Looking for the best podcasting books? I’ve got you covered.
The list below includes helpful books on podcasting for beginners, intermediates, and experts.
Best Podcasting Books for Beginners
1. Everybody Has a Podcast (Except You) by Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy
One of the best podcasting books for beginners, this book covers everything you need to create, edit, produce, and promote a podcast.
Seasoned podcasters Griffin, Travis, and Justin McElroy made their names on their hit podcast show My Brother, My Brother and Me.
With more than 10 years of experience creating successful podcasts, the McElroy brothers share everything they’ve learned in this podcasting book.
What’s in it for you:
- Keys to success in podcasting from seasoned professionals
- The mistakes to avoid when starting
- A helpful, hilarious how-to podcast guide
2. Podcast Launch: How to Create & Launch Your Podcast by John Lee Dumas
The host of the podcast show Entrepreneurs On Fire, John Lee Dumas shares a behind-the-scenes look at how he started his podcast and turned it into a top-ranking show that brings in a six-figure monthly income.
In this book, John shares every step of his journey to help you copy his successes and avoid his mistakes.
What’s in it for you:
- What a podcast is and why the platform is growing quickly
- The best equipment for podcasting
- Step-by-step guide for taking your podcast from idea to launch
3. So You Want to Start a Podcast by Kristen Meinzer
Though one of the fastest-growing platforms, podcasts are tricky to create and more difficult to sustain.
In this comprehensive and inspiring podcasting book, award-winning commentator Kristen Meinzer covers everything you need to create and launch a podcast while offering lots of advice, encouragement, and insider stories.
Meinzer has hosted three popular podcasts reaching over 10 million listeners.
She shares her expertise in this book and provides aspiring podcasters with essential information to work smarter, not harder, as they start their own podcasts.
What’s in it for you:
- Step-by-step guidance for creating a hit show
- A motivational how-to guide to help budding podcasters create an entertaining, informative podcast and promote it to an audience that’ll love it
4. Podcasting Made Simple by Daniel Larson & Jake Fielding
Podcasting Made Simple aims to debunk all the false misconceptions that podcasting is daunting and time-consuming by offering a simple, step-by-step walkthrough on how to create a podcast from scratch with zero experience.
What’s in it for you:
- A digestible guide for newbies with no experience
- Invaluable tips and advice for building and running a successful podcast from the ground up
5. NPR’s Podcast Start Up Guide by Glen Weldon
The barrier to entry for podcasting is ridiculously low—you need just a mic and a laptop.
But the learning curve is steep, and quality is crucial.
In this podcasting book, Glen Weldon draws on NPR’s wealth of knowledge and talent to guide budding podcasters through the creation and launch of a podcast.
One of the most authoritative podcasting books, NPR’s Podcast Start Up Guide offers secrets to taking your podcast to the next level.
What’s in it for you:
- Detailed advice on how to brainstorm a unique topic, narrate the best stories, and engage the most listeners
6. Podcasting by Amanda Mayo
Without a process or plan, starting a podcast can quickly become overwhelming.
In this practical podcasting book, Amanda Mayo covers everything about profitable podcasting, from selecting the best equipment to monetizing your podcast.
What’s in it for you:
- Honest, real-world podcasting guidance offered in a simple, actionable format
- Strategies for coming up with the right podcast idea, style, and length
7. Podcasting For Dummies by Tee Morris & Chuck Tomasi
Podcasting For Dummies aims to help you find your own niche.
The book offers the latest podcasting trends and audience demographics and will help you refine your idea and find your audience.
What’s in it for you:
- How to create, edit, and share your podcast
- The best methods for monetizing and sharing your work
- A friendly, simple approach to content creation
Best Podcasting Books for Intermediates and Experts
8. Make Noise by Eric Nuzum
In this podcasting book, veteran podcast creator Eric Nuzum draws from a career’s worth of advice, wisdom, practical information, and whole-picture thinking to help you stand out in the fast-growing world of podcasting.
Nuzum offers insights and guidance to help you express yourself as an effective audio storyteller.
What’s in it for you:
- Core principles for successful audio storytelling
- Essential how-tos to conducting effective interviews, marketing your podcast, growing your audience, and managing a creative team
- Advice from stars like Ira Glass, Anna Sale, and Terry Gross
9. Out on the Wire by Jessica Abel
Out on the Wire offers a behind-the-scenes look at seven of the most popular narrative podcasts and radio shows, like RadioLab and This American Life.
Exploring this new kind of storytelling, this book offers an insider look into how radio producers create compelling narratives.
What’s in it for you:
- A detailed look at some of the most exciting, innovative storytelling today
10. Podcasting Good to Great by Jared Easley
This podcasting book goes behind the scenes to uncover how podcasters build influential platforms.
Jared Easley discusses various networking strategies and provides a time-tested roadmap that’ll help you become a great influencer and connector.
What’s in it for you:
- How to take your podcast from good to great through networking
11. Podcast by Mike Eiman
This book offers step-by-step guidance to help you craft your ideas, write scripts for your show, and prepare your podcast.
What’s in it for you:
- Learn the skills for podcasting like a pro
12. Podcast Marketing by Daniel Larson
Podcast Marketing aims to teach you how to effectively market your podcast to gain more followers.
The book will show you how to grow your audience organically while optimizing your podcast for growth using analytics.
What’s in it for you:
- How to quickly grow your podcast and build interest around your show
- How to effectively use social media to attract listeners
- How to scale your audience cheaply
13. Big Podcast by David Hooper
Big Podcast targets podcasters who are confused about what they’re doing wrong and want to learn to do podcasting the right way.
The book aims to help you attract more listeners, effectively deliver your message, and grow your podcast into a big show.
What’s in it for you:
- A practical framework for building a successful podcast
14. Content Rules by C. C. Chapman & Ann Handley
Content Rules aims to equip you with the tools to create content that people care about.
The book offers case studies of organizations establishing their credibility and building a loyal following by successfully spreading their ideas online.
What’s in it for you:
- An essential guide for creating engaging content and building a loyal following
- How to find your authentic voice and leverage social media to distribute your content widely
- How to hone your content creation to support your strategy and goals
Bonus Podcasting Book About Museum Podcasting
15. Your Museum Needs a Podcast by Hannah Hethmon
This podcasting book offers practical advice on creating an awesome podcast on a budget for your museum, library, history organization, or cultural nonprofit.
From selecting a topic to reaching the right audience, this book will help you unlock the power of podcasting at your organization.
What’s in it for you:
- A detailed roadmap for creating a podcast that aligns with your institutional mission
- Free templates and worksheets to help you implement the book’s ideas
- Increase your organization’s online profile by reaching new audiences