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Should you run your podcast completely on your own, or is it better to have a team behind the show?
In this episode of Podcast Insider, MacKenzie Bennett and Dave Clements compare their experiences producing podcasts solo and as part of a team. Both approaches have advantages, and the right choice often depends on your personality, your skills, and the type of podcast you’re creating.
MacKenzie shares what it was like taking on nearly every part of Podcast Insider—formerly the PowerPress Podcast—when she first started hosting the show, from finding guests and recording to editing and writing show notes. Dave talks about starting with a solo podcast before working on larger productions and why having other people around can make conversations easier and keep a show on track.
They also discuss one of the realities of solo podcasting: if there’s something you don’t know how to do, you either have to learn it or find another solution. That can be challenging, but it can also be one of the best ways to develop your skills as a podcaster.
For podcasts with multiple people behind the scenes, organization and communication become especially important. Clearly deciding who handles editing, planning, creative decisions and other responsibilities can make the process much smoother—and help avoid having too many cooks in the kitchen.
In this episode:
- The advantages and disadvantages of podcasting solo
- Why doing everything yourself can make you a better podcaster
- Learning podcast editing, production and other skills as you go
- Why new podcasters shouldn’t expect their first episodes to be perfect
- The benefits of having co-hosts or teammates to bounce ideas off
- How larger podcast teams can create more complicated decision-making
- Why planning topics ahead of time helps keep a show organized
- The importance of communication and clearly defined responsibilities
- Whether your podcast needs a designated leader or a more collaborative structure
- Choosing a podcast format that fits the way you naturally communicate
- Why you can always change your setup if solo podcasting—or working with a team—isn’t working
There isn’t one perfect way to produce a podcast. Some creators thrive when they have complete control over every decision, while others do their best work when they have someone else in the conversation or a team handling different parts of production.
The important part is finding the setup that helps you keep creating. And if it isn’t working? Change it. As the Podcast Insider team likes to say, there are no rules in podcasting—just best practices.
Thanks for Listening
Learn more and find additional podcasting resources at PodcastInsider.com, and visit the Blubrry Podcasting YouTube channel for more podcasting videos.