Last January, my friend Amy and I went on a walk and then to breakfast. Over coffee, she looked at me and said, “We should start a podcast.”

We were both in the thick of infertility and IVF treatments, exhausted by the endless research, the waiting, the unknowns, and the having to advocate for ourselves with doctors and insurance carriers. While there were plenty of books, articles, and social media influencers sharing stories about fertility struggles, nearly every podcast we could find was told in retrospect. Every story was wrapped in a neat bow with the benefit of hindsight. But we didn’t have the benefit of hindsight. We only had our real-time stories and each other. 

“Last January, my friend Amy and I went on a walk and then to breakfast. Over coffee, she looked at me and said, ‘We should start a podcast.'”

“Why not us?” Amy asked.

That phrase stuck with me, so I went home and immediately drafted a business plan. We spent the spring and summer recording episodes, learning the ins and outs of podcasting, and slowly bringing our idea to life. We made mood boards for name ideas, tried our hand at logos, registered for websites, and braved the world of TikTok. In August, our first episode went live. Then, we published another one the following week. By the end of 2024, we wrapped the first season of the FriedEggs Podcast. (Get it? Because our eggs are fried?) We published 14 episodes with nearly 10,000 streams. We’d also made 5,000 new friends on social platforms.

Starting a podcast has been a journey — one that’s been anything but easy. I won’t sugarcoat it; it’s taken countless hours of troubleshooting tech, perfecting sound, and making last-minute edits in the early morning hours. Amy and I have full-time jobs, so we often work on weekends or late at night. Just last night, for example, we were texting at 10 pm about an upcoming guest interview! 

There have been moments of frustration and exhaustion, but every challenge has been worth it. Knowing that our podcast has resonated with others — and that it has been a source of healing and connection for us, too — makes all the effort feel deeply meaningful. No matter how long we continue (we just launched season 2!), this experience has been a gift. It has allowed us to create something from the ground up, share our stories, and do it alongside each other. 

Here’s what we’ve learned along the way and how you can get started, too.

1. Determine your “why” for starting the podcast

Before you even hit record, take some time to sit with your idea. What do you want to talk about? Who do you want to reach? Why does this matter to you? Your podcast is a conversation, an extension of your voice. Think about the kind of discussions you naturally have with friends — the ones that light you up, make you laugh, or make you feel seen. That’s where the magic is.

“Before you even hit record, take some time to sit with your idea.”

Once you have a clear vision, write it down. Ours was: “Create a supportive community where those navigating infertility and IVF feel seen, gain helpful resources and empowerment, and share in plenty of laughter and joy along the way.” Having this mission statement kept us anchored as we developed our episodes, made creative decisions, and navigated the learning curve. It also helped us stay motivated when imposter syndrome crept in (because, oh boy, did it ever!).

2. Learn the biz and invest in some equipment 

You don’t need a fancy studio to start a podcast, but having a few key tools will make a difference. Here is what we started with:

  • A good USB microphone is essential. We use the Yeti Nano mics ($100) and pop filters ($15-$20).
  • Headphones to monitor sound. We got some cheap over-ear ones online, but we have recently started using our airpods, which work just fine.
  • A recording and editing platform. After much research and talking with podcaster friends, we decided on Descript. It’s incredibly user-friendly and has AI features that help with sound quality, transcriptions, and even creating social media clips ($12+/month).
  • A webcam if you plan to film. You can use your built-in computer camera for this, though we prefer using the simple Logitech webcams to increase video quality ($50).

A note on filming: This has been an unexpected bonus for us. While we don’t post complete video recordings on YouTube, quality video clips make a huge difference for sharing on Instagram and TikTok. Social media is one of the best ways to grow your audience, and short, engaging clips bring in new listeners who might not have found us otherwise.

3. Plan your first episode and hit record! 

Instead of committing to an indefinite upload schedule, we planned our first five episodes to test the waters. This gave us structure and allowed us to focus on quality over quantity. We brainstormed topics and then created a loose outline for each conversation. 

I will say those first few episodes were long because we didn’t know what we were doing or how to condense our conversations just yet! The audio quality was also meh. But this was all a part of the learning curve, and eventually, we found our flow.  

“In those early days, Amy and I often had to remind ourselves that it doesn’t have to be perfect.”

In those early days, Amy and I often had to remind ourselves that it doesn’t have to be perfect. We stumbled over words, laughed at ourselves, and stopped and started more times than we could count. Ultimately, we gave ourselves grace and reminded ourselves that we were doing this for fun and because we wanted to. That was enough to keep us going. 

If you’re not sure where to begin, start with:

4. Making edits (or, in podcast terms, post-production)

This is where the magic happens, and you get to polish your recording for listeners. I’ll be honest: Post-production is hard and time-consuming. We would hire this out in a heartbeat if we had the budget because it is so tedious! That said, it’s possible. While we’re far from perfect when it comes to editing, I’m proud of how much we’ve picked up in the last year. If we can do it, I’m confident you can, too!

Here are some tips for getting started:

  • Invest some money in an editing platform: We record our podcasts into Descript and edit everything right there! While there are numerous ways to record and upload to various editing software, this has been best for us as newbies. It’s eliminated much of the guesswork, and we can rely heavily on Descript’s tutorial videos for everything. 
  • Use your basic editor skills: Consider what makes a podcast a quality listen, and trust your gut. Start by learning to cut out long pauses, remove background noise, and adjust the volume levels (all of which are easy to do in Descript). Amy and I love to say “um,” “like,” and “you know” every 10 seconds, so I’m often paring those back while ensuring the conversation still sounds natural. Also, think about the flow of the conversation — or, if you’re recording solo, the structure of your episode. Ideally, you’ll want to have this mapped out before you record, but if you need to move some things around or make major cuts, that can all happen now! 
  • Give yourself grace. The more you edit, the quicker and more confident you’ll become. Don’t stress if it takes time (it will). Remember: You are learning something new, and this project is ultimately for you.

5. Publish and spread the word

Now for the fun part — go live! Publishing is easy once you export your podcast from whatever platform you’ve recorded with/used for edits. We simply download the final mp4 and upload it to our Spotify for Creators account. They do the hard work for us by pushing the podcast to Apple and other listening platforms. This is also where we can plug in show notes and links and create a catchy, SEO-friendly title for the episode. 

As a side note, SEO is essential for podcast discoverability. If your podcast is about infertility, use keywords related to “infertility” in the show notes! 

Then, it’s time to share clips, behind-the-scenes moments, and little reflections about your episodes on social media to get listeners hooked! We do this by creating clips (like this one that went mini-viral on TikTok last year). You can also find new listeners by creating adjacent content, like this meme post we made that went viral on Instagram over Christmas.

“It’s not just about getting people to listen; it’s about building a community around your podcast.”

Invite your listeners into the conversation — ask them questions, encourage them to share their thoughts, and respond to their messages. It’s not just about getting people to listen; it’s about building a community around your podcast.

And one of the most important things you can do? Ask for reviews. Ratings and reviews on Apple Podcasts and Spotify help your show gain traction with algorithms, meaning more people will discover it. Every single review counts, so don’t be shy about asking your listeners to leave one!

6. Lastly, keep going 

I once heard a podcaster say something that stuck with me: If you knew it would take 50 episodes before your podcast gained traction, how quickly would you get through those 50 episodes? That perspective has been huge for us. Amy and I like to remind ourselves of this whenever we feel discouraged — it’s not about instant success but about showing up, learning, and improving with every episode.

“It’s not about instant success but about showing up, learning, and improving with every episode.”

Do we still have doubts and imposter syndrome? Sure. But the truth is, podcasting — like anything creative — is a process. It takes time to find your voice and grow your audience. Ultimately, you have to rely on your “why” and let that guide you for however long you decide to do this. 

It was exactly what we needed. Just this past week, we skipped an episode because life got overwhelming. We don’t make a habit of it, but we do give ourselves permission to hit pause when necessary. The goal is to keep going without burning out because, at the end of the day, this is supposed to be fun! ✨

“Why not you? Why not now?”

So, if you’ve been wondering whether this is your year to start, let this be your sign. Why not you? Why not now?

Starting a podcast can feel overwhelming, but if there’s a story you feel called to share, trust that it’s worth telling. Someone out there is waiting to hear your voice — I promise.

Kayti Christian is a Senior Content Strategist at The Good Trade. With an MFA in Nonfiction Creative Writing, her work has appeared in TODAY, Shondaland, and The New York Times. Since 2017, Kayti has been uncovering and reviewing the best sustainable home brands and wellness products. Her personal journey through four years of fertility treatments has inspired her to write extensively about women’s healthcare and reproductive access. Beyond her work at The Good Trade, Kayti is the creator of Feelings Not Aside, a Substack newsletter with 6,000 subscribers, and the cohost of the FriedEggs Podcast, which delves into IVF and infertility.