A podcast can vary between anything from a weekly show to an interview or an audio show. Making one is surprisingly simple - the basic equipment required is a computer, a microphone, recording software and a website or blog where the podcast can be published.

Step-By-Step Guide to Making Your Podcast:

1. The first step is to invest in a decent microphone so that the podcast comes across clearly to listeners. This doesn’t need to cost much - a microphone priced at around £10 from a local electronics store should be fine.

2. Next you’ll need voice recording software, ideally one that also has an audio editor. One of the most popular and free ways of doing this is to use Audacity, open-source audio editing software. It’s also compatible with both Mac and PC.

3. Now you’re ready to record your own audio show. After recording save it in the best quality possible. The Audacity programme saves all files as a .aup file.

4. Then convert your audio file to an MP3 file as this is the standard file type for podcasts. The Audacity programme requires that you have the LAME encoder to be able to convert and export MP3 files. This software is also available for download free of charge. Depending on the content of your podcast save it in the minimum bit rate that still provides good results:

• 48 - 56k - talk shows such as interviews or audio books
• 64k+ - shows containing both talk and music
• 128k - for music shows

5. With a saved MP3 file you can now upload it to your website or blog.

6. If you plan to create and publish podcasts frequently it may be a good idea to create an RSS feed on your site to help publicise your podcast.