How To Start Your Sustainability Podcast

Julie Starr • December 6, 2021



The number of people listening to podcasts across the world is continuing to increase. In the UK, it is estimated that 20 million people will be listening to podcasts by 2024. That’s a huge potential audience. But there are a lot of podcasts out there too, fighting for people’s attention. 

A podcast can be a great way to get your message out to people and really create and engage in conversation. But if you’ve never been involved in a podcast before, you may not know where to start. 

Buying the right kit

You can get started in podcasting with just a few pieces of equipment in addition to your laptop or pc. Your basic equipment should include: 

  • A microphone
  • Headphones 
  • Audio recording software
  • Editing software 

As with most AV equipment and software, entry prices can be extremely low, but it is best to look at reviews in order to find the best balance of price and quality for your budget. The best microphone for streaming or editing software can be hard to find if you don’t have any experience. 

Decide on your identity and audience 

Rather than just jumping into producing a podcast, you first need to get a few things straight, as this will inform your strategy. For example, will you cover sustainability as a wide concept or a specific niche? Who will be your target audience ? How often will you be producing content? 

Defining your target audience is hugely important as it will allow you to focus your content, as well as inform your promotional strategy too. 

Name your podcast

There are a number of different routes you can take when naming your podcast. For example, you could use something descriptive that tells a listener exactly what to expect. Or you could choose a clever name or play on words. As long as your show notes and keywords give an idea of the content, it shouldn’t make too much of a difference to how you are found on the various podcast platforms. 

Plan your format and first episodes

If you approach everything in an unfocused way, podcasts have the habit of sucking up a lot of time and resources. The best way to avoid this is to plan ahead. Decide what the format of your podcast will be, what the running order will be, guests and any other sections you want to include. Create a running order for each episode and plan at least the first 3-5 to be recorded in advance of launch. This gives you extra breathing room to keep creating content at a manageable pace. Unless your podcast is time-sensitive (for example you cover news events), then you should be recording in advance. 

Editing

Editing a podcast can be very time-consuming, especially if you haven’t done it before. There are many podcast editing software options out there, some you can even use from your smartphone. Many people choose to outsource this part of the podcast process to a freelancer or company that can do it to a high standard very quickly. 

Art work

All podcasts need cover art. You need to create something that is professional-looking and eye-catching. If someone is scrolling through a lot of podcasts, you want them to stop at yours. Again this is something you can outsource, or there are a lot of great templates you can use on platforms such as Canva . 

Show notes

Once you’ve published your podcast onto the various hosting services, you’ll need to show notes to go with it. Show notes are the calling card for your podcast, like a movie trailer. They give people information about your podcast and entice them to listen. Each podcast episode will also have its own separate description and resources. 

Don’t neglect your show notes as they are very important for attracting new listeners, both on a podcasting platform and through search engines. 

Promotional plan

Producing a great sustainability podcast is one thing but then you have to go out there and find your audience. This can be done in a number of ways such as email, social media, display advertising and PR. It may take some time for your profile and listener numbers to build, but keep consistent in your marketing efforts. 

Takeaways

Podcasts are going from strength to strength and remain one of the best ways to attract a loyal audience, but they do take a good deal of planning and promotion to do well. There are so many great resources out there to help you every step of the way. 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.