This is probably the number one question we get asked whether it be online, in person at a convention or a signing, or during a video Q&A. It’s such a huge honour that anyone wants our advice on how to do what we do themselves. It’s one of the reasons why we always include mentorship options (script reviews, Skype calls, consultations), as part of our Kickstarter campaigns. More cool people making more cool things in this world is something we are very passionate about.
The best thing to come out of Geek History Lesson is twofold. We get to choose how we present ourselves to the world. The internet brings us closer together than we have ever been in all of human history. Since Geek History Lesson was our brainchild, rather than a job we were hired to do, we always get the final say on how we come across. Through this medium we have the opportunity to be our most authentic selves with our listening audience. We feel this is super important to keep in mind if you are thinking about starting your own show. You don’t get amazing feedback like:
“I always listen to Geek History Lesson on my way to work.”
or
“It feels like you are my two geeky friends.”
… by not being true to who you are.
photo credit: Cameron Rice Photography
Last year we did an episode of Jason and Ashley’s Excellent Adventures titled GHL on GHL where we told the story of how Geek History Lesson came into being.
The year before we did a Geek History Lesson Extra episode on Our Tips for Starting a Podcast which included three levels of equipment recommendations based on what your goals are for starting a podcast in the first place. Here are the links for your quick browsing convenience:
image courtesy of Jean Balzan via Pexels
So, you’ve purchase your equipment! You’ve picked your cohosts (or maybe you are flying solo - very cool)! You’ve hired an animal intern! Here are some important questions and ideas to go over before you begin recording.
Our first piece of advice comes very much from our background as writers:
Podcast What You Know
Sure, Jason and Ashley may not be superheroes in our day-to-day lives, but we have spent a combined almost half-century reading comic books, creating comic books, and loving science fiction and fantasy genre stories. If we’re not passionate about geeky things no one is!
What’s in a Name?
We tell the full story on the aforementioned Geek History Lesson Extra episode, but we agonized over the name of our show. Do you go pithy or do you go direct is the eternal debate when it comes to selecting a title. We opted to go direct in the end, hence: “Geek History Lesson”. We know the name is good because a newer show copied it and changed one word so they would show up in the same search engines as us. If you are going to take inspiration, copy a little better than those folks did!
Pick a Format
Jason was the person who made the pitch for an educational bent to Geek History Lesson. He has always enjoyed teaching and infotainment. To this day entertaining education is one of the cornerstones of new media. Think of the yoga videos you follow on Youtube each morning or every time you search Blogs for shopping lists. Being a huge Sherlock fan, Ashley pitched the idea of the “Mind University” and structuring everything which followed from a University point of view only felt natural. Nowadays we get to be a bit more creative when we introduce new elements. In the beginning having an pseudo-academic bent really helped to slim down the number of choices we had to make.
Pick an average episode length, breakdown and name your segments, and you are good to go!
Assemble Your Equipment
This is what the lists above are to help you with!
Editing software also needs to be considered. There are some pretty good options for beginners that come on every computer no matter the operating system. We edit in Adobe Audition and recommend the entire Adobe Suite for podcasters. You’ll use pretty much every programme when you factor in graphics, marketing, and trailers.
Get Your Shizz Together
Once you’ve got a name/format/equipment you have some fun branding to do.
Make artwork
Acquire theme music (we hired a composer, but you can simply pick a piece of Royalty Free Music as your theme)
Write you short form and long form descriptions
Set up social media handles and/or a website
Pick a Platform
There are tons of places you can host your podcast. There are many excellent free options. If you are just starting out we would recommend starting with a host you don’t have to pay for. If you are approached by a network or platform at a later date then you may want to consider a paid service, but only if there is ad revenue split and additional benefits (such as marketing from the host), which would boost your show.
Begin Podcasting!
C’est tout! If you’ve follow all of these steps you’ve made it to the fun part. All there is left to do is to record, upload, and share your magic with the world.
Bonus Suggestion
Tweet our official Twitter account (@GHLPodcast), when you’ve launched and we would be more than happy to share it with The Mind University!