Key to good podcast is sound, experts say

If you're thinking of starting your own podcast, hosts of fixed ops shows say it's important to make it sound good, keep it tight and be consistent.

Corey Smith, host of "Fixed Ops 5," tries to keep every episode at 25 minutes or less because he knows his listeners are busy. Also, he knows few topics or guests are engaging enough to hold an audience for an hour.

Like most fixed ops podcasters, Smith worked at a dealership before he attained his current post, national fixed operations training manager at National Auto Care. Unlike other fixed ops podcasters, Smith also is a former DJ.

That's why he takes care to produce each show so it sounds good on every level, from content to audio quality. Smith also keeps to a consistent publishing schedule, posting new episodes on the fifth and 20th of each month.

Dave Foy, host of "The Fixed Ops Mastermind," also says shows need to sound good and have good sound.

His first episode aired in 2020 and was recorded on a phone. After listening to other podcasts, Foy noticed the biggest shows sounded better, used music and had sound bites. So he bought a good microphone and a mixing board.

"If the sound is bad," he says, "then the experience is bad."

Foy also took a podcasting course to learn how to get his show on all of the podcasting platforms, which include Spotify, Stitcher, Apple and Google. Now he posts each episode at 1:05 a.m. Monday and sends out an email at 5:05 a.m. to let people know a new episode is available.

He says the four-hour gap is necessary to allow the show to post on each of the different podcasting services, which upload new content at different rates.

Foy's top tips for would-be podcasters include investing in equipment that creates good sound quality, choosing interesting topics and making the guest comfortable.

"You're going to get a lot more out of the guest when they feel comfortable talking to you," he says.

Newcomer Kaylee Felio, host of "The Parts Girl Podcast," recommends building a list of people you'd like to interview and creating a scheduling calendar to help with time management. She says she likes to record on certain days for habit's sake.

"When I first started recording it was whenever, and I didn't feel like I could give it my all — plus I was nervous," she says. "Now I mostly only record on Fridays."

Felio also suggests that if you're not adept at video and audio editing, outsource it to a pro. Also, make sure to note catchy sentences or goof-ups so the podcast is easier to edit.

Most important, she says, is to enjoy the ride.

"Don't think too much about it," Felio says. "Just click 'record' and have some fun. You never know what type of conversation you're going to have until you have it."