How I Started My Podcast | My Equipment, Platforms, and the Ripple Effect of Storytelling

🎙️  Episode Summary:

This week’s bonus episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how I started Hidden Chapters. From the equipment I use to the platforms that keep everything running, I walk you through my real setup and what works for me.

But this episode is not just about microphones and software.

It’s about connection.

I share how honest conversations have created unexpected reconnections with former students, old friends, and new guests. I talk about the ripple effect of storytelling and how one shared story can quietly inspire someone else to speak up.

If you’re curious about starting a podcast or you simply want a behind the mic look at how stories create connection, this episode is for you.

💡 In this episode you’ll hear about:

• My podcast setup from recording to hosting
• Platforms I rely on like Buzzsprout, Riverside, and PodMatch
• The equipment I personally use including my MacBook Air, Samson Q2U, Focusrite 2i2, and Sony headphones
• Why podcasting is more than just a mic
• The unexpected ripple effect of sharing your story

This podcast is not just me talking. It’s a conversation.

If this episode sparked something in you, I would love to hear from you. Your story might be the ripple someone else needs.

 🔗 Links & Tools I Use (Affiliate Links Where Applicable):

• Buzzsprout –  https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2406015
• Riverside –  https://riverside.com/
• PodMatch – https://www.joinpodmatch.com/genevievekruger
• Samson Q2U Microphone – (on Amazon) https://a.co/d/0iXj6kwv
• Focusrite 2i2 Audio Interface – (on Amazon) https://a.co/d/09ssoNA2
• Sony Headphones – (on Amazon) https://a.co/d/0ipiyQqv

• These are tools I personally use and recommend. If you use these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript

Genevieve 0:02

Hi friends, this week looks a little different. There's no guest episode coming out Friday. And instead of just going quiet, I wanted to share something that most people don't see: the hidden chapter of starting this podcast. Because if I'm honest, I almost didn't start. I thought I needed more clarity, more confidence, more experience, more equipment, more certainty, more of something else. What I really needed was courage and a community and a willingness to begin before I felt fully ready. So today I want to pull back the curtain a little bit. I'll share the practical tools I use. I'll give credit to the people who helped me, and I want to talk about something bigger than all of that. The ripple effect of one person sharing honestly. When I first felt called to start Hidden Chapters, I was overwhelmed. I didn't know what platform to use, I didn't know what equipment I actually needed. I didn't know how interviews worked, and I definitely didn't feel like an expert. So if you're sitting on something right now, an idea, a calling, a nudge, and you're waiting to feel fully ready, I completely understand that feeling. But here's what I've learned: you don't need the whole staircase. You need the next step. Before I ever pressed record, I was listening. There were podcasters who showed up consistently, who were vulnerable, who asked meaningful questions. I paid attention to how they structured conversations, how they made their guests feel safe, how they didn't pretend to have it all figured out. So I want to say thank you to those podcasters who inspired me to begin. And I want to say thank you to the fellow podcasters who helped me behind the scenes. These were the people that helped answer my questions, who helped with editing, bounced ideas off of when I felt stuck. I really appreciated it. Podcasting looks like a solo mic, but it's not. There's a community behind this. Actually, a really big community. And I am sincerely grateful for that. Now let me share the practical side, because I know some of you have asked and are curious. I host my podcast on BuzzSprout. That's my podcast hosting site. It makes uploading and distributing very easy and simple. The analytics are clear, and it helps me manage everything all at once. For recording interviews, I use Riverside FM. The audio quality is strong and it records locally and allows me to edit audio files with transcript, like editing a Word document. It's very easy to use, creates clips, generates transcripts, and show notes for me to help create each episode. I just recently joined Podmatch.com to connect with guests and other podcast hosts. Podmatch is a wonderful service that matches just the right guests for my show. It was founded by Alex San Filippo. And I'm proud to share that some of the stories of this season are coming from guests that I've met through PodMatch. Equipment-wise, I use a MacBook Air, a Samsung Q2U microphone, and a Focus Right 2I2 audio interface and Sony headphones. Nothing extravagant, and I'll be sure that all of this is in the show notes. Some are affiliate links, which means if you choose to use them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share what I personally use and trust. But here's the truth: podcasting is not about the mic. It's about the message. Podcasting is not just pressing record. It's actually sitting across from someone and hearing the part of their story they don't normally share. It's slowing down long enough to ask better questions. It's creating a space where someone feels safe enough to say, I've never said this out loud before. And that is why I started Hidden Chapters. And here's something I did not expect the connections. A former student of mine from 24 years ago is coming on the show as a future guest. And you want to know the reason? He heard CJ, or Jay Smith, from season one, who was another former student of mine, share his story. And he jokingly said he was jealous. He heard CJ's hidden chapter, and something in him stirred. He wanted to share his too. And I just sat there thinking, how wild is it that 24 years later we are reconnecting, not in a classroom, but in a conversation about life. This is the ripple effect. One person shares honestly, someone else listens quietly, and something shifts. I've heard this from so many of my previous guests. They'll say, Hearing someone else go first gave me the courage. So J or CJ shared, another former student listened, and now he is stepping forward. That's the ripple. And sometimes you don't even know who is listening until years later when they say, That mattered. And that brings me to you. If you've ever listened and thought, I relate to that, I really would love to hear from you. Here's my question for you this week. What's one hidden chapter in your life that shaped you? Could even be one word. Or maybe this. What's something you've survived that most people wouldn't see? Or don't see? If you feel comfortable enough, leave me a voice message on Speakpipe. I'd love to hear your voice. You can email me as well, or come over to Substack and reply there. That's where we're building deeper conversations. You don't have to write a novel, even one sentence or one word matters, because honesty multiplies, and your story might be the ripple someone else needs. So before we close, here's the hidden chapter moment for today. Starting this podcast wasn't about equipment or platform or trying to go viral or famous. It really was about creating space. And what I didn't see at the beginning was that one honest conversation could travel farther than I ever imagined. Sometimes the hidden chapter isn't the big dramatic moment, sometimes it's the quiet decision to begin. If you're curious about any of the tools I mentioned, they're in the show notes. If you have a question about starting something or about podcasting, or about your own hidden chapter, please reach out. I thought I'd use this week's break to reflect and share my tools and why I started. And who knows, maybe you have a podcast in view. I'll see you next week with a brand new story.