By Sean Garnett and Tabitha Jose
Meg is Ms. Safety. She double-checks if doors are locked, walks in groups at night with keys in hand, and tells her friends to text her when they get home. Meg’s habits come as no surprise to those who know her. With all the true crime and mystery podcasts she listens to, she could probably solve her own disappearance, if needed. Her favorite podcasts don’t just keep Meg up at night; they also inform, entertain, and empower her.
As a music journalist and true crime podcast listener, Meg Keough feels reassured that the podcasts she listens to validate her concerns for her personal safety as a woman.
“True crime podcasts help me prepare for living on my own,” Keough says. “I’ve learned cues and signals from them that help me look out for my own and my friends’ wellbeing.”
But true crime is only one genre to stream in a library of possibilities. Podcasts exist on a wide range of topics, from episode recaps of ABC’s “The Bachelor” to commentaries on tense political hotspots around the world. While some podcasters—like Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper—draw large audiences, new podcasts continue to drop from comedians, teachers, lawyers, and politicians ready to talk in their areas of expertise. No matter what their interests are, listeners can always find something enjoyable that resonates with them.
In addition, listening to podcasts is convenient, which may be why the genre keeps finding new audiences. Like tuning into a radio station, listening to podcasts fills up one’s time without requiring one hundred percent attention. Podcasts can elevate everyday experiences, passing the time that makes bumper-to-bumper traffic so dreary and monotonous, and turning it into something fun and intriguing. The same goes for walks, cooking, hanging out at home, and running errands.
Despite the freeing aspects of the medium, podcasting itself is not necessarily easy. The progression of a friend group with good banter suggesting “we should have a podcast!” to following through with a successful product is highly romanticized. Technically anyone can start a podcast with a laptop microphone, a guest, and a list of questions. Even so, novices breaking into the craft should consider some key elements to foster a successful podcast.
Dr. Anthony Manganaro, host of the University of Florida Writing Program’s podcast “Write to the Point,” knows this well. He has been hosting his podcast, which addresses the importance of writing and communication across all fields, since 2022. Weighing in on what prospective podcasters can do to start testing their interests, Manganaro says people first need to be comfortable “listening to [their] own voice[s].” With practice, he now feels relief at the end of an episode’s recording — “it always sounds better than I think.”
Additionally, a good podcast requires a clear focus—like politics, comedy, or personal relationships. A prospective podcaster must think beyond themselves and to the minds of possible audience members. Listeners enjoy creative topics and information learned in an engaging way. Asked about finding his voice, Manganaro says, “people like listening to podcasts because they like to hear people who are energized. It’s surprising how much energy someone gives off by choosing a topic that they’re passionate about.”
Then, there’s the preparation. Podcasting requires a great deal of preplanning, recording, and editing. Manganaro says, “often I am thinking more than I am speaking; the most work comes from the pre-planning than anything else.” This planning includes arguably the most important step: finding interesting guests who can speak on the topics a podcaster intends to cover. Ideally, listeners want to feel like they are sitting in the room with the host, so podcasters need to have good chemistry with the guest to allow for an interesting conversation. It should feel natural, as if talking with a buddy. The guest should want to explore the topic chosen with as much enthusiasm as the main speaker. Even so, some guests fit a certain style of conversation more than others and identifying them correctly will set the podcast up for success.
Finally, finding confidence is key. Because podcasts are edited, they allow speakers more control than live performances do. A podcaster may start by brainstorming topics that they genuinely enjoy talking about. Manganaro stresses that, “as a host, you are orchestrating a conversation where somehow nothing is boring.” If someone can quickly direct the guest from one topic to the next, podcasting may be the right fit for them.
Thankfully, UF has a wealth of students with varied majors and interests. For any UF students interested in starting their own podcasts, the process of starting is simple and inexpensive. All the materials needed can be found at Marston Science Library. Students can choose a microphone, follow clear prompts, and use the software provided. To learn more about reserving a podcasting kit, visit UF library guides.
In addition, to hear more about the types and value of writing, follow Dr. Manganaro’s podcast on the UWP official site.
About Sean Garnett: Sean Garnett is a 2024 UF Nutritional Sciences graduate. His favorite pastimes are tinkering with recipes and working on crafting projects, preferably while immersed in his favorite audiobooks. In his gap year, he is enhancing his application for professional schools with research and patient care experience. Beyond his path to becoming a clinician, he strives to become fluent in Spanish and ASL.