On election night 2020, The Daily from The New York Times did what it had never done before: it went live. The hosts talked to reporters on the ground across the country for the latest updates, making it perhaps one of the most exciting episodes in the show’s five-year history.
You don’t need to be Michael Barbaro or have his team of producers to make a live podcast. In fact, it’s easier than you might think. Here are pointers and hosting platforms to consider before hitting the record button.
A live podcast is a podcast episode broadcast in real-time. Listeners who tune in hear what’s being said as it’s being said, making live podcasts more like traditional radio shows than recorded podcasts. This means no post-production edits, just raw live audio.
Broadcasting live can add variety to your podcast and is a great way to expand and connect with your audience. Live shows let you create new and distinct experiences for your listeners, with off-the-cuff moments or happy accidents that might not happen (or might be edited out) in a traditional, pre-recorded podcast. They also offer the opportunity for your audience to come see you and your guests record a show live, which offers them a more intimate experience than simply listening during a commute to work.
Live podcasts can also be repurposed. You can always record your live show for later release wherever you publish your podcast. Some programs even let you broadcast live while recording your audio locally (directly onto your device). The audio recording can then be edited or chopped up into shorter segments, which are great for social media promotion.
When it comes to producing a live podcast, Abel Grünfeld from Riverside.fm says, “Logistics are important.” With a live podcast, you can’t go back for another take, and you can’t cut out filler words and awkward silences, “which makes [live podcasts] very authentic,” says Grünfeld. “But it’s also more stressful, so you need to be well-prepared.” Here are a few ways to make sure your live recording goes off without a hitch.
If you’re up for it, consider planning a live event. If you have enough of a following, a live-recorded event can be a great way to produce intimate and memorable experiences for you and your listeners. (It’s also a good way to make some cash to support the pod through ticket and merchandise sales!)
The thought of going live — no pause button, and no cutting the slow parts, or editing the “ums” — can be frightening, especially if you’ve never done it. But there are good reasons to give it a try.
Despite these advantages, live podcasting is risky for your brand, especially if you’re poorly prepared or new to the craft. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with real-time broadcasting, and one bad show can be costly. Don’t rush into it. Start by building an audience and an identity, which will give your listeners a reason to tune into your live show in the first place.
Like a normal podcast you’ll need a platform, or hosting service, from which to broadcast your live episode. There’s a variety of online tools for this, some podcast-specific, some not. Here are a few recommendations:
Many of these platforms let you insert ads and jingles with the click of a button, allowing you to earn revenue while going live. If you plan to have them, be sure to include these ad segments in your planning process.
You can also make live podcasts on larger social media platforms, including:
Most listeners are already active on one or more of these platforms, making it easy to tune in and spread the word. At the same time, social media platforms aren’t necessarily designed for podcasting. This can create problems when trying to repurpose your live podcast for later release. Whereas podcast-dedicated services, like Riverside or Podbean, make it easy to obtain audio files and publish podcast episodes.
One last word of advice: Keep it real. Live podcasts are spontaneous. That’s what listeners love about them. Embrace it. A good live broadcast can push your show to new heights and tighten your bond with listeners. “Ultimately you want to have that connection with your community,” says Grünfeld.
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