Podcasting with Stewart Priest

Stewart Priest is an audio producer specialising in all things radio. Having worked at Scotland’s biggest commercial radio station and now working on a freelance basis, he can provide a variety of audio services for radio as well as providing audio content for the private and voluntary sectors. He takes time to tell us a bit about podcasting.

What is Podcasting?

Podcasting at its core is ‘on-demand’ radio. It’s a way for you to get your message out in a new and creative way. This is separate from vodcasting, which is video

What are the Benefits?

Depending on what you’re looking to achieve, podcasting can be very cheap and can reap substantial rewards. You don’t have to produce an all-singing, all-dancing podcast like Chris Moyles’. It can be a short, five-minute sales pitch where you wax lyrical about how good your latest product is. You don’t require masses of expensive equipment. You can do it with your laptop and some free software. Remember though, your podcast will reflect your business, so keep in mind that you shouldn’t say/do anything which might harm your image.

It allows you to reach the ‘iPod Generation’ directly by cutting out the middleman and the so-called advertising guru.

How do I create a Podcast?

As I’ve already said, you can create your podcast very cheaply indeed. If you have a laptop or a computer with a microphone attached, you’re halfway there. The next thing you need is some software to do your recording. You may find that some suitable software came with your computer/laptop. If not, there are plenty of free downloads to help you on your way. I recommend Audacity for the beginner.

If you want to create something with a little more polish, there are production companies such as audioninjas who will take down a brief from you, script it, get you to approve it and then record it. You’ve then got the benefit of an end-to-end service as well as a top quality product. If you go down the professional route, then you’ll find that production companies have access to all kinds of voiceover talent. If you fancy a celebrity voicing your podcast, it can be arranged, but be warned, this can prove expensive.

Tell us a bit about your Podcasts.

I’m working on a number of podcasts at the moment, including one for a local asthma charity. Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be shrunk and allowed to walk around inside the human body? Through the power of podcasting and your own imagination, we can take you inside the lungs of an asthmatic and explain the biology of an asthma attack from the inside of the body. Creative, eh?

Where can we find out more about what you do?

You can find everything at www.audioninjas.eu and www.stewartpriest.com