The 10 Best Books on Podcasting

There is a lot of work when starting a podcast; you have to come up with ideas for episodes, get all the equipment right, and find hosting. All of this can feel very overwhelming, but it does not have to be that way. In this article, we list the ten best books on podcasting that cover all the steps you need to start, run, and market your own podcast.

Books are a great inexpensive way to learn about any subject. So for anyone looking to start or is already running a podcast, there are amazing books written by experienced authors that can help you. We have gathered the best books on podcasting in a list. We broke it down into sections; General Books on PodcastingGearStorytellingMarketing & Branding.

The 10 Best Books on PodcastingCategory
Podcasting for DummiesGeneral
The most comprehensive guide to podcasting ever (probably)General
Profitable Podcasting: Grow Your Business, Expand Your PlatformGeneral
The Podcast Journal – from idea to Podcast Launch in 50 Days!General
Introduction to Podcast TechnologyGear
Home Recording StudioGear
Out on the Wire: The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of RadioStorytelling
Make Noise: A Creator’s Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio StorytellingStorytelling
Podcasting Marketing Strategy: A Complete Guide to Creating, Publishing and Monetizing a Successful PodcastMarketing & Branding
Primal BrandingMarketing & Branding

If you are just starting a podcast, feel free also to check out our other helpful articles like Top 7 Podcast Formats or How to Name a Podcast.

General Books on Podcasting

These are all-encompassing guides that give you the step-by-step format for starting and running a podcast.

1. Podcasting for Dummies

The For-Dummies book series is great for learning any topic. Podcasting for dummies book shows you all the gear you need to start and run a podcast—everything from coming up with ideas, podcasting hardware, to growing an online presence. 

The book also focuses on finding your voice as a content creator and creating valuable content. Podcasting for Dummies is a great book for any beginner in the podcast world. You will get easy to follow practical advice that you can start using tomorrow. 

2. The most comprehensive guide to podcasting ever (probably)

If you want a straightforward, easy to read practical guide, this is the book for you. As the title suggests, this book covers all the steps you need to take to start a podcast. And it does so in a way that is very easy to understand.

It will help you come up with and validating an idea, understand the technical stuff, and launch your podcast. It does not go in-depth on any of the points we mentioned. But it does not have to, as it is made a guide to get you through the process of creating and launching your own show.

3. Profitable Podcasting: Grow Your Business, Expand Your Platform

Taking a more business-minded approach, this book will show you what it takes to stand out from the competition in the podcasting space. 

The book covers all the steps from launching to marketing and monetizing your podcast. It does this through practical tips, checklists, and guides. The online resources provided are also invaluable and help you save a lot of time on research. 

Overall, this is a great book if you want a business perspective on running a podcast.

4. The Podcast Journal – from idea to Podcast Launch in 50 Days!

This is not really a traditional book but more like an interactive journal for podcasters. It includes a step-by-step guide, video tutorials, and journaling fields you can fill out as you go. The podcast journal is designed to take you from idea to launch in 50 days, breaking down your podcast journey into 5 phases. 

This journal makes it easier for you to stay on course with daily goals and activities. You will always know what the next step is. If you take starting a podcast seriously, this journal guide can really help you.

Gear

All the equipment that goes into podcasting can seem complicated at first, and understandably so. Below are books that focus solely on the technical side of running a podcast out of a home studio.

5. Introduction to Podcast Technology

If you want a very straightforward, technical approach to getting a podcast out into the world, then David powers book Introduction to Podcast Technology is for you.

The book will teach you all the basic stuff about microphones, audio interfaces, recording software, and even what the best podcasts hosts are. At 130 pages, this is a small handbook with excellent practical advice.

6. Home Recording Studio

This is an older book on the list, but most of the information is still very relevant to today. Home Recording Studio goes a bit more in-depth with sound recording technology. It teaches you the science behind making a soundproof room and how to record and mix like the pros.

Home Recording Studio teaches you how you can turn your home into a professional studio. At almost 400 pages, this is a book for anyone looking to get into the nitty-gritty of podcast technology.

Storytelling

Understanding podcasting as a medium and how to use it as a storytelling tool is very important to start a podcast. These are books on how to connect with your audiences through the power of compelling stories.

7. Out on the Wire: The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio

This is a great book if you want to learn how to use storytelling in audio, engaging, and informing audiences. Out on the Wire shows you how the best podcasts tell compelling human stories. These stories are what creates a connection with their audience. The book does this through a captivating graphic novel format. 

You would think a graphic narrative has nothing to do with a book about storytelling, but you would be wrong. The information in this book is presented in a very engaging and informative way. It is a fantastic read for anyone wanting to start their own podcast.

8. Make Noise: A Creator’s Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling

Another book about storytelling is Make Noise by Eric Nuzum with experience in the podcasting space. “learning to think the way your audience listens” is the key principle in his book. Unlike Out of the Wire, Make Noise also focuses on the practical side of podcasting; With guides on how to do interviews and manage teams. 

Marketing and Branding

Often, the hardest part of running a podcast is getting it seen by people. So diving deeper into marketing and branding for podcasts can be a good idea.

9. Podcasting Marketing Strategy: A Complete Guide to Creating, Publishing and Monetizing a Successful Podcast

This book focuses mainly on marketing a podcast, which can actually be the hardest part of creating a successful show. It is not enough just to create great content, but you also have to find a way for it to reach audiences. And this book shows you how to do exactly that.

Podcasting Marketing Strategy will teach you how to reach your audiences through social media, online advertising, and email marketing. The book also helps you understand youtube analytics and what it can tell you about your marketing strategy. 

10. Primal Branding

Primal Branding is a book we also recommend in our Best Books for Vloggers listThis is because a big part of creating online content is how you brand yourself and the community you build for your audience. 

Primal Branding is a book on how to to do just that. It will teach how to create a strong brand and community based on human nature and psychology. 

By showing you case studies of companies, the author presents the 7 principles of the Primal Code, which are the backbone of any good marketing strategy. As a podcaster, this can be a great book to help you grow.

In Conclusion

We hope you got something out of our list. Books on podcasting can really help you get started and dive deeper into the parts you want to understand more. 

Yet, for the books to do you any good, it is important to take action with the information. So go out there and try different stuff and find what works for you.