My Podcasting Journey: From Pressing Record to Finding My Voice

When I first started listening to podcasts decades ago, I immediately wanted to be a podcaster. There was something magical about the medium, where conversations flowed directly into my ears during commutes, and quiet evening walks. Unlike the polished performance of radio or the visual distraction of video, podcasts felt like friends talking just to me.

In 2019, armed with nothing but curiosity and a couple of microphones, I pressed 'record' on my first podcast episode. It was simply based on the fact that my friend Ash and I had enjoyed interesting conversations as we walked around Ilkley Moor. There was no master plan, no strategy document, no audience research—just a desire to try this medium I'd come to love. What began as an experiment has since evolved into four very different podcasts, each with its own character, challenges, and lessons.

This journey—from nervous beginner to someone who's released over 50 episodes across multiple shows—has taught me more than just technical skills. It's shown me how creativity finds its own rhythm, how connection matters more than perfection, and how simply starting something can lead to unexpected opportunities and growth.

Today, I want to share the story of how I stumbled into podcasting, the mistakes I made (there were many), the successes I celebrated, and what I've learned along the way. Perhaps my experience might inspire you to press 'record' on your own creative journey, whatever form that might take.

A Timeline of Projects

This journey can be mapped as a timeline of dots—each one representing a project, an episode, a voice captured, lessons learned, and hurdles overcome. It all began back in 2019 with my first podcast, "What a Lot of Things."

"What a Lot of Things" (running from October 2019 to the present with 25 episodes so far) is a show where my friend Ash and I talk about the human side of tech. No guests—just the two of us talking. We had no idea if anyone would listen, but we knew we'd learn by doing, and boy did we make all the mistakes to learn from.

Early on, it was very hard - and I made a lot of sometimes very time-consuming mistakes. Ira Glass talks about the gap between our taste as creators and the standard of our early work. Honestly, this gap made me a bit crazy and Ash would tease me about being a perfectionist. We kept going, however, and slowly our skills caught up to our vision.

The name "What A Lot Of Things" is a quotation from The Clangers - a 1970s children's show about pink knitted whistling creatures who lived on their own little planet and marvelled at the universe around them. While some people might say that's a pretty accurate description of Ash and I, we've since updated our podcast artwork to better reflect our tech focus.

Adapting to the Pandemic

After 5 episodes, What A Lot Of Things was put on hold when the pandemic hit and we entered the first lockdown. As we all faced dramatically different daily realities, I decided to try and capture this unique moment in Ilkley's history and created "Ilkley Lockdown" - twelve episodes (April 2020–June 2020) where people from the town shared their stories during those extraordinary first months.

The idea was to build understanding between different parts of our community as we all adapted in our own ways. The interviews were done by phone, and while the audio quality wasn't always great, the authentic stories struck a chord - my wife Paula even had someone enthusiastically recommend the podcast to her, not realising that it was her husband who had created it!

New Collaborations

One of my interviewees on Ilkley Lockdown was Amanda Danells-Bewley who was involved in Ilkley's scrubs sewing project. Amanda was very interested in podcasting, and soon we decided to make "Days" (July 2020–June 2021, 15 episodes), with a theme of awareness days. We recorded episodes in local landmarks like The Grove Bookshop for Roald Dahl Day, and recorded a walk on the Moor for National Walking Month.

It was good fun, but we had some trouble getting people to listen to it because when you search for "days" in Apple Podcasts or wherever, it's impossible to find our podcast. It's just too common a word. We ended up buying the dayspodcast.com domain name, just so people could find us.

Lessons Along the Way

Beyond the Numbers

Some listeners return for every episode; others drop in once and move on—that's fine. The real value isn't in chasing massive download counts, but making genuine connections. Even a small, engaged audience can make all your effort feel truly worthwhile and that's why we're having the smallest Christmas party in the world next week for What A Lot of Things listeners.

Like painting or writing, podcasting is a craft and you need some skills and equipment to do it well. Good content isn't quite enough. You learn how to use the mic, edit out awkward pauses, and balance sound levels. It's really hard to listen to something that sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom, but it's not that hard to get the basics down, and produce listenable audio.

Building a Community

Audience growth often happens quietly. You mention the show to friends, post about it on social media, and maybe collaborate locally. It's a slow, organic process—no instant fame, but if your core idea resonates, the audience will find you, in their own time.

Encouraging feedback changes the dynamic. Suddenly, it's not just you talking into the void—it's an exchange. A listener's email or a quick note can spark new ideas and remind you why you started. It's an ongoing conversation, shaped by those who care enough to respond. Again, though, it can be very slow.

The Power of Persistence

Showing up regularly—whether that's weekly or monthly—builds trust and helps you refine your voice. It's like any other creative routine: the more you do it, the more natural it feels. Consistency isn't about perfection; it's about giving your ideas room to grow at a steady pace.

When I did Ilkley Lockdown, I put out an episode about every 3 days. I wouldn't recommend that - it was really hard.

Podcasting fits neatly into the broader cycle of making something new. You have an idea, you plan, experiment, reflect, and then try again. It's a process of small improvements rather than grand leaps. Over time, you find a balance—between what you imagine and what you can realistically achieve.

My Latest Endeavor and What I've Learned

My latest project, "Manifesting Agency" (March 2024–present), with Esther Abramson, embodies everything I've learned about podcasting - including a hard lesson about how difficult it can be to maintain momentum. We're aiming to speak to people who take real action in their communities, capturing what inspires them to make changes, but there are just two episodes published, and I've been trying to get around to editing a third one for 6 months.

It's a powerful reminder that creative projects often move at their own pace, shaped by the realities of work, family, and competing priorities. Each episode takes many hours to plan, record, edit and publish - and sometimes other things have to come first…

The hardest thing I've learned from making these podcasts is that these things have their own natural rhythm - it can't be forced. There will always be gaps and pauses while life takes priority, and I've finally accepted that this isn't just okay - it's actually necessary for sustainable creative work.

Final Thoughts

Even though it's difficult and time consuming, it's been very rewarding to work on these different podcasts and I'm really proud of them all. I hope that perhaps some of you might feel inspired to pick up a microphone and give it a go. If so, get in touch - I'd be happy to share what I've learned in more detail.

After four podcasts and hundreds of hours of recording, editing, and occasional swearing, I've discovered that none of the things I obsessed about early on - the gear, the schedule, the stats, perfect sound quality - actually mattered much. What keeps me going is the people and making something I can feel proud of and putting it out there into the world.

Thank you.