An Introduction to Podcasting with Reduced Listening
Got something to say? Turn it into a podcast!
A 5-week, hands-on course where you can learn the skills, confidence and creative edge to launch your own show. Led by Reduced Listening, a local production company behind award-winning podcasts and radio for the BBC, Spotify and beyond, you’ll learn how to shape ideas into powerful audio stories.
Across five sessions, you’ll get to develop an original idea for a podcast episode, with guidance from producers with working experience in the industry. The team from Reduced Listening will help you to plan and script your pilot, share recording techniques and guide you to develop a format for your idea. You’ll receive best practice on recording techniques, sound design and editing using professional tools.
By the end, you’ll have co-created and produced a pilot podcast. No experience needed – just curiosity and creativity.
Age recommendation: Young people aged 16 – 28
About the tutors:
Reduced Listening is an award-winning podcast and radio company based in London, UK. Established in 2014, we’re deeply immersed in culture and untold stories, and our goal is to unite our creativity, editorial vision, and values in every project we create. Our team of producers care about culture, music and art and want to make a change in the world. We design and produce original podcasts for commercial brands and public broadcasters including the BBC, Google, Audible, WeTransfer, The Tate, The Financial Times, The Serpentine, Frieze, Somerset House, Artangel, Wellcome Trust, CERN, BALTIC, National Geographic and the Manchester International Festival.
Schedule
Session 1: Introduction & Concept Development
- What is a podcast? (overview + examples): Podcast formats and genre (interview, narrative, solo, panel, fiction, documentary) Listening session: analyse structure, tone, pacing
- Audience & Purpose: Defining the target audience. Identifying the value proposition / unique angle
- Podcast Concept Workshop: Brainstorming show titles, themes, tone, format, and goals. Working in 2s or 3s, create a one-page podcast concept including: Title / Description / Audience / Format / Duration / Visual identity (general feel)
- Homework: Develop concept one-pager. Bring 2–3 podcast egs that inspire your show
Session 2: Planning & Scripting
- Review Homework from Session 1
- Elements of a great episode: Sonic invention: Hooks and “cold opens”. Story structure, Interview structure (pre-interviews, question flow), Segments & transitions
- Scripting styles: Outlines / bullet-point scripts, Word-for-word scripts, Interview prep sheets
- Episode Planning Workshop: Young Creatives outline their pilot episode with feedback. Draft intro + outro, Develop structure outline/arc, Develop interview questions (if applicable)
- Sustainable Production: Understanding your carbon impacts, Planning to reduce your impact, Maximising on the editorial opportunity
- Homework: Finalize one pager + draft script
Session 3: Recording Techniques & Equipment
- Review concepts with group feedback
- Microphones & equipment basics: Dynamic vs condenser, USB vs XLR, Pop filters, stands, monitoring
- Recording technique best practices: Mic placement, Vocal delivery, Recording environments & soundproofing basics, Remote recording tools (Riverside, Zoom)
- Hands-on Recording Session. Practice mic technique in pairs or groups, Record test audio (intro, segments, interviews)
- Homework: Record raw audio for your pilot episode
Session 4: Editing & Post-Production
3 hrs
- Overview of editing tools: Reaper, Descript, Audacity, Adobe speech enhancer
- Editing fundamentals: Cutting + pacing, Removing noise + breaths, Adding music + sound effects, Exporting at podcast-ready specs (44.1 kHz WAV/MP3)
- Hands-On Editing Workshop. Young Creatives begin editing their pilot episode with support from instructors
- Homework: Finish draft edit of episode
Session 5: Review Draft + Branding & Packaging
3 hrs
- Review first draft and provide feedback
- One–to-one editing surgery with support from Reduced Listening
- Episode titles & descriptions, Show notes, Cover art specs
- Music & Legal Considerations: Royalty-free sources, Copyright, licensing, fair use basics.
- Listen to the work
Session 6: Publishing, Promotion & Showcase
3 hrs
- Final Review: Students showcase their episode. Group feedback & discussion. Celebrate launch!
- Promotion Basics. Hosting and distribution to platforms, Social media clips, Cross-promotion, Show trailers, Using transcripts for SEO, Email announcements
- Collectively script and record the narration which will introduce all the episodes and link all together.
| Date | Doors open | Start time | End time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| 22 May 2026 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| 29 May 2026 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| 12 Jun 2026 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| 19 Jun 2026 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
BASKET SUMMARY
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