How to start a student podcast

Student podcasts usually start in one of three ways: a class assignment, a school club or newspaper, or a student starting their own show. The purpose changes the audience. A class project may only be heard by the teacher and classmates. A school club show is for the whole school. A personal show can be public.

Decide early who will hear it, because it affects what you can talk about and whether you publish publicly at all.

Good student topics: school news and events, interviews with teachers and staff, book or film reviews, explaining a subject you love, local history, sports, careers, or student life. See podcast ideas for students for a long list.

If it is a series, write five episode titles first. If you run out before five, choose a broader topic.

A script stops the episode wandering and makes recording less scary. You do not have to read every word. A plan with an opening line, three main points and a closing line is enough.

Use the free student podcast script template to plan, and the student interview podcast template if you are interviewing someone.

A phone or school laptop is enough. Find the quietest room available, often a library corner or an empty classroom with soft furnishings, and record close to the device. Do a short test and listen back before the full recording.

Hilite runs in the browser, so it works on school Chromebooks without installing anything. You can edit the episode by editing the transcript, which is much easier than learning a full audio editor.

If you record other students, get their permission, and for younger students their parents' permission, before publishing. Follow your school's rules on recording and publishing. Use first names only in public episodes, and do not share personal details like addresses or schedules.

Do not use popular songs as music. Use royalty-free music instead.

For class projects, a private link shared with the teacher may be all you need. For school shows, publish to a school page or a podcast platform with the school's approval. See how to publish a classroom podcast.

Teachers can find assessment ideas in podcast assignment ideas and rubric.