👩🏽‍💻 Apply for Emerging Voices Accelerator 👉 https://hiwote.typeform.com/to/GRciL3o9

Struggling to find guests for your new show? Learn how to get podcast guests even before you launch with these proven pitching strategies.

Many beginner podcaster tips focus on huge celebrities, but the best approach for a new show is different. This video breaks down how to identify potential guests who are slightly ahead of you in their journey, making them more likely to say yes to a new host. You will learn the specific structure of a pitch that works for people building their own authority.

We also cover the importance of warming up your prospects before sending a cold email. By combining your lived experience with your professional work, you can create a compelling reason for others to join you. This podcast launch strategy helps you build a library of episodes before your official debut.

Subscribe for weekly podcasting breakdowns, and comment below with the biggest challenge you face when reaching out to guests.

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🙋🏾‍♀️ Who am I?

Hey, I'm Hiwote, but my friends call me Hiwi! 👋🏾

I'm a podcast producer, and I've worked on shows like Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel, This is Dating (featured in TIME Magazine as one of the best podcasts of 2022), and projects with The New York Times, TED, and more.
My goal? To help aspiring podcasters gain the creative clarity and confidence they need to create shows that are as unique as they are.

––––

Ready to start?
✅ Subscribe for weekly tips on how to create and grow a podcast that feels like you.
📥 Grab the free 10-step guide: https://tenstepstolaunch.depthandcandor.com/

Want to Stay Connected?
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergingvoicesstudio/

👩🏽‍💻 Apply for Emerging Voices Accelerator 👉 https://hiwote.typeform.com/to/GRciL3o9

📥 Grab the free 10-step guide 👉 https://tenstepstolaunch.depthandcandor.com/

Most new podcasters jump straight to stage three (Reddit posts, Facebook ads, Instagram clips) before they've earned stage one, and that's exactly why they stall at 30 listeners. The growth path that actually works for new podcasters starts with your inner circle (your first 20 listeners), builds through word-of-mouth and a Substack newsletter (20 to 100), and only then expands outward by guesting on adjacent-niche podcasts and naming episodes for Apple Podcasts and Spotify search (100 to 1,000).

I also share a real timeline from one of my Emerging Voices podcasters, Shannon, who hit 1,000 listeners in 8 months from zero — no email list, no platform, nothing. Plus the part most podcast growth videos skip: how to push through the rough patch where every new podcaster wants to quit.

Subscribe for weekly podcast production tips, and tell me in the comments — which stage are you stuck at right now?

🛠 TOOLS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
• Substack (free newsletter platform): https://substack.com
• Riverside (recording + AI clipping tool): https://riverside.com/
• Apple Podcasts & Spotify

🙋🏾‍♀️ Who am I?

Hey, I'm Hiwote, but my friends call me Hiwi! 👋🏾

I'm a podcast producer, and I've worked on shows like Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel, This is Dating (featured in TIME Magazine as one of the best podcasts of 2022), and projects with The New York Times, TED, and more.
My goal? To help aspiring podcasters gain the creative clarity and confidence they need to create shows that are as unique as they are.

––––

Ready to start?
✅ Subscribe for weekly tips on how to create and grow a podcast that feels like you.
📥 Grab the free 10-step guide: https://tenstepstolaunch.depthandcandor.com/

Want to Stay Connected?
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergingvoicesstudio/

👉 Try Transistor for Free → https://transistor.fm/?via=hiwote

📥 Grab the free 10-step guide 👉 https://tenstepstolaunch.depthandcand...

📸 CAMERAS:
• iPhone 14 or above (records in 4K)
• DJI Osmo Pocket 3 (~$499 / $629 creator combo) — my main camera
• Sony ZV-E10 (~$800 with kit lens)

🎤 MICROPHONES:
• Blue Yeti Nano
• Audio-Technica AT2020 / ATR2100
• Shure MV7+what (I'm using now)

💡 LIGHTING:
• Elgato Key Light
• Ring light (Amazon or Best Buy)

👩🏽‍💻 RECORDING & EDITING
• Riverside — https://riverside.com/
• Transistor (podcast hosting): https://transistor.fm/?via=hiwote
• Descript (AI editing):  https://get.descript.com/hiwotepodcasts
• Handbrake — convert video format for podcast hosts
• Music: Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/4906m4
• Newsletter: Substack (free)

(Note: Some links above are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.)

How to start a video podcast as a beginner with not a huge budget. Learn the exact 2026 workflow to create a video podcast efficiently.

Many creators struggle with the transition from audio to video, but this guide simplifies the process. Whether you are using an iPhone or a dedicated camera setup, you will learn how to align your hardware with your production goals. This video breaks down the essential podcast equipment setup required to get started without overcomplicating your workflow.

We cover a step-by-step method to record without errors and ensure your publishing process is streamlined. If you want to create a podcast that looks professional while keeping your workload manageable, this strategy is designed for you. By focusing on efficient recording and publishing, you can maintain consistency and grow your audience effectively.

Subscribe for weekly podcast production tips, and comment below if you prefer audio-only or video-first content.

🙋🏾‍♀️ Who am I?

Hey, I'm Hiwote, but my friends call me Hiwi! 👋🏾

I'm a podcast producer, and I've worked on shows like Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel, This is Dating (featured in TIME Magazine as one of the best podcasts of 2022), and projects with The New York Times, TED, and more.
My goal? To help aspiring podcasters gain the creative clarity and confidence they need to create shows that are as unique as they are.

––––

Ready to start?
✅ Subscribe for weekly tips on how to create and grow a podcast that feels like you.
📥 Grab the free 10-step guide: https://tenstepstolaunch.depthandcand...

What you'll learn:

• Why sounding stiff when you start has nothing to do with talent
• What deliberate practice actually means (and why recording 20 episodes in a day doesn't count)
• The 5 specific things that make someone sound natural — and how to train each one

Key idea: What looks like talent is usually just reps you haven't seen. Your job is to coach yourself, not criticize yourself.

Apply to the Emerging Voices Accelerator here. 

In this episode, Hiwote breaks down every realistic path to podcast income in 2026, split into two parts: direct monetization (money from your podcast) and indirect monetization (money because of your podcast). The second part is where the most life-changing income actually happens.

What you'll learn:

• How sponsorships and ads actually work, and what the numbers really look like
• How memberships and affiliate marketing can create steady recurring income
• Why your podcast is one of the most powerful business tools you can own
• How podcasters are landing book deals, speaking gigs, and corporate clients
• The math that shows why selling your own product beats ads every time

📥 Download the free 10-step launch guide
🎙️ Apply to the Emerging Voices Accelerator

Mentioned in this episode:

• Patreon, Supercast, Apple Podcast Subscriptions (membership platforms)
• Kajabi (creator economy research)

In this episode, Hiwote walks you through exactly how to launch your podcast in 2026 - from finding your idea to hitting publish - without a expensive setup or quitting your day job.

What you'll learn:

• How to find the angle that only you can make
• The 3 P's of episode structure: Problem, Path, Payoff
• The beginner tech stack for 2026 (and what you can skip)
• How to edit like a listener, not a creator
• The simplest way to publish and distribute your show

📥 Download the free 10-step launch guide
🎙️ Apply to the Emerging Voices Accelerator

Tools mentioned in this episode:

• Mics: Blue Yeti Nano, Shure MV7+
• Recording & editing: Descript
• Publishing: Substack (free)
• Cover art: Canva, Claude
• Music: Epidemic Sound, Descript library