A Pastor’s Guide to Podcasting: Start Here Before You Hit Record

If you’re a pastor thinking about launching a podcast, pause for just a second. 

Before you start brainstorming names or testing microphones, there are a few critical decisions that can make or break your podcast’s impact. In this blog, we’re breaking down the exact questions and strategies you need to answer first—before you hit publish on episode one.

Whether you want to reach your congregation midweek or build an online audience for your message, this is your practical roadmap.

🎯 Know Who You’re Talking To (And Why It Matters)

Let’s be honest—there are over 3 million podcasts out there. So why should someone listen to yours?

Here are three questions you must answer before anything else:

1. Who are you talking to? 

2. What problems are they facing? 

3. Why should they listen to you instead of the other 3 million voices?

If your podcast isn’t solving a clear problem or providing focused value, it’s just more noise. People don’t care about your title, episode number, or release schedule… until they see the value you’re offering.

🧰 Gear & Software: Keep It Simple and Strategic

Don’t overthink your setup. Here’s the gear Evan recommends to get started without getting overwhelmed:

• USB Microphone – Quality audio is non-negotiable.

• Headphones – Avoid feedback and improve interview clarity.

• Camera (optional but powerful) – Podcasts should be video first.

• Quiet Environment – Don’t record next to the HVAC.

Software picks: 

• Recording: Riverside.fm (not Zoom!)

• Editing: Premiere Pro, Descript, or CapCut

• Clipping for Socials: Opus Clip or Repurpose.io

• Distribution: Buzzsprout, Libsyn, etc.

• Live Stream (optional): StreamYard

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📺 YouTube Is Your Podcast Platform Now

YouTube—and now YouTube Music—is the #1 platform for podcasts. That means your podcast should be video-first. Why? Because video content performs better, lasts longer, and gives you more flexibility to grow across platforms.

Start there, then syndicate to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.

🔥 The “Chop the Chicken” Strategy for Socials

Once your episode is live, don’t stop there. Take the content you’ve already recorded and repurpose it across your platforms. It’s what we call the Chop the Chicken method:

• Clip 2–3 short moments from your podcast

• Use tools like Opus Clip or Repurpose.io

• Add captions, post to Instagram Reels, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube Shorts

• Link back to your full episode via your Linktree or bio

It’s fast. It’s low-effort. And it multiplies your content.

🧠 Final Thought: Don’t Just Launch a Podcast. Launch with Purpose.

Podcasting can be powerful, but it needs clarity, intentionality, and consistency. If you’re ready to take it seriously—start with this plan, then plug in with a community that’s doing the same thing.

🤖 Want a Custom Strategy? Let AI Help You

We made this easy.

We’ve created a free transcript of this teaching so you can feed it directly into ChatGPT along with the custom AI prompt below. When combined, ChatGPT will generate a personalized digital content strategy based on the key ideas from this message.

Here’s what to do: 

1. Download the transcript using the link below.

2. Open your ChatGPT

3. Paste the AI prompt into the chat.

4. Upload the transcript into the conversation.

5. Let ChatGPT generate your custom plan for reaching more people through media.

📥 Download the transcript here: 

👉 https://www.didiomedia.org/offers/znCkLxm6 

💬 AI Prompt:

I’m trying to grow my impact in ministry and media, and I’ve just watched a video from DiDio Media. I’ve attached the full transcript below. I want you to act as a world-class business consultant, digital strategist, and faith-driven advisor to help me apply this content to my unique context.

Please do the following:

1. Summarize the key ideas from the transcript in a way that’s clear, practical, and easy for me to understand—especially through the lens of [insert your name / channel / ministry here].

2. Extract the core insights, steps, or mindset shifts that I should apply to grow my platform, lead more effectively, or reach more people.

3. Based on what this video teaches, create a customized game plan or checklist I can follow. This should reflect my role as a:

   • [Pastor / Content Creator / Church Leader / Media Director / Volunteer / Entrepreneur, etc.]

   • working with or running [insert your brand, channel, or ministry name].

4. Adapt your advice to fit my real-life schedule. I don’t want theory—I need a plan I can actually execute with the time I have available each week.

Before you generate the full response, ask me any clarifying questions you need to better understand my goals, context, or limitations.