Editing podcasts can be tricky, and if you want to undergo advanced or professional editing, you might wish to consider a freelancing service to support you with this. Step 10: Decide on podcast hosting Once you have your initial podcast episodes recorded, you need to make it accessible to audiences and podcast platforms. This is achieved through podcast hosting, a combination of promoting your podcast through traditional hosting like linking it to a website powered by a site like WordPress or Wix, and using RSS feeds. RSS feeds can be created by a podcast app or a podcast hosting platform like Buzzsprout or Podbean and will take care of the distribution to podcast directories like Apple or Spotify. The podcast hosting services you can choose from will vary in terms of specificity and pricing, so it’s important for you to research them depending on your needs. Step 11: Market your podcast There are many options when it comes to promoting your podcast. You can rely on an initial push and a lot of word of mouth, such as sharing with your friends and family and asking them to leave reviews and likes, or promoting it directly on social media like Facebook. You might even choose to release snippets of your podcast on video sites like YouTube. Another option is to invest in a more polished and extensive marketing campaign via an advertising or PR agency, though this can be pricey and might be best left until your podcast has gained some traction and more than a handful of listeners. Final thoughts Podcasting is a competitive career that takes tenacity, skill and talent to succeed in. That said, anyone with a bit of presentation ability, basic tech skills, and a good idea can set up a basic podcast and go from there. Providing your idea is engaging and you market it effectively to your audience, you can build your podcasting talent and ability and begin to produce flashier and more comprehensive podcast productions that captivate larger and larger audiences. This is truly a job that can offer you as much as you are willing to put into it. (Source: Career Addict)

 

  

A podcast team typically consists of a producer, host, and editor. The roles and responsibilities of a podcast team can vary depending on the size and focus of the team, as well as what type of content the team will be producing and publishing. While the individual tasks allocated to each of these individuals differ significantly between teams, all podcast team members play an integral role in a show’s creation and dissemination.
   
To create a successful podcast, producers typically involve themselves in all stages of podcast production, from drafting to editing and distribution. Some tasks that a producer may complete include researching potential topics, transcribing interviews or preparing rough drafts of scripts. They may also participate in the podcast by performing on air as a character or additional voice if necessary.

(Source: Jar Audio)

ANZSCO ID: N/A

Alternative names: Podcast Showrunner, Podcast Coordinator,

Specialisations:

• A Podcast Executive Producer (also known as a Podcast Showrunner or Podcast Coordinator) is responsible for overseeing and approving all aspects of a podcast's production. They may create production budgets and schedules and define individual responsibilities for team members. They may also oversee script development and plan season-long and daily goals and episode concepts. During the recording process, an executive producer may also offer direction to the podcast's host, providing feedback on the way they deliver their lines and offering suggestions to align the host's performance with their vision.

• The Podcast Production Manager plays a vital role in the podcasting process. They are responsible for the overall sound and quality of the podcast and work closely with the host and producer to ensure that the podcast is sounding its best. The production manager also oversees the editing process, making sure that each episode is polished and sounds professional. In some cases, they may also be responsible for recording and mixing the audio for each episode. On the administrative side of things, a production manager organizes deadlines and keeps the team on schedule to make sure that each show episode is published on time. Some production managers also coordinate with other team members, such as the graphic designer or editor, to make sure that everything is ready for each episode.

• A Podcast Audio Engineer is responsible for providing the final edit before the team distributes the podcast episode to the audience. After the host delivers the script, the audio engineer uses specialized audio technology to edit the recording by eliminating pauses, background noises and other unnecessary audio content. They may also edit transitions or provide volume adjustment when necessary. Since many audio engineers have a background in music, they may also compose or integrate musical scores into podcast episodes.

• Podcast Production Assistant is responsible for helping a podcast production adhere to a budget and schedule. Often working with producers, a production assistant may complete any tasks needed to successfully produce the podcast, including editing or recording interviews. Although the responsibilities for this position may vary depending on the needs of the podcast, a production assistant is often in charge of doing any tasks that can allow the podcast to use its resources efficiently.

• Podcast Transcriptionist is responsible for listening to audio content and transforming it into a written document. A podcast transcriptionist may turn podcast episodes into written copy that the podcast team may publish on their website, social media profile or other platforms. Transcriptionists may also assist producers by transcribing interviews during the research phase or creating subtitles for video recordings of the podcast.

• Podcast Writer is responsible for developing podcast scripts. Often working with producers and hosts, a writer may help to develop and research ideas and create a concept for each episode based on their findings. Then they create written scripts for the host to perform. Depending on the needs of the podcast, a writer may create characters, interview questions, jokes or stories to engage an audience. They may also plan future episode arcs or multi-part stories.

• Podcast Booking Agent or Podcast Outreach Manager is responsible for finding and booking guests to participate in podcast episodes, such as subject matter experts, celebrities or relevant industry professionals. A booking agent helps enhance the podcast's reputation and credibility in the industry by finding guests with interesting or unique points of view. They also often coordinate the administrative aspects of inviting guests, including payment and scheduling.

• Podcast Editor is responsible for helping producers and writers by guaranteeing the production of high-quality scripts and episodes. They may fact-check the script, provide feedback on episode plans and edit scripts for individual episodes. They may also record the stories and ideas presented throughout the season to ensure that the podcast remains consistent and relevant. Editors often review various aspects of each podcast episode to make sure the finished product is interesting, engaging and error-free.

• A Podcast Consultant is responsible for using their expertise and knowledge to help a podcast remain credible and informative on specialized topics. A consultant may participate in a podcast to talk about their field and answer the host's questions. They may also collaborate with writers, producers and editors during the research process to ensure all written materials related to their area of expertise are accurate. As an expert in their field, a consultant can help podcast professionals inform and engage their audiences in a factual manner.

• Podcast Voice-Over Specialist: Depending on the nature and format of your show, you may choose to record your ads, intros, and outros in someone else’s voice. Sometimes this elevates the production level of the show. In this case, you’ll need a voice over specialist. This person doesn’t need to be a regular part of your team. You’ll just need to hire them for the occasional job whenever you need a recording.

Podcast Editor
(Source: Pod Knows Podcasting)

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Organization: Podcast Producers need to be extremely organised and able to work quickly and efficiently without compromising quality. Organizational skills help you manage the podcast team and the podcast schedule effectively. When you organize your team's duties, it allows for greater efficiency and productivity. This skill can also help you coordinate guest appearances and complete multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Podcast Producers need strong interpersonal skills, and to be flexible and understanding with their presenters, guests and other contributors. Life is chaotic at the best of times and not everyone is going to want to spend half an hour setting up their house for remote recording. They also need to be able to view things from their client's perspective and give them the best advice based on that.

• Problem-solving: Podcast producers use this skill to resolve any challenges that arise with the podcast, such as problems with sound quality or uploading issues. They can also use this skill to help remote guests understand how to use or troubleshoot their equipment, if necessary.

• Podcast Producers are creative as they may need to help source or generate ideas for the show.

• Communication and interpersonal skills: Podcast Producers need to be confident communicators with strong writing skills, as they may need to write scripts, draft a programme description or other promotional content. As a podcast producer, you use your strong communication and interpersonal skills to coordinate with team members. These skills also help you interact with podcast guests and build rapport with the podcast team. Written communication skills help you develop scripts and promotional content with the team.

• Knowledge of audio equipment: Podcast Producers need to be technically confident when it comes to remote recording, and ready to learn about emerging technologies or new equipment. Since podcast producers essentially work as sound engineers and technical directors, it's vital to have a strong knowledge of various audio equipment, such as XLR microphones, headphones, editing software and mixing consoles. This skill allows you to record podcast episodes efficiently.

• Audio editing skills: Podcast Producers are confident with audio editing software and able to “turn” an edit around quickly. Podcast producers know how to use different editing software, a microphone and a soundboard to record podcast episodes. These skills also help you adapt to different recording settings, such as a studio or live shows.

• Podcast Producers tend to have curious minds, a fascination with people and a love of story-telling.

•  Podcast Producers need to be disciplined about their workload.

(Source: Podcast Engineers)

Duties and Tasks
    
The duties of a podcast producer include all stages of production, including both pre- and post-production. Even if a team includes an editor, they are usually supervised by the producer. This makes the role of producer one of the most important for the entire show, and the duties can be very demanding. It's critical to find someone for this job who can complete fast-paced work under a lot of pressure and demand.

Pre-production is the planning stage of podcasting where the format, content, and schedule of the show are determined. During pre-production, the producer works with the host to develop ideas for episodes and create a blueprint for the season. The producer also researches guests, books studios, and secures any other resources needed for recording. This stage is crucial to creating a cohesive, engaging podcast that people want to listen to.

Production is the actual recording and editing of the podcast episodes. The producer operates the recording sessions, making sure that everything runs smoothly and that the audio quality is up to par. After recording, the producer may edit the episode, add music and sound effects, and make any final touches before exporting it as an MP3 file.

The final step in the podcasting process is post-production. Post-production is everything that happens after an episode is recorded and edited. This includes uploading the episode to a hosting platform like Apple Podcasts or Spotify creating show notes, promoting the episode on social media, and anything else that needs to be done to get the episode out into the world. The goal of post-production is to make sure that the episode is ready for listeners and that they will be able to find it and subscribe to the show.

If a team has a separate editor that helps the producer, they generally handle all post-production tasks, such as mixing audio and adding music bed. They also promote the show by sharing episodes on social media, submitting the show to directories, and reaching out to potential listeners.

• Recruiting and managing team members. This includes finding the right people for the job, as well as managing their work and ensuring that they are meeting deadlines.

• Developing and maintaining the podcast schedule. This means working with your team to determine when each episode will be recorded, as well as ensuring that each episode is edited and published on schedule.

• Organizing and scheduling recording sessions. This might involve coordinating with guests and other team members to find a time that works for everyone, as well as booking a space or equipment needed to record the podcast.

• Ensuring that all equipment is ready and in working order. This might encompass setting up microphones, making sure there are enough XLR cables, and testing all the monitors well beforehand so you can mitigate any issues that come up before it's time to record.

• Managing sound quality and editing episodes. For example, you might need to use a pop filter, adjust gain levels, or cut out any unwanted noise to make your audio files sound as professional as possible.

• Keeping track of deadlines and ensuring that episodes are released on time. This entails meeting brand deal deadlines, self-imposed deadlines, and keeping any promises made to the audience about what will be uploaded next.

• Uploading episodes and publishing show notes. This includes having the show audio transcribed to text and uploading the audio and all accompanying files to podcast syndicators like Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

• Promoting new episodes through social media and email marketing campaigns. This task includes both standard advertising and finding creative ways to market the show to potential listeners, like cross-promotion with other shows or podcasts that might have a similar target audience.‍

• Analysing listener feedback and making necessary changes to the show. This task is important to keep listeners engaged and ensure that the show is meeting their needs and expectations, as well as making sure you're only spending money on recording and marketing strategies that are actually working for you.

Working conditions
    
In the world of professional podcasting, where captivating content reigns supreme, professional producers work behind the scenes to make podcast hosts successful; producers play a pivotal role in crafting the magic that makes podcasts so compelling.

Tools and technologies
    
Proficiency with audio editing software like Audacity or Adobe Audition is a must.

    
Education and training/entrance requirements
   
Being a radio Podcast Producer is a vocation, so although there are courses that will teach you the technical skills, you don’t necessarily need to have a degree or even further education to have this role.

Many Podcast Producers will have started by producing their own podcasts, to show their creative flair and editing skills, before adding other clients to their rostrum.

Employment Opportunities
    
Aussies have reportedly overtaken the US as the biggest podcast listening nation. Does that mean there’s lots of work out there for podcast producers?

Yes and no. As podcasting becomes increasingly popular, more people are producing their own shows instead of outsourcing to professional podcast producers. This is partly due to the costs involved in hiring a producer, which can be challenging for independent podcasters who are not yet generating significant revenue. It can take time to build up a large enough audience to attract sponsorships, which is typically the major source of revenue for podcasts. However there are a lot of jobs out there for larger companies seeking producers or editors but they often require you to have some formal training.

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Materials sourced from
Career Addict [Become Podcaster; ]
Caspian Studios [Podcast roles and responsibilities; ]
Indeed [Jobs in Podcast Industry; Podcast Producer; ]
Castos [Podcast Team; ]
Pod Page [Podcast Producer; ]
Radio Academy [Podcast Producer; ]
Rachels List [Podcast Producer; ]
Career Explorer [Podcast-Host; ]