Best Free Podcast Courses for 2024
Finding answers to your podcasting questions can be frustrating and time-consuming, but a good podcast course consolidates all the necessary information into one convenient place.
This guide lists the best podcasting courses to help launch and market your new podcast, learn about tech, and monetize your content!
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Best free podcasting courses for beginners
Buzzsprout's How to Start a Podcast Course
Buzzsprout's free online video course walks you through everything you need to launch your first podcast successfully.
This step-by-step guide features a comprehensive breakdown of the eight steps to launching a great podcast.
The modules answer questions like:
- how to record with multiple people
- how to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts and Spotify
- which microphone is best for podcasting
- how to get your first 100 listeners
Sign up here to get started! Feel free to take the course at your own pace and check out the Buzzsprout blog for free templates and resources!
Buzzsprout's How to Start a Podcast [audio course]
In this nine-episode serial podcast, we walk listeners through every step of a successful podcast launch.
Episode topics include:
- practical audio editing tips
- how to record a podcast
- how to pick a name and niche
- how to make your podcast stand out
This free course helps you get all your podcasting bases covered so you can start off strong from your first episode.
How to Start a Podcast Step-by-Step | Complete Tutorial
Pat Flynn (from Smart Passive Income) is a veteran in the podcasting world, and he created this free guide to help creators efficiently launch a quality podcast.
It's an excellent course for beginners and addresses how to:
- choose a podcast topic
- write a compelling podcast description
- decide on a format
- incorporate podcast transcriptions
- create podcast artwork
Pat also breaks down common myths about starting a podcast so that you can launch with confidence.
How to Start, Grow, and Monetize a Podcast
Ross Winn from Podcast Insights started this 10-day course to help simplify starting a podcast and making it successful.
This course covers everything from getting listed in Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes) to monetizing your content through online courses and social media.
The course features a minimalist format and breaks down things like:
- how to pick a topic
- what podcast equipment you need
- how to come up with new episode ideas
- how to submit to top podcast directories like Apple and Spotify
- how to launch your podcast
Create Your Podcast Bootcamp
Podcaster Krystal Proffitt created this free, five-day video course to take podcasters through everything they need to know to successfully start, launch, and market a podcast.
The courses topics include:
- Day 1: How to Start a Podcast
- Day 2: How to Plan Content and Stay Consistent
- Day 3: How to Record Your Podcast
- Day 4: How to Launch a Podcast
- Day 5: How to Market a Podcast
It also includes a crash course in equipment and advice on how to stay consistent. Each video is delivered over five days so viewers can focus on one topic at a time.
Podcasting Simplified by Podcast Insights
The team at Podcast Insights created this 10-day email course for beginner podcasters looking to get up to speed on all the fundamentals.
The email format ensures you go through the course at a steady pace and thoroughly cover all the basics, plus offers extra material designed to support your podcast's continued growth.
The Podcast Launch Accelerator
This free, 5-hour course guides first-time podcasters on the basics, including how to get 100 listeners in 28 days.
The host, Mark, also offers live Q&A during office hours to answer members' questions. Members will learn how to:
- overcome imposter syndrome
- understand podcast tech
- launch a simple, clear podcast plan
Castos Academy
This beginner podcast class covers all the podcasting fundamentals with modules for each step of the process.
The course answers common questions like:
- how do I edit my podcast with Audacity?
- how do I write compelling show notes?
- how do I market my new show?
The course is video-driven and runs for an hour and 25 minutes.
GarageBand: Free Podcasting Training
Course teacher Garrick Chow walks podcasters through how to use the editing software to turn raw content into an engaging episode.
The course goes step-by-step to create podcast episodes with high-quality audio. It also explains how to add music intros and effects and publish your content to hosting sites.
You can sign up for a free trial of LinkedIn Learning to get access to this course for one month.
Podience
This two-day podcast workshop is taught by the Founder of Design Your Thinking Labs, a site that helps solopreneurs make money via an effective marketing plan.
The podcast course teaches beginners how to launch a podcast in a way that grows a loyal audience, the foundation of podcast success. The course has three sections:
- Nail your topic
- Setup & Record
- Edit & Publish
Sign up here to get started.
Podcasting on Purpose Masterclass
Founder of Women in Podcasting, Jennifer Henczel offers a free video masterclass for women podcasters. The course covers:
- how to start a podcast
- how a podcast can benefit your business
- where to find music and images
- the best podcast equipment, and more
Idea to Podcast Simplified by Pod Sound School
Idea to Podcast Simplified is a course directed towards business owners! In this course, you can learn to:
- launch your business podcast
- convert leads to clients
- effortlessly integrate your podcast with your content marketing
Best paid podcast courses
Paid podcasting courses tend to take a deeper dive into more advanced content. Here are some of our favorites.
The Podcast Academy: Launch Essentials Course
Price: $140
Best for: Podcasters of all levels who want to learn a strategized and streamlined approach to podcasting
CEO of The Podcast Host, Collin Gray, teaches new podcasters how to set up a show and deal with inevitable hiccups along the way.
This course includes in-depth lessons and tutorials on how to:
- plan and strategize for success
- record and edit efficiently
- publish and promote your new show
The Podcast Host Collin Gray created The Podcast Academy as a resource full of valuable information for podcasters of all levels.
Pat Flynn's Power-Up Podcasting
Price: $799
Best for: Those who want a deep dive into both podcasting and all the marketing that goes with it
Pat Flynn focuses on the launch and the marketing behind it. He helps podcasters create shows that garner subscriptions and a loyal following.
Power-Up Podcasting takes a deep dive into:
- the how and why of podcasting
- the technical side of podcasting
- how to set up your website and show notes
- how to launch your podcast with a bang
The course comes with a money-back guarantee, office hours with Pat, and access to an exclusive community of podcasters.
The Podcast Masterclass: The complete guide to podcasting
Price: $16.99
Best for: Podcasters looking to use their podcast to grow their business
Phil Ebiner and Ravinder Deol created this Udemy masterclass to share modern digital marketing techniques to help grow your business through podcasting.
Inside the class you’ll learn how to:
- edit your podcast
- monetize through sponsorships and affiliates
- get more monthly downloads
This is a great course that lays the foundations of podcasting and breaks down how to use your podcast as a tool to help grow your business.
Women in Podcasting Network
Price: $7 per month
Best for: Women podcasters who want to connect with like-minded creators
The Women in Podcasting Network is a monthly membership that connects women podcasters and expert women guests.
Other perks of the group include:
- access to the Directory of Inspired Influencers
- ability to post within the Facebook Group
- a wide array of resources and guides
- promotional and collaborative opportunities
- support on your podcasting journey
Proffitt Podcasting
Price: $197
Best for: Podcasters who want to learn the basics and ask the instructor their questions
Proffitt podcasting is a complete step-by-step program for entrepreneurs who want to learn how to start, launch, and market a podcast confidently.
This course is a roadmap to help you take your own podcast from an idea to a content-producing machine. The course covers:
- the fundamentals of planning your podcast launch
- how to record and edit episodes
- how to grow and monetize your show
Proffitt Podcasting has a money-back guarantee, lifetime access, and weekly office hours in a private, student-only online community.
Podcast Production Course
Price: $695
Best for: Podcasters looking to produce professional, stand-out audio
Mike Russel is an expert audio engineer who created this course to help podcasters produce stand-out episodes with efficiency.
The 10-stage course teaches:
- 10 methods to create professional podcast audio
- the best hardware and software options
- podcast recording and audio production techniques
- how to fix bad audio
- voiceover tips
- how to master your audio
Start Your Profitable Podcast & Build a Brand
Price: $24
Best for: Podcasters who sell a product or service and want help refining their brand
Pro podcaster Lewis Howes created this course on CreativeLive to help podcasters start a podcast and grow a profitable brand.
The course covers podcast tips like:
- how to differentiate your podcast
- promoting and marketing
- monetization options
- how to sell products and connect with customers
This online class contains downloadable course materials and lifetime access and comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Adobe Audition CC Course: Basics to Expert
Price: Currently $19.99
Best for: Podcasters who want to learn Adobe Audition
The owner of Music Radio Collective, Mike Russel, created this course to break down Adobe Audition for all skill levels.
Adobe Audition is an excellent tool for producing podcasts but has a steep learning curve. This course is a great investment for both beginner and expert users.
Podcaster's Paradise by John Lee Dumas
Price: $97 per month or $997 per year
Best for: Podcasters looking for ongoing support and community
Pro podcaster and entrepreneur John Lee Dumas created Podcaster's Paradise to help support podcasters of all skill levels on an ongoing basis.
The membership site includes:
- podcast resources and templates
- monthly Q&As
- access to a private Facebook group
- step-by-step video tutorials
You can try out John's free 10-day video course and sign up for Podcaster's Paradise here.
Other free podcasting resources:
These resources are not podcast courses but can still help you launch your podcast and give you tools to help you make consistent, high-quality content.
- Podcast Movement: Podcast Launch Challenge | Podcast Movement offers a free challenge to new podcasters to launch their show in four weeks. Members report their progress throughout the course to a private online community where they can also enter to win prizes.
- Podcast Journal: Step-by-Step Workbook | John Lee Dumas created this journal to walk podcasters through their launch with pen and paper. The journal has prompts and step-by-step instructions to help new podcasters launch their show in 50 days or less. You can pick up a copy on Amazon.
- Wit & Wire "Ready to Record" Free Podcasting Challenge | This five-day course is geared toward helping beginner podcasters clarify their podcast concept, get the right equipment, and brainstorm their first 20-episode ideas.
- Women in Podcasting [Free Downloads] | Jennifer Henczel, founder of Women in Podcasting, has an entire page full of free resources for women podcasters.
More place to find podcast courses
New podcast courses are always coming out on paid platforms like Skillshare and Udemy. Typically the cost is reasonable, and you can sometimes interact with other learners within the program, too.
Know of a free or paid course that should be included on this list? Feel free to reach out to us at support@buzzsprout.com with your suggestions!
Alban Brooke
Alban Brooke is the Head of Marketing at Buzzsprout and the co-host of Buzzcast. Have any questions about this guide? Reach out on Twitter.
FAQ
How do I learn to podcast?
To start a podcast, follow these steps:
- Develop a podcast concept
- Choose your podcast format
- Setup podcast recording equipment
- Choose your podcast software
- Record your first episode
- Edit your audio
- Create podcast artwork
- Set up podcast in Buzzsprout
- Get listed in apps like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify
- Launch and grow your show
How much is a podcast course?
Podcast training courses can be free or paid, depending on how in-depth the material is. A free course is more than enough for most beginners to learn everything they need to launch their show.
What skills do podcasters need?
Podcasters need to be curious and passionate about their podcast topic. Podcasters should also have good speaking skills, a basic knowledge of podcasting tech, and the discipline to create high-quality episodes consistently.
Can you make a career out of podcasting?
It is possible to make podcasting a full-time career, but it's the exception and requires a lot of dedication, time, and a large audience to make it happen. It's best to focus on creating high-quality content and monetize your podcast when you've built trust with your listeners.