A lifestyle podcast on love, life and authenticity, told with a touch of sarcasm

I am a college student from Alabama and I decided to start my podcast a year ago. I wanted to be able to talk about my life, subjects I was interested in and topics I had an opinion on, in a creative way. So I decided to label C'est La Me a lifestyle podcast, which would allow me the most flexibility in what I talked about in my episodes. My listeners are people like me, mostly females in their 20s who want to hear thoughts on just about everything in life. I really love the community I have built and I have lots of fun doing Q&As and telling stories from my listeners.
 

I made it my 2020 resolution to listen to more podcasts. I thought they were really fun and a few months later, I created my own! C'est La Me came from a desire to have a steady creative outlet that was my own. It's definitely fulfilled that need but has also gone way beyond that into areas I never expected. Before releasing my first episode, I planned for a few weeks. I took that time to create episode drafts, figure out a recording routine, create my cover art and overall description and figure out a name for my show. After all of that, I released my first episode last May and I haven't stopped since!
 

I release an episode each week. I normally record on Saturdays or as close to the weekend as possible, which is when I have the most time. It usually takes me about an hour or two to record, edit and schedule each episode. I began my podcast on a total shoestring budget; I even used my earbud mic as my microphone for a few months! I think simply starting something is the most important step and it was the one I was most scared of. So I felt it was more important to release my podcast than it was to get all the right equipment. I'm a chronic overthinker, so I couldn't afford to get stuck in the planning stage. That being said, I eventually got a proper microphone and equipment that enhanced the quality of C'est La Me once I realized podcasting wasn't going to be a short-term thing.
 

Making money was never my goal as a podcaster, but it did interest me. I first began using the built-in sponsorship that came with my hosting platform Anchor. It was fun to record an ad and make a tiny bit of money. Eventually, I found other companies that offer sponsors to clients. Recently, I negotiated my first self-proposed sponsorship, which was such a gratifying feeling. I just sent an email to a company I love, told them about my podcast and pricing and they wanted to work with me! Podcasting has definitely taught me so much about relationships, communication, professionalism, public speaking - even areas you wouldn't expect!
 

I keep it pretty basic and use the recording software from Anchor. It makes uploading and recording a seamless process. I use a Tonor Q9 USB mic to record. The setup and teardown are really simple, so I can spend most of my time recording and editing. My podcast is a solo podcast; I've only had two guests on the show! So scheduling is just dependent on me. I'd love to interview more guests sometime, but for now, solo podcasting is working really well.
 

Most of my audience listens to C'est La Me from Apple Podcasts. I was surprised since I almost exclusively use Spotify to listen to all my favorite shows. I love using Discord to connect with my listeners. I recently created a server that I link in all my show notes so anyone who listens to and likes my show can join. It's been a ton of fun and I am looking forward to seeing how it grows!
 

Podcasting has been a much more integral part of my life than I ever could have imagined when I started a year ago. New podcasters should know that growth takes time. Most likely, you're not going to go viral within a week. Be friendly and try and make connections within the podcast community, but look out for yourself as well. If someone doesn't seem honest, chances are they're not. Definitely do your research on your hosting provider. I recommend Anchor. I've been with them for a year and I have no complaints. Finally, you'll improve with time. Be patient.
 

You can find all my information, including links to listening platforms and social media, at my website: https://www.cestlamepodcast.com/