I have written a whole book about how to master the art of podcasting.

I often get asked by people if they should start their own podcast, and this is indeed what the first chapter of the book is about.

While I love podcasting and find it incredibly rewarding, I also think it’s important to be honest about the downsides. 

So, here are 7 reasons why you shouldn’t become a podcaster:

You hate the sound of your own voice

Do you remember the first time you listened back to a recording of your voice?

You cringed, right? Not everyone has a “voice for radio” and you not l like the sound of their own voice.

If this is true for you, then podcasting may not be for you, as you’re going to be hearing a lot of it. 

You don’t have anything interesting to say

Podcasting is all about sharing your thoughts and ideas with the world.

If you don’t have anything interesting or unique to say, then your podcast is going to boring and it will fall flat.

To be a successful podcaster, you need to have a  clear idea of what you want to talk about.

You will not be able to find an audience if you do not have something valuable to offer your listeners.

You’re not good at public speaking

Podcasting is essentially a form of public speaking.

If you’re not comfortable speaking in front of a microphone, then podcasting is going to be a challenge for you.

It’s important to be able to speak confidently and clearly in order to engage your listeners.

You don’t have the time

Don’t underestimate the time and effort it takes to produce a professional-sounding podcast.

You will need time on your schedule for recording, editing, and promoting your podcast on a regular basis.

If you don’t have the time to dedicate to podcasting, then it’s not going to be worth it, unless you have a budget to get outside help from a professional.

You’re not willing to invest in equipment

You need to invest in proper sound equipment if you want to produce a decent-sounding podcast.

This includes a high-quality microphone, headphones, and audio editing software.

There are options for various budgets, but you’re not going to be able to compete with other podcasts in your niche unless your productions values are of a professional standard.

You don’t like to network

Podcasting is not just about creating content, it’s also about networking.

You will need to network in order to find guests and participants on your shows, as well as reach out to other podcasters, bloggers, and influencers in your niche.

If you don’t enjoy networking, then podcasting is going to be a challenge for you.

You don’t have a thick skin

When you put yourself out there on the internet, you’re going to encounter criticism and negative feedback.

If you don’t have a thick skin, then podcasting is going to be a tough road.

You need to be able to handle criticism and learn from it in order to improve your podcast.

About two thirds of podcasts have less than 10 episodes.

Podfading is a real thing, and it usually happens to someone who didn’t think it through but just jumped into podcasting.

It can be an incredibly rewarding experience if it is approached with proper planning and sustained production.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t right for everybody.

Question your motivations for podcasting at the start of your journey and decide if you want to give it a go or not because based on that.

If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, have a unique perspective, and are passionate about sharing your ideas with the world, then podcasting can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

If you want to know more about podcasting, be sure to get Hendrik’s book “Become a Podmaster: Everything You Need to Know to Master the Art of Podcasting.”