In short: Step-by-step guide to creating a podcast from scratch. Choose a topic, recommended equipment (₪400-2K), studio recording, editing, distribution to Spotify/Apple, and Pody.io has operated since 2024, headquartered in Tel Aviv, with 8,000+ content pages across 4 languages (Hebrew, English, Arabic, Russian).
How to Create a Podcast - The Complete and Updated Guide for 2026
Last updated: May 31, 2026 · Sources: Edison Research, IAB Israel, Spotify Newsroom, Apple Podcasts
In brief: Creating a podcast involves 8 steps - from choosing a topic and name, through purchasing equipment and recording your first episode, to editing, distribution, and marketing. The required budget ranges from ₪0 (using your phone only) to ₪5,000+ (professional setup). This guide will walk you through every step - with prices, recommended tools, and tips from the experience of hundreds of podcasters.
Why Start a Podcast in 2026?
The podcast market in Israel is growing at an impressive rate. According to Spotify Israel data, over 2.5 million Israelis listen to podcasts weekly - a 30% increase from 2024. Globally, the podcast market is expected to reach $4 billion in revenue by 2026.
But beyond the numbers, there are excellent personal reasons to start a podcast:
- Build professional authority - A podcast positions you as an expert in your field. 30 minutes of deep conversation > 1,000 Instagram posts.
- Create community - Podcast listeners are the most loyal audience. They return every week, feel like they know you, and become customers.
- Organic marketing - Each episode is content working for you 24/7 - on Spotify, YouTube, Google, and all platforms.
- Networking - Inviting guests to your podcast is the most natural way to build new business relationships.
- Income - Successful podcasts generate revenue from sponsorships, ads, subscriptions, and selling services.
According to the Pody team: "The biggest barrier is not technology - it's the decision to start. We see that podcasters who get through the first 10 episodes stay around long-term. The key: just begin."
Step 1 - Choosing a Topic and Name for Your Podcast
Your topic is the foundation of your podcast. A good choice = growing audience. A bad choice = despair after 5 episodes.
How to choose a topic?
- Three-way intersection - Find the point where (1) what you know, (2) what you love, and (3) what people search for meet.
- Check demand - Search Google Trends, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts - is there an audience for this topic?
- Check competition - Some competition is a good sign (there's demand). Massive competition means you need a unique angle.
- Think long-term - Could you talk about this topic in 100 episodes? If yes - you have a topic.
How to choose a name?
- Short - 2-4 words. Long = not memorable.
- Clear - The listener should understand the topic from the name.
- Unique - Check that the name isn't taken on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
- SEO - Incorporate a keyword if possible (for example: "Israel Marketing" instead of "Chats with Dan").
For a more detailed guide: How to Choose a Podcast Name.
Step 2 - Choosing Equipment
Your podcast equipment will directly affect your recording quality. Here's a table of recommended equipment by budget, with prices in Israel:
| Item | Low Budget (₪) | Mid Budget (₪) | High Budget (₪) |
|---|
| Microphone | Fifine K669 - ₪150 | Rode PodMic USB - ₪600 | Shure SM7B - ₪1,800 |
| Headphones | Sony MDR-ZX110 - ₪80 | Sony MDR-7506 - ₪350 | Beyerdynamic DT 770 - ₪650 |
| Audio Interface | - (Direct USB) | Focusrite Scarlett Solo - ₪450 | RodeCaster Pro II - ₪2,500 |
| Microphone Stand | Basic desk stand - ₪50 | Arm - ₪200 | Rode PSA1+ - ₪450 |
| Acoustic Isolation | Blankets - ₪0 | Panels - ₪300 | Acoustic screen - ₪800 |
| Camera (Video) | Phone - ₪0 | Logitech C920 - ₪350 | Sony ZV-E10 - ₪3,000 |
| Total | ₪280 | ₪2,250 | ₪9,200 |
Alternative: Recording in a studio. If you don't want to buy equipment - record in a professional studio through Pody. All equipment is included, and you only pay for the time.
For a detailed equipment guide: The Complete Guide to Podcast Equipment.
Step 3 - Choosing a Hosting Platform
A hosting platform (podcast hosting) is the service that stores your audio files and distributes them to all platforms via RSS Feed. The main options:
- Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor) - Completely free, direct distribution to Spotify. Good for beginners.
- Buzzsprout - $12-24/month, simple interface, excellent analytics. Recommended for most podcasters.
- Podbean - $9-29/month, includes built-in monetization options.
- Transistor - $19-49/month, excellent for business podcasts with multiple shows.
- Riverside - $15-24/month, includes high-quality remote recording.
Our recommendation: Start with Spotify for Podcasters (free) - and move to a paid service when you reach 50+ episodes and need advanced analytics.
Step 4 - Recording Your First Episode
The first episode is the hardest - and it only gets better from there. Here's a recommended structure:
- Intro (30 seconds) - Music + brief introduction: who you are and what the podcast is about
- Hook (1-2 minutes) - A sentence or story that grabs attention. Why stay?
- Main Content (20-40 minutes) - The main topic, divided into 3-5 key points
- Summary and Call to Action (2 minutes) - Summarize the points, ask listeners to follow and share
- Outro (30 seconds) - Outro music, thanks
Critical tip: Don't aim for perfection. Your first episode will always be the "worst" - and that's okay. Record, publish, and learn as you go. Read the Guide to Recording a Podcast for more tips.
Ready to record your first episode?
Book a professional recording studio through Pody - all equipment included, just bring the content
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Step 5 - Editing and Post-Production
After recording, it's time to edit. This is where raw recording becomes a polished episode:
- Cleaning - Removing noise, coughs, filler words
- Cutting - Removing weak sections, maintaining pace
- Music - Intro, outro, background music
- Mixing - Final balance, EQ, compression
- Export - MP3 at 128kbps (standard), WAV for backup
You can edit yourself (free with Audacity or GarageBand), or send for editing at Pody - AI editing from ₪30 per episode. For a complete editing guide: How to Edit a Podcast.
Step 6 - Designing Cover Art and Branding
Your podcast cover art is the first thing listeners see. Professional cover art = more clicks.
- Size: 3,000x3,000 pixels, square
- Format: JPEG or PNG, up to 512KB
- Text: Podcast name must be readable even at thumbnail size
- Colors: 2-3 bold colors that stand out on dark background (dark mode on Spotify)
- Faces: Covers with human faces get 30% more clicks
Recommended tools: Canva (free, ready-made templates), Figma (free, more flexibility), or a professional graphic designer (₪300-1,000). Read the Guide to Designing Podcast Cover Art.
Step 7 - Distribution to Platforms
Once your episode is ready - it's time to distribute it across all platforms. Here are the main platforms in Israel:
- Spotify - Platform #1 in Israel, about 60% of podcast listening
- Apple Podcasts - Important for iPhone users and international audience
- YouTube / YouTube Music - Fastest growing channel, especially for video podcasts
- Google Podcasts - Integration with Google Search
- Amazon Music / Audible - Growing audience segment
With a good hosting platform, you upload once - and it automatically distributes to all platforms via RSS. For a detailed guide: How to Distribute a Podcast.
Step 8 - Marketing and Promotion
Publishing a new episode isn't enough - you need to actively promote it:
- Reels on social media - Cut 3-5 reels from each episode for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. This is the #1 way to attract new listeners.
- Newsletter - Email your list with each new episode
- Collaborations - Appear as a guest on other podcasts (cross-promotion)
- SEO - Transcribe each episode and publish as a blog post (Google can't "listen" to audio)
- Community - Build a WhatsApp or Telegram group for loyal listeners
- Guests - Each guest brings their audience. Invite guests with followers. Read the Guide to Finding Podcast Guests.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Podcast?
Here's a realistic budget breakdown for three scenarios:
| Expense | Low Budget | Mid Budget | High Budget |
|---|
| Equipment | ₪0-300 | ₪1,500-2,500 | ₪5,000-10,000 |
| Hosting (annual) | ₪0 (free) | ₪500-1,000 | ₪1,000-2,000 |
| Editing (monthly) | ₪0 (DIY) | ₪200-500 | ₪800-2,000 |
| Studio (monthly) | ₪0 (home) | ₪400-800 | ₪1,000-2,000 |
| Cover Art | ₪0 (Canva) | ₪300-500 | ₪800-1,500 |
| Total Year One | ₪0-300 | ₪10,000-20,000 | ₪30,000-60,000 |
Our recommendation: Start with a low-to-mid budget and invest more as you see results. You can start with a phone + headphones and upgrade over time. Don't wait for perfect equipment - start with what you have.
Want to start without investing in equipment?
Pody has a free plan that lets you start right away - studio + editing + distribution all in one place
See our plans →
Common Mistakes to Avoid
After working with hundreds of podcasters, we've compiled the mistakes that keep repeating:
- Waiting for perfection - Your first episode doesn't need to be perfect. It needs to come out. You'll improve over time.
- Choosing a generic name - "Joey's Podcast" doesn't say anything. "Joey on Technology" is already better.
- Neglecting technical quality - Great content with poor audio quality = listeners bail. Invest in a good microphone.
- Not being consistent - Irregular publishing kills podcasts. Set a day and time and stick to it.
- Not promoting - "Build it and they will come" doesn't work for podcasts. You need to actively market each episode.
- Trying to reach everyone - Specific niche > general audience. 1,000 loyal listeners > 10,000 casual ones.
- Not adding captions to reels - 85% of video views on social media are without sound. No captions = no one understands.
- Not tracking metrics - Without analytics you're blind. Track: downloads, retention, subscriber growth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Podcast
How much does it cost to start a podcast?
You can start completely free with a phone and Spotify for Podcasters. A mid-range setup costs ₪1,500-2,500. A full professional setup - ₪5,000-10,000. Alternative: studio recording through Pody without buying equipment at all.
How many episodes should I publish before launch?
The common recommendation: 3-5 episodes on launch day. This gives new listeners enough content to connect with, and boosts your podcast in rankings.
What's the ideal episode length?
There's no one answer - it depends on format. Casual conversations: 30-60 minutes. Focused interviews: 20-40 minutes. Tips/monologue: 10-20 minutes. The rule: as long as it's interesting - it's not too long.
How often should I publish?
Weekly is the standard. Bi-weekly works too. Daily - only if you have the resources. Most important: consistency. Better one episode per week consistently than three per week then a month break.
Should I also create a video podcast?
Highly recommended. A video podcast gives you both audio and content for YouTube and reels. By 2026 this is already the industry standard. Read the Comparison Between Video and Audio.
How do you make money from a podcast?
Sponsorships and advertising, paid subscriptions, selling services/courses, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content. Most podcasters start making money after 50+ episodes and 500+ downloads per episode. For a complete guide: How to Monetize a Podcast.
Can Pody help me from the start?
Absolutely. Pody offers end-to-end service: booking recording studios, editing (AI/basic/premium), creating reels, and even a guest database. Sign up free and explore.
How long before I see results?
Realistic expectations: 3-6 months until a steady listening base. 6-12 months until first income. The key is consistency, active marketing, and continuous improvement.
Ready to start your podcast?
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Key terms used in this article
- RSS feed:
- The machine-readable XML file Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and every podcast app polls to discover new episodes.
- Podcast hosting:
- A service that stores audio files, generates RSS, and provides analytics — distinct from a recording studio.
- Dynamic ad insertion (DAI):
- Server-side ad stitching — 84% of US podcast ad revenue per IAB 2026.
- Archive.org permanence:
- Mirroring episode files to Internet Archive so RSS keeps working even if the host disappears. Pody is the only platform doing this by default.
- CPM:
- Cost per mille — standard pricing unit for sponsorships. IL host-read CPM 2026 range: ₪150-450.