Logo for Kasama Labs self-paced online podcasting training course, from award-winning Shelter in Place podcast

Podcast training program ▫︎ FAQ’s

Who, what, where, when, why, how much . . . all the additional details you need to make an informed decision about our self-paced narrative podcast training program.

Kasama Labs training program: FAQs


What do I need to do this course?

  1. Web access.

  2. A computer for using your audio editing program.

  3. Real headphones, not just your phone’s earbuds. We use the Sony MDR-7506; the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x also fits the “quality, proven, affordable” criteria.

  4. A reasonably quiet place (bedroom, closet) for recording.

  5. An openness to personal growth, writing practice, and hard work.

  6. Fluency in English.

  7. For the group discussion, a Slack account.

Should I buy a microphone?

If you know you’re committed to podcasting, yes. Laura used the $100 Blue Yeti to record the first 170+ episodes of Shelter in Place, including both episodes that won or were nominated for awards. Now we use the Shure MV7. But you can complete the assignments and learn a lot simply recording voice memos on your phone in a quiet environment.

What if I actually want to try podcast management?

Great! Lauren Wrighton has a whole course about that.

What if I already have a podcast, but just need to market or launch it?

The generous and knowledgeable Jeremy Enns has a bunch of great materials and courses, which we would highly recommend.

What if I already have a rough podcast, but just need an editor?

Sure — we have several talented friends in the business who do that:

What if I want a slightly shorter course, or more 1-on-1 training?

Sure, you got it. The delightful Regina Larko (based in Vienna) has a 10-chapter online podcasting course.

I’m looking for a big network with education, learning, job opportunities, and more. Can you help?

Yes! Air Media is all those things (paid membership).

How much time per week will the course take?

Between the personal growth exercises, technical skill practice, and idea and scriptwriting work, you will probably want to plan on 2-5 hours per week if you really want to see meaningful progress. If you’ve heard the saying “You get out of it what you put into it,” well this is kind of the same thing.

Is there homework?

We provide further growth exercises to enable students who have more time to maximize their learning. You won't be penalized for not doing them, but like a lot of things in life, you'll get out of this what you put into it!

That said, we've intentionally designed the course so that you can go at your own pace and still get a lot out of each module even if you haven't completed that week's exercises. If you do complete them, you'll emerge with a completed podcast pilot episode and a roadmap for where you're headed with that work.

Which audio editing software (DAW) should I use?

This depends on your budget and how committed you are. Pro Tools is the leader and gets mentioned the most in audio editor job postings, but is also the most complex and expensive. Laura used Logic Pro X for a while, but switched to Hindenburg in the spring of 2022.

Will my login expire after 16 weeks?

No, you’ll have permanent access to all the materials. We just chose the weekly cadence for the emails to create a rhythm, and so the entire course would fit in the familiar semester time period.

What if I’m just interested in audio editing?

Then other courses might be a better fit. Our course is designed for people who want a complete toolkit for narrative podcasting — including audio editing, but also with a strong emphasis on writing, vocational direction, self-awareness, and personal growth. There are a number of other online courses where you can just focus on audio editing, like this

I’m female/non-binary and I’d just like to meet some people and check out some webinars.

We’d love to see you over at a Skylark Collective event!

Where can I find some great podcasts to listen to?

Lauren Passell writes one of the best newsletters out there, bringing joy and heart and sparkle to pithy reviews of the staggering amount of shows she listens to every week, plus interviews with people in the business.

Can I take more than a week for a lesson?

Yes; it’s called a “self-paced” course for a reason — the intent is that it work for your schedule. Many of the topics will benefit from multiple efforts or more mulling over. We just chose a weekly cadence for the emails to fit the familiar semester time frame.

What if I don’t have any writing or audio experience?

No problem! We created the course to be accessible and beneficial for all types of learners; we just know that students with writing or audio experience will have an easier learning curve, just like training for a marathon is easier if you already have experience running.

What will I get out of this?

On a technical level, you’ll get audio editing, interviewing, scriptwriting, voiceover, and other skills — the toolkit you’ll need to produce a narrative podcast start to finish. But on a vocational level, you’ll gain a better understanding of your priorities, needs, and goals for the future.

What if I already have a podcast idea, but need help launching it?

Great! — the wonderful team over at Podcast Allies can help you with that (and they also have a training course!).

What if I can’t afford this?

Gotcha. Amanda McLoughlin has a $35 podcast starter kit that is a good way to get started.

What if I actually want to write a novel?

Our award-winning friend Nina has a self-paced online course, The Slow Novel Lab, that is perfect for that. Laura has done it herself!

What if I want to take a course from an accredited university?

No problem; the Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism has a course for $840 that covers more than half of the material we do.

Maybe I just want to start with tutoring on a single topic…

That’s fine — Karen Given works with students on writing, voiceover, and more on an individual consultation basis.

Where can I connect with other audio creators for networking and job opportunities?

Pod People is an audio staffing agency and offers a network of support and resources for a community of 2,000+ creators across the audio industry. Plus, being a member is free and non-exclusive!



We’re not promising much — just sharing the ingredients inside a top 1% global podcast . . .

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