Tips on Standing Out + Starting Your Own Podcast, According to Bianca Gonzalez's Paano Ba 'To?!

(SPOT.ph) While vlogging may be the usual path chosen to Internet fame, there are those that prefer to use their voice in a different way. And by that we mean literally and figuratively. The podcast phenomenom is firmly in the Philippine market, so much so that we even had the first ever podcast festival in the country called Hear For It on October 20 at Glorietta. 

We got to listen in on a live recording of the podcast Paano Ba 'To?!, Bianca Gonzales-Intal and her guest, the King of Talk himself, Boy Abunda. The two shared what it means to be confident in telling your own story and how that can help with eventually starting your own podcast. Here's what we learned.

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Want to start a podcast? Check out these tips from Bianca Gonzales-Intal and Boy Abunda:

Tip #1: "To be interesting, you have to be interested."

Getting someone's attention isn't that easy. These days, people are smart enough to know when you're faking it and when you're not. The best way to feel and sound authentic is to first, genuinely be interested, and second, show your actual interest in the subject. Know what it is that makes them tick, what makes them react to a certain stance or topic, and build a conversation around that.

Tip #2: "The best way to start is to jump into it."

Remember, you won't know what it feels like to succeed if you don't actually get into the process of starting something. There are a ton of free resources that you can use to start a podcast. You can simply record your audio using your phone's default software, edit and upload using apps available for download, and stream using platforms like Spotify. It's that simple. Sure, views might not come in right away, but it's the idea of actually doing something, and building a cadence that may just be the path to your success. "Stop overthinking, just do it," says the King of Talk.

Tip #3: "Know where to begin and know where to end."

Having a topic on hand can be quite tricky so it's best to know when to begin a conversation and when to end it, especially if you're talking to someone. Remember, it's a two-way conversation. Make sure that you're not just talking about your self or hogging the spotlight, learn to listen to your co-host and build on their experiences as well as sharing your own.

Tip #4: "Get out of that space you're familiar with."

Remember that saying, "you won't know until you've tried."? Well, that's the same principle. By only talking about what you know, you're keeping yourself inside the box. Try something new for once, or rather, invite a guest that can talk about a topic you're interested in but aren't necessarily familiar with. That way, you're learning something new along with your listeners.

Tip #5: "Always be at performance level."

Regardless if you're a podcast pro or just starting out, always be at your peak performance level. That means doing ample prep work for your recording by knowing your topic by heart, regularly monitoring your audio levels, checking that your mic actually works, and of course, keeping hydrated—trust us, you don't want to record with a parched throat.

Hear For It is the first ever podcast festival in the Philippines. Other podcast shows with live recordings were Queertuhan, Paano Kung..., The Linya Linya Show, Intellectwalwal, The Koolpals, Wake Up With Jim & Saab, Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, What's AP, and Anyare Saeyo?.

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