When I started Have A Seat…Conversations With Women in the Workplace podcast in January, 2020, I was in a place where I was questioning what I wanted from my career.
It was definitely a period of uncertainty, so creating Have A Seat, was a way to form connections with other working women, who might be experiencing the same feelings about their career as I was.
Fast forward to today and I am both proud and humbled to have recorded over 200 episodes, formed a community of 150 newsletter followers and have connected with over 300 LinkedIn Have A Seat group members, and I'm still enjoying every minute of it.
I produce, promote, host and do everything for my podcast from researching and scheduling guests to creating, editing and marketing my episodes.
I have grown my base from nothing to having guests on waiting lists months in advance. I have the pleasure of engaging in conversations with fierce females in all aspects of their career lives from built from bottom up entrepreneurs, Emmy winning television producers, number one best-selling authors mad skills bloggers with massive followings and everything in between!
I believe in helping others who may be sharing the same podcasting journey as me, so I have carefully hand-picked this list of podcasting products that I think you'll love. Whether you've just started your podcasting journey or in the middle of it, I've got you covered.
EQUIPMENT
Microphone
- Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone. This microphone has such a rich sound, I get many compliments on the way my voice sounds using this microphone. It is a USB microphone that can connect directly to your computer (Windows or Mac) and the on/off is a nice additional control feature.
Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Professional Studio Monitor Headphone. I'm a huge fan of over-the-ear headphones. These Audio-Technica headphones provide excellent sound quality which is very useful when editing episodes. If you're a fan of listening to content with headphones over one ear, with swiveling ear cups, these are perfect.
Microphone Stand
- InnoGear Desktop Microphone Stand. This is a handy microphone stand especially if your just starting out as a new podcaster. It's inexpensive and provides a sturdy hold for your microphone. I used this for many months when I started podcasting as I wasn't sure where I wanted my microphone on my desk and was constantly moving it around, the small size of this stand really made this easy to figure out.
Wireless Mouse
- Artusi Wireless Mouse for Laptop. If you choose to have your laptop be your primary podcast studio then having a wireless mouse is a must. This cute mouse from Artusi is small enough to fit nicely in your palm and with so many colors to choose from, you're sure to find one that matches your studio or office set up.
HDMI Adapter
- USB C Hub HDMI Adapter for MacBook Pro. If you happen to be a Macbook user this little adapter is a game changer! With so many port selections this will really help if you have multiple peripherals to connect to your Macbook. It's small size means it doesn't take up much real estate on your desktop either which is a nice bonus.
Adjustable Standing Desk
- SHW Small Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk. Love, love love!!! I can't say enough about this simple but sturdy desk. I really appreciate the ability to either stand or sit as I record my episodes and this desk is solid, no wobbles and no instability. It does come in various colors so you are bound to find one that matches your decor. I have my microphone, Macbook, monitor, desk lamp and mixer on it, everything fits perfectly with plenty of working space. The cable management in the back helps keep wires hidden and the additional hooks on the side are incredibly helpful. I hang my headphones on the side hook for easy access. Perfect!
PROGRAMS & PLATFORMS
- Squadcast. Squadcast is the platform I use to record my episodes with guests. Since I am primarily an interview style podcast, Squadcast is the perfect platform. Designed by a team of podcasters specifically for podcasters, they hit all the marks in providing a quality recording platform that checks off all the boxes for what a podcaster will need to create and record remote interviews. I also really like that you can download the tracts separately which makes it easier to edit, especially when you have a guest.
- Garageband. As a MacBook user, I rely on Mac tools. If you're a Mac user too, I highly recommend GarageBand. It's native to the iOS environment, easy to learn, and has helped me create high-quality recordings.
- Buzzsprout. Once an episode is completely edited and finalized, Buzzsprout is next up. Buzzsprout is my hosting platform that does all the heavy lifting for me. They broadcast my episodes out to all the podcast listening platforms (Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Pandora, etc...). They also have some pretty cool features and add-ins like Magic Mastering along with tools and resources to assist in monetizing your podcast.
- Podpage. A website for your podcast is a must! I use Podpage to build my website; another platform designed specifically for podcasters. The team at Podpage have thought of everything, easy website design templates, scheduling, blog, monetization, email subscriber tools and so much more! I've been using Podpage since they came on the podcast scene and have been thrilled with the growth they've experienced. They also have stellar help and customer support as well.
- Castmagic. Once an episode is complete and uploaded into Buzzsprout, I use Castmagic for the extra tasks. Castmagic streamlines production using AI technology and has saved me loads of time in creating show notes, social media posts, newsletter content, even guest thank you letters. They also provide transcripts and chapter markers for easy referencing; along with suggested episode titles and themes and so much more! I am so thankful for the AI assistance of Castmagic, it has truly been a time saver for my podcast production.
I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.