“If you’ve made something that brings joy to yourself and to others, even if it’s only a few people, you’re a success.”
Podcasts. They’re everywhere, aren’t they? No matter the subject, you can be certain there are an array of channels out there already talking about it. The ever-increasing popularity of audio content creation has led to more and more authors putting their expertise to the page and sharing the most useful tips and techniques with readers. So, if you’re looking to start your very own platform, join us at What We Reading for the best podcasting books! From generating an audience to making money from your craft, these are the best guides on how to start a podcast.
Podcasting For Dummies – Tee Morris And Chuck Tomasi
Kicking off our list of the best podcasting books is Tee Morris and Evo Terra’s Podcasting for Dummies. Designed as an easy-to-grasp and comprehensive guide the book is designed to condense everything anyone looking to move into the podcasting world needs to know.
From setting up audio, identifying audiences and making money from your work, Podcasting for Dummies offers a friendly education on how to kickstart a successful audio content creation career!
Everybody Has A Podcast (Except You): A How-to Guide From The First Family Of Podcasting – Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy And Griffin McElroy
Everybody Has a Podcast is a helpful and hilarious guide for turning your podcast into a hit show from the First Family of podcasting. New York Times bestsellers Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy are the creators behind My Brother, My Brother and Me and The Adventure Zone, and impart their years of wisdom on readers.
In this comprehensive guide to podcasting, the trio delve into everything from coming up with a name for your show, the type of equipment needed to host it and how amassing legions of listeners can translate to cold hard cash.
Podcastnomics: The Book Of Podcasting. To Make You Millions – Naresh Vissa
Media, marketing and publishing entrepreneur Naresh Vissa offers one of the snappiest guides to the ins and outs of the podcasting industry in Podcastnomics. Praised as one of the most accessible guides on the subject, Vissa breaks down not only how to set up a podcast, but how readers should market, publish and make money out of their shows.
The end result is one of the best podcasting books that blends practical guides with expert-level insights into digital media and online marketing.
So You Want To Start A Podcast: Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Story, And Building A Community That Will Listen – Kristen Meinzer
Kristen Meinzer’s So You Want to Start a Podcast is one of the best books on podcasting for not only getting started with audio content creation but also finding the inspiration to sustain it.
This inspiring and comprehensive guide from Award-Winning commentator Meinzer shares her expertise in the field for budding podcasters looking to hone their ideas, identify their audiences and achieve their goals. Utilising real-life insights and case studies, Meinzer blends together practical guides with motivational encouragement to create an uplifting and informative guidebook.
Profit From Your Podcast: Proven Strategies To Turn Listeners Into A Livelihood – Dave Jackson
From sponsors to crowdfunding, Dave Jackson offers the most complete guidebooks to monetising podcasting in Profit from Your Podcast. Whilst most podcast books offer good insight on how to establish a show, Jackson dedicates his book strictly to making money from audio content.
Providing top strategies and real-life examples, Jackson imparts over fifteen years’ worth of experience in podcasting for readers to know not only what to do, but also how to do it. From engaging audiences, and leveraging relationships to creating multiple streams of income, Profit from Your Podcast is one of the most invaluable podcasting books when it comes to monetisation.
How To Start And Grow A Successful Podcast – Gilly Smith
Gilly Smith’s How to Start and Grow a Successful Podcast is one of the best podcasting books for seeing how real-life examples epitomise the tips and techniques many guidebooks hark on about. This 2022 release is jam-packed full of behind-the-scenes insights and inspiring stories from across the podcasting world, combining for a comprehensive, accessible and friendly guidebook.
From working on the script and structure of a show, production and distribution expertise to casting and interviewing techniques, Smith’s books stand as one of the most unique approaches for those looking to get involved with the world of podcasting.
Podcast Growth: How To Grow Your Podcast Audience – Colin Gray, Lindsay Harris Friel And Matthew McLean
One of the most invaluable resources for identifying and building an audience, Podcast Growth is a 2020 book from The Podcast Host. In it, the authors tackle the common issue of a small amount of downloads that plague and demoralise many content creators. Pulling together some of their favourite tips and techniques from over a decade of professional experience, Podcast Growth explains the importance of everything from timeframes, checklists and engagement for those looking to see their numbers skyrocket.
Whether your podcast is from you as an individual or a means of promoting your business, this remains one of the best books on podcasting for anyone looking to nurture an audience, build trust and generate revenues.
Podcast: Learn How To Stop Babbling & Start Podcasting Like A Pro – Mike Eiman
Mike Eaiman’s Podcast is another practical guidebook for those looking to start their journey in the world of audio content. Rather than focusing on the equipment, Eiman tackles the uncertainty behind getting the first episode off the ground, guiding readers through the steps of coming up with content ideas, writing scripts and organising a show so that they’re not jumping in off the deep end.
For taking away the uncertainty of beginning a career in podcasting, Eiman’s Podcast remains one of the best reads available.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
