Should I start a podcast?
The short answer
Only if you'd record 50 episodes with zero listeners. Podcasts compound over years, not months — pick the format you'll sustain, not the one that sounds best.
Signals to weigh
- 01You have a specific audience in mind — not 'people who like ideas'.
- 02You already have 20 episode ideas without straining.
- 03Solo, interview, or co-host — you know which one you'd finish.
- 04You have a distribution plan beyond 'posting it'.
How to decide
- Step 1Record 3 pilot episodes before buying gear. Publish none.
- Step 2Listen back. Would you subscribe to yourself?
- Step 3Commit to 20 episodes on a fixed cadence before evaluating.
- Step 4Pick one growth channel — newsletter, YouTube, or a specific community.
Framework used
Pre-Mortem →Full walkthrough of the framework, with examples and pitfalls.
Consider these alternatives
- ·A newsletter — same ideas, 10x the search discovery, easier to grow.
- ·Guesting on 10 established podcasts before starting your own.
Run this decision inside Compass
Get a personalised answer to your version of this question.
Free · Private · Actionable
Begin