Course Catalog / BMU 185
BMU 185 Included in All Access Career and Skills
Start Your Podcast: Plan, Record and Grow
Plan, record, edit, and share a pilot podcast episode, with a four-episode plan and honest rules for music, sponsors, and income.
Who this course is for
- You want to start a podcast about a skill, story, or point of view
- You want a plan you can keep with the phone or computer you already have
- You want the publishing, copyright, disclosure, and tax rules from official sources
What you will be able to do
- Define a show concept, a target listener, and a format: write a one sentence show statement (who, what they get, format and length, why you), choose a pace the learner can keep, and outline a pilot in five parts.
- Set up a low cost recording space and record clean audio: pick a small, soft space, place a phone or laptop at the distances in Spotify's equipment guide, run a 30-second test against four checks, and use a double ender for remote guests.
- Edit an episode to a simple five step standard (trim, cut, level, frame, listen), aim near Apple's recommended loudness, export in an accepted format and bit rate with a clean file name, and write short show notes.
- Publish through a podcast host with an RSS feed that meets Apple's main requirements, list the show on at least one major app (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube where available), and choose public, unlisted, or private for the pilot.
- Follow music rights and sponsor disclosure rules: explain the two copyrights in a recorded song, sort each sound with the rights flowchart, and disclose pay or free products clearly under the FTC Endorsement Guides, including the podcast example.
- Plan growth and income honestly: pick one growth step and one number to track, compare sponsors, platform ad programs, listener support, and products by their official entry rules, and note the IRS rules for side income.
Syllabus
Week 1
- Lesson 1: Your show idea Free preview
- Lesson 2: Record clean audio
Week 2
- Lesson 3: Edit to a simple standard
- Lesson 4: Publish and list your show
Week 3
- Lesson 5: Music rights and sponsor rules
- Lesson 6: Grow and earn honestly
Week 4
- Lesson 7: Launch your pilot
Please read
This course teaches a process for making an honest podcast. It does not promise listeners, fame, or income, and nobody honest can. General education, not legal or tax advice.
An original BMU course.