Being a Teenage Podcaster
YouTube video: Don't Try This At Home! - The Slackline Guys do Preikestolen in Norway / Slacklining is the subject of episode 13 of the My Experience With... podcast
In January, I was online schooling during Lockdown #2 and I wanted to do something creative. Content creation for the internet sprung to mind. So, I bought a microphone, whether for a YouTube channel, a podcast or just to upload and share experiences and stories. I began using the microphone for my online classes but quickly decided to start a podcast.
I started podcasting to have a focus at the weekends and something I could be proud and happy about. I then needed to think of the topic. I knew it needed to be something I know and could enjoy writing and speaking about. Eventually I came to the simple answer.
Teenage Life
It would be about teenage life, a topic I had never seen in podcasting before. Teenage life is a subject I know, as I am one!
At the beginning I said to my mum I would make every episode AT LEAST 20 minutes long. But she insisted that was impossible and I should start with 5 minutes. She was right. After I published the first one, my German grandma said 5 minutes was plenty because you could listen to it with a few minutes of spare time.
Also, I write a script for each episode and I don’t really have the energy to write more than five hundred words at the weekend.
Picture: The beach on Wangerooge, one of the German East Frisian islands in the North Sea and subject of episode 14 of the 'My Experience With...' podcast / budgettraveller.org
A Shy Podcaster
When I first published my podcast, I was really nervous what people would think. So I have never told my friends (except one) that I am doing this. I am always afraid of people judging me but lately I have got a lot more comfortable and my mum has helped me distribute it.
I like getting feedback to know what people think I could do to improve the listening experience. It really helps me when people tell me what they like or dislike so the podcast can evolve and I can make it better.
Top Tips
Some tips I would have for someone who wants to start podcasting are:
Get a good microphone. People like nice audio quality that is clean as it is more pleasant to listen to.
Set up a reasonable schedule and don’t overestimate the amount you can manage.
You will be happier with yourself if you can keep to your schedule.
It is better to have consistent and frequent content that is a bit shorter than uploading longer content very infrequently.
Distribute your podcast over a website like Anchor where you can add background music and that automatically posts to all the major sites. This will really make your life easier!
Overall, I would recommend taking up a hobby like podcasting to everyone, and especially teenagers. It is so rewarding and it is a nice way to get creative.
Podcast
My Experience With... is a brand new podcast talking about the daily occurrences of a 13 year old. From cooking to travelling, this podcast covers everything about the life of a teenager. It is available on Anchor.fm and wherever you get your podcasts.
You can subscribe and listen to the My Experience With... podcast by clicking on these links.